Around 85 kms from Mysore is the monastery in Bylakuppe, one of its kind in the world, where Tibetan monks reside. The Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery that houses Tibetan refugees has a massive monastic temple, the Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara,inaugurated by the Dalai Lama. The architecture of the temple in Buddhist style, the massive area for rituals, the paintings, the murals and the imposing temple will make you at peace with yourself. . An inevitable part of any Buddhist temple is a prayer wheel. Here you will find as many as 1,300 small prayer wheels and 19 large ones. Turning the wheels that contain prayer scrolls in a clockwise direction is considered as effective as chanting prayers. The monastery offers structured course in Buddhist teachings. Savour the thukpas, noodles or the yummy momos along with different flavours of tea including the popular salt-butter tea.
Halt at the elephant training camp at Dubare, a historically important camp. The tourists are provided an “intimate moment with elephants”, and a trained naturalist explain the various aspects of Elephant history, ecology and biology. The visitor can not only observe and learn but also participate in various activities involving Elephants. You will leave the camp becoming more sensitive to the plight of the elephant.
Visit the man made island of Nisargadhama, one of the very famous picnic spots in South India. The 64-acre island, surrounded by the Cauvery River has a lush foliage of thick bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees has lovely river-side cottages.
Reach the headquarters of Coorg district, Madikeri. Start with Rajas Seat Park, which the kings used to visit to enjoy the beautiful scenic beauty around. The sunset and sunrise make for a mesmerizing view which is worth capturing in your cameras. Visit Mercara Fort, one of the most famous tourist places in Madikeri. The Fort is a unique in that it houses among other structures a temple, an Anglican Church, a prison and a museum. It has beautiful architectural designs. The land of coffee, apart from having great landscapes to trek, you can see amazing waterfalls like the Abbey Falls, Chelevara Falls, and the Iruppu Falls.
Proceed to Talacauvery from where the river Cauvery originates. You will be stunned to see how the origin is a small feed, which then Mother Nature transforms into a great river.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The unique Tibetan monastery at Bylakuppe that accommodates thousands of Tibetan refugees has a calm and composed atmosphere that will transport you into a different world. The Buddha statues, the paintings, the archtitecture has an innate uniqueness that can be very rarely seen at any tourist spot. The fragrance of the mixture of flames, flowers and incense sticks will make the divinity alive within you.
The elephant camp at Dubare will teach you a lot about the life of elephants. It will make you more sensitive towards not only elephants but all other animals.
Nisargadhama (Natures abode) as the name suggest will take you back into the laps of the pure and sacrosanct Mother Earth.
Madikeri, one of the most famous tourist places of South India, known for its hills, rains and coffee plantations will enthrall you with its people, the food and of course the monuments. It has Rajas Seat Park, Mercara Fort, Omkareshwara Temple, the numerous waterfalls, and the great trekking routes. The Kodavas (natives of Coorg) are one of the few group of people in the country who can still keep a licensed rifle. As a tradition, they still serve the armed forces and have had a number of hockey players who have represented the country. Do not miss to have the delectable Pandi Curry (Pork Curry), the Emperor of Kodava Cuisine.
Talacauvery, next to the breathtaking Brahmagiri Hills, is the place of origin of the mighty Cauvery River. It is near to the Bhagamandala temple, one where prayers for ancestors are done. Do check on the curse of Alamellamma wherein the story of why there are sands near the origin of the river, there is a lot of sand, will leave you stunned.

SPIRITUAL
Thirunelli: On the side of the Brahmagiri hills in Wayanad lay an ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu, the Thirunelli temple. The temple, surrounded by beautiful hills and forests, is located 32 km away from Mananthavady. The temple is also known as Sahyamala Kshetram and Kashi of South.
For the dead, Hindus do a puja every year. This is basically to appease the departed soul. Its believed that once the pooja is done in Thirunelli, it’s the final one and need not be done every year.

Rustik Travel has partnered with resorts, lodges, camps, hotels and home stays that follow all the protocols laid out by Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tourism. We recommend only these trusted places to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable stay.
Further, you could avail of a discount as a Rustik Travel customer here.
Contact us for details.

1/ Dress for comfort. Do avoid bright colours and stick to muted shades of green, black, grey and brown. The more you meld with the background, the better.
2/ Wear comfortable walking shoes.
3/ Avoid smoking – anything can start a forest fire.
4/ You’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors. Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, torch, etc.
5/ Avoid plastics. We’re really trying to cut down on plastics.

All Rustik Travel partnered hotels and resorts have stepped up precautionary measures in preventing the spread of the Novel Corona virus ( COVID-19).

The safety of guests and employees are of paramount importance. The partners have committed that they will do everything that they can to ensure that the guests have a safe and pleasant stay.

Please go through the various guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India and the State Govt for biological parks, zoo, sanctuary and national parks.

Dos and Don’ts for the Guest

1. Do not step out of the room unnecessarily. Wear a mask whenever outside the room.
2. Guests are recommended to carry their own sanitizer and wet wipes for personal use.
3. Clothes should not be washed inside the room.
4. In case a balcony is shared with another room, please be on the side of your room and do not interact with the other room’s guests.
5. No visitors should be allowed in the rooms.
6. Doors should be kept closed and any contact with the doorknobs should be avoided by staff.
7. Kitchen and washing area entry must be prohibited for guests.
8. Always keep a safe distance of at least 2 m (6 feet) while you are at the property.
9. Wash your hands frequently with the soaps/sanitizers provided.
10. Put all bio-degradable disposable plates/cups/bottles after use in the garbage bag.

The following have been implemented in all our partner properties.

The staff have been briefed on the guidelines provided by the local health authorities. In terms of measures taken, Front desks are equipped with infrared thermometers to conduct temperature checks on all guests, when required. Staff and guests who are unwell with any symptoms of fever, flu or respiratory problems will be immediately provided access to medical assistance, and if so required, their fitness would be assessed by our consulting doctor.

Additional measures include staff briefings to reinforce the rules and practices of good personal hygiene, provision of masks and gloves for staff and guests, as well as hand sanitizers that are placed at guest contact areas such as hotel lobbies. Special attention has also been placed to sanitize public contact points such as reception counters, activities area and conference / meeting rooms. The cleaning of guest rooms has also been stepped up.

Daily meetings are conducted to review the situation; the property is in constant communication with staff and guests to keep them updated and to advise them on appropriate measures to take.

We remain vigilant and will work closely with the authorities for the health and safety of all stakeholders.
Thank you for choosing Rustik Travel and we look forward to welcoming you where ever you stay with us.