After two years of waiting for a collapsed bridge to be rebuilt, Mavinahalla villagers in Kodagu constructed a makeshift footbridge from walnut trees due to government inaction. The temporary solution eases their commute but doesn’t address the ongoing issue during rainy seasons.
After two long years of waiting and petitioning for a collapsed bridge to be rebuilt, the residents of Mavinahalla village in Kodagu took matters into their own hands. Tired of government inaction, the villagers gathered walnut trees and constructed a footbridge themselves, a makeshift solution to the ongoing problem.
The bridge, which connected Mavinahalla village to the main road between Kushalanagar and Somwarpet, collapsed two years ago due to heavy rains.
Despite numerous requests to local authorities and elected representatives, including former MLA Appachhu Ranjan and newly elected MLA Mantar Gowda, the bridge remains unrepaired. This has caused significant hardship for the village’s residents, especially those who rely on the bridge for daily commutes.
To reach Mavinahalla village, residents must now take a detour from the Kushalanagar-Somwarpet highway to Yadavanadi, and from there, navigate the Harangi route—a journey that has added several kilometres to their daily travels. The collapsed bridge was the shortest route, with a direct path to Yadavanadi only one and a half kilometres away. Without it, villagers, including school and college students, are forced to walk an extra three kilometres each way.
For the past two years, the people of Mavinahalla have been left with no choice but to navigate the longer, more difficult route. Those with their vehicles have found it easier to manage, but the many poor families in the village, who do not have access to personal transportation, have struggled. Frustrated and unable to continue walking the extra distance daily, the villagers pooled their resources, purchased walnut trees, and built a footbridge themselves.
The makeshift bridge has provided some relief, but it is not a permanent solution. Ranjith, a resident, expressed his frustration: “We have been asking for the bridge to be rebuilt for two years. We met with Appachhu Ranjan and now with Mantar Gowda, but no one has taken any action. We had no choice but to build this bridge ourselves, but it’s only a temporary fix. When the rains come, the stream washes it away.”
Lalatha, another resident, echoed this sentiment: “We’ve told the authorities about our situation so many times, but no one listens. The footbridge is just a band-aid on a bigger problem.”
source: http://www.newsable.asianetnews.com / Newsable Asianet / Home> English News> Karnataka / by Vinaykumar Patil / August 30th, 2024
Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar called on senior Congress leader Mittoo Chengappa at his residence in Kushalnagar on Thursday, 16th May 2024.
Earlier, Dr. Parameshwar had gone to Kumbaragadige village near Mutlu in Somwarpet, Kodagu district, where he met the family of U.S. Meena, a minor girl who was recently beheaded by a man. The Minister inquired about Mittoo Chengappa’s health and reminisced about old memories as Congress activists and wished him good health before leaving.
Madikeri MLA Dr. Manthar Gowda, former MLC Veena Achaiah, KPCC General Secretary K.P. Chandrakala, Congress youth leader N. Madhu and other prominent leaders were present with the Minister during his visit to Chengappa’s residence.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 18th, 2024
Dr Geetha Kariappa is a professor of English, with 25+ years of experience, teaching graduate and post-graduate classes at the University of Mangalore and Mysore. Her passion lies in writing. As a full-time author, her 4 published novels and short stories with Kodagu and Kodava culture as the backdrop are the best sellers on Amazon.
Travel makes one modest. You see what tiny place you occupy in the world.
–Gustave Flaubert
Someone famously remarked, see the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.
Kodagu or Coorg, often referred to as the ‘Scotland of India’, is the most searched travel destination of the year and secured the 7th position among the world’s top 10 tourist destinations. This recognition is a testimony to the district’s natural beauty, enchanting scenery, gushing waterfalls and virgin forests. It has numerous resorts and homestays and its 7th global ranking places it alongside renowned destinations like Sri Lanka, Goa, Bali, Thailand, Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar, Italy, and Switzerland.
Coorg is immersed in a rich cultural heritage of tradition, hospitality and bravery. The small martial race of around 1.5 lakhs of Kodavas as the indigenous people of Kodagu are called, are a warrior clan known for their extraordinary martial abilities. As an ethnic minority worldwide, their attire reflects their ancestral lineage and culture dictates equality between men and women. Their three main festivals honour their ancestors and weapons; celebrate the bounty of paddy and worship the sacred river, Kaveri. In Coorg, every tradition, every dance, and every festival confirms their spirit of resilience.
Nestled amongst the Western Ghats, Coorg is well-known for its lush coffee plantations, verdant woodlands, rolling hills and unexplored terrains. It is a land of mystic and quaint gateways into mind and body relaxation.
Today, I touch upon hidden gems of natural beauty spots that can be charming tourist destinations for tourists willing to explore beyond the winding pathways, fruit orchards, quaint hills and river isles. Let’s uncover 5 unexplored gems that brand them the authentic Coorg.
Kabbe Biological Park sitting atop the pristine dense jungle of Kabbe Hills, situated 45 kms from Madikeri, the largest town of Coorg District, offers safari trips. You can soak in the echoes of birdsongs amidst tall bamboo strips, and sight spotted deer, gaurs and wary leopards. This little-known bio reserve forest makes an ideal nature watch for families beyond crowded reserves.
2. The hidden twin Waterfalls of Mallali near Somwarpet is another surreal delight as visitors come upon it surrounded by the verdant wilderness of lush forests. One can easily lose themselves in the tranquil spectacle as foamy currents of water swirl around the massive rocks in perfect symphony. You will be in sync with nature if you want to sit and meditate on the rocks.
3. The splendid Chelavara Falls located merely 20 kilometres uphill from Madikeri township brings one closer again to vibrant natural forces untouched by traveller footprints. As we ride uphill, maybe in a car or jeep, we encounter kingfishers and hear the distant boom of the waterfall. The majesty of a great swathe of white foamy waterfall hurtling down from lofty cliffs into an emerald jewel of a pool is a sight to behold. Early morning visits are an ideal time to connect with nature.
4. The Irpu falls within the sacred forests beside the Lakshmana Tirtha River near Kurchi village is a dreamlike place. It unites picturesque nature with eternal legend as Lord Lakshmana is supposed to have performed atonement here revealing the Irpu Falls. The visitors feel spiritually connected through worship and adoration that has spanned centuries. There arises a mystic aura surrounding the place.
5. The Chomakund Mountain trekking trail, located 45 kms from Madikeri township is another fresh discovery. It straddles the Western Ghats reaching 5500 feet for seasoned trekkers. It’s a concentrated 6-hour climb, and you may sight kingfishers or wild Gaurs. The comprehensive 360-degree scenery showcases rolling grasslands and the whole district unfolds before you. It’s like a new exploration beyond the scripted holiday.
Besides the coffee plantations, you may explore fragrant spice gardens of cardamom, pepper, and vanilla grown alongside coffee in estates in and around Madikeri. You will get a firsthand look at the entire process of coffee, from growth to roasting. It is practical to go on ‘Guided Tours’ where you can explore the greenery, and coffee shrubs, learn about different crops, and witness the fascinating coffee-roasting process.
Visit the ‘World Coffee Museum’, in ‘Mercara Gold Estate’ which showcases the journey of coffee, from its birth to the present day; both chronologically and geographically. After the tour, savour a cup of estate-fresh filter coffee.
Don’t forget to enjoy the taste of spices incorporated into the Coorgi cuisine in Coorg’s offbeat, charming ‘Homestays’ in secluded places amidst fruit orchards or rolling hills. Discover the slow simmering of culinary contents in earthen pots over family hearths to spread warmth into your heart. Sit out around the slow-burning bonfire listening to the cicadas sing into the starry night.
These experiences in charming hideaways offer glimpses into local life, authentic Kodava cuisine, and touching conversations with hosts, immersing you in the true spirit of Coorg. Enjoy your stay and come back again. As Roy M. Goodman states, ‘Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. With age comes wisdom, with travel comes understanding.’
source: http://www.interviewtimes.net / Interview Times / Home> National> Trending / by Dr. Geetha Kariappa / June 23rd, 2024
A.B. Malathi Alankaliya (67), a poet, writer, retired employee of State Bank of Mysore (SBM) and a resident of Bhargavi Nagar, passed away in the early hours of today in city.
A native of Somwarpet in Kodagu, she leaves behind her husband K.R. Bhandari, a retired Bank official, son Canara Bank Officer Oshan and a host of relatives and friends. Malathi is the younger sister of senior writer and poet of Kodagu Shivadevi Avaneeshchandra.
Last rites were held at Muktidhama in Vijayanagar 4th Stage in Mysuru today.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore/ Home> Obiturary / April 30th, 2024
Kodagu district’s Minister, N.S. Boseraju, inaugurates a new hockey stadium and pledges support for a sports hostel in Somwarpet, acknowledging the region’s rich sporting tradition.
The Minister in-charge of Kodagu district, N.S. Boseraju, recently inaugurated a new hockey stadium at Chowdlu village near Somwarpet. In a move that acknowledges the district’s rich sporting legacy, especially in hockey, the Minister pledged to pursue the sanctioning of a sports hostel for Somwarpet. He also expressed intentions to discuss with the Sports Minister about the allocation of additional funds for constructing a compound wall for the stadium, further strengthening the infrastructure.
Stadium Construction and Future Plans
The establishment of the new hockey stadium is a testament to the efforts of former MLA Appachu Ranjan and current Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda, who secured ₹40 lakh to finalize the stadium works. The Minister emphasized the stadium’s capacity to host national-level hockey matches, an achievement that amplifies the district’s reputation in the sports arena.
Fulfillment of a Local Dream
The inauguration of the hockey stadium marks the realization of a long-standing aspiration of the local population. MLA Mantar Gowda highlighted the importance of proper maintenance and safety measures to ensure that the stadium continues to be a source of pride for the community and a hotspot for nurturing talent.
Proposed Naming and Honoring Achievements
In a nod to the contributions of local families, there is a proposal to name the stadium after C.K. Kalappa, whose family generously donated the land for its construction. The event also honored the accomplishments of B.M. Suresh and renowned hockey player Subbaiah. Echoing Minister Boseraju’s sentiments, hockey coach Shashidar called for the establishment of a sports hostel in Somwarpet, further underlining the region’s commitment to fostering sporting excellence.
source: http://www.bnnbreaking.com / BNN/ Home> Sports> India / by Salman Khan / January 03rd, 2024
Hockey stadium inaugurated at Chowdlu village in Kodagu.
Minister in-charge of Kodagu district N.S. Boseraju, MLA Mantar Gowda and others at the launch of hockey stadium in Somwarpet in Kodagu on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Minister in-charge of Kodagu district N.S. Boseraju on Wednesday said he would make efforts to get a sports hostel sanctioned for Somwarpet.
Speaking after inaugurating the hockey stadium at Chowdlu village near Somwarpet, the Minister said he will talk to the Sports Minister for allocating additional grants for the construction of a compound wall for the stadium. Kodagu is famous for sports and the sporting tradition has to be continued, he added.
The Minister acknowledged the contribution of former MLA Appachu Ranjan for the construction of the hockey stadium at Chowdlu village and added that the present Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda made efforts to get a sum of ₹40 lakh sanctioned for completing the stadium works.
Mr. Boseraju said the national-level hockey matches can be hosted at the stadiums in Somwarpet, Koodige, Madikeri and Ponnampet.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gowda said the dream of the people in Somwarpet has come true with the inauguration of the hockey stadium. The new facility has delighted the people here since hockey enthusiasts had been seeking for the stadium to promote the sport. He added that the hockey stadium needs to be properly maintained and also required safety measures. A lot of impetus had been given for promoting hockey in the district.
On the occasion, the MLA urged the Minister to get the hockey stadium named after one C.K. Kalappa, whose family had donated the land for constructing the hockey stadium.
B.M. Suresh, one of the family members of the donor, and hockey player Subbaiah were felicitated on the occasion.
Hockey coach Shashidar sought a sports hostel in Somwarpet.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The HIndu Bureau / January 03rd, 2023
The taluk administrative officials, advocates, teachers and students of Somwarpet taluk came together and worked hard on the paddy farmland on Sunday. It was a field day as officials and others took a break from their office work and enjoyed themselves on the field.
This event was organized by the Young Indian Farmers Association of Kodagu in order to call up youngsters and others to shower their love towards agriculture. This event was hosted for the fifth time by the association.
Revenue department officials, foresters, lawyers, teachers, people’s representatives and students including the tahsildar of Somwarpet taluk gathered at a private farmland in Belur village here and planted paddy seedlings across the field.
The president of the association, Srinidhi Lingappa said, “The association has been organizing this event for the past five years with an aim to create awareness about the need and importance of taking up agriculture.”
Inaugurating the formal function, tahsildar S N Naragund opined that there is an immediate need to create awareness among young Indians about the importance of agriculture.
Former MLA Appachu Ranjan said that, “Nowadays, youngsters and children are taking up jobs in cities and often neglect the need to take up agriculture. As a result, agriculture is unable to achieve the desired progress.”
Forest department Kushalnagar division ACF Gopal and Belur G P representatives also took part in the event.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> News / by Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (SJM) /September 18th, 2023
An ongoing show has mounted paintings of pristine forests of Kodagu and river Cauvery that is sacred to the region.
The month-long show by multi-disciplinary artist Bhavani G S is called ‘Forest’.
Many of the 30 paintings on display teem with mushrooms, butterflies, berries, deer and elephants and they are inspired by Bhavani’s childhood memories of growing up in a coffee estate in Somwarpet in north Kodagu.
“The forest patch adjacent to our estate was untouched. I would see wild cats, wild fig trees, insects and butterflies. I would go collect snakeskin against my mother’s wishes. I would hear jackal howl. I would pick kallivoo (wild Poinsettia). But now homestays and safari tours have come up and global warming has disturbed the ecological balance on Kodagu as a whole,” says the 50-year-old, who shuttles between Kodagu and Bengaluru for work.
Some paintings capture the polluted state of Cauvery, drawing from years of journey she has taken along the river. It takes 10,000 litres of water to manufacture a single pair of jeans, and 1.5 to 3 litres for one litre of soft drinks, she talks about how relentless consumerism is depleting our water resources. These are watercolour works on paper, and acrylic on canvas.
On view till August 31 (closed on Sundays), 11 am to 7 pm, at Ambara, Halasuru.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka> Bengaluru / by Team Metrolife / August 10th, 2022
The turf that was laid in 2021 remains unused and in a shambles.
The hockey turf sanctioned by Hockey India way back in 2013 which was completed in 2021 has a deserted look without a single match being played so far. Credit: DH Photo A sprinkler to water the pitch that was wrongly placed behind one of the two goal posts at the hockey arena in Somvarpet. Credit: DH Photo
Synonymous with the region’s love for hockey, the little-known Somvarpet – which translates to Somavara (in Kannada): Monday and pete meaning market – in Kodagu district has produced several Indian players over the years.
While BP Govinda (member of the bronze medal-winning Indian team at the 1972 Munich Olympics) and SV Sunil (two-time Olympian and Arjuna awardee) are the stalwarts, other Indian internationals such as Arjun Halappa, Vikram Kanth, Hariprasad, Abharan Sudev, Roy KP, BM Geeta along with many in the national camps and India A teams have helped put Somvarpet on the sports’ global stage.
Recognising its contribution to Indian hockey and the immense talent pool, it was only apt when Hockey India chose this small town in the western ghats to lay a long-pending demand for synthetic turf – much to the excitement of hockey lovers here.
Though the ‘bhoomi puje’ was done way back on March 14, 2013, work began only in 2018 while the laying of the turf was completed in 2021 at Somvarpet’s Government PU College premises. More than two years later, however, the field remains closed and unused without a single match being played so far.
Surprisingly, around two years ago, HI issued an FIH (International Hockey Federation) certification and declared the turf fit as per international standards even though half the work – undertaken by a Hyderabad-based sports infrastructure company – had remained incomplete. This came as a rude shock to many and their concerns falling on deaf ears.
While defective drainage system and unscientifically built retention walls lead to flooding during monsoon, sprinklers have been placed behind goalposts. Besides, there are no water and electricity connections which have left the turf dry in summers.
“There is weed growing around the mat and in the stands. The newly-built arena has an abandoned look,” rued Ashok HN, director of Dolphin’s Hockey Academy in Somvarpet.
“It has been 10 years and we don’t know how many more years do we have to wait to witness some hockey action here,” he added.
A total of Rs 2 crore was allocated by the DYES initially but the expenditure of the project shot up to nearly Rs 5 crore in the course of time. With the money spent going waste, the stadium with a scenic backdrop fails to paint a pretty picture.
“It is really tragic because Somvarpet is one of the main hockey beds of the State and so much money has been spent,” said AB Subbaiah, secretary of Hockey Karnataka and member of the selection committee of HI.
“The mandate is for the agency to give a minimum guarantee of seven years after the completion of work. The DYES has to hold the contractor accountable.”
When DH contacted Vismayi VT, the assistant director at DYES of Kodagu district, she assured that the turf would be functional soon.
The newly-elected MLA of Madikeri, Mantar Gowda, inspected the facility on Monday and promised to fast track the process of getting the stadium ready and operational. “Around 90% of the work is completed. The interlocking of the surface around the the turf and clearing the weed are the only tasks pending. And about the wrong placement of the sprinkler, we have requested the contractor to shift it. As soon as all this is ready, we will co-ordinate with MLA sir and our head office in Bengaluru to fix an inauguration date at the earliest,” said Vismayi.
If making the turf in Somvarpet – fourth in the district after Madikeri, Kudige and Ponnampet – functional is the immediate priority, maintaining it will be a challenge in the years to come.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by Hita Prakash, DHNS, Bengaluru / June 14th, 2023
The Thar is so different from my BMW 320d, in all senses, and driving this SUV was indeed a very different experience.
BHPian Dr.AD recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Three Thars and the Hills of Coorg
First Drive with my New Thar:
Just about three months ago, I would have never imagined I would be writing a Thar travelogue, that too so soon. My road trips used to primarily be with my red BMW 320d, and there was no real plan to do something very different so soon.
But then, as always, life is all about unpredictability and experimentation. In somewhat of an unexpected (to myself) development, and purely as a fun experiment, I bought a brand new Mahindra Thar (Petrol AT 4×4 in Napoli Black) just a couple of weeks ago. From now on, this would be a new companion to my trusted BMW 320d. I plan to create my Thar ownership thread someday. But I thought it would not necessarily be inappropriate to start with a travelogue ahead of the ownership thread.
I always buy cars for long road trips and visit beautiful locations as my primary purpose. And every time I bought a car, I took that car for a long drive pretty much immediately. Thar is no exception. I got the Thar just a couple of weeks ago. In those two weeks, all I had managed was about 200km of driving around (mostly due to busy work schedules and work travels). This first road trip added about 700km to that, and was a perfect introduction for me to the new Thar and its capabilities.
In a nutshell, this trip was memorable to me because this was my drive in the new Thar. Thar is so different from my BMW 320d, in all senses, and driving a Thar was indeed a very different experience. Getting used to the Thar and understanding its capabilities was a big part of the motivation for this drive. Another thing that made this drive special to me was that, unlike my road trips in the 320d, this time, there was plenty of off-roading too. The main purpose of Thar is to explore rough terrains, and we did that on this very first road trip.
My new Thar in the hills of Coorg:
The Thars, The Crew and the Homestay:
One of the many reasons I love TeamBHP is because of the friends I made thanks to this forum.
My partners in this drive were our close friends Mr. and Mrs. @robimahanta, in their Aquamarine Blue Thar (Petrol 4×4 AT).
But as a bonus, this time, we made new friends.
It was a great pleasure to have Mr. and Mrs. @justwheels, in their Red Thar (Diesel 4×4 AT). We met them for the first time on this drive, and we had a great time together.
And of course, my better half was with me in my Black Thar, and she enjoyed the Thar experience (including some off-roading) even more than I did. I am glad she likes the Thar so much and so quickly that she is hooked on the idea of exploring difficult terrain in a 4×4 vehicle!
The Three Thars together on the hills of Coorg:
The Homestay:
We stayed at the same homestay where we had stayed back in August 2022 and loved it so much, as I described in my tip report from that time. The homestay is called Green Pastures, Coorg.
The homestay owners and hosts, Hemanth and Tripula, are wonderful hosts and good friends now. Just like my previous experience there, this time too we had a great time at the homestay and had a wonderful experience overall.
The homestay has three rooms, and that was just perfect for the three Thars and three couples traveling together.
Green Pastures is not only a beautiful homestay, but one more speciality of the place is that the owner Hemanth is an off-road enthusiast and a very experienced off-roading expert. He himself owns an old Mahindra MM540 4WD, and also organizes some off-road events in Coorg. He knows the trails and hills of Coorg like the back of his hand. One of the main motivations for visiting his homestay in Thars was to do some off-roading explorations nearby guided by his knowledge of the area. He indeed gave us some great routes to explore and even took out his MM540 and lead us on a beautiful hill trail the first evening we were there. It was a great experience to follow his MM540 and watch it handle the terrain with so much ease and poise.
Anyways, I will stop this prologue here and share the off-roading experiences and photos below.
Exploring Roads and Off-Roads of Coorg
One of the main agendas for me on this trip was to try off-roading in my new Thar. I have done one major off-roading expedition in the past in the deserts of Rajasthan (described in this old travelogue) and then did a couple of small off-roading events here and there. But still, never did any off-roading in my own car. This trip was my first experience of off-roading in my own car in a small private group (without any official “organizer” of the event). Overall, I am still new to this game of off-roading, but thankfully, I had expert off-roaders @robimahanta and @justwheels with me, and their guidance and the tips they shared were also a great learning experience for me.
We did not do any hard-core off-roading on this trip (and that was not the plan anyways), but we did some mild off-roading, and then also drove around on some random hills and some mud paths we saw along the way. All of this gave me a good taste of off-roading in one’s own car and I enjoyed it a lot.
The first evening we were there, Hemanth (the homestay owner and our host) took us to a nice trail in the hills nearby, leading us in his MM540 4WD, at the sunset hour. It was a short drive, but still was a wonderful drive.
The MM540 leading the convoy of three Thars on a nice hill trail at dusk:
It was a short but nice trail. We saw some great views from the viewpoint we reached the top of that small hill. For me, this was also the first time I used 4-wheel drive mode (4H) on my new Thar. It worked well on the first attempt, and everything was fun. I enjoyed this short off-road drive for sure.
The next morning Hemanth suggested a nice circuit that included some off-roading and some driving on lesser-known hill roads that were so broken that it justified having a Thar there. I would have never driven on those broken hill roads in my BMW. But the Thar was totally in its elements on those roads, and we managed to cover both totally broken roads and the off-road hill climbs with ease. Both I and my wife enjoyed this new experience, and we enjoyed this new aspect of motoring.
To start the driving day, we first hit a hill called Kote Betta. We reached the peak and randomly explored some paths nearby.
From Kote Betta, we started driving on some lesser known hill roads and some very narrow country roads. At one point, we found a random mud path leading to some flat grassland, and just randomly drove on those mud tracks. I got another opportunity to use 4H in my Thar and I enjoyed it again.
We continued our drive on the rural hill roads, and at one point, found another hilltop where we could go off the road again.
After driving on these narrow hill roads, we hit a proper off-road trail to reach a hilltop known as Mandalpatti Peak. This is a hilltop with panoramic views all around. And it takes a proper 4×4 vehicle to reach this location as the path to this is a dirt track full of stones, and at a couple of points, requires tricky maneuvers over rocks and a few steep rocky sections.
At the beginning of this off-road trail, there is a check-post which allows only 4×4 vehicles to enter, after paying the appropriate fees.
After some careful crawling on those rocky sections and the stone-filled road, we reached the hilltop.
The three Thars at the top of Mandalpatti hills:
This trail was not too difficult for Thar, but yet was just right to give me a good idea of Thar’s capabilities and a preview of what kind of drives I would do in future in my Thar. I used 4H and Hill Descent Control (while coming down the hill), and I was happy that both of these features worked very well. This being my first drive in the new Thar, I was still getting used to handling this vehicle on such hill trails.
But here, @justwheels went ahead of me, and started giving me instructions on radio and I started following the lines suggested by him. Thanks a lot to him for his expert guidance that helped me quickly understand the nuances of handling Thar on such terrain. @robimahanta was behind me and was watching me carefully and giving tips as and when necessary. The three of us were using radios for communication and that was of immense help. Thanks to both of these expert off-roaders for making my first off-roading experience in my own Thar both easy and fun.
Epilogue
It was a short and sweet weekend drive that was made memorable by the beautiful Thars, the great company we had, the idyllic homestay and the wonderful hosts there.
Thanks to all of these for making this trip so much fun. Everything went well except for the weather. We were expecting some rain (common in Coorg at the end of May), and looking forward to driving in the rain and mud on the hills. Unfortunately, we were unlucky with the weather. There were no rains at all when we were there, although it rained before we went there and the forecast showed a lot of rain in the following week. Just the weekend we were there was bone dry and quite hot, something totally different from what we expected.
I was happy that I got to use the Thar well and got accustomed to it quickly. I wanted to try out various mechanisms in Thar, and I got to use 4H and Hill Descent Control on multiple occasions. I also used Cruise Control on the Mysore-Bangalore highway and everything worked fine. The only thing I did not get to use was 4L (given the bone-dry weather, there was no mud or slush anywhere and there was no chance to use 4L). Hopefully, my future trips will give me plenty of opportunities to use 4L.
Personally, for me, it was a new experience for sure. Thar is so different from my BMW 320d that driving it felt like playing a totally new game compared to what I am used to. And honestly, both I and my wife enjoyed this new Thar experience. True that both the ride and handling are quite bad in Thar. However, once you experience and appreciate what Thar is capable of beyond the tarmac and smooth roads, it is easy to look past these shortcomings and start liking the vehicle anyways. The simple joy of motoring with peace of mind on broken roads and wandering around on hilltops without worrying about your vehicle was something that we totally loved. And that exactly is the USP of Thar. Anyways, it is still early days for me with Thar and I will comment more on my Thar experiences after a few more drives.
Of course, I absolutely love driving my 320d too, and I plan to use both the 320d and Thar for different kinds of road trips from now on. Hopefully, I will have more Thar stories and travelogues to share in the future, but for now, this simple weekend drive was the first chapter in a new driving experience for me.
Well, that is all for now. Thank you for reading!
P.S. During my final reading of the travelogue after composing it, I realized that every single photo I included in this travelogue has a Thar in it. Not a single photo without a Thar! This was certainly not by design and certainly not done on purpose, but it just so happened and I myself noticed that only in the end. But this shows the photogenic appeal of the Thar. I just did not bother shooting any landscapes or sunset pictures this time, when I had three beautiful machines to shoot instead.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
source: http://www.team-bhp.com / Team-Bhp.com / Home> News / by Utkarsh Chaudhary / June 05th, 2023
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