A visit to jog had been beckoning ever since we had come to Bangalore
We had timed our trip at mid August which would be the peak rain season so that we could witness jog at its full glory. Shimoga greeted us with cool showers, and the weather remained as such during our entire trip with mild showers all along. Buses to jog were right outside the train station and we boarded one straight away. The route all along towards jog was beautiful with paddy fields and greenery encircling the region, and fine showers accentuating the beauty. The different falls had peculiar names Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket and we covered all these.
It took 3 hours to reach the place. We found a youth hostel just outside jog entry gate and booked rooms. I have to admit the rooms were very ordinary with unattached toilets. We didn’t get a booking at KSRTC guest house which was close to the falls, as it was the peak season there.
We started towards jog, and found a taxi man near the entry who offered us to take a small guidance tour to the top of the falls, power house etc., and we took his cab.
We headed for the crest of the falls and came around the tip of the roof of the falls and had glimpses of the crevasses down which the waters take the 600 feat leap towards the ground. The views were simply breath taking. The place was just around 2 km from the main jog falls area and could be reached by walk. The guide then took us to the small power station. He also found us a nice hidden spot with flowing water falls and stream where we spent some time bathing and playing in water. After a terrible lunch at a hotel near the jog we headed to the main jog falls and took a walk around the region with the place offering plenty of sceneries for landscape photography.
We headed down the intimidating 1000 steps to the bottom of the falls. As we reached the bottom, we could feel the mild breeze of water splashing around bouncing off in a gusto off the rocks on its fall. Cameras were troubled with water droplets and we had managed to take only a few snaps here and there. The noise and the atmosphere was absolutely enthralling and we even witnessed a small rainbow at the bottom where the waters touch the ground. A whole day to cover jog falls was well justified.
The next day we started by the first bus at 5.30 am towards Sagar in the morning, the plan being a visit to the Chowdeswari temple at Sigandur. We boarded another bus towards Sigandur. The ride tooks us around 2 hours and we were at the point where we had to board a ferry to reach the island amidst Sharavathi river. Sharavathi river was full with torrential pours stretching its borders and banks. The ferry ride was very crowded but still offered a beautiful glimpse of the great Sharavathi backdrop. After a brief visit to temple we came back in ferry and took a bus towards Sagar.
What we missed.
Owing to lack of time and transport facilities, we had to miss out on Lingamakki dam and Sharavathi backwaters stretch.
We compensated by a short visit to Rameshwar temple which looked very old and we were its only visitors, at a village which was around 8 km from Sagar town and and seemed to be least inhabited.
Then we started back towards Shimoga. We also spent some time at a Tiger safari which was around 5 km from Shimoga town on the way and got to spot some tigers and deers. We had our dinner at Shimoga and boarded the train back to Bangalore
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