[yogee]

Date 23rd April 2015

Time 1:45 am

Reached home refreshed after 5 days in Thekkady & Munnar, or in short…Heaven.

I’m really finding it difficult to describe the experience in words as words can’t do justice to the beauty of nature experienced in these past few days. So let the pictures speak for themselves.

Even pictures can’t capture the beauty of feeling it and experiencing it with own eyes. But at least that is the second best option we have. So here we go.






























































The pictures above are just an highlights of the entire 5 days of our tour. I have lot more pictures to post. And i assure you it won't be a long wait.

[yogee]

Day 1 : 18th April 2015

Plan was as follows:

Bangalore-Salem-Dindigul- Theni- Kumily

Planned to start by 5 am but could start only by 6 instead. First stop was for breakfast at Saravana Bhavan at 7:40 am around 4 km before Krishnagiri toll. From there non-stop on NH-7 till Dindigul. After that NH45 to Theni and onwards to Kumily. Our destination for the day is Coffee Routes at Kumily where we reached at 3:30 pm. Following are the pictures of the resort.

The resort is located around 4 km from the entry point to Kumily towards Munnar road. We are welcomed by this sign.




The approach road to the resort from main road is around 100 mtr.




The reception facade.




The Coffee bean club room outside view.




Views from the balcony









The inside of the room






The spacious bathroom





The only thing planned for the day was rest till evening. After good refreshing rest, went to town to explore it. Roamed around aimlessly to see around town. There was a flower show near the entrance of road to Thekkady. kids enjoyed playing around games there while we enjoyed some good energetic dance performances going on there on stage. By then it was already 8:30 pm. So went to nearby Gujarati hotel to have dinner and returned to hotel to end the day.

Day 2 : 19th April 2015

Morning woke up quite early by the chirping of real birds and not the usual alarm in the phone. Gone out to see that it was just around sunrise time and had a stroll around to capture few early morning pictures.























Actually i wanted to catch the first boat ride at 7:30 but for that i had to reach the gate well before 6 am which was not practical with the kids. So decided to take ride of 11:15 am and checked out of resort at 9:30 after a good buffet breakfast. The staff at the resort was very courteous and helpful.

There was not much of crowd when we reached the ticket counter by 10:00 am. Got the tickets and waited for the boats. In the meantime I observed some animals grazing around very near from the ticket counters.








On zooming further, I could identify them to be wild boars




Finally boats arrived and we proceeded to board the boat.




I wasn't expecting any wildlife viewing. Settled for these birds on view.






The ill-fated boat which capsized in 2009 is still lying there.




After the boat ride was over and no wildlife spotted, we were moving back to parking. And maybe since kids were disappointed, this fellow decided to show up to make up for some amusement for kids.





It was already 1:30 pm by then and we have to proceed to Munnar to reach there before its dark. So had to have a quick lunch and proceed towards Munnar.

[yogee]

We were welcomed to Munnar by rains, which gave us company daily for next 3 evenings in Munnar.







After some time the rains took a break giving us opportunity to take break for photoshoots.

















With all those breaks for photos, tea for us & maggi for kids, it was almost time for the sun to set on its way behind the hills.





It was almost dark till we reached our destination for the day. Just took some rest, ordered food in the room and settled for the day. Kids still have energy to watch tv and keep themselves busy.


Day 3: 20th Apr 2015

After breakfast we started around 10:30 am for the Top station route. I have planned to go straight to Top station first and cover all the points on return journey.

But the beautiful views around Echo point prompted us to take a stop for some quick photo shoot. I stopped a little before the echo point.














After that break proceeded straight to Top station. On the way we passed Metupatty dam, Kundala dam but did not stop. Reached Top station parking at around 1:30 pm.

Views around Top station :

[yogee]

The trek down the steps to the Top station viewing point and return to the parking lot was tiring for us and it was already 3 pm by then. We were hungry and thinking about where to get something for lunch when we spotted this.




As we had no other options nearby and we were very hungry, we settled under the canopies behind this hotel and had a nice hot fulkas and curry enjoying the beautiful views around.








By the time we started our return journey from Top station, clouds have already started to gather in sky which means we can expect the rains any moment.










In short while, we reached the Kundala dam. I parked the car before the dam and started walking on the dam to the opposite side for boating, when i observed that cars are allowed to drive over the dam. I was thinking of taking the car but decided against it as i wanted to capture some photos.
















Kids were really excited with the boating option. We inquired with the boating counter for the options and we were ruled out for paddle boats which seats maximum 3 and shikara boats for maximum 2 only. We only had the option of row boat and reluctantly decided to go with it. But just then it started raining and boating was stopped. So disappointed we thought to proceed to Metupatty to try our luck with boating. But rain was quite heavy for our walk back to car. So my family stopped at some shop doing some shopping and i borrowed an umbrella from the shop to go get the car. So this way atleast my wish to drive on the dam was fulfilled.

Again, by the time we reached Metupatty dam, it was past 5 pm and boating time was over. So only some shopping was possible to get over the disappointment of kids. went straight back to the hotel and relaxed for the remaining of the day.


Day 4 : 21st Apr 2015

Today's plan was to visit Eravikulam national park to see the Nilgiri tahrs. I know it would be crowded there to get the bus in the parks. so thought of starting bit earlier, but could manage only 10 am start.

The wait for the bus was almost 1 hr. But on reaching the top, it felt almost worth it. Seen no. of Tahrs in their natural habitat. The following pictures only can justify the experience.

[yogee]

Again by the time we returned to the base where car was parked, it was almost 2:30 pm. We were hungry and decided to check some restaurant in town for lunch. incidentally, found a card of Sukhsagar restaurant dropped on my windscreen. So decided to check it. Althought its nothing fancy place, the food was good. So had lunch and wife wanted some shopping for some spices and souvenirs so went to Krishna mall for the same. After that it was time to head back to resort and relax.

The resort where we stayed was Munnar Terrace Greens - a Sterling Resort

Its very next to Club Mahindra at Chinnakanal. Following are pictures taken at the resort.








View from balcony








View of Club Mahindra from Sterling resorts




Anayirankal dam waters




Day 5 : 22nd April 2015

Some random pictures taken around resorts in morning walk







































Spotted another BHPian at the resort





We checked out late at 11 am and started our return journey to Bangalore. But we still had to visit town for some more shopping and visit to Rose garden which my daughter wanted to see. So started towards Munnar again.Spotted this 'Rock cave' near Lockhart gap view point. There's nothing to view there. Its only dark. Only camera flash can show this.

[yogee]

Reached Rose garden at around 12:30 pm. This was spotted by my daughter earlier while going to Top station and she wanted to visit it. But i have promised her to visit during our return. But that day it was closed by the time we returned. So i had to make good my promise. Its really good collection of flowers maintained by Horticulture society of Kerala. Following are some of the pictures of the garden.






























Our return route was as follows:

Munnar- Marayoor- Chinnar-Udumalpet- palladam-Avinashi bypass-Salem-Bangalore

The tea estates continue to enthrall us well past Marayoor. Some parting shots while we descend to the plains from these lush green tea estates.




























The road surface on this route is not as smooth as other roads around Munnar. There are many small bad stretches and overall the ride is bumpy here. We have started from Munnar only at 2:30 pm and reached Udumalpet at 5 pm. As we have skipped lunch, all were very hungry. So we just took detour towards town and found decent hotels around bus stand area. After filling ourselves, got the car also its fill at BP pump near bus stand where they accept credit cards. It was 6 pm finally when we started off Udumalpet. There was no problems till we crossed Palladam. After that i missed the road to mangalam and went straight ahead to Tiruppur and in the process lost more than 1 hrs in the busy city traffic. It was only at 8:30 that i reached the NH47 at Avinashi bypass. From then it was smooth sailing on the 4 lane highway and reached Salem by 9:45 pm. We reached Salem toll plaza on NH7 at around 10 pm. Spotted Saravana bhavan at left just before the toll plaza and decided to break for light dinner. Started at 10:45 and encountered heavy truck traffic occupying both the lanes as well as shoulders making it frustrating for all the smaller vehicles. Only after Krishnagiri, we could manage some speeds due to 3 lanes available from there. And reached home in Marathahalli by 1:45 am and was missing the greenery of Munnar.

Total distance travelled : 1314 km
Total fuel consumed: 87 ltr
Average : 15.10 km/ltr ( which includes around 400 km ghat driving)
Memories created: Priceless

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing.

Great pics Yogee! I'm just amazed that these are pics from the peak of the April summer heat! Looks wonderful.

[S2!!!]

Nice pictures yogee. I guess with a better camera some of the exact same shots could be wallpaper material.

I have vague memory of visiting these exact 2 places during a family holiday years ago. The Sterling Resort was newly built back then and I don't remember the exact month of our visit but the place was blanketed by dense fog which gave us the feeling of living amidst clouds (while in the hotel room). I guess it has been renovated in the recent years.

[yogee]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing.

Great pics Yogee! I'm just amazed that these are pics from the peak of the April summer heat! Looks wonderful.

Thanks Rehaan. I think the regular rains there are making the pics look as if not from summer. But I believe Munnar is beautiful all through the year.

Originally Posted by S2!!!

Nice pictures yogee. I guess with a better camera some of the exact same shots could be wallpaper material.
...

Thanks S2, an upgrade to DSLR is on my wish list for long now. But my good old P & S camera is not yet giving up. So somehow holding on to it till its doing its duties.