Chikmagalur and Sakleshpur Malnad Escape

900 year old Hoysala temple, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free entry. The inner shrine closes for rituals from about 1 PM, so we come in the morning.

Every inch of the outer walls is carved: elephants, dancers, gods and scenes from the epics. Free entry. Shoes off at the gate. The small museum next door is closed on Fridays.

A quiet lake with the Mullayanagiri range behind it. The sun drops behind the hills around 6 PM in winter.

1,930 m, the highest point in Karnataka. About 500 steps from the parking to the small temple at the top, with views over the whole range. We book the vehicle pass for the 6 AM to 12 noon slot. It is windy and cold early, carry a jacket.

A cave shrine honoured by both Hindus and Muslims. Legend says coffee first came to India here, when Baba Budan brought seven beans from Yemen.

Private cars stop at the checkpoint. A local 4x4 jeep takes you down a bumpy estate track, then a short walk to the falls. Jeep fare is included. Jeeps stop running by late afternoon.

A planter shows you coffee under silver oak shade, pepper vines and the low cardamom plants, and how each is picked and dried. Tasting included.

On a clear day you see three ranges: Kumara Parvatha, Pushpagiri and Dodda Betta. Free. The last stretch is narrow and slow through forest, so we leave by 4:30 PM to be back before dark.

A star shaped fort built by Tipu Sultan in 1792, about 250 steps up from the highway. On a clear morning you can see the Arabian Sea side of the Ghats. Small entry fee, included.

A 160 year old French built church left behind when the Hemavathi dam came up. In winter it often stands in the water, in summer you can walk right up to it.