Trip to Coorg - Dubare, Nisargadhama and Namdroling Monastry ...

Hi Friends, From temples, let me just drift to the wonders of nature. The next day I was all set to travel and explore what I can in this beautiful picturesque place. The place to where I was heading called, Dubare, the elephant camp. The elephants for the Mysore Dussehra festival are trained here. The camp is situated between a very awesome scenic waters flowing around. To reach the camp, one has to travel in a boat. One can not only see the training, but also can play around and offer some food to the elephants. While returning from the camp, one can actually walk on the rocks where water is flowing and it is not very deep, in the months of march, april and may. It is fun walking around on the rocks while the water is playing around on your feet J. People interested in rafting can have one helluva experience here.

Carrying all these wonderful experiences to reminiscent for a life time, I headed to the next wonder of the nature called Nisargadhama, a forest resort, situated at 2km from kushal nagara and at a distance of 28km from Madikeri. This resort is a beautiful 64-acre island on the river Cauvery. This resort is blessed with green foliage as background and river Cauvery flowing by. The attractions here are boating and this place gives shelter to many animals. There are some medicinal plants that are grown inside the resort. There are elephant rides that facilitate the forest exploration. I had gone for boating and trust me; it was one unexplainable experience in the flowing waters of Cauvery with the trees bending into the waters as if to relax by the cooling effect that the river provides. There is a small stall put up just as you come up after a relaxing boating experience, where you can do a little shopping and there is a small restaurant if you are hungry :).

With all these memoirs, I proceeded my trip further to Bylakuppe, which is located 40km from Madikeri. In the exodus from Tibet that followed the 1959 Chinese invasion, thousands of Tibetan refugees settled here in Bylakuppe. This is an area where Tibetan arts and crafts are practiced. Here in Bylakuppe lies the Namdroling Monastry, a home to 500 Tibetan monks and upholds the teachings of Buddha till date. The Monastry belongs to Sangha community and preserves the Buddha preachings. Visiting the Golden temple here is just like visiting Tibet. Namdroling Monastry is the largest teaching centre of Nyingmapa; a lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The shiny Namdroling Monastry has gigantic gold plated statues of Tibetan deities, Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha Shakyamuni and Amitayus which reflect the rich cultural heritage of Tibetans. The whole place is echoed with soulful acoustics, visual brilliance and a simple way of leading life. Visiting Namdroling Monastry was worth watching. Near to Monastry there is shopping complex so do get some Tibetan things for your home.

Oops!!! I forgot to tell you about few more places…… Wait for next blog…. .till then, take care and SAONARA J

Trip to Coorg - Thalacauvery Temple and Brahamagiri hills view

Hi friends, lets continue with more of coorg's attractions… I hope and wish that all your minds have been under the lingering effect of the "Scotland of India", Madikeri, lying at 1525 ft above the sea level ……..

The same day I had been to Thalacauvery, the birth place of "Cauvery" river and the most significant pilgrimage center mesmerizing many of the tourists with its unprecedented view of the valley. This place is at a distance of 48km from Madikeri and 8 km from Bhagandeshwara Temple. The Cauvery River is one of the seven sacred rivers for Hindus in India. The Thalacauvery settles its way up in the Brahmagiri hills flanked and guarded by forests and hills on all sides. The original place of birth of the river Cauvery is a pit like formation known as "Brahma-Kundike". Tourists and pilgrims are not allowed to touch the water in order to maintain its piousness.

This place is about 4,500ft above the sea level. According to a mythical legend, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh gave darshan to the great sage Agastya under the holy Ashwatha tree. This tree is well preserved and open for tourists display. Hence Talacauvery is not is famous as a source of holy Cauvery but has an integral part in the religious beliefs of the Hindus.

On their trip to Talacauvery, tourists can visit the Brahmagiri peak. It is said that the peak was the site of the special yagna performed by the seven sages or the "Sapta Maharishis". This place provides breathtaking views of the Brahamagiri hills. After a tiring (call it tiring because it was a really hot day) day, I called it a day. The view from the hill top was astonishing. I'll leave you with some of snaps from the hill top.

So….will meet u all in the next blog….till then, take care and SAONARA J