Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp

The Idea of Jungle Lodges Resorts (JLR) run by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation is really wonderful. The activities you can find across different JLR are Nature Trekking, Wildlife Safari, Whitewater rafting, fishing etc.

"Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp" is located about 100 KM South from Bangalore on the Kanakpura Road laying between Shivanasamudhra falls and Mekedatu. It is famous for Mahseer fish. Directions are well marked in the Highway and it pretty easy to reach the camp. Road that leads to Camp is good and last 30 KM is through a winding jungle road.

Day 1: The camp is set along the bank of the Cauvery river. The camp is full of hammocks and rope nets, one can enjoy all the days resting in hammock. The package starts with welcome drinks and then followed by Lunch in common place called Gol Ghar. (It is one the most delicious Lunch which I have taken outside home). I have not expected such a good quality Lunch in a Resorts that is organized by Government.

In the evening you will be having coracle ride where you will taken upstream, you can also get on to the rock that are in middle of Cauvery have some fun time.

After coracle ride you can spend some time with Joy fishing. In the evening around 7:00 there will be a campfire and barbecue with soft and hard drinks on the bank of Cauvery, it was a great experience. Night around 8:30 dinner is served. With the dinner day one is completed. (You can hear the sound of animals walking around the Tents very clearly. But, no need to fear as the security will there to drive away the animals).

Day 2: Early in the morning around 6:15 PM you will have a wake up call with Tea/coffee. Around 7:00 in the morning a guided trek will start and it will be for 2hrs duration. While trekking you can view many deers if you are not making much noise. After the trekking, tasty breakfast is ready for you. Around 11:00 Check out process.

Information:

You can make a Day Trip or take an Overnight Package. Depending on the location you are visiting:Day Tour costs Rs.1000 per person(Welcome Drink, Lunch, Evening Tea + Activities )

• Overnight cost Rs.2750 per person (Welcome Drink, Lunch, Evening Tea Dinner, Bonfire and Breakfast for next morning+ Activities).
• For Overnight Packages you can choose between a Tent (@ about Rs.2750 per person) or Log Hut (@about Rs.3250 per person). Both categories are well furnished, comfortable and safe.Booking can be done at the Jungle Lodges office on MG Road in Bangalore (2nd Floor, Shringar Complex, MG Road, Bangalore 1).
  

You can make enquiries on telephone no.91-80-25597021 91-80-25597024 91-80-25597025 91-80-25586163 (Fax)or send an email to : info@junglelodges.com or visit http://www.junglelodges.com/

Since the lodges are in remote areas, full payment is to be made in advance at the MG Road office, which then makes arrangements at the respective camps accordingly. Entry to the camp is strictly on the basis of the receipt, so make sure you travel only after a firm booking.

Note:There is other option to plan your trip: http://www.careindia.in/index.html

Best Timings :

• August to January is the best time to visit this place.
• White water rafting is depends on water flow. (September to November)
• Fishing Mahseer fish. (December - January)
• Through out the year if you want a break from your busy life.

Preparations for the trip:

• Wear light shoes suitable for trekking.
• Extra clothes to change even if on a day trip.
• Carry caps for the trek if in summer.
• Carry water bottles for the trek

Trip to Munnar, Thekkady and Allepey (Alappuzha)

Thekkady, Munnar & Alleppey This is the first trip after our Marriage. We have choose Munnar as it is My wife's one of the dream destination. We have planned our trip to mainly to cover 3 locations Thekkady, Munnar and House Boat @ Alleppey. We got down our train at Kottayam and Reached Kumily by Bus. Altogether the total trip was really great.

Thekkady:

From Kottayam we reached to place called “kumily”, as we do not have direct buses to thekkdy. Kumily the bordering place of TN and Kerala. which is 5 KM from thekkady.

“Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary” in thekkady is not a park, it is a gaurded forest. At the sanctuary there is Periyar Lake, one can go for boating in that lake, you may figure out some wild animals like elephants etc. Even you can go for a nature walk in the forest where you can get chance of looking some wild animals and rare birds. We could not go for nature walk because it required minimum of 5 people. Cost for the Guided walk is around Rs 100 per head.

If you planning to Thekkady, make sure you reach there in the morning because the Sanctuary will close by 4:00 PM.

Munnar

The hill resort has been the place for summer retreat and tea plantations since long.

Digging the past of Munnar reveals the list of tea planters that visited Munnar. With the passage of time the forested and home of wildlife- Munnar has become perfect for tea plantations.

Sites to Visit at Munnar:

• Lavish and splendid tea gardens – You can get guided tours where they will guide the processing of Tea from picking of tea leaves till packing in the factories.
• The Christ Church of Munnar is another landmark of the hill resort. The church has been since the pre-independence days.
• Devikulam Lake - The cool environs attract tourists to this lake. You may even try angling in the waters of the Lake. It is an ideal spot to unwind and relax.

Sites Near By Munnar:

• The Mattupeety Lake which is 13 KM from Munnar is one of the major touris ts attractions around Munnar. It was created by a small hydro electricity dam is flanked by steep hills and woods all around.
• The Top Station is a vintage point around Munnar that offers panoramic views of the lovely landscapes and the valley
• Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is seventeen km from Munnar offers wondrous vistas of the valley.
• Ernakulum National Park - The park is nineteen km away from Munnar
• For adventurous activity seekers trekking is an option in the sanctuary.
• Munnar - Adventure Sports - You may try fishing in the Devikulam Lake.
• Best option to explore Munnar is a bicycle ride. You can easily hire bicycles in Munnar. There are several bicycle riding routes that are popular with the tourists. At you're your pace you get to enjoy the lovely landscape of Munnar. There are the wondrous valleys, ravishing rivers, tea estates and cardamom and sandalwood plantations that offer spectacular sights.

Munnar - Best Time to Visit:

Munnar is good to visit 365 days a Year. Winters are very cold it may drops to 1 degree Celsius. So, you have to completely cover in woolens.You can avoid traveling during Monsoons(June to September).

Munnar - Where to Stay:

There are several hotels, resorts and lodges that cater to the needs of the tourists with every person budge. Plan and Book your stay well in advance so that you will not waste time in search for accommodation after you reach. Even during Summer you will find difficult to get accomadation.

Good food is also easily available in Munnar. There are several restaurants that offer delicious and hygienic food at reasonable rates. You may take your pick of the cuisines from South Indian, North Indian and the Continental dishes.

Alleppey (Alappuzha)

Alleppey is the best place for Backwater Tourisiam. It is very popular for Kettuvallams where Kettu means tied with ropes and vallam means Boat. There are two travel options for choosing house boat Alleppey-Alleppey round or Alleppey-Kumarakom round trip.

The time you spend in the House boat is around 22 Hrs. i.e Check-in to boat around 12:00 PM and check out will be Next day 10 AM. They will provide you with Lunch, evening snacks, Dinner and Break fast. The boat cruises in the backwaters from 12pm -5.30pm and then it docks at a pre-destinated place. All boats have to dock by 5.30pm as per govt rules. The next morning it again starts at 6am and docks at 9.30 am. The boats have a decent bedroom with an attached WC. Even you have a House Boats with multiple rooms which can accommodate big families up to 10 people.

Distances:

• Kottayam to Thekkady : 142 KM
• Thekkady to Munnar : 106 KM
• Munnar to Alleppey : 160 KM
• Allepey to Kottayam : 130 KM
• Allepey to Cochin : 64 KM
• Alleppey-Kottayam : 29 KM - 3 & 1/2 hours (In Motor Boats Cruise through small canals)

There are many travels agents in Bangalore for Budget Travellers. Make sure to take complete travel plan from them before start so that you will not have any disappointment later.