Travel is an education for life and living life to the fullest. We usually keep our plans for travel simple but we end up seeing places which was not in our plan and know more about our incredible India. The thrill that hits you while exploring a new place is like a drug and the more we try to stay away, the more it pulls you towards it. This is exactly how we feel after every trip! The trip to Chikmaglur also was full of surprises for us. We had planned to stay at Java Rain Resort, Chikmanglur as we received an invite to review the resort. The invitation excited us to pack our bags for 2 days and enjoy the luxury in the cradle of coffee estate.

We quickly settled in our Qahva villa which was beautifully decorated for us. The villas are named after coffee brews. Qahva, named after the strongest brew by the Arabs is a villa which is ideal for couples who love privacy and it even comes with a private jacuzzi.

The villa is spacious and comes with king sized bed with ergonomic mattresses. You can enjoy Free Wireless high speed internet in the resort and stay connected with the outside world. All rooms have Mini- bar, personal safe, individually controlled air conditioning, coffee and tea making facilities etc. You can actually enjoy some coffee and tea sitting in the private balcony.

We still had time for lunch and decided to step out to see places in Chikmanglur. We soon found ourselves outside Kodandaramaswami Temple. This temple is also known as Bhargavapuri kalayanaraman temple in Hariharapura/hiremaglur.

The temple was built in 1400AD and has glimpses of Hoysala architecture. The beauty about this temple is that, it is the only Lord Rama temple in the world , where Sita devi is on the right side of Lord Rama. And this temple also has the uniqueness of being a temple where there is no separate idol for Lord Hanuman. Apparently Rama semms to have fought Parusurama here and it was before his meeting with lord Hanuman. However a small carving of Hanuman is there .

Back from the trip to the temple we entered the resort and decided to just take a look around. Java Rain Resort is very close to the Mullayanagiri hills and It is the tallest peak in Karnataka. There are trekking trips possible and this peak also has steps that makes the trek a little easier. The view of the hills from the resort is extremely inviting.

After just taking a sneak peak at the Peak of mulliangiri we decided to break for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the delicacies of Malnad cuisine.

We also enjoyed a nice spa, which was clean and well maintained. The therapists at the spa are well trained and I really loved the way the therapy was administered. It took my to an all new relaxation level after the tiring drive from Bangalore.

After a small siesta, we decided to spend the evening in the resort by exploring all other things it has to offer. The highlight of the resort is the Crimson tower, which is the highest view point inside the resort that provides a wonderful view of sunsets and  couples up as the fully stocked bar of java rain resort.

You cant ask for a better view and a better place to test your spirits. Sun was playing hide and seek and I could not capture a perfect sunset but it was more than compensated by the beautiful view of the valley.

We moved on to the restaurant to have our dinner. In an attempt to satisfy the cravings of a foodie, they served us their chef special sizzler. This was one of the best sizzlers we had till date and it was a platter filled with Mexican rice, sauteed veggies, grilled creamy paneer and potato finger chips. After a heavy sizzling dinner we called it a day…

Day 2 started with a property tour. We literally soaked in the experience of java rain resort, its beautiful ambiance set in the middle of the coffee estate, the tastefully planned rooms across the resort and the warm hospitality of the staff who ensure every guest gets the same kind of treatment. The managers in F& B , the Chef and the operations manager ensure every guest is pampered.

There is also live dosa counter which is had our kiddo going often with requirements of different dosas.  After a great property tour we decided to check out the buffet breakfast at the resort.

Post breakfast since we had a few hours and we decided to check out the Sri Veeranarayaswami temple which is about 40 km from the resort. The options to explore such monuments are immense as both Belur & Halibedu (B & H) are also at a similar distance from the property. Since we had already visited B & H, we decided to check out the famous Belavadi temple. Click here to read more about Belur and Halibedu.

The Veera Narayana temple is located in Belavadi, a village in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was built during the rule of the Hoysala Empire. Belavadi is said to be the place mentioned in where Bheema killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people. This temple is again a testimony to the Hoysala architecture and has a very differentiating factor that sets it apart from the temples of B & H.

In contrast to the highly sculpture oriented B & H , this temple is a display of tremendous architectural skills. You will need a thousand eyes to admire the beauty of this temple. No doubt we loved B & H, but somehow this temple leaves a mark in your heart as the best thing that ever happened to temple architecture. The journey was worth the effort and with just the three of us in the temple it was an amazing experience capturing the beauty of this temple. We highly recommend not to miss this temple.

We came back to the resort and decided to spend some time in the infinity pool and thoroughly enjoyed the pool and views from the pool. Sitting on top of the hillock and having the views of the valley down below is one view that will remain etched in our hearts for ever.

Then we spent some time in the activity room where our kid enjoyed some play time with the resident manager in charge of activities. Table top football or Foosball as it is called was one hell of an entertaining game and this is the first time we really enjoyed an indoor game so much. A few games of table tennis made us sweat out the few calories that got added on this trip.

We went to the room to just take a shower and refresh ourselves and got ready for the most romantic evening of our life ( ok..ok.. one of the best romantic evenings) . The resort is gearing up for its valentine day celebrations and as a unique experience that is being offered to the guests is the dinner date in the beautifully decorated gazebo. The lights and the decor of the gazebo is really romantic and with the constant pampering of the resort staff this could be billed definitely as one of the best things you can experience in the resort. There is a special package for couples to enjoy this gazebo where a complementary bottle of wine is provided along with a specially curated menu that will be as per the requirements of the guest. This experience is out of the world and definitely worth the dosh. This gazebo experience is available through out the year. This was icing on the cake of our trip to Java rain resort and was the best way to sign off from a relaxing holiday.

Click here to get in touch with the reservations team to book your stay in Java rain resort and and they will be more than happy to help you. Sayanora till we meet again with another road trip.

Love,

Shiva & Priya