[fromusawithluv]

Hi, I am planning on visiting Dharmasthala in mid-June from Bangalore to check out the nature cure center (naturopathy).  I'm assuming that it'll take me a day or so to get acquainted with the area.  Have you been to Dharmasthala, or neighboring areas?  How is it during the month of July? Too rainy to do anything??

I heard Dharmasthala is about 300 Kms away from Bangalore, and is accessible only by road. What would you suggest the best way to get there?  train from Bangalore to Mangalore, then take a taxi over to Dharmasthala? Taxi from Bangalore to Dharmasthala making frequent stops?  Any reputable taxi group from Bangalore?  

Also wanted to check out Udupi (Krishna temple) and other neighboring temples.  Will I have time to see those places?  I'm planning out (4) days for this trip: 1st day - travel, 2nd day - look around the facility, visit temples, 3rd day - floater, 4th day - return to Bangalore.  

Do you have any other suggestions?

Your helpful suggestions and information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Prof. Lionel Aranha]

Mid June and July - Dharmastala experiences heavy rains.
Travel from Bangalore
- Hired Taxi; @ 5.5/km for non ac, 7.5/km for ac; Driver 'bata' 150 per day.
- KSRTC operates convenient overnight luxury buses from Bangalore
Nothing much to do in Dharmastala.

Udupi is 2 hours away by road. You need not come to Mangalore at all; unless you want to fly down to Dharmastala. No trains from Bangalore to Mangalore for at least another 6 months.

[rangss]

fromusawithluv, on May 16 2006, 12:45 AM, said:

Hi, I am planning on visiting Dharmasthala in mid-June from Bangalore to check out the nature cure center (naturopathy).  I'm assuming that it'll take me a day or so to get acquainted with the area.  Have you been to Dharmasthala, or neighboring areas?  How is it during the month of July? Too rainy to do anything??

The good Professor Lionel knows best.

Quote

I heard Dharmasthala is about 300 Kms away from Bangalore, and is accessible only by road. What would you suggest the best way to get there?  train from Bangalore to Mangalore, then take a taxi over to Dharmasthala? Taxi from Bangalore to Dharmasthala making frequent stops?  Any reputable taxi group from Bangalore?

Yes. You can take a taxi. but start early (say 5AM) to beat the heavy freight traffic till Nelamangala where you take a right turn to head for Hassan.

Only one stop would be neccessary: Hassan. Hotel Shri Krishna with its veggie restaurant is a good place for a stopover. Thereafter it is a couple of hours drive. You can take a break at Sakleshpur too and enjoy the coffee plantations.

Quote

Also wanted to check out Udupi (Krishna temple) and other neighboring temples.  Will I have time to see those places?  I'm planning out (4) days for this trip: 1st day - travel, 2nd day - look around the facility, visit temples, 3rd day - floater, 4th day - return to Bangalore.

I have no idea about your plans or your normal travel habits. But let me give you my experience. I hope it would help you decide:

I had once done Bangalore-Dharmasthala-Udupi-Sringeri-Bangalore in 22 hours flat using a normal taxi.
Started at 4 Am at Bangalore. Reached Dharmasthala after the aforementioned halt at 10:00AM. Later made it to Udupi at 2:00 PM. From Udupi to Sringeri...arrived at 4:00PM. Left Sringeri via Chikmagalur at 5:00 PM and reached Bangalore enroute Hassan (stopover for dinner) by 2.00AM.

I spent a couple of hours at Dharmasthala (refreshed at the local guest house). At Uudpi I spent an hour. Sringeri is nestled amongst the hills and hosts a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Learning by the banks .of a muddy perrenial river. It is also the home to the Sankaracharya's monastery in South (worth a visit)

The journey was not the least tiring. My mom and dad accompanied me. Dad had just recuperated from his angioplasty and found the journey through the hills and deep forests quite refreshing rather than tiring.

[Aadil]

I was there in last June and it was really beautiful on the hilly roads with all the lush greenery and beautiful climate at that time with the rains having just started around there. I went by car from Udupi so I am not sure about how to go there from Bangalore but I am sure there will be a train to get there (or nearby like Udupi from where you can take a car or bus). I don't know about the nature cure center because I went to see only the Bahubali statue and the wonderful antiques museum and vintage cars museum nearby in the town. Also worth seeing the raths from the temple which are taken out in processions with the temple idols as well as one old DC-3 (Dakota) airplane which I have worked on during my aircraft maintenance engineering apprenticeship which is donated by the Birlas group on display there. Not for too long there as we were on the road all the time moving from one temple town to another. No, not on a religious pilgrimage but on a architectural and touristy trip to see all the beautiful places in Karnataka and other states too. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

[fromusawithluv]

Thank you Prof, Rangss, and Aadil!  Aadil, was just gonna reply to you on the other place .  

Quote

Mid June and July - Dharmastala experiences heavy rains.
Travel from Bangalore
- Hired Taxi; @ 5.5/km for non ac, 7.5/km for ac; Driver 'bata' 150 per day.
- KSRTC operates convenient overnight luxury buses from Bangalore
Nothing much to do in Dharmastala.

That's really good to know.   Are the rains periodic - rains then stops then rains again?  I was hoping a little sun would be good.

What does 'bata' mean? is that the food allowance?

Quote

Udupi is 2 hours away by road. You need not come to Mangalore at all; unless you want to fly down to Dharmastala. No trains from Bangalore to Mangalore for at least another 6 months.

Darn...should've read that Mangalore - Bangalore train post before!

didn't think about flying..hmmm.. will check that out too.

Quote

The good Professor Lionel knows best.
Yes. You can take a taxi. but start early (say 5AM) to beat the heavy freight traffic till Nelamangala where you take a right turn to head for Hassan.

Only one stop would be neccessary: Hassan. Hotel Shri Krishna with its veggie restaurant is a good place for a stopover. Thereafter it is a couple of hours drive. You can take a break at Sakleshpur too and enjoy the coffee plantations.
I have no idea about your plans or your normal travel habits. But let me give you my experience. I hope it would help you decide:

I had once done Bangalore-Dharmasthala-Udupi-Sringeri-Bangalore in 22 hours flat using a normal taxi.
Started at 4 Am at Bangalore. Reached Dharmasthala after the aforementioned halt at 10:00AM. Later made it to Udupi at 2:00 PM. From Udupi to Sringeri...arrived at 4:00PM. Left Sringeri via Chikmagalur at 5:00 PM and reached Bangalore enroute Hassan (stopover for dinner) by 2.00AM.

I spent a couple of hours at Dharmasthala (refreshed at the local guest house). At Uudpi I spent an hour. Sringeri is nestled amongst the hills and hosts a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Learning by the banks .of a muddy perrenial river. It is also the home to the Sankaracharya's monastery in South (worth a visit)

The journey was not the least tiring. My mom and dad accompanied me. Dad had just recuperated from his angioplasty and found the journey through the hills and deep forests quite refreshing rather than tiring.

  
Wow Rangss!!  That's an amazing (22) hour journey!  I think I would like to mimic your trip (not in 22 hours), and visit places Aadil suggested as well.  

Do you have details on the local guest house in Dharmasthala?

I have been to Sringeri (years before).  Def. want to see it again - forgotten how lovely the place is.  I went to Kalady, Kerala - birthplace of Sankaracharya -  beautiful place too!

[Aadil]

>>>> Do you have details on the local guest house in Dharmasthala?

I stayed at the Mavanthoor Residency (approved by KSTDC) in Belthangady, Ujire - 274240. Telephone Numbers: 236573 and 236378. This is a few minutes away from Dharmasthala and cost Rs350 for a double room. It also had a good enough restaurant. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

[Aadil]

I missed seeing the temple in Udupi as we left immediately by car after arrival from Madgaon from the train station itself. Reached the hotel at night and then started off in the morning with the Bahubali statue which is similar to Sravanabelagola but a little bit shorter than that. It is supposed to be the second tallest Bahubali statue in India. Then went to Dharmasthala museum and other sites nearby. Then started off towards Mysore followed by Srirangapattina, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Belur, Halebid, Shimoga, Gajanur, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakkal, Hampi before returning to Mumbai (home) for the second leg of the trip. Glad to be of any help to you in the planning of your trip here.

Cheers,
Aadil.