If you are looking for a budget friendly Homestay in Coorg which is away from the crowded tourist circuit and located close to some of the best offbeat locations, your search ends here. For, the place I am going to tell you about offers everything to make your vacation adventurous and memorable. The Chiguru Homestay is located amidst the hills surrounded by lush green forests at a distance of around 20 Km from Somwarpet, 57 Km from Madikeri and 250 km from Bangalore. It is the best among the very few homestays located near Somwarpet.
One of the cottages in Chiguru Homestay
The view of another cottage in Chiguru Homestay
A beautiful stream in the backyard of Chiguru Homestay. PC
Activities:
Some of the in-house activities include board games, cricket, volleyball, shuttle badminton and campfire (arranged on request).The homestay has a beautiful stream running in its backyard. It is very close to Mallalli falls which is the highest waterfalls in Coorg. There is a cascaded waterfall in a coffee estate near the homestay which is not known to many people including the locals which is kind of a private waterfall for the guests of Chiguru Homestay. There are many small trekking trails in the surrounding forests and hills of the homestay. A trek to the Meghana Kote covers beautiful forests and meadows. Standing on the peak of the hill you can witness a panoramic view of the surrounding hills, the forest, and the Mallalli falls. The more adventurous can try the trek to Kumaraparvata and Pushpagiri which are the most popular treks in Karnataka. Some of the best offbeat locations in Coorg are in close vicinity to Chiguru Homestay.
Mallalli waterfall– The highest waterfall in Coorg District
The view from Meghana Kote Hill
The Ambur Abby falls located inside a coffee estate near the Chiguru Homestay. PC
The Famous Shantha Mallikarjuna temple at the foot hill of Pushpagiri which aso house a 600 year old Champak tree.
Patte pare located a short distance from the Shanta Mallikarjuna Temple has a vast expanse of rock heaps. No one knows who made these rocky structures.
This small cave near Patte Pare is believed to lead to an underground tunnel which connects the Shantha Mallikarjuna temple to Kukke Subrahmanya.
Stay:
The Homestay offers basic accommodation in 3 different cottages. It can host a maximum of 23 guests at a time. The rooms are well ventilated and neatly maintained. No TV/WiFi is available in the rooms. Make sure you carry all your medication and toiletries because there are no shops near the homestay and you will have to drive down to Somwarpet for all your shopping needs. If you are expecting luxury, this is not the place for you. The hosts are very friendly and dedicated. With all the care and hospitality, they will make you feel as if you are staying in your own home. The Homestay also has a beautiful garden with many flowering plants. It is the best place for stargazing and astrophotography as you find dark skies with no light pollution.
The view from the Cottages in Chiguru
Colourful blossoms at Chiguru Homestay
Food:
The food is home cooked and very tasty. Menu and taste will be customized as per your needs.
Tariff:
The rates at Chiguru Homestay are budget friendly and are best in class. Please refer their website for latest tariffs.
Reaching the Homestay:
Chiguru Homestay is located at around 250km and is easily accessible from Bangalore. The road is very good condition throughout. The best way to explore this location is to drive down with your own vehicle. You cannot depend on public transport to reach this destination.
-Take the Highway towards Nelamangala and take a left turn towards Bangalore-Hassan Highway.
-Continue on Bangalore-Hassan Highway till you reach Channarayapatna, Enter the town.
-After the bus stand take a left to reach Holenarsipura
-From Holenarsipura drive towards Arkalgod. Enter Arkalgod town and drive towards Somwarpet.
-From Somwarpet, drive towards Shantha Halli and continue straight towards Kundahalli.
-From Kundahalli, take a left turn towards Mallalli Falls to reach Chiguru Homestay.
While returning to Bangalore we also visited the Namdroling Monastery– a little Tibet in Karnataka.