Mekanagadde Homestay

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Tag: homestay in chikmagalur

Happiness is hiking with friends to The Ettina Bhuja Peak
Ettina Bujha – Ox’s shoulder / Hump.
An easy trek which any age group can do (except the final climb). Trek distance 2.5 kms / 2300 steps one side. Trek time – 45mins (personal experience). No prior permission required as of now, just parking charges for the vehicle to be paid.
We reached the base at around 9.30am. Google maps are accurate. Just search for Nanya Byraveshwara temple as said at homestay and drive. The homestay provides guide but we wanted to go ourselves to explore our own. The final 2 kms, the roads are bit bad as it’s a wildlife area, so drive / ride carefully. We parked our two cars, spoke to shop vendor nearby and took some information on the forest area and the peak and started our trek.
I’ll divide this trek into 3 phase.
Phase 1 – The wide trail with birds chirping
The trail which starts from the left side of the parking lot which is wide enough to know it. You can hear a lot of birds chirping if started early morning. After a distance of about 1 km, you come to an open land where the peak can be seen even clearer as shown in the picture.
Ettina Bhuja view on trekking
Phase 2 – Darker or serene
This trail is narrow and the trees have grown huge enough to make the path go dark but not completely. You can hear water gushing through the forest too. The good thing about this trek is that there isn’t any other paths which might be confusing to find the correct route. It’s just one single way.
After walking through little ascend and descend about 1 km you reach a point where you need to turn about 75° to right and that’s where the final stretch starts.
You have almost completed the trek if you aren’t hiking the last bit of it. This stretch is far more beautiful than the summit. The small flowers with grass all over the place and that huge rock standing tall, energizes everything.
Phase 3 – Rock climbing
Good hiking shoes are recommended for final climb. Few boulders are big enough and need proper grip to climb. When you climb the summit, you can see water falling through the mountains at several places, only if the valley is clear from fog.
Spent about good 45 mins on the peak, emersed into the clouds and the sound of the water and mild sunlight hitting the face whenever the Fog cleared. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone around on the peak.
Started our descend, took 30 mins to reach the base. That was easy-peasy to get down.
Now, we had already decided that we can go to Bettada Bhairaveshwara Temple if it doesn’t rain. We were lucky that there wasn’t any indication of rain and we started to our next destination which is 2 kms away from Mekanagadde Homestay and 8.5 kms from Ettina Bujha our current destination.
Bettada Bhairaveshwara Temple
The drive was amazing as the roads were quite narrow and through the forest. And since it’s a village and forest area, the roads leading to Bettada Bhairaveshwara Temple has concrete road from the base and final some 500 meter there isn’t any tar, it’s just gravel so we decided to park our vehicles next to temple. So the path leading to Pandavar Betta is kinda off-roading experience if taking the bike or the jeep.
Reached the place, a small trek leads to the step 1 of Pandavar Betta and went around strolling a bit and left the place with peace at mind. One can go to next step if there is no dense fog around
We could see a wild boar while we were heading back to homestay. Wasn’t quick enough to capture a picture of it.
Overall, our trip from Saturday to Monday was good. Thankful to the hospitality provided at Mekanagadde Chikmagalur homestay. This place is amazing for its location in the midest of village and surrounding forests. This is the best homestay to experience trekking to Ettina Bhuja and looking for a comfortable and relaxed stay.
Hoping to spend as many days I can on the mountains.
Stay safe travel safe.
Uday Shankar
Guest Blogger
April 22, 2022
Chikmagalur Dishes / Malnad Cuisines
Chikmagalur is a city and a hill station located about 250 km away from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Situated in the suburbs of Western Ghats, the city allures many tourists all over the state for its good climatic conditions, coffee estates, farms and many more landscapes. While staying at a homestay in Chikmagalur one can relish the best malnad food in chikmagalur depending upon the season.
Prominently known as the malnad region, Chikmagalur is famous for its authentic mouthwatering delicacies, an exquisite treat for taste buds. The malnad food is exceptionally renowned for its local fruits and vegetables available throughout Western Ghats’ thick forests. A few of the essential dishes of Chikmagalur are Akki Roti, Kalule (Tender Bamboo Stems), Alubu (Natural Mushrooms), and Kesa (Colocasia Leaves), Gaddhe Yedi (Soft Shell Crabs), Gaddhe Meenu (tiny fishes), Kadubu, Menthe Muddhe etc. Let’s look into the details of the top 3 cuisines of Malnad:
Akki Roti:
Akki Roti is one of the critical dishes of each household of Chikmagalur. Every morning breakfast starts with the aroma of Akki Roti straight from the kitchen, which is a unique breakfast compared to other regions. The main component of Akki Roti is Rice and Rice Flour. It is unnecessary to cook a bowl of fresh rice to make the roti as it is prepared with the previous night or leftover rice from our lunch/dinner menu. The recipe goes as follows:
- Take the leftover rice or fresh rice in a mixing bowl and add a good amount of salt, rice flour and water.
- Mix it well, making it into a consistency of the dough and take a ball sized dough to make the roti.
- Flatten the roti dough balls in the form of a chapati (Generally, there are roti making machines available in the market to make roti).
- Cook the flattened roti on the Tawa on either side and cook directly on the stove flame until the roti is fluffed and suitable to eat.
Kalule (Tender Bamboo Stems):
During the monsoon season, Kalule (Tender Bamboo Shoots), is a dish that is a must for all people in malnad. It is a seasonal delicacy that is grown in forests and along riversides. During the monsoon season, the first rains influence the bamboos to protect the tender shoots collected before it turns hard. The hard outer covering is pealed until we get the soft mushy pale coloured bamboo shoot. The bamboo shoots are cut into slices and soaked in water for about 48 hours. It eliminates all the toxins and acids that the node contains. The dripping water needs to be changed within 24 hours, allowing the bamboo to ferment a bit, giving a tangy taste. The recipe goes like this:
- Wash the soaked bamboo thoroughly and remove any retained water.
- Add tadka with mustard, curry leaves, garlic cloves, and add the sliced bamboos to the pan.
- Add prominent spices like chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and sesame seeds.
- Mix everything well till the spices blend nicely with the bamboo shoots.
Note: Akki Roti is best eaten hot with a pinch of melted ghee.
Kesa (Colocasia Leaves):
Kesa (Colocasia Leaves) are one of the authentic delicacies of malnad food, with a medicinal significance with rich iron content. These leaves are grown in wetlands. Sometimes few leaves are not suitable for consumption as they might contain a few harmful toxins. But the experts quickly detect the leaves if good enough for consumption. In a few parts of Chikmagalur, this dish is cooked by tying a knot with the leaves, and a few people make curry out of it by chopping it into pieces precisely like spinach. The method of preparation is as follows:
- Wash the Kesa leaves and knot them or chop them into fine pieces.
- Add tadka with mustard, garlic cloves, green chilli, and chopped/knotted Kesa leaves in the pan.
- Add the required amount of salt, chilli powder, and coriander powder with a good lime juice. (coconut can be ground and added if needed)
- Cook until the medium consistency is retained.
NOTE: Tastes fantastic when served with Akki Roti and can be had with freshly cooked hot rice.
April 12, 2022
Best Picturesque Riding Destinations in and around Chikmagalur
Every biker is familiar with the feeling of freedom, the joy of flying through the freeways and shredding the tarmacs from a great ride. This is perhaps the greatest reason why those of us with a hint of madness love our two wheeled beasts. Now imagine every feeling intensify thanks to some picturesque landscapes that take breath away from their sheer beauty. Imagine yourself riding amidst nature’s best creations. Makes you want to drop that cup of coffee, switch your pristine suit for an equally pristine riding jacket and head out on the roads doesn’t it?
A RIDE THROUGH THE COFFEE HOUSE OF KARNATAKA
The first location to visit was the good old hill station in Hassan district on the way from Bangalore to Mangalore. If you couldn’t guess it yet, we talk of Sakleshpur. Just about 250Km from Bangalore, the location is about 5 hours ride from Bangalore. Sakleshpur is definitely worth a ride. The roads are mostly in good condition with plenty of pitstops peppered on the way. The weather is an absolute beauty and the landscape is full of lush green coffee plantations, breath taking mountains, tiny creeks and streams and some waterfalls too.
SIP SOME CLASSY TEA AT KELAGUR
A pitstop at Kelagur tea estate plantation is a must for any one visiting that place. Pick some tea powder from the local shop to gift it to your friends and family. A nice picturesque tea garden can bring some nice photographs to your memorable road trip.
TACKLE SOME CURVY BEND WITH THE QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS
Once inside Mudigere you simply can’t let Charmadi Ghat slip by your fingers and that’s exactly what riders thinks. Charmadi Ghat is is the Queen of Hill stations and it is also a short ride away from Mudigere. What makes the trail one of the most exciting one for riders is the fact that it has close to 11 sharp hairpin bends that make for a perfect recipe to a memorable ride. If you’re headed from Bangalore you could have a short pit stop at Shiradi Ghat for some bird watching before you hit the Dharmasthala road to Mudigere towards Ujire.
SAY HELLO TO SOME ELEPHANTS IN THE WESTERN GHATS
We don’t really mean it. Please do not try saying hello to wild elephants. That can end very badly for everyone.
Getting back on track, riders hear some talk of elephants and Western Ghats from some of the caretakers at their homestay in Chikmagalur. Head to plateau nestled amidst the towering mountains of the Western Ghats known as Kalasa. The best way to ride to Kalasa is via Kottigehara as this allows you to pass through the forests (best not to do this at night) and plenty of tiny waterfalls and if you are lucky you may even spot some elephants crossing the road. This is one of the most picturesque roads in all South India.
SHRED THE HIGHWAYS THROUGH THE SCOTLAND OF SOUTH INDIA
Once at Sakleshpur you won’t feel heading back to home base. Instead choose to ride on visiting Belur, Halebidu, Shravanabelagola and a bunch of other places on their way to Coorg. Coorg is an absolutely stunning but rather quiet town nestled in the midst of coffee plantations, colonial style bungalows and the river Cauvery. The food here is absolutely amazing especially the pork which is a major delicacy in the town. We’d like you to know that Coorg is a convenient 280Kms from Bangalore just in case if you’re planning on a ride. Once at Coorg you can opt to stay at many home stay options (some may require pre-booking).
March 13, 2016
Benefits of Staying at a Homestay in Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur
There’s a saying, “Athithi Devo Bhava”, which means “the guest is God”. Specially in Karnataka it’s a huge honor to have guests in our homes and please them. Our hospitality is no were in the world. Sadly, most travellers first finds to stay in hotels, never get to experience true malnad hospitality. The good news is that everything is gradually changing as a result of growing popularity of homestays in Chikmagalur and Sakleshpur.
Staying in homestay is better than staying at resorts
Staying at a homestay is a great way to experience the culture and lifestyle of a destination, while saving money and enjoying more comfort and convenience than a resort. Here are some reasons why you should choose a homestay over a resort for your next trip:
- A homestay is more personal and friendly than a resort. You can interact with the host family, learn about their customs and traditions, and get insider tips on the best places to visit and eat. A resort, on the other hand, is more impersonal and formal, with standardized services and facilities that may not suit your preferences or needs.
- A homestay is more authentic and immersive than a resort. You can live like a local, eat home-cooked meals, participate in daily activities, and explore hidden gems that are off the beaten track. A resort, on the other hand, is more isolated and artificial, with a touristy atmosphere and a limited exposure to the local culture and environment.
- A homestay is more affordable and flexible than a resort. You can find a homestay that fits your budget and expectations, with different options for amenities, location, and duration. You can also negotiate the price and conditions with the host directly, without any intermediaries or commissions. A resort, on the other hand, is more expensive and rigid, with fixed rates and policies that may not match your requirements or plans.
A homestay is similar to bed and breakfast concept. They are accommodated in the own home, or in separate guest house. Nowadays, most homestays provide guests as much comfort as reputable hotel do.
1. Unique and Characterful Accommodation – Tired of sterile hotels? There better way to experience the incredibly diversity and charm of Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur at a homestay. The options are almost endless and include plantation bungalows, historic mansions, and remote rural cottages.
2. Personalized Service – In contrast to a hotel, a homestay usually only has a few rooms. The family who resides there runs it, and acts as host. This guarantees that guests receive plenty of individual attention. You can spend as little or as much time with the host family as you like. Some guests choose only to dine with them, while others spend hours chatting to them. Regardless, staying with an malnad family is the easiest way of finding out about Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur culture and way of life. Many guests and hosts find that they bond with each other so much, that they keep in touch long after the vacation is over.
3. Local Knowledge — The wealth of information that the hosts have about their local area makes deciding what to see and do a breeze. Such local knowledge is extremely helpful in getting the most from your visit. Many hosts are delighted to show their guests around their local area.
4. Home Cooked Food — There is a huge difference between the malnad food served in restaurants and hotels, and the food that’s cooked in Chikmagalur – Sakleshpur homestay. By staying at a homestay, you’ll be able to taste authentic malnad home cooked food. Some homestays even welcome their guests into their kitchen, and let them watch and participate in the cooking process.
5. Unique Activities — As a guest at a homestay, activities will vary depending on location. Exploring a coffee plantation in Chikmagalur, watching birds, herding animals, village visits, picnics, and temple tours.
Those who prefer their privacy may feel more relaxed at a homestay that has separate accommodations for guests, rather than rooms in the family home.
September 21, 2015