Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss

mallumowgli · 11th May 2011, 20:34

10 days of bliss!! And that too in the lap of nature. What wouldn't I give to get 10 days like that.

Thanks for sharing

laluks · 11th May 2011, 20:41

Wonderful trip.
The picture of you with your little one, with the sun painting the sky in the backdrop is a priceless capture. Your mom-the-great is a real artist with the camera.

VindyWheels · 11th May 2011, 20:47

Thank you Ampere. Yes, its lower Sholayar. Indraprastha bunglow belongs to waterfall estates. We stayed for one night at Monica, Woodbriar and two
nights at Indraprastha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

A nice travelogue and well written. Sholayar snap was very nice. (Thats the lower Sholayar I hope). Also, did you stay in waterfall bungalow, or you went there to take a look?

We did not see the deer. Yes Rangan and Viswanath were the cooks. Regarding the birds, I bet its the sweetest melody. Even the KDHP bunglow had some great musicians around. The director's bunglow comes in the route you and me took for the drive. I think Stanmore is somewhere else.

Both Woodbriar and Waterfall estate bunglows were great in their own rights. To be fair to Woodbriar, I stayed in the best of the three Waterfall bunglow and the second best of the three Woodbriar ones. Woodbriar is certainly expensive when compared to Waterfall(5050 at Indraprastha vs 7475 at Stanmore and 4400 at Monica - for 3 "non-veg" adults, all 3 meals). The luxury and interiors of Waterfall were definitely better compared to Monica. The estate drives were better at Woodbriar estates. The facility to play baddy was great at Waterfall. The 200 year old bunglow visit and nature walk arranged by Woodbriar was great. The surroundings and the peace you experience at Waterfall is unmatched (At woodbriar the main estate road was just 20ms away).

Quote:

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Ahh so you stayed at Monica Garden bungalow. When we went we had the entire bungalow to enjoy. Is Rangan still the cook there? Did you manage to see the barking deer which religiously appears in the morning and evening near the gate? One more thing about the place is that you wake up quite early because of the cacophony of noises created by the wide array of birds. Valparai is certainly bliss. Now that we have somebody who has stayed at both Woodbriar and Waterfall it would be interesting to hear the comparisons. The director's bungalow you are referring must be the Stanmore Bungalow, their flagship property, fabulous place with tea gardens all around.

I remember my wife and myself going on an estate drive the evening we reached there, narrow winding roads with forest on one side and tea estates on the other. Reached till Kurangu Mudi and turned back because it was quite spooky to say the least. Incidentally the road via Kurangu Mudi is the original Valparay - Chalakudy state highway.

ravib · 11th May 2011, 21:21

VW, you are making all others very jealous/tempting to visit these places, with the best pictures.

BTW, how is the road condition between Valparai and Athirampally?

-Ravi

VindyWheels · 11th May 2011, 21:56

Thank You Ravi. Do plan a trip. The road was not that great as you can see. But definitely manageable and interesting considering the surroundings. You can aaram se go at 30-50kms/hr

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravib

VW, you are making all others very jealous/tempting to visit these places, with the best pictures.

BTW, how is the road condition between Valparai and Athirampally?

-Ravi

ravib · 12th May 2011, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by VindyWheels

Thank You Ravi. Do plan a trip. The road was not that great as you can see. But definitely manageable and interesting considering the surroundings. You can aaram se go at 30-50kms/hr

Yea, i've been to all these 3 places, but its time to refresh the memories by doing another trip

-Ravi

ranjitp1 · 13th May 2011, 12:19

Lovely travelogue and more than lovely pictures,the KD bungalows are a real find.

NPV · 31st May 2011, 11:21

VW, this is an excellent TLog.....it's like a long story written in parts...lovely. Superb pictures to complement the narration !!!
After reading this, it feels like I've traveled to all these places virtually.

VindyWheels · 1st June 2011, 12:18

Thank you NPV. This is great encouragement to learn to click and write better

Actually the places and the experiences are great teachers aswell. Have you been to Valparai?

basilmabraham · 1st June 2011, 15:53

@VindyWheels.
Excellent writeup and amazing snaps.

Could you please share the details about how to get bookings for the bunglows? I never knew these bunglows were open for the public.

VindyWheels · 1st June 2011, 17:40

Thank U Basil, the details are there in the first page where I've replied to Ampere.

Rgds
VW

Quote:

Originally Posted by basilmabraham

@VindyWheels.
Excellent writeup and amazing snaps.

Could you please share the details about how to get bookings for the bunglows? I never knew these bunglows were open for the public.

NPV · 6th June 2011, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by VindyWheels

Thank you NPV. This is great encouragement to learn to click and write better

Actually the places and the experiences are great teachers aswell. Have you been to Valparai?

Hi VW, I've never been to Valparai. After reading your travelogue and others here on TBHP it's now on my list of places to see.
In my younger days I've heard a lot of stories about the Aliyar dam from my grandmother. My grandfather was an expert in tranmission systems and was working for TNEB and Aliyar was one of his postings several years ago.
I recently drove to Munnar via Coimbatore, Pollachi, Udumalaipet, etc so I'm hoping I can plan a similar trip sometime to see Aliyar dam and Valparai since they seem to be not far from each other when I looked at the map.

ramanan.skr · 6th June 2011, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by NPV

Hi VW, I've never been to Valparai. After reading your travelogue and others here on TBHP it's now on my list of places to see.
In my younger days I've heard a lot of stories about the Aliyar dam from my grandmother. My grandfather was an expert in tranmission systems and was working for TNEB and Aliyar was one of his postings several years ago.
I recently drove to Munnar via Coimbatore, Pollachi, Udumalaipet, etc so I'm hoping I can plan a similar trip sometime to see Aliyar dam and Valparai since they seem to be not far from each other when I looked at the map.

Aliyar is one among the beautiful dams along western ghats and water levels are full during any part of the year. There is a small guest house on the dam which was shot in the 70s Tamil Film - "Kaadhalikka Neramillai".
Also do visit Vethathiri Maharishi Ashram, 2 kms from Aliyar dam which is haven for those who meditate.

VindyWheels · 6th June 2011, 14:05

Hi, didnt know abt this ashram. Great info. Which route is to be taken from Aliyar dam?

Thnks
VW

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramanan.skr

Aliyar is one among the beautiful dams along western ghats and water levels are full during any part of the year. There is a small guest house on the dam which was shot in the 70s Tamil Film - "Kaadhalikka Neramillai".
Also do visit Vethathiri Maharishi Ashram, 2 kms from Aliyar dam which is haven for those who meditate.

ramanan.skr · 6th June 2011, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by VindyWheels

Hi, didnt know abt this ashram. Great info. Which route is to be taken from Aliyar dam?

Thnks
VW

Towards Valparai, 2 kms from Aliyar Dam.
More info

11th May 2011, 20:34	#31
mallumowgli Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Palakkad/Coimbatore Posts: 1,226 Thanked: 1,079 Times	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss 10 days of bliss!! And that too in the lap of nature. What wouldn't I give to get 10 days like that. Thanks for sharing
	(1) Thanks

11th May 2011, 20:41	#32
laluks Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,552 Thanked: 16,404 Times	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss Wonderful trip. The picture of you with your little one, with the sun painting the sky in the backdrop is a priceless capture. Your mom-the-great is a real artist with the camera.
	(1) Thanks

11th May 2011, 21:21	#34
ravib Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,579 Thanked: 1,803 Times	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss VW, you are making all others very jealous/tempting to visit these places, with the best pictures. BTW, how is the road condition between Valparai and Athirampally? -Ravi
	(1) Thanks

13th May 2011, 12:19	#37
ranjitp1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 3,712 Thanked: 1,926 Times	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss Lovely travelogue and more than lovely pictures,the KD bungalows are a real find.
	(1) Thanks

31st May 2011, 11:21	#38
NPV Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 7,220 Thanked: 10,265 Times	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss VW, this is an excellent TLog.....it's like a long story written in parts...lovely. Superb pictures to complement the narration !!! After reading this, it feels like I've traveled to all these places virtually.
	() Thanks

1st June 2011, 12:18	#39
VindyWheels BHPian Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Goa Posts: 285 Thanked: 124 Times	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss Thank you NPV. This is great encouragement to learn to click and write better Actually the places and the experiences are great teachers aswell. Have you been to Valparai?
	() Thanks

1st June 2011, 15:53	#40
basilmabraham BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sydney/Cochin Posts: 772 Thanked: 76 Times View My Garage	Re: Bangalore Munnar Kodaikanal Valparai - 10 days of bliss @VindyWheels. Excellent writeup and amazing snaps. Could you please share the details about how to get bookings for the bunglows? I never knew these bunglows were open for the public.
	() Thanks