[mjothi]

As you all know, Munnar is a Junction from where you can drive to near by places all around in all direction. This post is to let you know the places of interest around Munnar.

Towards Mattupatty Direction
When you enter Munnar from Theni, Bodi, Suruli or Thekkady, you need to go straight without crossing the small bridge on your right
When you enter from Cochin direction, you need to cross the bridge and get to your left road.

In sequance,

1. Rose garden
2. Photo Point
3. Mattupatty Dam
4. Shooting point
5. Elephant arrival
6. Echo point
7. Kundale lake
8. Top Station

Coimbatore direction

1. Nymakad waterfalls
2. Annaimudi view point
3. Eravikulam National Park or Rajamalai
4. Likkam water falls (Do not miss this, this is an excellent place for fun)
5. Chinnar wildlife park.
You will also enter a sandol wood forest before coming to Udumalaipet.

Cochin direction

1. Pothemedu view point
2. Attakkadu falls

These are the usual sight seeing places. I would also recommend to go for trekking. If you are aware of these trekking sites, then you can try yourselves. Else, best is to get the guide/travel guys who arranges this trekking. It would be worth the view.

I could not go for this, since I was with kids :(

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by 1100D

What lake?!

Kundale Lake. I should have taken the lake in the background

Originally Posted by 1100D

A concept out of the western world. When you visit zoo's you are given the option of buying the food from the zoo authorities to feed the animals that are captive in the zoo itself!
I doubt if these practices existed in India earlier. Effect of commercialisation of almost everything.

Possible. Anyway, I will be happy if guys are not stopping with this. I mean, not feeding the elephant since its fed with this technique. Lol.

[hrag]

Originally Posted by mjothi

Kundale Lake. I should have taken the lake in the background

These may help. Pictures are from my Munnar trip in 2005.

The first picture is the view as one looks back after crossing the narrow bridge described by mjothi.


The second picture shows the trees (same as those behind mjothi in his 'proof' picture) and the lake.

[mjothi]

Thanks hrag. I have some pictures in fron of lake, but those are not bright.
One among those

[mjothi]

October 5th, 6:00am - ODO - 5370KMs
Having visited Munnar, we packed all stuff back and started to Bangalore the next day.
I could easily understand my kids feeling when they asked "Are we going back?"
Because I too had same feeling. What to do, every start has an end too.

We checked out from the hotel at 7:30am. While leaving we thought of giving a try to the nearest mountain once to see it in the early morning. And it was so nice. It was very next to the hotel, and we never thought it would be so scenic.

View of the hills





We took that route and came to know that it is the route to reach Lecthmi resort / Home stay.

A small Iron bridge across the river was old but nice to see and feel.

Iron Bridge


We went for couple of KMs and then decided to head back. Now we took the Coimbatur direction. On the way you will see a left road which leads to Tata Tea Museum. I could not go there since it was only 8am and they open by 10am. So, took the straight road towards Coimbatore.

On the way we saw these fresh carrot and got one.

My Rabbits



Then we went through those windy roads, enjoying the beautiful scenes. On the way we saw many falls and rivers. We took some pictures in one of the river.

Water, water, water





Workers going to their "OFFICE"




Then we reached Lakkom Falls. since it was morning (around 9:15am) there was no crowd. The entrance fee for the adult is 5rs each. Also, there forest officers there take care of the people who distrub others. So, its a very safe place for family too.

Water falls (it pours like anything!!!)






Once done we had breakfast (Bread-Omelett) in there. Then we started our journey @ 10:45am from there.

ODO - 5400Kms.


Way to go before we reach Bangalore...

[mjothi]

When we left from there, we thought that is the last halt and we will stop next in Udumalaipet. But we never knew that the return is going to be on such a beautiful ghats again. We stopped every here & there to take pictures.

Also, kerala is gifted with waferfalls.

Nature & Falls




Then we crossed Eravikulam and then were stopped at the Chinnar forest check post. We reached there around 12:00am.

ODO - 5432Kms.

Chinnar Wildlife welcomes


Then we drove through the sandalwood trees forest. I was expecting to get some smell, no luck.

Then we stopped on the way to get some good fruits. Both my kids started to sleep now. So, we decided to just keep driving till they get up and not stop for lunch.

We did not stop anywhere, except for the checkpost in the border. My wife went to sign the register and came back in both the checkpost. She said he did not ask for any money. But on the tamilnadu side, he was asking money for coffee and tea to a yellow board driver.

Then on the road was really good. I could see a sudden change in the scenery. The kerala side was so green and fresh. The moment we cross the border, it was all dry and hot. We could see only trunks in tree with no fresh leaves.

Udumalaipet - 29KMs



Since the road was really good, I kept a speed of 80kmph. Then we reached Udumalaipet around 12.40pm.

From there I took the Dharapuram route to reach Salem. We found so many Wind mills and ofcourse took some pictures too.

Its HOT, can someone switch on Fan Please!!!


Directions


Once I cross dharapuram, we took the left in the above place towards the Kangeyam direction. I missed the bypass in 2 places and ended up inside the traffic.

From there I was following the Salem board and crossed Perundurai, Bhavani and finally reached Salem at 4:10pm.

ODO - 5657Kms

I later realized that I could have taken the Mettur route too. But it was too late.

1008 Lingas & Vinayaka Mission.




Once in NH7, it was so relaxed drive. Then once I crossed Dharmapuri bypass, I encountered a "T" junction. I saw the left marked as Hogenekkal, and straight as Bangalore & Hosur. So, just followed. It was only then I noticed that it was so familiar to me. Suddenly I notice the SH17 marked on the road. Only then I realize that I have taken the Royakottai, Denkanikotai route.

This route was with no traffic and we crossed the Palacode. In Royakottai, we were stopped from taking into the city. They redirected the traffic towards the bypass. Crossed the bypass and when I reached a "Y" junction, took the left to Attebelli. The right takes you to Hosur town.

We started with sun rise, now ending with Sunset.




And then filled petrol once I cross TVS factory. Drove straight and entered Attibelle.

It was exactly 8pm when I reached my home. I took the Varthur road to reach my house in Brook field.

ODO - 5838KMs

Total distance travelled - 1100KMs
I got a mileage of 17kmpl in this trip. Measured Full tank to Full tank auto cut-off. (except in cumbum where he left it to overflow)

Signing off for now.
MJ

[Steeroid]

When you drove in:

Originally Posted by mjothi

We crossed the checkpost in Bodi Mettu and was surprised to see the difference. The routes are so green and fresh when compared to the other side in TN.

and again when you drove out:

Originally Posted by mjothi

Then on the road was really good. I could see a sudden change in the scenery. The kerala side was so green and fresh. The moment we cross the border, it was all dry and hot. We could see only trunks in tree with no fresh leaves.

Parasurama did his job right.

Trouble is, he put the wrong people in there - we're busy trying to undo all the good work ever since.

[trrk]

Hi mjothi,

> No I did not try Saravana Bhavan there. The hotel guy recommended to try
> lunch there. but since the S.N.Restaurant was nearer and walkable, we went > there everytime.

I went there only for snacks. It is crowded and busy, but the food was great.

How was the food at SN Restuarant?

[potlaravi]

Hi Jothi,
That was a nice Travelogue. Thanks for sharing all your R&D about accommodation in Munnar , appreciated . I think this thread is the most number of pix than any other Munnar thread. Good job

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Looks like Oman, Qantab Bay?

Yes its Oman and those are Qantab heights ! Have you visited this place ? I thought you are in DXB
I used to go for deep sea fishing almost every weekend till marriage. After that it became only exploration of hills and valleys cheers:

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by trrk

Hi mjothi,

> No I did not try Saravana Bhavan there. The hotel guy recommended to try
> lunch there. but since the S.N.Restaurant was nearer and walkable, we went > there everytime.

I went there only for snacks. It is crowded and busy, but the food was great.

How was the food at SN Restuarant?

Food was ok. Thats was the only decent hotel in there.

[hrag]

Originally Posted by shajufx

I used to go for deep sea fishing almost every weekend till marriage. After that it became only exploration of hills and valleys cheers:

OT: I'm sure you didn't intend the pun when you wrote that.

[Lukeskywalker]

Great travelogue Mahesh, I loved the pics of ur car against the green tea gardens (the first one on your return journey) and of course you wearing a headdress Looks like yo've jumped into the water quite a few times on this trip.

Regards,
Hari.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by hrag

OT: I'm sure you didn't intend the pun when you wrote that.

OT: The word 'pun' is not in my dictionary. Please have a clean heart and dont read between the lines

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by Lukeskywalker

Great travelogue Mahesh, I loved the pics of ur car against the green tea gardens (the first one on your return journey) and of course you wearing a headdress Looks like yo've jumped into the water quite a few times on this trip.

Regards,
Hari.

Thanks Hari.

Thats the Interesting part. As always, the beautiful scenes had been just next to me, and I never thought of even visiting this place. After checking out from hotel, I thought of peeping in this route and rest you know.

The headdress part, thats just for fun.