Nov 20, 2006 08:18 PM
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To escape the Deepavali crackers we (the two boys, wife and me) have decided to take a break in Chikmagalore. I did not know much about the place and what to expect, I tried for the known accommodations. The taj was packed for the day and was also over priced because of the holidays. A friend of mine recommended riverwoods, a home stay near Chikmagalore inside a coffee estate. Riverwoods has three bungalows two in the Avanthi estate and one in Jainkhan estate which I hear more like a hill station.
I called the Bangalore office and booked a room for two days and the lady who was taking the booking confirmed the booking at a rate of 1200 per person per day (inclusive of food). The road from Bangalore to Chikmagalore is very good but from Chikmagalore to Mangundi is a mixture of good and very bad, but quite scenic. Once in Avanthi the manager of the estate Mr. Jacob has welcomed us and arranged for a nice home cooked lunch.
We spent the evening walking near the river. Ms Philomena the MD of the estate was also staying at the Avanthi bungalow at the same time. The next day we spend quite a lot of time fishing in the river and a tank within the estate and the evening was spend for a leisure drive inside the estate. The holiday was overall a very enjoyable experience close to nature and the best part was there was not even a single cracker for Deepavali. I was very happy especially not to stay at Chikmagalore, as it would have been nothing but a town hotel stay.
