Sometimes the best trips are the unplanned ones—and that’s exactly how our drive to Nagarahole began. It was a last-minute decision to escape the city and explore somewhere close to nature. After checking a few options, we finally booked our stay at Gaja Villa, near the Nagarahole National Park.
🚗 Early Start from Bengaluru
We planned to leave Bengaluru early in the morning to catch a glimpse of wildlife in the forest. We started our journey around 4:00 AM, and after having breakfast near Hunsur, we reached the Nagarahole checkpost at 8:00 AM. Vehicles are allowed only for an hour through the forest stretch, so we had to be quick.
🐘 Wildlife Spotting in the Forest
Within just 15 minutes of entering the forest, we were thrilled to spot a huge tusker (elephant)! That moment made us very excited, hoping to see more wild animals. Unfortunately, that was our best sighting of the day. We also saw a dhole (Asiatic wild dog), some deer, and a few peacocks, but nothing more.
A little disappointed, we exited the forest—but the weather was absolutely beautiful. The lush green forest during the monsoon is a sight to behold.
⛅ Rainy Drive to Thirunelli Temple
Since we had no fixed plans, we decided to drive further to the peaceful Thirunelli Mahavishnu Temple. It was raining throughout the journey, which made the experience even more magical. The temple was calm and serene, but we couldn’t explore much because of the rain.
On our way back, we stopped at Kutta for lunch and then headed to our homestay.
🏡 Relaxing at Gaja Villa
We reached Gaja Villa around 1:30 PM, checked in, and quickly took a nap after the long journey. In the evening, the rain continued, making it hard to go out. So, we just relaxed at the homestay, enjoying good music and friendly chats.
🌄 Next Morning & Return Journey
The next morning, we woke up early for another forest drive. Sadly, this time we weren’t lucky at all—we didn’t spot a single wild animal.
On our way back to Bengaluru, we stopped at the Payana Car Museum in Mysuru, which was a fun little detour. After that, we continued our journey back home.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Though we didn’t spot much wildlife, the monsoon forest drive, the peaceful temple visit, and the cozy homestay experience made this trip truly special. Sometimes, nature’s mood isn’t in our favor—but it still gives us memories to cherish. Would definitely love to revisit Nagarahole again, maybe with better luck next time!