Serenity in Nature's Paradise

After the jeep dropped us off at the parking area, we began our walk towards the falls. The waterfall was just a few meters away from the parking spot. The walking trail led us through a lush, dense forest and coffee plantation. Near the lower part of the waterfall, a pool had formed. As I approached the pool, I was gently soaked by water droplets from the falls. It was a moment of pure happiness, being surrounded by untouched nature.

​Similar to many other waterfalls, the best time to visit Jhari Falls is during the monsoon or post-monsoon season. We visited during the post-monsoon season, and the visiting hours are from 6 am to 6 pm.
 
Upon our return to Chikmagalur city, we checked into our hotel. When we arrived at the hotel restaurant after freshening up, we found that it was about to close. The hotel manager recommended that we order food from Swiggy and Zomato. It appeared to be a common practice in Chikmagalur to order meals online. We placed an online order and had our dinner that way. Meanwhile, other members of our group chose to dine at the hotel restaurant, Vishnu Delicacy, which is one of the highest-rated vegetarian restaurants in Chikmagalur.

The jeep dropped us off at the edge of a coffee plantation. From there, we began a 1-kilometer hike through the forest, eventually crossing a bridge over the flowing waters of the waterfall. This part of the hike was relatively flat, lasting around 15-20 minutes, and was easily manageable for both children and elderly individuals.

Upon reaching the falls, I couldn't resist walking into the pool to get closer to the waterfall. As splashes of water gently fell upon my face, it felt like stepping into heaven. I spent some time gazing at the waterfall, which cascaded down with tremendous force, allowing me to detach from the outside world and the crowd at the pool. After an hour, we returned to the spot where the jeep had dropped us off. We were granted one hour to relish the beauty of Hebbe Falls before being taken back to the forest range jeep staging area.

Be cautious of leeches while trekking through the forest. It's recommended to wear covered shoes, high socks, and full-length pants to prevent leeches from attaching to your legs. Keep a brisk pace and avoid stopping, as this minimizes the risk of leeches getting onto your body. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law had two leeches attach to her toes due to not wearing covered shoes. We also found a leech on my mother's kurti. Luckily, we had sanitizer with us, which proved effective in quickly removing the leeches from our bodies.
 
Reaching the top despite these challenges is truly worthwhile, as the view from the summit is breathtakingly scenic. The Western Ghats are enveloped in lush greenery, creating a mesmerizing panorama. Although the Z Point trekking hours are from 6 am to 6 pm, it's advisable to complete the trek by 5 pm. When we returned to the entry checkpost, dusk was setting in.

​Upon arriving back at the parking area, we all checked for any leeches that might have attached to our bodies. This marked the end of our second day of sightseeing in Chikmagalur. We began our journey back to the hotel, which took approximately one and a half hours through winding hills, coffee plantations, and dark forested roads without streetlights. It was an adventurous journey.

Our car driver skilfully navigated the narrow, hilly roads at high speed. We arrived at the jungle safari office at 8 am and were relieved to find that we could still purchase tickets for the jeep safari. The cost was 500/- per adult and 200/- for children above 10 years old. As this was one of the main attractions of Chikmagalur, we were overjoyed to have the opportunity to embark on this thrilling jungle safari.

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary spans 500 square kilometers across two districts of Karnataka: Chikmagalur and Shimoga. This sanctuary is enveloped by the lush greenery of the Western Ghats and is characterized by dense tropical forests and sprawling grasslands. Our jeep driver informed us that within this vast 500 square kilometer expanse, approximately 40 tigers roam. During our safari, we were fortunate to spot various wildlife, including deer, sambar deer, barking deer, peacocks, peahens, and bison. 

We reached a point on Mullayanagiri where driving in our private car became risky, so we decided to hire a jeep to reach the summit. The journey involved navigating a narrow and steep road, which proved to be an exhilarating experience, almost like driving through the clouds. Upon reaching the peak, we had to ascend approximately 450 stairs to reach the highest point in Karnataka.

We began the ascent with my child, who displayed boundless energy throughout the hike. When we set off, the entire landscape, including the peak, was cloaked in a thick blanket of clouds. We trekked through the ethereal mist, with a light drizzle adding to the enchantment. Upon finally reaching the summit, the clouds parted, revealing a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding Western Ghats, a sight that left us in awe.

We enjoyed a cup of tea upon returning to the jeep parking area. They were also offering hot Maggie and boiled corn for sale.

​I purchased some prasad laddu from a stall near the temple monument and spent most of my time at the temple capturing photographs. However, I eventually found myself running short on time as the temple's rich architecture had so much more to offer than I could cover in the limited time I had.

Since we couldn't find an opportunity for a proper lunch, we opted for substantial snacks in the evening from a restaurant located just before the Hassan toll gate. Unfortunately, the food at the restaurant, particularly the Chinese dishes, did not meet our expectations. Nevertheless, this restaurant will always hold a special place in my memory because everyone celebrated my birthday, crossing my 30s and entering my 40s, in the outdoor seating area outside the restaurant building. I even had the chance to cut a birthday cake made by my aunt.