TRAVEL - WAKE UP AND SMELL the coffee
Chikmagalur, famous for its coffee, has a lot more to offer
transcendental bliss being one
Who would have thought that some smuggled coffee beans planted
atop the now Baba Budangiri hills in Chikmagalur will blossom into one of the
most sought-after tourist destinations in south India? Legend has it that on a
pilgrimage to Mecca in the 16th century, Baba Budan, a Sufi saint from
Karnataka, discovered the wonders of coffee. In his eagerness to savour the brew
back home, he smuggled seven coffee beans out of the Yemeni port of Mocha
wrapped in his garments. He planted the beans in the eponymous hills and thus
the coffee culture came to pass in Chikmagalur the quaint little town located
some 250 km away from the Silicon Valley of India.
TIME TO
DISCONNECT
Now the legend of Baba Budan and his beans flavours the
travellers' tales vis iting the town. But Chikmagalur is more than its coffee.
It's a heady brew of undu lating hills, lush views, coupled with chirping birds
and brushing of trees all making it a perfect getaway for r, every tired and
worn out working professional look ing for some quiet `me' time. And when we
say `me', we mean it. Because the moment you enter the coffee plantations, the
network coverage bars on your phone dip.
BEAN THERE,
DONE THAT
Take your time to soak in the town. And not being saddled with a
phone helps.Plan a drive to Mullayanagiri the highest peak in Karnataka.The
ride is arduous and not for ones scared of heights. If you're a sucker for
sunrise, then plan an early morning ride and that will also help you ditch the
traffic (yes, even the mountains are not spared) while coming back. Evenings
are good for a stroll around the market wherein you can buy local produce especially
coffee and pure honey. A tip: Get your coffee fix from a local vendor.
When it comes to food, follow the `when in Rome do as the Ro
mans' dictum. If you are in a homestay, tuck in some good home-cooked Kannadiga
food. The freshness of the vegeta bles is something that a city dweller will
notice immediately. From mutton biryani, to thatte idli, chicken fry, mutton
stew, rasam, egg masala, the memories of the food here will linger as much as
the place.
Sneha Bhattacharjee
TL09APR17
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