Chronicles from Wayanad Trip – Part I

Sharan’s cousin Gummi (Rama) asked us both to organize a trip as it was more than 2 years since the last one (Hampi, March’07). We chose beautiful Wayanad for its close promixity and beauty at the onset of Monsoon. The usual suspects (Gummi, Vishnu, Rohit, Ramya, Sachin, Shruthi, Sharan and I) immediately agreed as half of them hadn’t been to the place.

We set off early morning of 30/June, a Saturday. Though we initially thought of taking only 2 cars since we were 8 of us, all the “boys” wanted drive so we landed up taking 3 of them (waste of natural resources, I pointed out in vain). We agreed breakfast would be in Mysore though there were options in abundance énroute.

This was supposed to be the only breakfast destination but hunger and nature’s call landed us in “Café Coffee Day”, just off Maddur on Mysore Road. It’s an ideal place to visit while travelling early in the morning. Steaming hot and fresh coffee coupled with the fact that they have clean toilets (flipside of road trips otherwise) are the appealing when you think of a “CCD” on the highway. But Sharan and I love this place ever since they started serving fresh breakfast, thanks to the competition around them. Choose from Nano idlis with Chutney and thick Tamil Sambar or Masala Dosas or Aloo Paratas or Omelets apart their usual menu of sandwiches, muffins, etc

We reached our “original” and 2nd breakfast destination around 9:00am hoping that we won’t be turned down for being late at this small but busy hotel. We have been told by numerous travelers that Hotel Mylari Original in Mysore is THE place to eat authentic Mysore Masala Dosa. It turned out to be good advice after all. Story goes that this is where it all originated but I haven’t got it cross-verified though.

The dosa here is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Generous amount of Chutney (Indian coconut sauce) is served along side and the size of the dosa is small enough to order another oneJ. Additionally, the Idli-Chutney (rice dumpling with coconut sauce) available there is equally mouth watering. People who know me know that Idli is by far my most favorite breakfast item. I end up eating Idli at most restaurants whether in Bangalore or Karnataka or South India. After having tasted Idlis in numerous joints, I must admit I haven’t tasted any idli which is as soft as the ones available at Mylari (not Brahmins or Veena Stores in Bangalore). With such finger licking good breakfast, one will end up feeling sad for their stomach getting filled up so fast.

Address: Hotel Original Mylari, #79, Nazarbad Main Road, Mysore – 570010.

With enough binging for the morning, we then headed towards Wayanad all excited at the thought of a remote possibility of sighting one of the wild cats while passing through Bandipur.