Preparation: Decided to head out of Bangalore and extend my weekend. Wanted to do something different from the usual places. Based on my trip the prior week, Wayanad was the place on my list. Seached here and came up with MJothi's trip to Wayanad and about 'Ente Veedu'.
Their numbers are 04935 320494 / 220008 & 9446834834 (this is of a person in charge there called Nash; he is also the guide who will take you around. Called them up directly and got the booking done. Since this is not the right season there wasn't too much of a crowd. I even did not pay any upfront booking charge!
Day 1: Sunday 31st August
Started off from home for an early bird start at 3:15. Went thru Mysore, Nanjangud, Gundulpet, Sultan Bathery and Panamaram. Except for the speed breakers at Mandya, the bad roads enroute to Nanjangud and the bad (bad) breakers from Gundulpet to Sultan Bathery the road was good. Luckily,based on the last experience, this time went thru Mysore to Nanjangud without asking for any directions.
Welcome to Wayanad!
Reached Sulthan Bathery and then took the route to Panamaram; do make sure to take the diversion from the main road off the Benachi junction. You will find a small board on the right side of the road, do make sure to ask around incase of doubt.
From this juntion, keep asking for Punjavayal. This place is just 2 kms before Panamaram and there are two different routes to reach Panamaram - aka - a place that you might get lost!
The other landmark is the 'La Sallete Ashram' situated at Kayakunnu. This ashram is around a km from the place. Called Nash from here and he asked us to wait for him at a direction board which was few hundred meters away.
Called Nash once again and he was there in 5 minutes. Followed him back to the homestay. People, please make sure that you give a call and get someone to take you there. The entrance is hidden within the greenary and you are sure to miss. And do not bother asking the locals there, most of them even dont know this place exists!
Got there at 7.30 and got into the room and freshed up. The owner of the place, Mrs.Sreeraj, came down and greeted us and then send across some hot tea for us to have.
It was a refreshing change from the every day grind we are used to! Sat lazily there sipping tea and letting the small one play with the toys that are available there. This is one things that I found surprising - they had a lot of toys which small kids can play around with. Kept the small one engaged while we enjoyed the greenary.
See, lot of place for the small one to run around!
The first day plan was to go down to Phookot lake, which was around 30kms from the place of stay. It is just a straight road thru Panamaram and Kalpetta on the Calicut highway.
One strange thing was that there is no sigh board for the turn to the lake. There is one, if you were coming from the Calicut side, but none on this side.
This is the turn you need to take for Phookot lake.
Parking at 10Rs and then entrance tickets at 10Rs per head and 10Rs for still camera. The only thing of interest was the lake.
The lake is much better than the one we have at Ooty. The water is so fresh and clear. First took a pedal boat (@30Rs for two people) and then also the the a row boat (@50Rs). Gave us some time to do some photos rounds. The person who was rowing also took the effort in telling us about the plants and animals and all thing that we will not be knowing about the place. Tipped him and thanked him and left.
Came out and then time for lunch. Got back into the road towards Kalpetta and within 500m there is a hotel called Sahara hotel. This is just opposite to an Ayyapan temple. Easy to miss if not looking properly!
Had some biriyani and rotti's. Food was ok-ok! But not as expected from a hotel in this part of the country. Especially the biriyani, it was a total let down! :-(
For those of who can hold on to their tummy, please drive down to Woodlands hotel which is at Kalpetta. Good ambience, great service and great food. Just make sure to keep your eyes pealed to the right side of the road. The name board can be found on the building top. The parking is behind the building, so make sure to slow down before crossing the building; the entrance to the parking is on the right side of the building.
Coming back to what we did - we came out of the hotel at 2.30 and we found a thick blanket of white mist rolling on us. We first though it was some smoke but this was corrected by a shop keeper who overheard us. This one was coming out fast and think. First time am having this kind of experience. Have had sand storms but mist - first time! :-)
The mist rolling onto us!
We had decided to go and check out the view point, which was just 3 kms from the place we were. This was on the ghat section further down the Calicut highway, but 2 minutes and we knew that we are not going to be any lucky! We were completely covered with the mist and the visibility was a low 10~20 meters! Lights and hazards we on on all vehicle except for some smart *cough*. Neither head light nor harzard light! Don't know what these guys are thinking!
Well, just as I got into the ghat section, knew that this is the point of no return. Cannot turn back on the ghat section so this was the time I did. To add to the mist, it start raining, heavily!
Came back to the homestay and we were just in time to watch the distant rain coming slowly towards us. We can hear the sound of rain falling on the plantations and the sound slowly approaching us! What a life!
Rest of the day was spend with the family since there is nothing much you can do. There was a TV with a good colletion of channels, but then, didn't want to do that.
Dinner was served which was some good home cooked kerala style goodies, including some wonderful prawns! With the rain still going strong we hit the bed!
End of day 1.