I travel to understand myself better. The more I travel, the more I recognise my own inner journey and the things that call to me.
Away from Chennai's busy streets, hills and beaches give my mind room to breathe. I enjoy travelling without a rigid plan, leaving space for small experiences: a river stream, a hot chai or an unexpected view. This time, our impromptu journey took us from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka and Kerala.
A Train From Chennai to Bengaluru
Train journeys give me time both to look out of the window and to look back on my own life. We began at Chennai Central. Everyone around us had a different reason to travel; ours was the chance to explore, spend time together and find a little perspective.
Our first destination was Bengaluru. What mattered was not simply how far we travelled, but how happy and present we felt along the way.
Collecting Our Rental Car in HSR Layout
We reached Krishnarajapuram in the evening and took a bus to HSR Layout to collect our rented car. Traffic moved slowly past high-rise buildings, malls, technology parks, hotels, eateries and showrooms. The city's growth was visible on both sides of the road.
It was around 10.30 p.m. when we reached the pickup point. We had booked through Zing Car. On that trip, its pricing, newer cars and service made it a useful alternative to the other rental options we had considered.
After completing the verification formalities, we used Google Maps to find our way onto the Bengaluru–Mysore highway.
Midnight Food at Rasta Cafe
About 50 km from HSR Layout, we stopped at Rasta Cafe. We had heard about its lively atmosphere and found young groups enjoying food and music late into the night.
We ordered paneer pizza, cold coffee and hot coffee. The music and conversation made it an enjoyable midnight stop before continuing towards Mysore. We had also heard that flavoured hookah had previously been an attraction, but during our visit we were told it had been stopped two weeks earlier.
Mysore During Dasara
We travelled through Mandya, a place often associated in the news with the Kaveri water dispute, and Channapatna, known for its toys. Drizzle, music and cool air accompanied us along the road.
We reached Mysore during Dasara. The palace and illuminated streets gave the city an extraordinary atmosphere. Shops and markets were busy, visitors filled the city, and the celebrations seemed part of everyday life.
We arrived near the palace at around 3 a.m. and admired its grandeur. Looking at it, we could not help imagining the lives of the kings who had once lived there.
Benne Dosa Before the Journey to Wayanad
The next morning, we planned to continue to Wayanad. Before leaving Mysore, we stopped at Vinayaka Mylari Hotel for benne dosa, or butter dosa.
Mysore's dosas deserve their reputation. The butter melted in my mouth, and the queue outside showed how many others had come for the same experience. This breakfast became one of the food memories of the trip.
A Temple Stop in Nanjangud
On the way towards Wayanad, we stopped in Nanjangud at the ancient Nanjundeshwara Temple, also known as Dakshina Kashi.
The historical account we encountered described Chola work from the 11th and 12th centuries, with later additions by Hoysala and Vijayanagara rulers. We also learnt about Panchamaha Rathothsava, the annual celebration in which five chariots are drawn along the temple streets.
This was our moment of spirituality in an otherwise carefree trip with friends.
Through Bandipur's Forest
The road from Mysore towards Wayanad gave us the kind of drive we had hoped for: greenery, open views and a stretch through Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Bandipur belongs to a larger forest landscape that includes Mudumalai, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagarhole. During our passage, we saw deer and an elephant among the vegetation.
The forest department's organised safari vehicles offer a separate way to experience the reserve. Sightings depend on luck; even in tiger country, there is no promise of seeing a tiger. Road access, timings and safari arrangements should be checked before a future visit.
Rain and Green Hills in Wayanad
As we continued, the air grew cooler and the landscape greener. We reached Wayanad around noon, welcomed by drizzle that gradually became a downpour. With music playing inside the car, the hills felt wonderfully removed from our usual routines.
Wayanad offers forests, lakes, wildlife, trekking routes, resorts and homestays. Places on our list included Banasura Sagar Dam, Edakkal Caves, Kuruva Island, Chembra Peak, Pookode Lake and Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary.
Not every holiday needs a packed itinerary. For someone wanting a slower stay, a lakeside resort and good food can be enough.
A Quiet Evening Beside the Lake
In the evening, we found a resort near a lake. From its balcony, we looked over lotus flowers and rain trees. We sat quietly, taking in a view that left us spellbound.
Moments like these remind me of our responsibility to care for nature. For me, no shopping mall or busy hangout could match the scale of a mountain or the sound of falling water. The simplicity felt luxurious.
What the Journey Gave Us
As I write, I can still see those scenes in my mind. Travel fills us with experiences and lessons. It can help us let go, regain focus and appreciate small things we might otherwise pass by.
This journey through three states was also a journey inwards. We came back with more than photographs: we brought back conversations, quiet moments and a renewed interest in the world around us.
Authored by Shyam Thangavel and Vasanth Krishnan.
Photographs From the Three-State Journey
