RIVER TERN LODGE, LAKKAVALLI, CHIKMAGALUR

Location:

The River Tern Lodge is located in Lakkavalli in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. Shimoga is the closest town.

How to get there:

By Road: From Bangalore, drive on NH4 towards Tumkur. Take the Shimoga bypass road at Tumkur and reach.Tarikere via Arasikere, Kadur and Birur. Lakkavalli is about 275 km from Bangalore and 10 km from Tarikere.

By Train: Reach Shimoga or Birur by train and take a bus from there to Lakkavalli. Lakkavalli is 38 km from Shimoga and 45 km from Birur. The resort offers pick up facilities on request.

Season: The weather is pleasant all through the year. March to mid-May is the best time to see river terns. There is a good chance of sighting animals in the wild during summer. This region receives heavy rainfall between July and September after which the reservoir is full and the surroundings are lush.

Tariff: Rs. 3,250/- per person per day. The package includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, a boat ride and a safari in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Water sports come at an additional cost.

Other Attractions: The Jog falls, Sakrebayalu Elephant Camp and Amrutapura, famed for its Narasimha Temple with Hoysala architecture are other tourist attractions nearby.

THE SERAI, CHIKMAGALUR

HOW TO GET THERE

Chikmagalur is 250 km from Bangalore and is well connected to Bangalore and Mangalore by road. The nearest airport is Mangalore about 160 km away.

THINGS TO DO

There are many pleasant gateways nearby. A trip to the Mullayangiri and the Bababudangiri mountains is a must for both adventure lovers and casual tourists. On the way, there are many small waterfalls, dense forests and coffee estates. You could also make a trip to the neighboring Chikmagalur town and take in the Coffee Museum, complete with slides and interactive screens. You can also get a glimpse of the production of coffee from the bean to the aromatic brew.

TARIFF

Rooms are available in three categories. The Estate Villas are Rs. 10,000/- plus taxes. And the Estate Terraces, comprising an extra room in a duplex arrangement, is Rs. 14,000/- plus taxes. The Presidential Suite, comprising two rooms and a terrace is

Rs. 22000/- plus taxes. Serai is located at The Mugathihalli, K.M. Road, and Chikmagalur-577133.

Call: 8262-224903 to 14 or

For details, e mail: enquiries@theserai

PHUKET, BANGKOK

PHUKET, BANGKOK

HOW TO GET THERE

The majority of Phuket’s tourists arrive by air via Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (at Nong Ngu Hao, 20 km east of Bangkok), which is directly connected to major cities of India by a variety of airlines including Indian Airlines. Thai Airways, Jet airways, Air India. Phuket’s International Airport is 30 km north of Phuket city centre.

From Bangkok to Phuket:

By car: Take Route 4 from Bangkok to the south (867 km).

By Coach: Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok daily.

By Air: Thai Airways International operates flights to Phuket daily. Travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.

By Sea: The Deep Sea Port at Phuket is visited by both cargo and cruise ship from Thailand and from abroad.

WHAT TO DO

Explore beaches, parks and forests, discover a history and culture and fantastic dining and nightlife choices.

Phuket has a range of tours from coach trips to private excursions. Island tours leave daily stopping at places like national parks, temples and areas of interest. Some specialize in giving a flavor of local island life with stops and coconut plantations, while others focus on shopping and visiting spas.

Phuket has some of the world’s finest beaches like Patong Beach, Karon Beach, and Kata Beach.

Whether they are held to honour a religious belief or just for fun, the festivals of Phuket are exciting, sometimes bizarre spectacles. The Island’s most distinctive event is the annual Vegetarian Festival.

Most hotels are within close proximity to the beach, entertainment, restaurants, shopping and activity centres, which makes getting round on foot the best bet.

A CASE FOR SHERLOCK

SHERLOCK

TIGER HILL ROAD

UPPER THALAYATMUND, OOTY

HOW TOGET THERE

On the Coonoor/Ooty road, short of Charing Cross, is Hotel Ooty Gate. Opposite the hotel is a road that goes uphill (there is a phone booth with an arrow next to it saying “Sherlock”. Follow the arrows (that appear at frequent intervals) for 2.5 km and you are there.

THINGS TO DO

Catch up with your reading.

Picturesque rambles.

Ooty town is not too far if the shopping bug bites you.

Sherlock organizes treks on request.

TARIFF

(Per night and inclusive of breakfast for two plus 12.5% taxes extra.)

Weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) Luxury Room- Rs. 3,275/-

Deluxe Room-Rs. 2,575/-

Semi-deluxe room-Rs. 2,075/-

Week days (Monday to Thursday) Luxury Room –Rs. 2,975/-

Deluxe Room-Rs. 2,275/-

Semi-deluxe room-Rs. 1,875/-

Sherlock has special packages from December 18 till the New Year.

For details contact, Tel: 0423-2441641, 2440094

E mail-Sherlock@littleearth.in

Website: www.littleearth.in

PALM PARADISE

KALATHIL LAKE RESORT
CHEMMANAKARY, VAIKKOM

HOW TO GET THERE

By road, the resort is 50 km from Nedumbassery airport. By train, it is 28 km from Kochi Railway station.

THINGS TO DO

Go pedal-boating on a country boat-ride or canoeing.

Go sightseeing to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

The resort will arrange trips to the famed Vaikkom Siva temple.

TARIFF

Rates for lake front cottages begin at Rs. 6,000/- and Lagoon-front cottages begin at Rs. 5,000/- per night. Rates vary during off-season.

Call- 04829-271034/271035 or log on to www.kalathillakeresort.com for details.

The details are gathered from a trourism site.

JUMBO TALES

KABINI RIVER LODGE

NEAR NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK

HOW TO GET THERE

Kabini River Lodge is 220 km (takes about five hours) from Bengaluru via the Mysore-Mananthavadi Road. Sign boards are few and far between, and you are likely to get lost if you take a wrong turn from Mysore. The roads are in good shape for the most part except for the last 15 km, which is ridden with potholes.

THINGS TO DO

Go on a wildlife safari or a nature trail.

Take a coracle and boat ride in the Kabini River.

Go bird watching or cruising.

Watch a wildlife film or go on an elephant ride.

Indulge in an Ayurvedic massage at the Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala located on the premises.

TARIFF

The cottage - Rs. 5,000/-

Room          - Rs. 4,250/-

Tented cottages - Rs. 3,500/- for a person a night on a twin sharing basis. The package includes stay, all meals, jeep safaris in the Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park, coracle/boat ride, elephant ride (subject to availability), forest entry fee, camera fee and tax.

Bookings can be done online at www.junglelodges.com

For details, call 080-25597021, 24, 25 or fax -080-25586163 or

E mail- info@junglelodge.com

This information is gathered from a news paper.

IN COFFEE COUNTRY

MISTY MOMENTS AT THE IRUPU FALLS

GREEN VALLEY REPORT
PONNAMPET, COORG

HOW TO GET THERE

The resort is about 80 km from Mysore. Take the road to Hunsur (about 40 km) and then proceed towards Gonikoppal (about 30 km). On reaching Gonikoppal, take the Naharhole-Kutta Road and travel 5 km until you reach the Mugatagiri bus stand. A single lane road leads to the resort about 3 km away. There are autos at Gonikoppal bus stand that will take you to the resort for about Rs. 120/- The resort also has a pick-up facility for Rs. 130/-.

THINGS TO DO

Go white water rafting.
Visit the Nagarhole Reserve Forest or go on a jungle safari.
Tour the tea estate.
Make a splash at the spectacular Irupu falls.
Commune with nature.

TARIFF

The room charge per person for a night is Rs. 1,500/-
The tents cost Rs. 1,000/-
Rates differ for foreign nationals. The tariff is inclusive of breakfast and dinner. Contact -099866 55055, 93428 33848 or 080-25503115 for reservations.