A tranquil town tucked in the Malnad region of the Western Ghats; Shimoga comes forward as a fabulous tourist destination that anyone will fall in love with after paying a visit. Being an ardent traveler, I always wanted to this quiet place to bask in the beauty of the locale and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the fast city life. Well, I came here without much planning but the hospitality and divinity of this hill station ensured that its guests are taken care of.

A bit skeptical about home stay, ultimately I said yes to it and thank God, I did so. The lovely hosts took great care of me and made sure I relished every moment in Shimoga. Surrounded by farms, the cottage possesses a highly spiritual ambience which spelled its magic on me, the very first day. After the dinner, I went for a quiet walk around, pondering around like a curious kid. The serenity of the surrounding and the calm breeze re-energized not just my body but also ny soul. The positivity and vigor of the place had started to work its magic on me.

Next day, I woke up with a new-found energy that gained in more strength when I went out for sightseeing. On my way to Kuppali, the home town of the decorated poet Kuvempu, I saw the resolute hills, standing firm with dignity and grace, asking one to “carry on”, come what may. The heritage museum, dedicated to the poet, is a delight and so are the paintings of his son, housed in the Art Gallery. Now it was time to visit Chibbalagudde, home to the Vinayaka Temple, famed for fulfilling the wishes of the visitors. Having said my heartfelt desires to the Lord, I came to the bank of river Tunga, and as is the custom to fesd the fishes with rice flakes.

Back to home, past evening, the hosts came up with the most fascinating Malnad cuisine. The dinner consisted of rice, mango pickle, papad, vegetable and Thambli. The aroma and the appearance of the food made my mouth water and I finished the meal quickly. The exquisite dessert called Thotadevvu was served after dinner. Made up of rice and sugarcane juice, I thought it was the perfect end to the exotic Malnad dinner but more pleasure lay in store.

It came in the form of a camp fire that did amazing things to my mind. Next morning, I walked around to the scenic spots, capturing the splendor with my camera. At Agumbe, the place where the famous TV series “Malgudi Days” was shot, it was like reviving my childhood days. The drive was rejuvenating in every way with the lush greenery of the landscape. At the Sirimane falls, the pristine water was very refreshing.

Words are not enough to sum up the bliss I experienced in Shimoga. The scenic beauty of the hills, the rejuvenating waterfalls and the amazing home stay had worked its magic on my mind, body and soul.