Trip to Haleebeedu and Jog Falls

Started from Bangalore, CV Raman Nagar at 9.45am took ORR followed by Neelamangala Flyover all the way upto Neelamangala Navayuga Toll plaza.
Experience: Road from MES road to Goraguntepalya is heavy traffic zone. You may take the detour from MES to pipeline road on right just after KPTCL.

Take left and onto the NH75 all the way upto Hassan. Beautiful Road, except for a 10min under-construction stretches near Shravanbelagola.

Lots of restaurants and Fuel pumps on-route. We had a stop at Kamat Upachar. Quick service, vegetarian, perfect on-route light food. Washrooms with a small kids area to keep them occupied while you fill your tummy peacefully.

The way to Haleebeedu is through Hassan city ORR. So expect huge no. Of speedbreakers when you enter Hassan City. It's a state highway upto Haleebeedu. Quite a number of rough patches just after Hassan but later the road is fairly good. Single road, so overtaking should be carefully done.

Stayed at Hotel Mayura Shanthala of KSTDC right opposite Haleebeedu. Check-in 1:00pm, restaurant is available with limited menu, but good taste. Stayed at Double Bed Non Ac. No geyser but Solar powered, so get some hot water in case the temp is not ok for taste. The hotel people are very cooperative.

We reached at 1.00 pm.

At 4.00 pm started for Yagachi Dam, 17km from Haleebeedu on NH73. It's a must visit, during monsoon as the dam gates are opened and water gushes out in full fury. Careful with the steps, it is usually slippery due to constant misty air there near the dam. Caution with the kids at lower levels the gap between rails is more.

Back at Hotel. Room service at hotel available. Nearby lot of stores to buy fruits and sweets and all necessities of required.

TIP: Carry Cash, most shops no UPI, No CC or card swiping machines.

Towards Haleebeedu

At 7.00am visited Haleebeedu temple. Twins three year old onboard so no chance of concentrating on history of the temple. But guides are available. Infact in Mayura Hotel itself you may be approached by some guides just outside it's restaurant.

Completed our photo session at temple and garden by 9.30am. Had breakfast again room service and 11.00 am checkout. Next stop Jog Falls Hotel Mayura Gerusoppa.

The route from Haleebeedu to Jog falls, has NH73, Village road for a small stretch then at just before Kadur rejoining to the main NH69 to Shimoga. The last stretch before joining Kadur approx. 10km is very bad. But prior Village road is mesmerizing with its natural canopy and plantation. You won't feel like leaving the place  at some stretches.

So road from Kadur to Shimoga is a NH69 but with lot many patches on Road, so you can drive at 80kph but you may constantly feel vibrations if you're driving a hatchback. Post Shimoga the road is excellent.

Had lunch at Kadamba garden family restaurant outside Shimoga city. Just adjacent to NH. Good food, quick service, washroom ok, manageble. Proceeded to Jog falls. On the way will be Sagar beyond which you are just 30km away

Tip: If with kids careful with motion sickness. The road suddenly enters ghat section after Sagar. So you may consider giving them Antiemetic meds if your doc prescribes you so at this point. Take cash from any of the ATMs in the city.

We drove at full monsoon fury and it heavily pours in this region. So make sure your windshield heater is operational before you start, it will tend to get very foggy during drive. You shall cross over to Sharavathi bridge onto Jog falls and enter Jog Nature View arch. Car 50 + per adult 10, one time entrance fee.

We had a booking at Mayura Gerusoppa AC Deluxe which is ahead. Right at entrance is non-AC rooms.

The Mayura Gerusoppa has lots of Cons actually. The non-AC rooms are clogged like enter the room and bed starts. But it's adjacent to restaurant. The AC is uphill and you can park your car right in front. Caution: Monkey menace. The biggest disadvantage of Mayura Gerusoppa AC rooms are practically no room service except water. Everything you've to fetch from restaurant below. Don't worry the breakfast times are 8.00 to 10.00 am (Complimentary), and dinner time is 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

The only good thing of the AC rooms is you have a view of Falls from every room, and the sound of the Roarer (Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket are the four names of the distributaries of Jog falls) will fill you with chills everytime you open the window.

In the evening we went for some snack at restaurant and ordered a parcel for dinner. Less menu, not a delicious food but manageable. We are not very foodies during travel, but others may find the food a bit disappointing.