[arindamray]

Flashback series: These are the road trips made while I was not a member of TBHP, or not active in it. No logs were maintained, and even the routes taken have been longer in couple of occasions due to ignorance, so may not serve as a guide. But nevertheless the experience and photographs are shared.

Long hiatus and my travel bug was itching. No leaves accumulated yet, as I had joined a new company, so decided for a short week-end break to Masinagudi.

Enquired with friends, about the resorts, and narrowed down to Bear Mountain, spoke to David (owner of the place) and made the booking, no money paid in advance.

15th Sep, 2007

The road to Masinagudi from Bangalore is well known via Mysore, Gundlupet. Just after crossing Mudumalai forest, you reach a place called Thepekadu, from this place the road straight goes to Gudalur, the left turn goes to the Masinagudi. BTW, you can reach Ooty both the ways, first one is 70 km, second one 35 km (and having 36 hairpin bends).

The road was known so the drive was uneventful, started late, not to reach before 12:00, had breakfast on the CCD after Maddur, which comes in the left. From Masinagudi started looking for directions. All the resorts are actually near Bokkapuram, 2 km ahead of Masinagudi. There were marker for various resorts in the road to turn right. Found Bear Mountain featuring in that list, took the right turn and followed Bear Mountain arrows.

Reaching the resort, first went to check treehouse, but did not look like to exciting, so reverted back to comfortness of the room. Spent some time in the hammoc put up in the verandah in front of the room.

You can have a look at the front courtyard of the room:


While I was relaxing in the hammoc, my car was enjoying the scenary. The view from the parking lot:


Just relaxed, had some tasty food though lunch was little late. On David's recommendation hired a jeep to take us for jungle safari and started at around 4:00 pm. First destination was thepekaddu elephant training camp, where we saw various activities performed by a group of elephants.



Then the jeep driver drove it through the metal road only, and was thinking I could have done the same in my safari. But then he took to some route through Masinagudi and put the Hellas on to scan the jungle in both the sides. It was getting dark quickly, we spotted a Gaur, Wild boars, Deers and Rabbits.


In the evening there was a bonfire and a barbeque set up, but by the time we reached, the bonfire was already dying down. We salvaged the situation with few plates of barbeque.

to be continued...

[akroy]

Nice one again Arindam.

I didnot know thar you can visit Theppakadu Elephant training camp in Masinagudi. This activity can actually be combined with a Bandipur, Madhumalai, masinagudi trip (It can then become a nice 2 day weekend trip). Alongwith Gopalswamy betta ofcourse.

Abhi

[arindamray]

26th Sep, 2007

Previous day we enquired about the activities, and came to know that they have guided treks. One starting from 7:00 and another from 9:00 for a 2 hour trek. Opted for 7:00 to beat the heat. So got up in the morning, was sipping in the hot coffee, while waiting for the guide to arrive.

The walking trail goes behind the resort, winding and going in a small upward slope through the jungle. Sunlight just peeping through the gaps in the curtains of trees. We get our first stream to cross, not wanting to get our shoes wet took some time to cross it, and then catch up with the guide only to realize after 10 minutes, we have a wider stream to cross.

We were enjoying our walk up, but after certain point of time it was becoming monotonous, we have already walked for alsmost 1.5 hours. So asked the guide, when we should return? The guide told we can turn back whenever we want. Also understood that top of the hill will take another 2 hours, so decided to return.

With the guide


We hardly took 50 steps, the guide stopped and streched his hand not allowing to go further. He was not speaking either. We all took few steps backward. It's a lone tusker, guide showed us, standing on our path.



We waited for a while, if it goes away in the jungle. But it preferred the 'beaten path' and started moving along the path. So we retreat further, now we are joined by another guide guiding two foreigner ladies coming down from the hill.

So we wait... retreat... wait... retreat... now you got the story. Now after repeating it for so many times, we realised that we have to chose alternate strategy. So we go inside the forest up the hill, try to get down to the path making a huge U so that we finally land behind that elephant.

Now the strategy is easy to hear, but implementing it was really difficult, it's a jungle with shrubs all around, thankfully the other guide had a sickle, and we are progressing cutting our way through.

Now while trying to get down to the road, we were coming down a deep slope, trying to hold a branch to avoid a fall only to realize it is full of thorns, and then finding a sheer drop of 30 odd feet. So again go up, and realize how steep the incline was. Finally in the third attempt we actually made it back to the path. Sigh of relief!

Then just dragged those tired legs towards the resort to finally reach at 11:30. 2 hour trek ended at 4 and half hours. And without any food since morning, the breakfast timing was over but obviously they took pity on us . We hogged on whatever was made available.

Went to the room, had a bath and it's time to check out. Settled our bill and to our surprise got a big fruit basket to take back with us.

Started our jouney back, wanted to have our lunch in Fishland after Mysore. We have seen it so many times, but never crossing at the lunch/dinner time. Now we were not finding it. Thought either we have missed it, or they have folded their business, stopped at A1 Panjabi Dhaba (not the reliance A1 plaza) and had a nice lunch.

Started back, and then see the Fishland another 3-4 km down the road! A smooth journey back to Bangalore ends the trip.