A fun road trip - Part 1

 A few weeks ago, we set out on a road trip to a hill station and captured a significant amount of photos. The following weekend, we went on another vacation to a different hill station to escape the heat. As a result, I was unable to update the blog or visit other blogs. In this post, I share the first part of our vacation where we resided in the midst of nature at a resort named Rangataana in Chikmagalur.
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We commenced our journey at an early hour of 4:30 AM to ensure that we could travel 270 km and arrive at our destination before lunchtime.
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The ride was comfortable on the newly laid highways, and our first stop was at 6:30 AM when the sun had just risen. Since everyone felt hungry, we decided to have an early breakfast during our pit stop.
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While we waited for our breakfast to be served, we took some selfies and group photos to capture the moment.
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As we continued our journey, we made a few stops along the way, and one of the places that caught our attention was a magnificent banyan tree. 
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My wife struck a hitchhiking pose.
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By 11:30 AM, we arrived at Rangataana, and the staff greeted us with a refreshing welcome drink. The wooden cottage on stilts that we had booked looked cozy and welcoming.
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Once we had freshened up and indulged in a scrumptious meal, we decided to visit the waterfall situated within the expansive 75-acre property of Rangataana.
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On our way to the waterfall, I noticed a sunbird enjoying its lunch.
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Our journey to the waterfall began by walking through coffee plantations and a dense jungle.
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The dry coffee branches proved to be quite useful during the hike.
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Our hike to the waterfall was relaxed and leisurely, but the trail we took was quite narrow, at times only about a foot wide.
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Encountering a shed snake skin gave us a shudder during the hike.
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Although the cluster figs appeared tempting, we refrained from eating them as we knew that red fruits in the wild can often be poisonous.
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The drying coffee fruits also caught our attention.
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The scenic views of the hills were breathtaking and added to the beauty of our hike.
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After approximately 40 minutes of hiking, we finally arrived at the waterfall.
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The waterfall was a magnificent sight to behold. The water cascaded down the rocks in a series of small and large falls.
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The pool of water at the base of the waterfall was crystal clear and inviting, and we couldn't wait to jump in for a refreshing shower.
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Dad and Nishant were the first ones to reach the waterfall.
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At first, the water felt icy cold, but as we spent more time under the waterfall, it became more enjoyable and refreshing. 

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Since the waterfall was located on this private estate, we had it all to ourselves, which made the experience even more special and unforgettable. We were able to fully immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of the surroundings without any distractions or disturbances.
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After spending a considerable amount of time in the water and getting wrinkly fingers, we reluctantly made our way back.
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The hike back was relatively less strenuous since we were mostly descending the slope.
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As we were making our way back, we came across a long snake skin hanging from a tree, which was quite unnerving and gave us a fright.

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We decided to taste the coffee fruit we had collected from the plantation, and were pleasantly surprised by the sweet and tangy flavor of the juicy pulp, which had hints of cranberries and cherries.
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The evening was pleasant and cool, with a gentle breeze blowing through the trees, making it the perfect weather for a relaxing evening.
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To add to the pleasant ambiance, a bonfire was arranged and we all gathered around it, enjoying the warmth while chatting and singing. It was the perfect end to the day after the long hike to the waterfall, and we enjoyed a delicious dinner afterward.
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Wife and I had planned to take the wildlife trekking trail early the next morning, but since it involved a steep climb, we decided to leave the parents and children undisturbed and set out on our own.
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Setting out at 6:30 am, we were greeted by the sight of the sun just beginning to peek through the thick woods.
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The hike was indeed quite steep, and at times we felt like giving up, but we persevered, motivated by the thought of witnessing some rare wildlife on the trail.
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As we trekked along the trail, we were thrilled to spot a Malabar giant squirrel with its distinctive bushy tail, perched high up on a tree branch. The sight of this rare creature filled us with a sense of excitement and wonder.
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Along the way, we came across some rocky caves from which a clear water spring was gushing out. It was a refreshing sight and the water was safe to drink, as it was untouched by any human activity upstream. We quenched our thirst with the pure and cool water and also filled our water bottles to carry with us for the rest of the trek.
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As we continued our trek, a red-whiskered bulbul suddenly appeared from behind a palm tree and chirped melodiously. 
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At one point during the steep climb up the hill, when she felt like giving up, a kind palm tree seemed to offer its leafy palm for support.
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The layered rocks we saw during the climb seemed to tell the tale of its past. It's always fascinating to study the geological history of an area and learn about the forces that have shaped the landscape over time.
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After climbing 2343 steps, we finally reached the top of the hill. Despite the exhaustion, the breathtaking views from the summit made it all worthwhile.
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The sight from the cliff's edge was truly breathtaking and my wife and I spent a considerable amount of time marveling at the panoramic view below.
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While the descent was not as arduous as the climb, we had to be careful while navigating the steep slopes. Here's a video of our journey back.

As we were making our way back, we came across a Golden-fronted leafbird that had just caught its breakfast - it was a new bird species for us, and we were excited to see it.

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During our descent, we also came across a Malabar giant squirrel deep in thought.
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We made it back just in time for breakfast. We captured a few group photos, and then set off for our next destination.
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Keep an eye out for my next post where I'll be sharing our experiences at the next destination.