The engine-gearbox combo is just amazing, cruises on highway like hot knife through butter.
BHPian Bane214 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Hello all,
Let me start with thanking everyone who have put in time and effort on documenting their travel journeys. I, amongst others, have deeply benefited from the information shared and has helped plan my journeys. This would be my first travelogue here. Hoping to add many more in future.
First things first, the Drive. Skoda Kushaq 1.5 DSG Lava Blue (nicknamed the ‘Blue’ after Jurassic World Velicoraptor, agile and fast)
Background and Planning. I stay in Bangalore and my parents in Gwalior (my hometown). Both my parents are working and it becomes difficult for them to travel together considering their work profiles (Father-professor and mother-doctor). My son’s birthday falls in end August, so they plan to travel and spend this occasion together. For last 2 years, my father had convocation ceremonies scheduled at his university during the same time and he couldn’t travel. However, stars aligned this year and I had both my parents spending a week with us this time around. Since we had a Ganesh Chaturthi holiday, decided to plan one day each around the holiday (26-28 Aug). After hours of internet browsing and TBHP travelogues section, decided on Wayanad. Plan to was to spend quality family time away from city hustle and not get carried away with ticking off tourist spots. Checked the weather and had some rain forecast (not thunderstorms) on Wednesday and Thursday.
Route and Stay. Special mention to ‘Bangalore-Wayanad route’ section. The default route recommendation was showing from my home (Whitefield) was through Nagarhole. However, as a true BHPian, read on route queries section and found a better (also shorter) route through Bandipur. Mapped out the route with stops to pass through Nice Road – Mysore Expressway – Mysore Ring road – Nanjangud – Gudlupete – Sultan Bathery.
As the primary focus of the trip was not on tourist spots, selected Sterling Lontano Waterfront. Needed a place with good rooms, and good kids play areas. The resort is somewhat new at just a year old. Hence the overall conditon of rooms and amenities is quite good. The rooms were very spacious and few rooms have waterfront views of the Karapuzha reservoir. Indoor play areas include foosball, carrom, chess, poker table, ludo and Air Hockey (my son loved this). They have a small pool and a small turf area (covered by nets) to play cricket or football. The restaurant and food quality is good, however buffet options are limited at the price point.
Views from our room
Hotel pool
Water beads on Blue at night
Fig plant in Hotel garden
Travel. We started at 7am on 26 Aug from Whitefield, took the ORR and Nice Road to reach the Mysore Expressway. We stopped around 9am for breakfast at Maddur Tiffanys. Reached the expressway end and turned towards Ring Road to avoid entering the city. Crossed through Nanjangud and Gudlipete before entering the blissful Bandipur forest. Whattt an amazing drive through the forest with greenery all around, light rain and amazing roads (although a lot of speed breakers, which I wouldn’t mind, ensures you slow down and behold the beautiful nature). We were stopped at Karnataka-Kerala border where an official only noted down vehicle and driver details, however on the return journey we had to pay Rs. 20/-.
Moving ahead, passed through tea gardens and entered Sultan Bathery before reaching the resort at 1.30pm.
P.S. Amazing to see the traffic discipline at Wayanad, people stopping their cars before zebra crossing for pedestrians to pass. Felt so good to witness and do the same as well. Also, crossed 10K on Odo (bought Mar 2024)
Went out the next day (27 Aug) to explore Banasura Sagar dam and do some boating. However it was raining. Had a nice drive through Wayanad twisting roads and came back to resort. Took the same route for return journey on 28 Aug. Started at about 10.30am after breakfast and had lunch at Paakshala. Good food and excellent restrooms. Experienced some traffic at ORR before Marathahalli bridge and reached home at 5pm.
Stopped for some pics at tea gardens during the return route
Car Verdict. Delight. The engine-gearbox combo is just amazing, cruises on highway like hot butter through knife and paddle downshift or press on the A pedal to overtake in a flash. Rain sensing wipers worked very well throughout the journey. Probably the best seats in segment, very comfortable and no fatigue whatsoever.
Total travel details
Thank you for reading through. Hoping for more travels and documenting them here.
Attaching some pics of ‘Blue’
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