Marvelous Munnar

Route Taken : Short and Scenic

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.