Bangalore – Nelamangala – Tumkur (NH-4)- Chitradurga – Ranebennur – Haveri- Shiggaon – Hubli (Bypass) – turn right 8 kms before Dharwad – ( you have to cut through some mud road and make sure you dont miss this turn. Its the one with some 5 -6 mango trees by the side of the road) – SH 28 – Halliyal – Road to Dandeli – Old Magazine House.

Ganeshgudi – Yellapur – Sorab- Sirsi – Banawasi – Siralkoppa- Shikarpur – Shimoga – Tarikere – Kadur – Arsikere – Tumkur – Nelamangala – Bangalore

The log huts

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

Scouting out for places we have not been yet, I came across this.  And reading very few and scratched out reviews of the place made me even curious about this place. This being Jungle Resorts, I was at least sure of the service there. So off we booked a quiet weekend. The purpose was to take a short quiet break where I could just spend time with myself. It was also close to my birthday and since I was not looking forward to it, this break was much expected with anticipation

We started early and just while we were getting out of the city there was this sickening noise and to our dismay, we saw that we had  a bad puncture. This did not pertain to a very good start. We lost some hours fixing the same. And just when the traffic cop came to tell us that we were stepping into peak hour, we finished fixing that and moved on. It was late, but we were cool.

We were on NH4 very quickly and it was a good ol’ stretch of sweet toll road highway where we paid through many of the toll counters.

The landscape did not change much but we were making good on the distance.

We were reaching Hubli and we had to take the state highway somehow. We were not sure about the road so we hit back the highway to take the cut to the state highway before Dharwad.  We asked around and we were told that we had to take a left 8 kms after a particular point in the highway.

We had to make the run twice down the highway at that point since we could not find the point where we had to take a turn. We could only see some grassy lands and rain dried mud. We were told to look at a railway line and a mango tree and take a cut. So we came at a point, where we saw many mango trees and an old security type of a man with blue uniform. We asked him for directions and he slowly crossed the road and talked to us in his local language which had a flavor of Marathi and Kannada and told us something which sounded too confusing. Rocks was fed up and followed his instinct and jumped on the area where there was no road and after rolling and rocking for a few minutes, we did plop down to the state highway.

And yes there were NO signs to tell us where we had to go. So anway, we headed towards Halliyal which would lead us to Dandeli road which would in turn take us to our destination.

So finally, we reached our destination. And not soon enough. It was an ideal place where you could just hide inside yourself and be happy. Not too many huts and yet the place became full with people. We settled down, had some campfire time and retired. Rocky and Shobhan were excited about River Rafting. Morning  we were to wake up early to go bird watching and then we take a coracle ride and the guys go rafting. After that we do a short trek up a viewpoint to watch the sunset.We met a family who were motorcycle  and travel enthusiasts. It was good to connect with them. Specially for my friends Kid Sreeja.  She started the friendship with Arnav by throwing the gun which Arnav offered to her to make friends. Well guess what, by the time our time there was up, they did not want to leave each other.

Sunset over Kali RIver

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

I was too lazy to wake up early and go for bird watching so decided to stay in while the others went ahead and did some nice bird watching. Coracle Ride was something which I had done before but went ahead anyway with friends. The kids were very excited as well. We had a nice boat ride where we say some young chaps catch fish and I took a shot as well.  We saw a swallow being rescued from a Kite hunt.  It was sad but I was glad that the swallow was picked up by the boatman.

It was getting hotter and I just wanted to go back and chill and while Rocky and Shobhan went off for rafting, we sat outside chatting and after a while, I took advantage of the weather and napped for a while.

Rafting took quiet a while. Rocky and Shobhan enjoyed it a lot and were in time for a late lunch.

Trekking was a short but quite an affair but it was worth the view and the sunset. Had another night of friendly dinner. We started early the next day and decided to take the country road. It was long and winding and well, the roads are nice but it is long. Add to that, our car did have a problem with the wheel alignment, which Rocky and Shobhan fixed. The route is unmarked with helpful signs and we got delayed sometimes, by just guessing and taking another way.. but heck thats part  of the adventure. We had a painful time in Nelamangala. Before that we were caught in this huge thunderstorm where we were forced to stop as the visibility was very low.

So well I would suggest that you stick to the highway. That way you can drive home faster.

So well, thus ended our vacation and here are the pics.

You can also visit the Jungle Lodges Site to book this place.

Some tips to consider if you decide to take this trip.

• Book well in advance
• Take some food with you if you are doing the second route. There is no Dhaba or a decent eating joint around this area. You can break for food in Shimoga but otherwise its mostly winding roads.  Stock up your juice and snacks.
• Rafting costs about 1300 . Book this in advance as well as there is a big crowd beelining for this.
• Slap on loads of sunscreen if you are doing rafting. You will get a nasty tan otherwise. Rocky is still recovering from it.
• The food is good but avoid the spicy chicken if your stomach is sensitive.
• Take good shoes for trekking. The view is awesome.
• Don’t forget the camera.
• And if you are one who likes to do NOTHING, take a book or just soak in the contentment that is there..

So we did not have time to plan an elaborate trip. It was going to be just me Mom-in-law and Rocks and of course the Birds. My grey birds were traveling for the first time.. My yellow birds know when its time to change cages that it was time to be on the road. They like it.

When you are pressed for time and planning, what does one do ?

I wanted to go to a familiar place yet a new place, not more than 6 hour’s drive and then of course a place which had abundant nature and good food.

Checked a couple of my information database and went with my favorite place : Bokkapuram, Masinagudi.

We did about 5 places in this area and I wanted to try a something new. Monarch Safari Park was my answer. I looked at reviews but could not find it. I searched for their website but that was also not available. The only link available was though Nivalink. Now this is a decent link to book the resort but the turnaround time was too much. Anyway, after many interactions on the phone, we finally got our booking done.

The route was familiar, the timing set, we started early and hit Mysore road soon. The traffic was low in the morning but the highway was full of crudely laid speed breakers. So even though we would want to cruise at a comfortable speed, it would not allow us to because of the speedbreakers.

We decided we would break at McDonalds just to do something different from the usual. I loved having the burgers and coffee for a change.. This place is situated some distance before Maddur if you are traveling from Bangalore. There is a Kamat’s joint at the same place to fulfil your traditional tastes, so though Rocks was jumping to get something traditional, I had burgers on my mind.

So well after filling our stomachs, we did continue our way towards our destination.

There was an ALL female vehicle driving Skoda Superb who was following us and well because of the speedbreakers, she did careen into us while we were going over it and hit our back. So all said and done, damage was minimum.

We reached Masinagudi at noon and made our way to Bokkapuram. We realized that we came at a time when the crowd was low to minimum. I did not waste time to upgrade our cottage for a minimum fee. It was a wonderful place. Usually, we stay on the other side of this place. This view was pretty amazing. The room was airy and it had ample view on all sides.. it had a wooden veranda.. and a cozy field just to ourselves.. And yeah, to give you a pinch of modernism, it did have a plush bathtub and the works.. he he!!

Our Machan Cottage had a sitting area and it also had a table and seats outside for us to enjoy the sunshine. I felt like I was in Shillong or some place in Assam. We were surrounded by the mountains and it was a very nice day. I felt all my worries just washing away and I was one with nature.. My birds loved it.. They were communicating with the other birds and well they are pretty adapting if they see lot of green around them.

While we were settling down, Rocky seating outside with his mother talking about lunch.. Suddenly there was a curious push through the hedges which covered the seating area.. And then WHACK !!! In came a horse… hahahahah !!! We were surprised as him. He was on the lookout for some fresh grass and did not know what to do. We pretended as if we did not see him and he contentedly started grazing. It was funny.. But it also was very natural…

I was sitting on the ledge and could not help clicking some shots..

After a while we did get our lunches and had it outside.. I tried to keep awake but we did nap awhile before setting out and paying our regular visit to the Murugan temple or more known as Mithun Chakravarty’s temple. As I said the day was beautiful and it was a wonderful time to watch the sunset.

We trekked, to the point where we usually view the sunset from in this place and basked in the warm sun rays.. Watching it slowly descend down the horizon.. It was pure serenity and it was one of the most precious moment of my life.. My family and nature.. All at peace.. I felt very grateful and very content… There is something serene about watching the sun go down and basking in its downing rays. It was a very peaceful moment.. for me.. which seemed to tell me that it will all be fine… !!!

It was like our private space as there were no people around.. As we gazed down below, we could see a group of children playing and also our place.. We also could see different types of animals moving around.. Some trying to climb up the hill.. Some generally fooling around, among them were a pair of identical twin calves. I had never seen twin calves.. And I enjoyed their antics..

Rocky spotted a Chameleon who was fascinated with our Video Camera and pretended to be one with the rock while eyeing it.. hahaha !! It was cute..

As the sun went down, we trekked down and drove on in the hope of spotting some wild animals.. But it was too dry and noisy or the time was not right, I guess, so we did not spot anything besides some stray monkeys.. It was fine.. I was just enjoying being out there.. I did not have to go anywhere or do anything…

We came back and while Mom-in-law was resting, we walked around the campus.. It was a decent one.. And since there were very few people who checked in, we could order food instead of having a buffet. I traipsed to the kitchen which was just across our Machan Cottage and got familiar with the cook who was a Bengali. I had some intense conversation about food as Bengalis do and ordered dinner.

It was served outside beneath a clear sky filled with stars where you could clearly see the Belt of Orion and all that goes with it.. We did walk around the campus in the evening. My eyes were more on the starlit sky rather than on the soft downy ground…

I was happy with my Chicken curry and rice.. Yum !! Life is good… What more could one want ? Fish is not a good idea if you do not like spicy food. Go with the meat if you are a non veggie. And the Dal was also delicious.

We retired early with the sound of crickets and different night sounds enveloping us.

Morning was cool and misty but I felt great joy welcoming the day along with my birdies. I freed them up as I usually do in the mornings so that they could explore or generally sit on our shoulders whilst admiring their new surroundings..

We did have a simple but tasty breakfast.. And I could see the horses running around in the field down below.. A guest playing football with his kid and well the mountains they were smiling it seemed in the sunshine.. Even though people say that its beautiful in the rains.. I must say that the yellowed grass and the feel of this time in the winter has its own charm..

It was a perfect weekend. We started at 11:00 and reached at 5 :00. It was a smooth drive and it was a peaceful and much wanted break. I will come back here.. This is one of the places where you wouldn’t mind coming back.

Service was decent and communication was connected.. Place was clean and the food was good. Price was decent..

I would not say it was fancy but it was unique and just right..

For booking you can contact : http://www.nivalink.com/monarchsafari/contact.html

For more pics, you can click here.

Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Thoppur – Mettur – Bhawani – Kangayam – Dharapuram – Udumallaipettai – Indira Gandhi / Eravikulam National Park (No entry after 6 pm)  – Munnar = 429 kms

Route Options :  There are various route options to go to Munnar. The above was the best as in we avoided the main highway and kept to country roads and made good time. I recommend this if you like driving and if you like country roads.

You could do the alternative routes such as :

Most Scenic

Bangalore – Mysore – Nanjangud – Chamrajnagar – Satyamangalam – Annur – Coimbatore – Pollachi – Udumalaipettai – Munnar = 474 Kms

Bangalore – Mysore – Nanjangud – Chamrajnagar – Satyamangalam – Annur – Avanaslu – Palladum – Udumalaipettai – Munnar = 465 Kms

Regular and long

Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Salem – Namakkal – Karur – Dindigul – Vattalkundu – Perikulum – Theni – Devikolum – Munnar = 515 Kms

On his way home

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

We started with our friends and our menagerie of birds early morning at 5:30 AM. The objective was to  beat the morning traffic and cross Krishnagiri early.  It was a good time to go to Munnar. Just before the monsoon and I was really looking forward to it.  We had planned this early on but it did not work out.  So I was kind of eager to do this. My birds were happy campers too. They love to travel. So they were quite excited singing all the way in the morning.  Anyway, we stopped when the sunrise was just happening and we came across a lake which we usually pass by without any notice but on this day it looked magical.  The sky was pink bathed in the summer sun’s glory and I could see this lone fisherman working his rounds at the lake. I was spellbound by the scene, and I quickly took some shots crossing over and came back to have some home made tea which we poured and had it with biscuits watching this scene.

If you are doing this route, it is reccomended to carry some tea so that you can cover some good miles and can stop at places like this.

Whitefeather

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

We stretched our legs for a while and then were on our way.  The Dharmapuri bypass is smooth and a good drive. We took the diversion before Salem and drove through the country roads before passing on Mettur Dam. We went through Kangayam and then to Dharapuram and on the way, there were some deviations that we had to take as there was some road construction and kind of got lost . But we got on to track fast.

So the point to be noted if you are doing this route is that most of the signs are in Tamil language and it helps if you have a travel companion who knows this language.  The roads are pretty simple but you could get deviated if you are not careful.  We did cross some busy towns but traffic was kind of ok. So that way we did make up time again.

We reached Udumallaipettai and then the forests of Indira Gandhi National Park.  The forest was beautiful and if you could have fall colors here, well this could be it. I loved the colors.

You would be seeing a lot of Nila Kiranji, a tree with beautiful blue flowers which grows abundant in this region. A beautiful sight indeed!!

Though we are not supposed to stop in the middle of the forest, we had to check on some noise, and I took that opportunity to snap some shots.  The only other time I had seen such beautiful colors were when we were riding to Horsley Hills in the month of April. Beautiful.

Spice Garden Resorts

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

We climbed some pretty curvy ghats and then reached Chinar Wildlife Sanctuary and entered in Kerela.  It is to be noted that you have to cross some three gates at this point.  And you need to pay some 10/- or so.

It does seem like an ardourous process but well that is so. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary was the same forest on the Kerela side.  This is another place where you can spend some time if you like to wild it out.

Here are some links for your reference

• Chinnar Website
• Ecotourism in Chinnar.

So if you want a stopover, you could have a mini holiday here too.

After that we drove through some awesome mountain roads and we were spellbound by the views and the different vistas. And we hadnt even come upon the tea gardens. We reached Marayoor and planned to have something there but it was too late. So lunch was out. If you are crossing Maryayoor, do stop by the ruins. We could not do so as it was getting late.  You will also pass by some beautiful sandalwood forest.

Reached Spice Garden

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

It is to be noted that when you are in Kerela, do have your lunch early as the hotels get out of food very soon. We decided that we would have lunch or food in Munnar itself. But we were hungry and munchies were just not happening that time. Needed some solids. My home made Parathas were also almost over.

We were welcomed with rain clouds and heavy lashing of rains and it was kind of scary.

Well the coastal showers are heavy but the mountain showers also did its job of reducing visibility and slowing us down. As we climed peaks and then came down very near Munnar Some 15 odd kms and the rain kind of subsided. We saw a line of cars parked for some reason and we did so too as we spied some FOOD. It was wet and cold and the small shops were selling HOT bread and omlette and mountain berries and yummy mangoes.

My friend digs mangoes and she loved eating them. I had a doudle dose of Freshly made BREAD and OMLETTE and it was heavenly bliss. Oh !!! the only other time, I had this feeling was riding though the rain inside forests with no road and then coming upon Kerela border and having Beef Curry and rice cakes ( Puttu) Oh Bliss !!!

Guava Thief – Part 1

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

Anyway, we quickly reached our resort. Spice Garden Resorts.   Actually it could be termed as a part homestay and part resort.  Homestay because the hospitality and the food was as warm as a home and resort because it was professional as well. I mean you could have rooms and all. Since it was easter, food was vegetarian the day we reached.

George the manager took us right into the wood panelled room with a wooden sit out area with wonderful almost 360 degree view.  Everywhere you turn you there were only tea gardens and mountains and clouds. It was lovely. My first impression was that this was worth all the wait.  I was glad that I was with good friends. It really matters who you travel with. The last experience was not that good even though the place was good.  So the four of us along with our birds relaxed with a hot cup of home made tea and could not get enough of the view.  Now, Munnar is pretty far away from Bangalore so if you are traveling from here, make sure its a three day trip.  This place where we booked our stay was about 8 kms from town.  Our friend had seen this show in NDTV just some days back about this place called Rapsy’s and we thought we would try it out.

Besides the flora and fauna, you will enjoy watching different types of birds fly in and out.  Rocky spied a guava eating parrot and shot some really interesting pics. That parrot or bird was like gorging on the guava and would have his meal. It was fun watching it steal the guava as it was on the tree. Hahah !! Cute !!

Matupetty Dam continues

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

Rapsy Restaurant was bang in the middle of Munnar Market. Since it was Easter, the town was relatively empty and we could get a decent parking spot somewhere in the vicinity of the market and walked to the market. I love local markets. It was busy with acitivity and I tried to browse for local stuff. Spice and tea were one of the main things I browsed.

To get a seat in Rapsy is tough. So you have to be in early. The food is good to eat and fast to finish.  When we reached most of the tasty items were done. It was a small joint and WHOA !! you should see the crowd. Its one of those place where you don’t see style. Its the food that matters.

We ordered some chicken items and I ordered some Chicken Biryani. It was totally melt in the mouth. There are some recommended beef dishes that you can try but it was all over that night.  We promised ourselves that we would come back for lunch the next day.  We were very satisfied with our grub and now looked forward to a drink back at the resort and then crash.

We came back and made ourselves nice drinks and then chatted for a while. The night was dark as black satin and you could hear all the sounds of the Mountains and the deep dark quiet of it all that is felt only in the mountains.

Top Station, Tamil Nadu

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

The next day, we planned to have breakfast in the resort and then go on to Rapsy’s for an early lunch and then do Matupetty and Top Station.  The breakfast at Spice Garden was awesome. Homemade Dosas and Idlis was just out of this world.

We arranged for dinner at the resort and lazed around a while. As the hours progressed, we saw rain clouds floating in and it was obvious we would be blessed with a shower.  Knowing that it would clear in a while, we waited it out watching the rains and then moved out to the market, had a scrumptious lunch and started our drive to Matupetty. The drive was awesome through continuously flowing tea estates.  Matupetty was beautiful. Then we winded our way upwards towards Top Station which was outside the border of Kerela and 3 kms into Tamil Nadu. The road is narrow but the view is breathtaking. Everything else is blurred. You should go there on a cloudless day or a day where clouds shift in and out.

Well we drove back and had an excellent dinner back in the resort. Home cooking beats anything anyday. The hosts were very polite and very well mannered. Usually in Kerela I am wary of the hotel folks who like White Skin and would do anything for them keeping us Indians aside.

It was a welcome change to come across such nice hosts and George’s family who took great care of us.

I recommend this place highly and would like to go there again with friends.

Notes :

1. Start early so that you can reach early.
2. You have to keep one whole day so that you can drive around.
3. Driving your own car is better than renting anyday.
4. Be careful of the rash drivers.
5. Have your lunch break early else carry lunch with you.
6. Dont forget light winter wear. It will be colder than Bangalore.
7. Stop by to taste the mountain berries.
8. Visit Rapsy’s if you are a foodie and not fussy.
9. Go just before the monsoon starts and you will be rewarded with some pleasant rain and refreshing greens.

Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Thoppur (turn right) – Mettur – Bhavani (NH47 from here) – Coimbatore – Palghat (Pallakad) – Thrissur – Chalakudi – Cochin – Alleppey – 650 kms

Alleppey – Cochin (NH 17 from here) – Calicut (Kozkikode) – turn right to NH 212 – Vythri – Kalpetta – Sultan Bathery – Gundlupet – Nanjangud – Mysore – Bangalore – 700 kms

Gowri Heritage Residence

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

An idyllic place to visit during this time of the year. This is the only place in

Kerela which does not have any forests around. Its purely backwaters and what better way to spend a holiday than glide across the canals and watch the daily life of the backwaters pass by in front of your eyes.

Its along drive from Bangalore. So you have to plan it well. I would suggest that you start very early in the morning or take a break somewhere in Palakkad. When you plan a trip from Bangalore, and you are driving down, make sure you have buffer time for napping. .  My first impression of this place was it was very much like Pondicherry with canals in the city and very quaint look and feel to it.

Breakfast time

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

Gowri Heritage Residence was a homestay which we had booked. It was an interesting place. The first impression was like coming to someone’s home. We waited a while till our rooms were vacated and spent sometime with some food which took ages to come. We were tired and hungry and really did not appreciate the delay but we tried to sit and just breathe in the scene.

Lots of people were milling around and I got the impression that this was a famous place.

We drove all night and though its nice to do that because you will not have public crossing roads and making a general nuisance, you will be pretty tired if you do not take a break.  We started at 8:00 in the evening and reached our place of stay at 11:00 AM.  Food took about 45 minutes in coming and as soon as we were done with it, we got our rooms too and checked in.

The homestay was located near a beautiful temple and I thought to myself that it would be nice to just sit there in the evening and breathe in the spirit of that place. A daily Kathakali show was on somewhere nearby but we decided to skip it.

Playfulness

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

The plan was to go find some local lunch which would entail some fish fry and beef or anything edible and then come back and nap. After that we would hit the beach which was some 1 Km from the homestay.

The group walked in search of a place and found Thaff a family restaurant. They had some awesome biryani and got me some fish biryani which was heaven. I was too tired to go walking for lunch and Rocks got me lunch.

They had some beef roast, chicken roast and biryani. Service was good enough and the group was replete with what they got. After a short nap we strode out to the beach.  It was about 4:30 and the beach was full of people. We loved the beach. The sea was very playful and soft and it seemed that the waves loved to touch the human spirit. And the best part was that the beach was clean and people kept it well. I liked that part. The sand was soft and it was enriching just to walk among the waves and watch the sun go down. Another paradise for photographers.

Ode to Krishna

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

It was a beautiful evening which we did not want it to end. I was just filled with awe as I always do when I watch the sunsets. The sea had a different call to it and I could just sit and not go anywhere.

We came back and walked the streets and found that the streets were filled as if there was some “mela” going on. The temples were alight with multiple lamps and everything was bright and very festive. I was told that there was some festival going on and that day was the last day.  Knowing that we went to the temple next door and was awashed with simple bhajans sung by two women taking turns. It just filled me with pure divinity, just sitting there and listening to one of the women sing while baby Krishna was rocked on the swing by the pundit. The temple itself was not so crowded and that made it all the more peaceful. I am not a temple person but I love temples which have personality and open spaces.

Pickup point for a boat ride

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

We had dinner at the homestay. We did the smart thing to order dinner beforehand so that by the time we finished our walk, the food would be ready. The next morning we planned to do the boat ride along the canal. We asked the homestay manager to book us a boat.

We went to the pickup point to board the boat. Unfortunately, the manager booked a cidey motorboat. I was pissed to see that. So I chose another boat with chairs which looked simple yet very lovely. Because of the previous booking, we had to pay a little more than what was arranged.

My recommendation is to go to the pick up point really early and book boats there. You will get a cheaper deal and do haggle.  The earlier the better.  We got a boatman who was very quiet and very friendly at the same time.  We took a 3 hour boat ride and it was one of the smoothest experience.

Garage for the boat

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

Watching the daily life as we cruised by was something like watching a movie run by you. Gliding through the backwaters, it was peaceful with wild life and domestic life blended to perfection.

Shops by the waters, ferry stops, backyards, very quaint shops, the natives going about their activity.. all of that at some point made me humble and remind me of how simple life was and here we are running after so many non related things.

Our boatman was very kind to have us stop at a home where they sold fresh coconut water.. and you could also go for a loo break there. You could also have prawn fry or fish curry and local cuisine on one of these stops.

The boatman also took the effort to pluck raw mangoes from a low hanging branch and gave it to us with simple pleasure. He produced a small knife and invited us to cut and have the mango. I found that very sweet.

Loved the different boats and the life style that I watched going by..I would reccomend this glide to everyone. Dont miss it this if you are in Allepey. That is the highlight of the trip. We did visit Poomkavu Church and the lighthouse and closed our evening with sitting the sun go down on the beach

Houseboat for rent

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

We started early next morning at 6:30 AM and reached Bangalore by 10:00 PM with loads of memories and some peaceful moments.. which I can go back to when I need that inner moment.

References to this location .

• Gowri Heritage Residence ( the place where we stayed.
• About Allepey
• Coir Village Lake Resort – a highly reccomended resort by friends
• Tourism in Allepey – Some useful tips on what you could do and see around this place.
• Houseboat Cruises in Allepey – Its expensive but I think this is worth a day’s experience. If you have a decent sized group, the expense could be well distributed.  You can get 1 bedroom to 4 bedroom houseboats. Take your pick. ( select ‘click for details‘  on the linked website to know the tariff)
• Backwater Tours – You could try for this if you have larger plans and more time around this place.

Some nice homestays I had researched on.

• Nelpura Heritage Homestay
• Poppally’s Heritage home and resorts
• Ted’s Homestay

My reccomendation :

• If you are traveling from Bangalore, its a long way down on wheels so make sure you have some time planned for rest before checking out the native scene.
• An ideal trip would be one day homestay and one day houseboat. Its not cheap so check for options.
• You could do what we did. Stay on a homestay and spend a cruise on the backwaters on a motorboat with cane chairs. Please specify that you would like to have the boats with the bamboo chairs.  That gives you the feeling of a houseboat glide even if you are not in one.  It costs about 400 – 450. If they say more, haggle for it. If they see a crowd, they will charge more. If they see two or three people, they charge the normal fee.
• Gowri Heritage Homestay is good but the food service sucks. It takes 45 mins to 1 hour to prepare any dish that you want. So I would actually not reccomend this place unless you are not fussy about that. We compensated by having local food which actually ended up really cheap for us. I would rate it at low average on the hospitality and service. Not a place you could depend on to make your stay better.  Though the homestay in itself and the location is very charming and accessible. Its not worth the price you pay.
• The beach is good in the evenings.
• Dont forget to stop for a tender coconut water break. Request your boatman for it if he does not do it on his own. Its divine. I dont think I have had a more sweeter and tastier coconut water anywhere.
• Take the 3 hour cruise. You will not regret it.
• If you are visiting the Lighthouse, do it between 3 to 4:30. You will find it closed otherwise. The lighthouse was first lighted in 1862.
• Have your lunches in small shacks and you will not regret the experience.
• Don’t forget to buy some coir items by the highway shops. They are dirt cheap and very very well crafted.  Allepey is a major center for coir industry.
• If you are in the center of town, dont forget to try the Thaff restaurant for amazing Kerela cuisine. I specially liked the beef roast.  If you are not into too much spice, do request to serve you less spiced dish of whatever you find in the menu. You can get the flavor customised to your pallete.
• When you are coming back, stop at Vythri for lunch and definitely have the chicken and the beef biryani.. Its awesome.
• Dont ask for curds. Its a rare commodity. You could make do with ice creams when you are thoroughly spiced out. Works wonders for the stomach.
• Avoid peak hours driving in the town. Its madness.

The three rides ..

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

Route : Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Salem – Karur – Dindigul – Turn right (twds Sembatti after the second overbridge) – Athoor Village – Cardamom House.

Cardamom House – Dindigul – Karur – Salem- Dharmapuri – Rayakottal – Palacode – Beerjepali – Hosur – NH 47 – turn left to Bangalore.

Started very early in the morning and it was a dismal morning with persistent rains and gloomy weather. But inspite of that we were excited to ride to a new place..

We had Doc, R Pai, Tana and Love, Prateek and Nita and yours truly with Rocky. Doc and Mr Pai got their car at the last minute since it was raining so hard and well we started our journey at 5:00 AM sharp.

After reaching Dharmapuri, the weather changed and rains had stopped and it was getting drier. My throat was parched. We were getting hungry and wanted to stop to eat.

Somewhere in Dharmapuri, Doc and Mr Pai’s car were deviated to a different route while we continued on the narrow roads.. I spotted some hot puris being made at a roadside joint and had to stop there. The puris looked delicious.

View from our cottage terrace

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

While we were having breakfast, we met RTMC riders on their way to Dhanushkodi. It was good seeing them.

We had our fill of hot puris and masala and continued our journey. It was terribly dry and humid and no matter what I ate, my throat was parched and remained so.

We took short intermittent stops to wet our throats and we reached Dindigul sometime around 2:00. We did good time since the roads were good and it was almost empty. Maybe because of Independence Day. We were happy we would reach the destination early.

As soon as we turned towards Sempatty, the weather changed again. It was cool but humid.

Reaching Cardamom House was a bit tough since its way inside the mountains.. We had to read the map in detail provided to us in the website which took us to that place at one go..

As soon as we entered the porch, we were greeted with this beautiful view of the lake and the place seemed just perfect to settle down for the weekend. We took a cottage a level above the main house.

A weary but peaceful rider.

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

After a mocktail of mango juice with cardamom and a really warm welcome by Chris, the owner of this place, we went to our rooms to refresh ourselves.

The weather was languorous and I just wanted to languish.

While the gang sat around a beer, I went to my room, refreshed myself and opened a book. After a few minutes, I just slept so deep that I did not know where I was when I awoke.

Some of us went and checked the lake out. We had a wonderful dinner hosted by Chris. There were travelers from all over the world and well we were the only Indian travelers there.

Dinner was elaborate and a celebration of Indian independence. We conversed and fed on some delicious tandoor dishes and meal preparation on the terrace of the main house.

After dinner, we spend some time talking beneath the moonlight by our cottage over drinks. Good friends, good company, good service and a great host.. what more can one want from a place ??

Rain drops.

Originally uploaded by Pallavi Barua.

After the short exploration of the lake and its natural flora and fauna, we had a sumptuous breakfast.

You have to try Shankar’s Toast if you are here. Its awesome.

There were loads of fresh fruits which you could bite into it and get lost in its flavors. Freshly squeezed orange juice to jumpstart your day, and whole lots more. All of us thought we would not be able to eat another bite for lunch.

As the day progressed, I just decided to while it by myself and finished a book and took my nap. My whole aim was to do NOTHING and I succeeded.

My friends went for a walk and came back to rest . I sat and watched the rain washing the mountains all by myself and it filled me with a sense of utter contentment and bliss.

Rocky joined me after the first spate of rains and we experimented with some clicks while it rained. It was beautiful watching the rains over the lake and the mountains.. Slowly it was time to have tea after which we had an American dinner celebrating belated American Independence.

In the evening I took a walk with some new friends I made there.. who were curious to know our way of life. They were from New Zealand. I was hoping to catch some peacocks who were calling loudly after the rains.

My friends also took a walk to the cave temple which was closed but went around the dam itself.

We caroused the whole weekend over the beauty, the food the hospitality and everything that made Cardamom house worth making a beautiful memory over..

We waved goodbye to this place while knotting and placing yet another memory pouch for us to open in one of the rainy days in Bangalore.

Important Info:

• Cardamom House Website
• Map to reach there from Sembatty courtesy Cardamom House. Please follow the directions to the T.
• Room Tariff
• Meal Tariff
• Pictures from my clicks here.

Recommendation:

• Great for family and friends..
• Good to start early morning to this place and back. You will avoid the heat of Tamil Nadu.
• This place can accommodate 17 people at one go.
• Highway is dry.. so carry a lot of liquids when traveling by car or by bike. Electrol is helpful.
• Lot of hiking activities in and around the place.
• August-September is a good time to visit this place.
• Do try the Palacode road while traveling via Dharmapuri. Its a beautiful uninterrupted scenic highway.
• Kid friendly and very neat accommodation.
• Very warm hospitality and an ideal place to have a quiet vacation.
• Place is closed from March to June 14th for maintenance.
• Alcohol is available at a decent price unlike other places.
• Kodaikanal is about 80 kms from here but keep it as a different trip or divide it up between this and the next stop. It takes 6 hours and more to do that.