Bhimashankar - Holy and High Abode of Shiva!

Bhimashankar is an ancient shrine, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. It is located in the village of Bhorgiri 50 km north west of Khed, near Pune & located 110 km away from Pune in the Ghat region of the Sahyadri hills. Bhimashankar is also the source of the Bhima river, which flows south east and merges with the Krishna river near Raichur. The other Jyotirlinga shrines in Maharashtra are Tryambakeshwar and Grishneshwar. Regular pilgrims near Mumbai visit Bhimashankar. The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary located here is a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.

There is a very interesting tradition here. Before you enter the main temple which houses the Lord, you pass through a small temple which houses 'Nandi' the faithful bull on which he rides. People whisper their wishes in the ear of Nandi and it is assumed that he will convey them to Lord himself.

When to go
Best Time to Visit is between August to February.

How to reach?
MSTC State buses go there from Pune twice a week with more than five hours of bus journey. It is also accessible from Karjat on the Pune - Bombay section of the Central railway.

The Nilgiris - 'Blue Mountains'

Forming the junction of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, the Nilgiris- the `Blue Mountains'. The hills, a part of the Nilgiri District of Tamilnadu, stretch across the borders of the state into the adjoining states of Kerala and Karnataka. The Nilgiris is better suited for novice trekkers.

When to go
The Nilgiris never get too hot or too cold for trekking. Summer, however, is when the area is pretty crowded, so winter - particularly between November and February - is a better time.

How to reach there?
All three main towns of the Nilgiris- Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor- are conveniently located, with good connections via road and rail. Coimbatore, which is linked to the rest of India by air, rail and road, is just 112 km from Ooty and 80 km from both Coonoor and Kotagiri. Regular buses to the Nilgiris depart from Coimbatore.
The train from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam, popularly known as the toy train, covers a distance of 46 km in five hours uphill, and in three and a half hours on the return journey. Mettupalayam is, in turn, connected by road to Ooty (54 km) and to Coonoor and Kotagiri (both 35 km).

If you're in southern India, probably the most viable route would be by rail to Mettupalayam, and then by road into the Nilgiris. From another part of India, a flight to Coimbatore, followed by a bus ride to Coonoor, Ooty or Kotagiri is best.

A Kodachadri Sunset

The sunsets in Kodachadri are meant to be spectacular and in one spot it is possible to see the sun rise and the sunset.

Tourists can catch the the KSRTC bus that goes towards Kollur via Shimoga and getdown at a place called Karekatte, 20 km short of Kollur.

From Karekatte set out towards Kodachadri, path for the next four to five km was straight out of a jungle portrait.

On the way you will passthru Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shala, a government higher primary school. After a while have breakfast pottu, malyali eatery.

A temple six to seven km away and then to Shankara Peeta, a place where it is said Hindu philosopher Shankaracharya meditated. The last part of the trek will be mostly a walk through the clouds.

After a lunch look for spots around Kodachadri -- Chitramoola Caves, Ganesha Guhe and a dip at one of the smaller waterfalls called Agastya Theertha.

Looking For Thrills 'n' Spills? Try Hogenakal

Hogenekal, located 180 km from Bangalore, this paradise originates as a small stream in the highlands of Karnataka and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down.

At Hogenakal, the Cauvery, now a large river, drops into the low elevation of Tamil Nadu and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. The river then spreads out over a wide area of sandy beaches and flows through a straight but narrow ravine near Salem where the Mettur Dam creates a 60 sq km lake called Stanley Reservoir.

The river is perfect for a boating trip on the coracle. Unlike regular boats, the coracle is round in shape and made of bamboos. The bottom is covered with a plastic sheet cemented by tar.

The boat rides cost around Rs 300 to 600, though this can be negotiated.

Watching the sun setting against the wonderful backdrop is truly a sight to behold. One can experience the magnificent sight from a hanging bridge (Rs 3 per head). It's the ultimate experience of tranquility to watch the stream of white water against the waning, yellowish dusk at the main waterfall.

How to get there?

- By road: Hogenakal is around 150km from Bangalore. To get there, you need to take the Hosur road (NH-7 (36 kms)and drive through Hosur and Krishnagiri. Take a left after Krishnagiri to reach Dharmapuri. Drive into Dharmapuri and ask for directions to the fall. Another 30km drive takes you to Hogenakal. Roads are pretty good till Dharmapuri and then will slow you down a bit.

- By train: Coimbatore Express (No 2677) leaves from Bangalore at 6.15 am and reaches Dharmapuri at 8.38 am. From there one can then take a bus to Hogenakal.