Last long drive was to Shirdi in December, it seemed like aeons ago. Wife had got into a new job and I had started a new venture so going on a trip was next to impossible. But then the wanderer within was striving to break loose.
Suddenly there was a lull at work and the heat of summer was driving me crazy, in the meantime I had been asked by a dear friend if I could join in on a trip to Masinagudi on the long weekend beginning 27th. I was not quite sure for that weekend, but the current weekend I was free and that was enough.
Now, it came down to choosing a getaway, our own Princezahed had given me an open invite to his homestay in Coorg, I wanted to head out into the hills. But, the Queen of Hills really does not attract me, I always felt that Ooty resembled Avenue road Bangalore on a cold winter morning.
But to get a feel of the winter morning in summer, one needs to set aside one's misgivings.
Made a few calls and decided to go past Ooty to Kotagiri. This town is about 28 kms away from Ooty and is situated amidst tea gardens and is not so crowded.
The Nahar group of Hotels have an ancient but well maintained cottage in Kotagiri called the Stone House Retreat. Had spoken to the manager quite a few times in the past but had not had the opportunity to visit the place. Called him up and he told me that he had the entire place vacant so we were welcome.
Friday 20th March
Left work at 12 noon, came home packed and had a hurried lunch, wife had already packed and had taken half a day leave from work. Filled up fuel from Shell and then picked up my wife on the way. By 3 pm we were at Kengeri, the traffic was mild and we were entering Mysore by 5 pm. The road from Mysore to Nanjangud is quite slow due to traffic, but once
we cross Nanjangud speeds go up substantially. I wanted to cross the forest checkpost in Masinagudi before 7 pm as they close the road to traffic, but at 6.30 pm we were still navigating the craters which form the road between Gundlupet and Bandipur. I gave up hopes of taking the Kalhatti ghat route and settled down to go via Gudalur. We stopped at
Pugmark restaurant for freshning up.
It was just getting dark when we crossed the gates into Bandipur forest reserve, as we were driving up the initial curves, we suddenly spotted a huge dog crossing the road right in front of us, then it suddenly struck us that it was too large for a dog, I braked and then got a better look, it was a leopard, it ambled across the road and sat down on the other side looking back the way it had come, suddenly out of the bushes ran a smaller version and it scooted past it's mom into the forest, the bigger leopard still sat looking back, then an idiotic cabbie in an indica came hooting behind me and the magical moment was gone, the leopard just vanished into the jungle. Our first sighting in many years of driving through these roads.
Came to the Mudumalai checkpost and the guards there told me the Kalhatti route was still open I could make it if I was there before 8 pm. At 7.45 pm we were driving past the raised barrier and soon hit the hairpin curves.
9 PM saw us having dinner at Ooty, I called up the hotel and asked for directions to get there. 9.30 pm we were on the road to Kotagiri. This is the road we take to visit Doddabetta peak and the Tea Museum. Traffic was nil on this excellent road and we were at Stone House Retreat at 10 pm.
We were shown the old cottage with bathrooms which were the size of a conventional living room and then we were shown the new building next door which was chic. We chose chic over contemporary though at an additional cost. Now for some pictures:
Nahar Stone House Retreat View of the room The Bathroom Restaurant Saturday 21 March
A leisurely start to the morning hearing birds chirping, went out to the balcony to check out the view. A grand view it was, tea gardens on all sides with a church standing tall in the town.
Would love to stay here The Town Church
The restaurant only serves vegetarian fare which is undoubtedly delicious, the staff is warm and cheerful and give you time and space. I enquired about some off beat destinations which I could explore in half a day and I was told to drive out to a place called Kodanad Viewpoint and another small dam called the Ralliah dam near Wellington.
Kodanad is about 15 kms away from Kotagiri on the Kotagiri-Mettupalyam road, again the road is in excellent shape and the scenery without a doubt, is worth dying for.
The place has peaceful surroundings and did not have the usual hordes of tourists.
Enroute Kodanad Sloping terraces of Tea Optra by the Tea
We spent some time looking into the hills and then decided to try out the next place.
...Contd.