June 29, 2025

The Wild Mysteries of Gopinatham

Past the small dusty towns of Chamarajanagar, and under the blazing sun I stopped by a few waterbodies, before speeding my way into the lush greens of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. A couple of forest check points later I was in Gopinatham, a tiny hamlet near Hoganekkal Waterfalls, and within the fringes of the sanctuary.

The secluded village of Gopinatham along the borders of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has been away from the limelight for almost 20 years after the death of Koose Munusamy Veerappan. Now, that name might strike a chord, as Veerappan was one of the most notorious bandits who ruled these forests of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and was born in the village of Gopinatham. Though his notoriety and name linger over the village and the surroundings, life has moved on for the people here.

My intent of visiting Gopinatham wasn’t to delve into the stories of this place, but instead explore Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Jungle Lodges and Resorts owns a wonderful property here, Gopinatham Mystery Trails, which gives you the access to explore the wildlife and nature trails bordering Gopinatham. Nestled next to a sprawling waterbody, the property has rooms which are large tents built in the shape of domes, giving it a feel of camping in the wild.

After a yummy lunch I strolled through the premises of the property and along the fringes of the waterbody. It was all calm until one of the workers hollered that there are elephants on the other bank of the waterbody, and all guests ran to catch a glimpse of the same. A mother and a baby elephant were happily enjoying their afternoon drink. With zoomed in lenses and binoculars, we gazed at the pachyderms while they peacefully quenched their thirst. As they trudged their way back into the woods, I changed the angle of my camera to capture some cormorants, storks and egrets. Peacefully perched on protruding wooden stumps, they darted off directionless and randomly came back to the same stump. As most of the birds wandered off, I noticed the beautiful frame of lush green hills juxtaposed in the backdrop. It slowly dawned upon me that I was indeed in the middle of a forest.






A hot cup of coffee later, went on jeep safari with other guests into the wilderness of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Muddy red pathway meandered its way through the greenery, and the jeep left a puff of dust as we rolled deeper into the forest. We waded past a couple of streams and then paused at the memorial of the IFS officer P. Srinivas, who was assassinated by the dacoits of this region in early 1990s. Further ahead, we slowed down multiple times to spot many species of birds such as Indian Roller, Serpent Eagle, Lapwings, peacocks and many others. As we kept gazing at the branches of the trees in search of more birds, the vehicle suddenly halted, as ahead of us lay an exhausted and weak wild boar making its way across the road. A little later, the jeep braked again as there was a tusker behind the trees. With bated breath we waited for that moment for the pachyderm to turn up from the woods, but unluckily despite the long wait it didn't, and instead disappeared further into the thicket. We rumbled on the muddy pathway as the sun set, and along the way we also startled a family of gaurs, including a calf that kept staring at us for long.







Next day the naturalist knocked on my door at 6 AM, and we were out in the woods shortly going past the fringes of the lake, and into the wilderness of Gopinatham. The unclear path led us up the adjacent hill, which was scattered with boulders, and where trails abruptly ended in the middle of nowhere. As we neared the top of the hill, the naturalist was quick to point out the call of a few monkeys, which conveyed there could be a possibility of sighting some wildlife. Since it also didn’t feel too safe loitering around with those alarm calls, we trudged down another trail. Further ahead, the beautiful frames of the panoramic views of the village of Gopinatham and the lake showed up on our way back to the breakfast table.





As I headed out of Gopinatham, stopped by at a small shrine, and the traditions and their culture was quite evident with quintessential customs followed at any Hindu temple. The village has moved on from what it was notoriously famous for until a few decades ago, with schools, houses, temples and the modernity slowly wrapping it and taking it forward to help it merge with the outside world.


How to reach Gopinatham:

The nearest major town is Kollegala, 105 kms away. The nearest airprot is at Mysore, 168 kms away, and the closest major railway station is at Salem, 95 kms away. It is recommended to visit Gopinatham in a private vehicle as the public services are not frequent.      

Food and Accommodation:

Gopinatham Mystery Trails owned by Jungle Lodges and Resorts (a Govt. of Karnataka promoted enterprise) is the only accommodation option in Gopinatham. The package includes stay, meals and activities such as jeep safari and nature walk.

September 15, 2024

July 12, 2024

15 Years of Tales of a Nomad!

 


It's been an amazing roller coaster ride over the last decade and a half dabbling in travel writing, collaborating with numerous travel brands and sharing some experiences of a life time on Tales of a Nomad.

As I complete 15 years of blogging today, I'd like to thank every reader and follower for the encouragement and support they have shown. 

Hope to feed the blog with more content and articles for you to read in the coming years.

P.S. The above photo is a view of Chellarkovil Aruvikuzhi Waterfalls as seen from the lush green lands of Theni.

April 20, 2024

Hebbe Waterfalls, Chikmagalur



Thundering down a rocky slope, this cascading waterfalls formed by River Bhadra is located inside a coffee estate near Kemmangundi in Chikmagalur. A short walk after an off road jeep ride gets you to the base of this two tiered falls, which is quite an exciting experience. One can get into the pool formed at the base of the Hebbe Waterfalls to refresh your mind and soul.

February 18, 2024

Call of the Hills!


The tantalizing hills of Ooty calling out as I grazed the fringes of the wilderness of Masinagudi. April 2023
 

January 7, 2024

Kyathanamakki Viewpoint, Chikkamagaluru

Clear blue skies, undulating green hills, floating white mist, unruly brown tracks, loitering cows and fresh air are what greets you at this stunning viewpoint near Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru. The off-road drive here is absolutely an exhilarating experience, and the views are worth every bit of the adventure.










December 2023.

September 17, 2023

Frames from the Backwaters!

Vembanad Lake, which forms a part of the backwaters of Kerala, is a captivating place where one can unwind, enjoy stunning landscape views, go on a boat ride, watch fishermen go about their daily chores, gaze at spectacular sunsets, stroll past lush paddy fields, get drenched in the rains, watch snake boat races, and enjoy some spicy 'Shaap food' with toddy.

Below are a few frames from this mesmerizing land.

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Backyards can't get any prettier


It ain't always fun in the rains


The adrenaline rush while watching the boat race is unbelievable


For those who would like to take it slow


Racing past the 'Kettuvalloms'


How do you avoid the cliched frame?


A beautiful frame enroute R Block


Some homes here have stunning views


When nature leaves you stunned!


When backwaters made way for water lilies


A frame that reminds of Kochi


Life isn't always fair, even on this surreal land


Can gaze at this frame in oblivion


The moment nature took out the palette and turned into an artist
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