Mekedatu, Bheemeshwari, Galibore

September 2023.

Planned to a trip to get as close to nature as possible. This time it was all about Cauvery River. All three locations on Cauvery River bank. Plan was to spend good peaceful time next to nature and try out any adventures. Another inventive was that Galibore is known for having a lot of variety of birds.

This was a 4-day, 3-night trip. A night each at Mayura Sangama (a KSTDC hotel) at the confluence of rivers Arkavati and Godavari, Bheemeshwari and Galibore. Stayed at Karnataka govt. owned Jungle Lodges and resorts at Bheemeshwari and Galibore. Our trip did not include weekends.

Started early morning from Bangalore and had breakfast on the way on Kanakpura road. It is about 3 hrs drive. Reached Mayura Sangama Hotel before noon. We were the only guests at the hotel. Was told that weekend has full occupancy. Few tourists had come for day trip from bangalore and other nearby locations. They came by noon, spent good 4-5 hours in the river and returned in the evening.

Amazing location for the hotel, just like all other KSTDC Mayura hotels. Step out of the hotel and one gets to the River Arkavati and Cauvery Sangam. Arkavati flows from the right and much wider and deeper Cauvery from the left. All of this between mountains and nature with no human habitation nearby except for the hotel. One of the times when river water appeared clean and unpolluted. No plastic, cans waste seen in water.

Few images from the location below.

We wished to visit Mekedatu – A location where river Cauvery flows between rocks and at one point it is so narrow that a goat (“meke”) can leap (“datu”) across the river.

To reach this place, one must cross river Arkavati and then take a govt operated bus to reach Mekedatu location. When there is enough water in the Arkavati river, this is a coracle ride. Fortunately, this was not the case when we reached there. Hence, we had to wade through the river with waist deep waters. The flow of water was serene, and it was a wonderful experience wading through a river. Once we waded across the river, took the bus to reach the Mekedatu site. Since this was on weekdays, only about 7-10 visitors on the bus.

Wonderful sight. Huge boulders all around with sound mini waterfalls and flowing water. One must climb down a few steps and climb a few boulders to reach closer to action. Not difficult at all. Few pictures below.

Returned to the hotel for a late lunch and rested through the afternoon. Me in the sit out with lots of monkeys moving around. These monkeys had a charted path to move around – like a trail… moving across trees, building walls. I ventured into their highway while photographing birds and one of them tugged at my backpack asking me to move out of their “highway”. It was only then I realised that I was blocking their highway.

Evening was spent at the Sangam in company of other tourists in water – all in shallow waters of river Arkavati – none in Cauvery. Spent very peaceful and quiet time on the banks.

Captured a few bird images. Turkey and hen (pets at the hotels), white browed wagtail, laughing doves. I also had my first glimpse of Cormorant chicks in the nest on a nearby tree and first sight of a Gray Hornbill. Pics below.

Road to Galibore is right outside the Mayura Sangama hotel. But since Bheemeshwari is further off from bangalore, and I had to return early to Bangalore after the trip, I chose to go to Bheemeshwari first to cut the distance while returning.

Started after breakfast at Mayura Sangama hotel. Drive was through green fields of sugarcane, rice and few other crops. Short and uneventful. Did come across a few Deer herds and monkeys. Reached the Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) by lunch time. Roads were good. Being the only visitor to the place on a week day, got a room upgrade, closed to dining place (Golghar).

Saw the grey hornbills again. Also was able to capture video of kingfisher making sound. Do look up the bird pages if interested in images/Videos.

Post lunch, afternoon was reserved for some adventure activities. Elephant walk, Burma loops, Parallel Walk on the rope, ziplining, canoeing for a short distance. Thoroughly enjoyable adventure.

Back for tea at the Golghar followed by a coracle ride downstream Cauvery. Spotted crocks in water. Nice 30-45 minutes around sunset time. Spotted a few Deer right outside our cabin-hut before dinner.

A barbeque as pre-dinner followed by dinner and retired for the day.

Next day morning we again had a herd of spotted Deer just outside of the cottage. I went for a nature walk with a guide. Saw a few wild dogs and brown boobook owl and a few other birds. Climbed a small hillock. Pleasant view of Cauvery flowing in a valley from the top of hillock. Saw a few elephant tracks as we climbed the hillock. This is new to me. The climb was steep and did not think elephants would go that path. See pictures below.

As we were about to leave the resort, we go an offer from the JLR. They said that a jeep from Galibore JLR was in Bheemeshwari, and we could ride that to Galibore through the jungle, leaving our car at Bheemeshwari. The jeep would drop us back at Bheemeshwari next day and we could then return to Bangalore from Bheemeshwari. Interesting offer and we would have accepted it, if we did not have to return to Bangalore early next day.

Started for Galibore after breakfast. After a few mis-directions by google, reached the hotel Mayura Sangama. From here we had to take a right to get to Galibore JLR. This road was suitable only for safari jeeps. My Maruti Baleno survived, but I shudder to think of that drive in a low ground clearance sedan. No proper road, no cell connectivity for data/phone. The 9 Km stretch was terrible through a jungle with warnings at places not to get down from the car. There were a few (3-4) settlements on the way but that over 9 Kms, too few for comfort without cell connectivity on a safari road in a jungle without a high ground clearance vehicle.

It took much longer than expected because of incorrect directions by google maps. Reached the hotel by lunch time. This time we had company. Two additional guests in the resort besides us. They were folks coming from some govt lab in MP to take water samples for Cauvery River at the location for test. It was a traditional lunch thali spread, very tasty. Before lunch spotted a large squirrel (Malabar Giant Squirrel) and scops owl pair. Photos below.

Evening time was for another coracle ride in Cauvery. It was very windy and did have some rain too. We did not feel comfortable sitting so low in choppy waters, but our boatman was not worried and that gave us some comfort. We were happy when the boat ride ended. Also did go for a safari and saw spotted Deer, Peahen. Also saw a double parallel rainbows in the sky. This safari was specifically organized for us because we told them we had come for birding and the resort folks had heard elephant movement near the resort area earlier night. Not a successful safari.

 A barbeque followed by dinner and then retired for the day.

Next day went for a nature walk in the morning with a guide. Saw fresh elephant dung and footprints and other elephant movement signs, but not elephant. I prefer that way because we were on foot. Did see a few birds there – Brown fish owl, Kingfisher, White bellied Drongo. Few images below.

Overall, a very enjoyable nature trip, and close to Bangalore. Enjoyed. Worth going at least once, preferable with a group of friends/family.

Explore…Experience…Enjoy.