Monday, March 25, 2013

ROAD MAP for whole Trip


The whole trip is of 2000 KMS drive.
Toyota Innova and Fortuner would be suggested vehicles.
Starting from Hyd and back to Hyd below is the Road Map attached.
It’s a week trip. These all locations will be on the way, depends how many we can see….








Hampi




From atop the Matanga Hill at daybreak, Hampi is every inch the capital city of a golden empire. Though what lies before are but the bones of an enchantress, who once had the whole world in her sway, Hampi is far from what one would call ruins. Once visited by the Portuguese, Arabs, Persians and Orientals, the capital city of Vijayanagara, has only grown in popularity across the centuries. And no surprise that! Every bend in the road is punctuated by a 14th century, if not older, temple; perched on nearly every hillock is a four-pillared canopy-like monument and its entire horizon, pixilated by huge gestalt-ish boulders. The regal 9-storey tall gopura of the Virupaksha Temple, where Siva is believed to have married Parvati, watches over the city like a specially-appointed god - its memory of magnificence and grandeur forever etched in stone.

Hampi gives an impression of preserving itself for the past to resume. The wedding ceremony of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every year at the Virupaksha Temple, as it has been for centuries. The long bazaar avenues stand in expectant silence, as if waiting for that kind of commerce to resume, where diamonds and precious stones were used as currency. In the evenings, like a zillion dusks before, the dying rays of the sun turn the entire Vijaya Vittala Temple to gold; a sight which is as much a wonder as the temple's 56 musical pillars that produce the sounds of 56 different musical instruments. The Royal Enclosure waits in readiness for its sandalwood halls to be returned, the massive elephant stables, the Lotus Mahal - shaped like a lotus blossoming in the sun, the Hazararama Palace temple with intricate stories carved over its every side and the Mahanavmi Dibba or the Victory Platform still majestic and proud await to fall back into routine. The sheer detail of the carvings and the number of sculptures speak of a race of artisans that weren't quite done in their business of outdoing each other in craftsmanship. Monolithic structures carved out of a single rock-the imposing Lakshmi Narasimha, the majestic Stone Chariot, the massive Ganesha statues, the Badavilinga are proof of the brilliance that was once envied. Cross the Tungabadra River over to the ancient capital of Anegundi and there are leisurely roads to traverse, myths to chase and boulders to scale and dive off, into the waiting arms of the Sanapur Lake.
Hampi has challenged time, survived the centuries and lived to tell the tale. And, they say, if you listen carefully enough, you might learn a thing or two on how to do the same.

Gokharna




A sleepy Brahmin town, lodged somewhere between a conservative society and a faithful hippy fan following, Gokarna is a dream destination for so many different reasons. Its refusal to fall into a certain type-casted slot is just one of them. Open beaches, undiscovered coves, epiphanic sunsets, jagged cliffs, quaint temples and an evasive culture that makes Gokarna whatever you want it to be. Sun, sand and surf is what you go to Gokarna for, and the solitude it offers is like a bonus track on a great music album. The Om Beach, with its Om-shaped shoreline is a scramble down a rocky cliff - just like every other beach in Gokarna. Cliffs separate each of Gokarana's five beaches from the others and offer spectacular views far out into the Arabian Sea. You can either take a boat ride to other beaches or walk it down. But either way the Kudle Beach, the Paradise Beach, the Half-moon Beach and the Gokarna Beach are worth a visit.
With beach shacks aplenty, you can either idle away your time in sun-soaked bliss - the Half-moon in its quaint smallness is as secluded as a private beach - or you can go for an action-packed beach holiday. Fishing trips, jet-skiing, boating trips to spot dolphins off the coast, banana boat rides and good food at the end of it all. And yes, just as Gokarna becomes whatever you want it to be, for the few days you're there, it also lets you be whoever you want to be.


Mangalore




Ensconced on the coast, this maritime city makes a pleasant and convenient stop between Goa and Kerala. With its narrow, winding streets fringed with coconut palms, quaint houses with terracotta-tiled roofs, beautiful beaches, temples and churches, and the aroma of spicy coconut curries, it has preserved its old-world charm. Mangalore was a major seaport and ship-building centre in Hyder Ali's time. Today it is a business and commercial centre and Karnataka's major port for the export of coffee, spices and cashew. The Someshwara Temple overlooking a rocky promontory, the ancient 10th century Mangala Devi Temple dedicated to the Goddess Mangala Devi, and the 11th century Kadri Manjunatha Temple with its exquisite bronze images of Lokeshwara co-exist with splendid churches and mosques. Among the more remarkable mosques are the Jumma Masjid in Bunder, built centuries ago by the Arabs, and the Idgah Mosque at Lighthouse Hill whose construction is attributed to Tipu Sultan at the end of the 18th century. The St. Aloysius College Chapel with its magnificent Biblical frescoes adorning the walls and ceilings is worth a peek. Equally impressive is the Shreemanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum with its wonderful collection of objet d'art, archaeology, ethnology, porcelain, and wooden carvings. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the Pilikula Nisagardhama, a sprawling 300-acre park, 12km from Mangalore, which has boating facilities, wildlife safari, mini aquariums and a science centre.

Best Time: All Year Around
Nearest Places: 
 Hassan - 172 
 Karwar - 285 
 Bangalore - 357

St. Mary's Island




About 6km from the Malpe coast into the Arabian Sea, one gets to see the palm-fringed St. Mary's Island which bears the cross that Vasco Da Gama placed when he landed in 1498. The island is 300m long and 100m wide. It is famous for its unique salt rock formations. Due to this geological importance, St. Mary's Island is declared as a National Geological Monument. It is also rated among India's top 7 Natural Wonders by Jet Wings Magazine (November 2009).

Malpe Beach





At the mouth of the Malpe River, about 6km from Udupi, is the natural harbour of Malpe, an important fishing centre that enriches Karnataka's coastline with its fabulous beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, graciously swaying palm trees, clear blue sky, and the gentle murmur of the sea set the perfect mood for an idyllic holiday. Across the bay is the island of Darya Bahadurgarh. Be sure to visit the Balarama Temple and Malpe's oldest tile factory, set up by the Basel Mission.

Chikmangalur



Chikmagalur has played host to an event, thanks to which, countless Indians wake up to brighter mornings. Centuries ago, when the Sufi mystic Baba Budan smuggled seven coffee beans from Yemen into India, he probably didn't bargain for millions of coffee junkies unwittingly blessing his soul everyday, with every sip of their coffee. Chikmagalur, whose hills nurtured the coffee culture at its bosom, is a green slice of heaven on a permanent coffee high.

Rambling hills, pristine pools, fascinating nooks and crannies complete with a shrine, intriguing caves, lush mists and dreamy woods make the geography of Chikmagalur. The journey to the highest peak in Karnataka is so engaging that one forgets to be scared - when there is reason to be afraid, very afraid. The roads are tricky, yes, but getting to the top is worth the while. Just like the 10 km trek to the gorgeous Habbe Falls is - it's almost impossible by vehicle and is inaccessible in the monsoons. Despite all that coffee, Chikmagalur is far from a gracious host. You need to work hard to win her affections. Well, its not for nothing Chikmagalur was a princess' dowry. When King Rugmagada Raya's younger daughter was given away in marriage, she brought with her this pretty portion of the Western Ghats as her dowry, thus giving the place its name - Chikka-magal-uru or Younger Daughter's Village. Long treks, safaris and breathing plenty of fresh, coffee-scented air - Chikmagalur makes you feel so good that you want to throw your arms around the world.