Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Isha Yoga Centre-From Bangalore

arindamray · 28th May 2009, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyWalker

@cuttingcrew: don't worry about it - unless you are a BHPian (50 posts) your posts will be verified before it reflects here. So it will take time.

The criteria has been cut down to 25 post IIRC.

BomBatt · 28th May 2009, 20:10

Ashwinsid, enjoyed reading your travelogue. Detailed description and nice photographs.

Glad to see the link to my Ooty travelogue right on top ! It was nice go through my own travelogue after more than a year. Thanks for bringing back the memories of that trip. I am very sorry I did not respond to your query.

I am somewhat surprised and concerned with your description of Ooty. At the time of our visit, it was not that crowded and relatively clean and we all enjoyed our trip. I guess, month of May is not the right time to visit Ooty.

I too feel Ooty is bit hyped up and Kodai is anytime better than Ooty.

viv1984 · 31st May 2009, 16:52

Well written Aswin,

I dont know why many people on tbhp talk about Hotel Nahar for food. We had south indian Thali which was really pathetic. We also had dinner at Shinkows, a chinese restaurant. I dont want to comment about it now, will explain in detail in my travelogue.

I am also coming with my travelogue soon!

ashwinsid · 3rd June 2009, 10:00

@Bombatt, @ VIV1984, Thanks for your comments. VIV, waiting for your travelogue.

I too feel Nahar is not worth all the praise.

pjay_in · 3rd June 2009, 10:06

I haven't eaten at Nahar, but I did like the food at Shinkows. I have been there only twice - 2003 was the most recent, and before that in the mid 80's as a kid. Things may have changed now for all I know.

Jammy70 · 3rd June 2009, 13:06

Hi Ashwin,

This is such a wonderfully detailed report; thank you for the effort.

It is so unfortunate how Ooty has been deteriorating as a destination and I, having spent my school years there in the 80's, understand your exasperation. Take Pykara for example: I remember we had been to Pykara for one of our annual outward bound camps and I still carry fond memories of fishing for trouts down the Pykara river, trekking along the reservoir banks and storytelling sessions around bonfires at night. No tourists, no litter, no traffic jams! (IIRC, it was in the late 90's that the local administration started plugging Pykara as a tourist attraction, probably in an effort to reduce the crowds around Ooty lake, and it has been downhill ever since.)

As someone mentioned, currently Ooty's weather is the only attraction that remains, unless one heads for the beaten path - Red Hills, Destiny, or properties around Kotagiri (not many though).

About Nahar food: I too was surprised at the good reviews the Nahar food has received here on TBHP, as we always considered the food just about average. Shinkows was always our favourite (despite the occassional stomach runs!) and last year during a reunion, we found the food seems to have improved since our school days ;-). Regretably, the Kurinji cafe (opp. Chellarams) has opted to go 'modern'; used to serve some of the best dosas and coffee I have had!

Cheers,

hunt · 5th February 2010, 11:23

guys any reviews on the road status. planning a trip this weekend via coimbatore to ooty and madhumalai.

pls recommend some good eat outs. places to visit.

MX6 · 5th February 2010, 11:34

Pal. Nice to know another person who cares for the envi and vociferously expresses his dismay at the way homosapiens mess up with the same. The monkey photo was good and the comment very thought provoking.

Dhyanalingam is a fab place. I shall load a showstopper photo of Dhyanalingam path later tonight.

MX6 · 5th February 2010, 23:15

Here's a pic of the road to Dhyanalingam, just outside the entrance! Shot this 4 years back.

28th May 2009, 20:10	#17
BomBatt BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 208 Thanked: 35 Times	Ashwinsid, enjoyed reading your travelogue. Detailed description and nice photographs. Glad to see the link to my Ooty travelogue right on top ! It was nice go through my own travelogue after more than a year. Thanks for bringing back the memories of that trip. I am very sorry I did not respond to your query. I am somewhat surprised and concerned with your description of Ooty. At the time of our visit, it was not that crowded and relatively clean and we all enjoyed our trip. I guess, month of May is not the right time to visit Ooty. I too feel Ooty is bit hyped up and Kodai is anytime better than Ooty.
	() Thanks

31st May 2009, 16:52	#18
viv1984 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Thane Posts: 64 Thanked: 6 Times	Well written Aswin, I dont know why many people on tbhp talk about Hotel Nahar for food. We had south indian Thali which was really pathetic. We also had dinner at Shinkows, a chinese restaurant. I dont want to comment about it now, will explain in detail in my travelogue. I am also coming with my travelogue soon!
	() Thanks

3rd June 2009, 10:00	#19
ashwinsid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 181 Thanked: 34 Times	@Bombatt, @ VIV1984, Thanks for your comments. VIV, waiting for your travelogue. I too feel Nahar is not worth all the praise.
	() Thanks

3rd June 2009, 10:06	#20
pjay_in BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 396 Thanked: 20 Times	I haven't eaten at Nahar, but I did like the food at Shinkows. I have been there only twice - 2003 was the most recent, and before that in the mid 80's as a kid. Things may have changed now for all I know.
	() Thanks

3rd June 2009, 13:06	#21
Jammy70 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 164 Thanked: 143 Times	Hi Ashwin, This is such a wonderfully detailed report; thank you for the effort. It is so unfortunate how Ooty has been deteriorating as a destination and I, having spent my school years there in the 80's, understand your exasperation. Take Pykara for example: I remember we had been to Pykara for one of our annual outward bound camps and I still carry fond memories of fishing for trouts down the Pykara river, trekking along the reservoir banks and storytelling sessions around bonfires at night. No tourists, no litter, no traffic jams! (IIRC, it was in the late 90's that the local administration started plugging Pykara as a tourist attraction, probably in an effort to reduce the crowds around Ooty lake, and it has been downhill ever since.) As someone mentioned, currently Ooty's weather is the only attraction that remains, unless one heads for the beaten path - Red Hills, Destiny, or properties around Kotagiri (not many though). About Nahar food: I too was surprised at the good reviews the Nahar food has received here on TBHP, as we always considered the food just about average. Shinkows was always our favourite (despite the occassional stomach runs!) and last year during a reunion, we found the food seems to have improved since our school days ;-). Regretably, the Kurinji cafe (opp. Chellarams) has opted to go 'modern'; used to serve some of the best dosas and coffee I have had! Cheers,
	() Thanks

5th February 2010, 11:23	#22
hunt BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 46 Thanked: 0 Times	guys any reviews on the road status. planning a trip this weekend via coimbatore to ooty and madhumalai. pls recommend some good eat outs. places to visit.
	() Thanks

5th February 2010, 11:34	#23
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,877 Thanked: 231 Times	Pal. Nice to know another person who cares for the envi and vociferously expresses his dismay at the way homosapiens mess up with the same. The monkey photo was good and the comment very thought provoking. Dhyanalingam is a fab place. I shall load a showstopper photo of Dhyanalingam path later tonight.
	() Thanks

5th February 2010, 23:15	#24
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,877 Thanked: 231 Times	Here's a pic of the road to Dhyanalingam, just outside the entrance! Shot this 4 years back.
	() Thanks