A fun day trip
2026-04-09
Back in 2018, I'd done what many people would call 'crazy'. A 600km day trip to Ooty from Bangalore. I'd rented a bike early in the morning and set off on what would be a memorable and eventful journey. I recreated it last weekend, only this time in a car.
We started at 7am and reached Mysore in time for Breakfast at the local favorite - Gayathri Tiffin Room (GTR). The dosa was homely and delicious.
Next stop was at the entrance to the very serene Bandipur forest reserve. We were cautiously and probably naively hoping a tiger would cross the traffic ridden road in front of us. We saw a few deers, langoors, and a few elephants on the onward journey. What followed was the best part of the journey for me. A steep climb up the Kalhatty Ghats. We climb 1000m in a distance of 12 kms with 36 hairpin turns. Not one for an inexperienced driver! We did see a few noobs who needed help with picking up their cars off the hairpins.
We had lunch at Earl's secret, a British bungalow turned restaurant and lodge. Delicious food. We had cottage cheese steak, fried potatoes tossed in mushroom sauce, and sticky toffee pudding. It was nice to breath fresh, cool air away from the increasingly polluted Bengaluru city. A light shower provided a welcome respite from the heat and made lunch more enjoyable.
We started on our way back with a quick stop at Sandynulla lake overlooking a Pine forest. The road back doesn't go through the same ghat to prevent congestion and accidents. Instead it goes through a forest with dense, tall, old and majestic nilgiri trees. We got stuck in traffic just before entering the reserved forest again.
The return journey through the forest revealed a mesmerizing sight. Sun was about to set and the trees, captured the orange hue. It makes you slow down and enjoy the moment. It was completely dark by the time we were out.
(Photo credits to my wife)
After light dinner back in Mysore, we hit the expressway, making it back home just before midnight.