🎬 Coastal Karnataka Chronicles – Phase 2: The Cave, The Priest & The Night We Didn't Expect

👉 If you haven't read Phase–1 and you somehow landed directly on this page, please read Phase–1 first and then come back here 😊

🔗 Read Phase–1 here: Coastal Karnataka Chronicles – Phase 1

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🎬 Phase – 2: "The Cave, The Priest & The Night We Didn't Expect"

Christmas morning at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple = full chaos.

• Queue length = 2 km
• Waiting time = 3–4 hours
• Patience level = 0%

But then a group of VIPs walked in. Did we hesitate? NO.

We slid in silently behind them like we belonged there.

• Confidence = 100%
• Eligibility = 0%

The watchman looked at us like, "Who are these extra VIPs?" But we avoided eye contact and entered like CEOs of Udupi.

Darshan done in 30 minutes. Skills > Tickets.

After admiring a Krishna painting in the mutt, we headed to Thimmappa Fish Meal.

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🍛 Thimmappa Meal – Simple Yet Stunning

Only meals. No fancy menu. But the Pomfret?

Bro, that fish was softer than butter and bigger than our expectations.

We cleaned our banana leaves so well the staff probably thought we brought our own detergent.

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🛕 The Most Mysterious Temple Yet — Sri Keshavanatheshwara

Now comes the twist.

We were raised with a rule: "No temple visit after eating non-veg unless you take bath."

But rooms? ZERO available.

So when we found a natural pond with crystal clear water and fishes sleeping peacefully, we did what any desperate but culturally responsible boys would do:

We jumped in. Dipped 3–4 times. Became officially purified.

And zoomed straight to the temple.

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🌌 The Cave Temple Experience

Closing time. Last visitors.

Inside:

• Flowing water
• Fish
• Snakes
• A tiny cave
• Shiva
• Pin-drop silence
• Maximum energy vibes

We stood there shocked. Not scared. Just… hypnotised.

The cave felt like nature's secret office where Shiva works part-time.

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🏡 The Priest's Unexpected Invitation

Seeing us wandering like homeless saints, the priest asked,

"Where are you staying?"

Us: "Ummm… nowhere."

Priest: "Come. Stay in my house."

Our reaction: 😳😳😳

He even offered us to stay inside the temple for the night. But unfortunately, our bravery comes only till eating spicy prawns. So we politely declined and stayed at his house instead.

He even fed us dinner.

This wasn't hospitality. This was VIP divine treatment.

Considering the temple is in a forest-like area, if not for him, we'd have been driving 40 km at night praying for network signal.

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🌊 Kundapura — When We Thought the Trip Was Over

Next morning, after waking up at the priest's house like disciplined children who suddenly found religion, we decided:

"Okay, trip done. Let's go home."

Kundapura was supposed to be a simple drive. No plans. No expectations. Just fuel + Google Maps + vibes.

That's when Kundapura entered our lives and said, "Bro, you're not done yet."

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🐬 The Dolphin Ride – Expectations vs Reality

Someone casually said, "Dolphin ride untu anta kelidini."

Us: "Sure bro, let's see." (Translation: Zero hope.)

We got into a small boat that looked like it had seen better days — possibly in 2004.

Boat started. Water splashing. Balance gone. Life flashbacks loading.

And then suddenly…

DOLPHINS. ACTUAL DOLPHINS.

Jumping. Swimming. Showing attitude. Like they were paid actors hired just for us.

For five full minutes:

• Phones forgotten
• Screams activated
• Inner children released

One of us tried to record. Another tried to point. Third one just stood there smiling like he unlocked a life achievement.

No reels. No captions. Just happiness without Wi-Fi.

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🍽️ Shetty's Lunch Home – Where Diets Go to Die

After the dolphin excitement settled down and our excitement levels came back to human range, someone said the magic words:

"Shetty's Lunch Home."

At this point, no discussion happened. No voting. No democracy.

We just went.

Inside Shetty's Lunch Home, things are simple. No drama. No fancy menu names. No "chef's special of the day."

You sit. You eat. You leave changed.

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🔥 The Legends Arrive

First came the Ghee Fish Roast.

The smell itself was enough to reset life priorities.

Hot. Crispy. Swimming in ghee. One bite in and suddenly everyone became very serious.

No jokes. No phones. Only respectful chewing.

Then entered the hero — Majjige Dose.

Soft. Slightly sour. Perfectly soaked. The kind of dose that doesn't need explanation — it demands silence.

We dipped it. We nodded. We understood why this place exists.

At that moment, we all accepted one universal truth:

👉 This is not lunch. 👉 This is an experience.

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🤫 Absolute Silence Mode

Conversation stopped completely.

Only sounds inside the hotel:

• Spoon hitting plate
• Someone saying "haaaa" after a good bite
• Occasional eye contact that said, "Bro… idu next level."

No one asked: "Enough ah?"

Because everyone knew the answer.

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✨ End of Phase-2: Complete

Plates empty. Car quiet. Google Maps finally pointing home.

No one announced the end of the trip — it just happened.

What began as a sea-food plan turned into caves, kindness, dolphins, ghee, silence, and stories we didn't plan for.

Three boys left Mysuru chasing fish. They came back with memories, blessings.

Some trips end at home. This one ended in the heart. 🙏