We planned to celebrate Our First Wedding Anniversary by lazing out on the beaches of Langkawi.
But for our Investment, which swallowed huge number of Vitamin 'M' in the recent months... leaving us to consider options in South India. We chose Injiparai.
Injiparai:
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Injiparai is famous for the ~5000 acres of tea estates, owned by Stanmore Group (formerly owned by HLL).
Injiparai Bungalow is situated at about 9kms from Valparai offering fantastic view of the Tea-estates, Tea-factories and backed-up by a wonderful river flowing just behind the bungalow.
Why Injiparai:
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1) Last year at about the same time, I asked Sam suggestions for places of interest for trip after marriage.
Never heeded to much of Sam's suggestion last year. This year, remembered the Yeti and took a plunge down a road least travelled (not the road literally).
2) After reading many TBhpians travelouges on Valparai, especially Kerala TBhp meet, decided that Valparai and surroundings are the best place for a family vacation.
Route Taken:
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Bangalore - Kanakapura - Kollegal - Malavalli - ChamrajNagar - Dhimbam - Bannari - Sathyamangalam - Annur - Coimbatore - Pollachi - Valparai - Injiparai.
Road Conditions:
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The entire stretch is two-way, with no medians, expect lot of Truck and Pick-up vehicles.
Until Kanakapura:
- NH 209 is ok with lots of pot-holes, some very bad ones that could cause damage if driven over 20kph.
- Max speed possible - 100kph at isolated stretches.
Until Kollegal:
- Roads in pot-holes, cant say any better.
Until Malavalli:
- Kollegal to Malavalli, a stretch of about 3-4 kms are very bad, with the right side blocked completely.
- Roads are good until You cross Shivanasamudra.
- Roads are pathetic in and around villages with numerous, unmarked speedbreakers.
Until ChamrajNajar:
- Roads are good, with isolated stretches being very poor.
Until Dhimbam:
- Lots of pot-holes before, in and after Talakad.
- Excellent winding roads inside forest (Bilimuri Sanctuary).
- Can easily hit 3 digit speeds.
- Ghat roads with fabulous view after Dhimbam checkpost.
- Mist spreads very rapidly at this monsoon season (June till Sep), offering less than 5 mtr visibility.
- Has around 16 hair-pin bends, none extreme but be very cautious.
- A couple of stretches have only holes for roads, be extremely cautious if You are exceeding > 80kph speeds.
- Pot-holes are being reworked upon in certain hair-pin bends.
- KA and TN borders are in this ghat section, and TN side roads are Fantastic.
Until Kovai via Bannari, Sathy and Annur:
- TN side roads are much wider, lane marked, fabulous and winding, no issues at all.
- Expect idiots overtaking on the wrong side at curves,
(encountered these species lot of times on the way back to Bangalore, saw a truck fall off a small bridge near an Arts college on this stretch, for avoiding an idiot)
- Expect traffic at a small bridge crossing near Sathy and near market-places.
At Kovai:
- Sathy road is infected with traffic, with diversions and one-ways making it a hell.
- Avoid going inside town if You could find an alternate.
(Another TBhpian, think 'CSentil', has given an alternate in one of his drives, i missed it and paid the price).
Until Pollachi:
- Excellent roads, with unmarked blockades near almost all villages.
Until Valparai:
- Excellent roads, but good enough for only one vehicle.
- Up and Down on the same roads, be very cautious.
- 40 hair-pin bends are a breeze, offering fantabulous views of the Aliyar Dam, Cliffs, Water-Falls and Tea-Estates.
- Bus and Truck drivers are very friendly (usually) if You are overtaking them.
- Expect stares from two-wheeled, fast paced ninjas always appearing on the wrong side of the road.
- Oncoming bus and truck drivers are a menace, always make You endup on the rocky side of the roads.
- Be very cautious at KavarKal, 1500ft high on the hills, rapid Mist spreading zone.
- Fantastic view of the Tea-Estates.
- Lots of private roads, easy to get lost - Locals are very helpful in guiding.
- Be very careful not to hit monkeys of the Lion-tailed type, they are endangered and protected,
(being even on the innocent side of the incident can become ugly with forest officials, good for the animals)
Until Injiparai, 9 kms off Valparai:
- Excellent Roads, Fantabulous Views.
(To be continued...)