[ravibhat]

Day started at 6AM as we wanted to cover Munnar and leave by 4PM. After hot water bath we proceeded to Munnar town from Chinnakanal and reached Munnar inn by 8AM for buffet breakfast. Very good breakfast with lot of options for just 95/-.

On the way we got lot of opportunities to click the photos. Few photos we clicked on the way to Munnar from Chinnakanal.









We found good guide who would take us for site seeing. Man Munnar has excellant views while Kodaikanal was more cold and view points were exciting there.

We saw college/university from the road itself.



Different photos of Rose Garden: This is very nicely kept garden.























To be continued with other places...

Ravi.

[ravibhat]

One good thing in Kodaikanal is site seeing points are in a line thats why every palce has lot of attraction and it seasy.

Our guide explained a lot about places we are visiting and history behind it. He is old experienced person.

Photo Point:







Our guide warned my driver mutliple times not to cross yellow/white marks in curves. Ofcourse I blast my driver samething and I keep advise him go in 3rd gear instead of top gear in ghat section. He also made our driver wear seat belt which is very much appreciated! But he didn't wear seat belt which is funny. We lauched all the way whenever we remember that scene.

MettuPatty Dam and Speed boat.









These cows used to give 40ltrs of Milk every day itseems. Very neatly maintained grass for them. There is strict security and electric fencing arounf this place but still we noticed couple of vehicles entered these places, I dont understand when people learn to be decent.



Echo Point: Its good place kids who would like shout which can be heard back.




Ravi.

[ravibhat]

I am running out of time to put details as tomorrow I am travelling to native place and packing is challening as lot of stuff need to be entered into Alto






On the way to TOP Station we viewed Kundale Dam and view amazing views.



















Top Station is Keral-Tamil Nadu border untill that place there is good road.
We spent 20 minutes there and started to return back to Munnar. thats amazing drive for sure.

We wanted to try different place for lunch, Our guide suggested Mahaveer Bhojanashala. Man thats excellant place for pure veggie like us. Really enjoyed taste there and we started towards cochin side to explore places there. After 25km drive we returned back to Munnar again at 3:30PM. WE even visited Tree house area, very good scenary.

Rock House:


Power Generation Water lines:










Did some shopping for 30 minutes and we started our return journey. My daughter realized that and usual shouting started.

Road between Munnar and Marayoor is bit patchy in few places and with lot of curves. There are few wild life sanctury but we had decided to skip as next time there won't be any excitment to visit again.

Distance travelled for the day: 200km.

Ravi.

[akroy]

Excellent pics Ravi, specially the tea plantations. Wonderful !!

Originally Posted by ravibhat

Special thanks to hvkumar, tirthankar, mjothi for guiding the route.

Tirthankar, When did he drive that route? I though he has never driven southwards from bangalore. How could you get guidance of this small route from him.

Abhi

[pjay_in]

Great report, Ravi. The photos are excellent.

[hotstuff]

Ravi, first of all I am sure you had a great day on your birthday and wishing you and your family peace, prosperity and lots of wonderful trips in the years to come.

Excellent photos, nicely framed ... I am quite amazed to see all the greenery at this time of the year.

This is a really cute pic...

[btirthankar]

Belated Birthday Wishes.

I was waiting for some time to see your T-Log in detail as I was traveling. They are always colorful.

[skmami]

First of all let me wish you Belated Happy Birthday. :-)

Thanks for documenting your travel experience. It gives us lot of information on how to plan our trips and motivates people like myself. I am kind of lazy. :-(

I did not know this type of sub-forum existed on team-bhp. I am glad they have this. I was kind of lazy to plan my vacation this year and I am glad team-bhp had this forum and guys like you are contributing your experiences.

After reading your trip I have just made my reservations to come to India in the month of July and returning back in the month of August just before my daughter starts her school (Kinder Garden) in the last week of August.

Unfortunately I am finding that on many travel sites that (July and Aug) is not the best time for vacationing in India.

Please can you let me know if that is true based on your experience.

Also on side note, how come you downgraded yourself from big car like Innova to Alto. Are you guys liking the small car experience?. I also own a Honda Odyssey and once I got used to it I don't feel like getting into smaller cars (Honda Civic and i10).

I almost bought the Alto when I was back in India in the month of march last year but I changed my plans to buy Hyundai i10 instead since its interior is more appealing.

Thanks again for posting your experience and looking for more. :-)

As you mentioned you had four different plans in the pipe line. Please can you share those with us.

Thanks
Satish

[ravibhat]

Thank you everyone

Hi Satish, I know Alto cant be compared with even with Santro. Its cramped bad vehicle lacks quality, safety compared with other small hatchbacks. But I have baught it as pre owned CAR which is worth buying for kind of package I was looking for. For time being I decided to use Alto for highway use too untill I buy big vehicle.

On +ve note Alto with Michellin tyres rides smooth

Ravi.

[deky]

Beautifull pics, especially the tea garden ones, love the way the tea bushes are maintained, look like a green carpet.

Also are these elephants wild, which i presume they are. They look scary tho.

[rjstyles69]

ravi I know my entry here is late and actually a little too late. Belated happy birthday pal !!

BTW your photography skills have improved quite a bit. My compliments to you for that. Did you bother to stop bye and chat up with one of those pachyderms ?

Just 2 weeks back on my drive from Kabini , I bumped into a lone chap. His very look made me wet my pants, looked menacing and am sure one wrong move he would have charged at us. Now at the very sight of elephants on the forest highways , I dread to even drive past them.

[snaronikar]

Hello, Ravi..Hope you are back from your native place. Waiting for your Kodai pics.

[vnabhi]

Nice pics, Ravi. Good travelogue too.
I think your Alto is one of the best I've seen so far---the alloys sure look good. BTW, did you change your alloys? I see a different set in your garage pics.

[ravibhat]

Thank you EveryOne for kind words I am still in Ankola and will be back in week time.

I have loaded all short listed pictures including Kodaikanal and Munnar.

About Alto and Alloy wheels yes I had purchased 2 sets and finally settled for one set which I have at present on Alto and I have sold other set. My Alto is about to clock 10,000km next week.

Regards,

Ravi.

[gadadhar]

Ravi, Well written travelogue supplemented with good snaps. Good to see that you got some good snaps of the elephants. My wife is from Munnar I travel this road quite