Travel, Trek and Hike Forever

Turahalli/Karishma Hills - A good weekend evening getaway near Bangalore.

There are hundreds of places near us but we fail to identify those. Turahalli probably is one such. May be because its very close to the city or because it does not provide much of the scope for hiking or trekking etc and its just a view point, we simply ignore such places. But, turahalli is pretty decent getaway if you have a group of friends and you do not want a mall to be your getaway spot or to chit chat. (I remember going to Yercaud where some of the view points were kind of similar ones but a lot of people travel there to see the places just for the name it has got.)

Turahalli is famous as per a couple of blogs for rock climbing etc. But its only when some organizations arrange some activity like that there will be such adventure sports here. It's a view point amidst of a forest area almost within the city off Kanakapura road. You get to feel good breeze, you get some good place to sit and chit chat for sometime relaxing on a rock.

I am not sure of Birding options here but I read in a couple of posts that Turahalli is one of the good birding spot near Bangalore. We had been in the evening and did not find much.

Note - The place does not look safe for couple or girls only gang etc. Its better to go with a group. Probably its not a safe place late evening as its hard to find anyone and also its covered by forest and no help can be expected.

How to reach?
Turahalli is around 20Kms from Bangalore and lies in Kanakapura Road. It is better you follow google maps or ask localites to guide you to the place.
(Just after the Holiday Resort Cross road in Kanakapura, take a right turn and it leads to Turahalli forest area. Go little further and you see a mud road towards your right dividing the forest. Take this road and nearly after a kilometer, there are a couple of view points. Select any rock, sit, chit chat, enjoy the breeze and have a safe ride back home!)

Photos

Thanks to my friend Abhilash for the click!

A view of the near by city. I fear when this forest is going to disappear!

The rock on the other side is one more view point. A small temple lies near by that.

It was long time since I had given some good ride for myself and my bike. So, decided to go to some or the other place on the weekend of 11-07-2015. Slept late the previous night and hence could not wake up early in the morning. Probably if I had woke up early, my plan would have been a ride to Waynad. But since it was already late, did not want to ruin the chance of seeing Waynad completely and hence opted for Yercaud ride. The whole intention was to have a good ride. Had already checked with many friends but everyone were busy on that weekend. Anyways, this was not the first time I decided to go alone so it was pretty normal for me to go alone. :)

It's a brilliant bike ride experience when you ride to Yercaud since you get to enjoy riding both in wide National highways as well as scenic Ghat sections with curves and ascent. The ride from Bangalore to Salem is in NH4 (Bangalore-Chennai) and its up to you to decide your speed limit here. Some area of this highway is scenic as well since you cross a couple of reserve forests before you reach Salem. Once you reach Salem, its the start of next best part of the ride - i.e. riding in the ghat section. The ghat section is around 20 Kms in distance and is very scenic. The hairpin curves, the ride in a road that divides coffee estates once you are about to reach the peak everything adds to the pleasure of riding.

What's special in Yercaud?

If you ask me - Nothing! Because, if its for something special you go here, then there are better places which have similar but better scenes and places. Its yet another hill station with lot of hotels, lodges and Resorts. Beauty of Yercaud would have been better had it rained during proper time this year. At least the falls would have been better when I visited.
The only place that I liked in Yercaud is Annamalaiyar Temple area. Probably most people do not go there thinking its some Shrine. Even though the list of major attraction in Yercaud lists this place, I hardly found 10-15 people there. It's not just a Shrine but a view point too. In fact, the best view point of Yercaud. You get to see the Yercaud village, the mountains, and the cold breeze, and also a good ride uphill. So, if you are going to Yercaud, do not miss this place. The second best is the Ladies Seat view point. You can see the hairpin curves clearly and it provides a good view.

Boat house, Deer Park etc are pretty average. If you are going for a single day ride, then you better skip all these.

The water falls probably would have been better if it had at least a bit of water. If July is not the right season then I do not know which month is! To reach the water falls, you have to travel 8 Kms from Yercaud Lake and go down some 200-250 Steps. Climbing up is little tough when you feel bad for going down for nothing. (I was warned by a couple of people not to go down since there is nothing to see. And one fellow almost stopped me from going saying "We did not have anyone to warn before going, for you we are there" He was funny when he said that taking fast breath ! ) But, the falls is amidst of forest and if there is water, it will definitely be magnificent.

How to reach?

Reaching Yercaud is very simple. Take Bangalore Chennai Highway and go for ~200 Kms and you reach Salem. Take Yercaud route from Salem.

Within Yercaud, its not hard to visit any place since the whole town is not too big all the places lie near by.

Final word - If not for a good ride, do not visit Yercaud. (Unless you are bored visiting places like Coorg, Chikmangalore, Kodachadri, Kudremukha etc. again and again and you just want to see one more new place)

Photos