I recently visited Jog Falls through KSTDC Package, they charge Rs 1250 per head which includes To and Fro and then 2 hours for refreshment and sight seeing.
Let me start my trip : I started with my wife on Sept 18th 2009 at 10 pm from Badami House, Corporation, the bus was in sharp time and we found bus to be very decent and luxury for that price thought Non AC. And the best thing was the Supervisor cum Guide, he kept on entertaining us with his little known english, he has told us the next day’s plan on what are we covering from the morning till evening.
By the time we reached Sagar it was 7 AM, it is the place just 30 mins away from Jog Falls and wherein the KSTDC has its hotel, the guide has asked us to get ready by 9 AM. Though the Hotel was not good interms of stay, but I felt to spent 2 hrs with that package it is worth and the best part is we got the Hot Water as well.
Everyone gathered at 9 AM near the bus and we started our day with Keladi Temple, and then went to Krishnagiri Dam view Point, only u can view the dam from far away distance, as it is a Govt. Restricted area. Then we went directly to the place called Raja Rani Bungalow i.e nothing but Jog Falls but from the Top View wherein the "Mungare Male" Kannada movie shooted, but by the time we reached to that place it was hot and sunny at 11 AM, there we took some snaps and managed to spend some 45 mins.
Then comes the most exciting JOG FALLS, we reached the spot at 12:15 PM so guide told us the bus will start back again to Bangalore at 5 pm, so we got around 5 hours to spent in Jog Falls.
We had Lunch in KSTDC hotel, though it was not good but we didn’t had any option as it is the only hotel available and there is a complex wherein u get Maggi, Dosa and Bread omlet.
Guide told us, its really worth going down from the hill to have a full view of Jog Falls. We had lunch and then we decided to go down from the hill, it took us 45 mins to reach down as it was 1400 steps and we reached finally.
Man it was awesome view it was real Jannat, but then we felt after reaching Jog Falls, if we don’t go under the waterfall shower, its of no use, but the main danger starts we had to do the rock climbing, but people who love Rock Climbing will sure like that, it took us some 20 mins climbing and finally reached the spot of water falls, haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I love when the water is falling on me from above 800 meters height, took some unbelievable pics with such a great waterfalls.
and then I didn’t realise how the time has passed it was already 3:30 pm and we have to climb back some 1400 steps after this rock climbing. Somehow we managed to reach on top at 4:45 pm, so went to the complex had some snacks and assembled at the BUS. We started at 5:30 pm from Jog Falls and halted for Dinner at Shimoga which is 100 kms away from Jog Falls. We had dinner and started back to Bangalore and by the time we reached Bangalore it was just 5 AM in Majestic, I was wondering whether we get an Auto or Bus at that time. But iam very fortunate in Majestic the Bus conductor was shouting for Marathalli !!!!! then we boarded the bus and reached my place.
Overall we felt KSTDC Package was worth, if we would have gone by our own sources, we would have landed up spending more than this and then lot of pain would have involved on arranging all the stuff.