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Hello Bhpeans,
It was completely unexpected & unplanned trip.
We had decided to start by 4 AM and visit Nandi Hills to see the Sunrise of New year (Hindu New Year) on 16th March'10.
I had collected information about route, road conditions, Do's & Don’ts at Nandi Hills etc and discussed about the plan with some Bhpeans.
The Turn Around
We started 1 hour late i.e. at 5AM from JP Nagar. I was still thinking if we have any other options to go. So, by the time we reached Jayanagar 4th Block (2 Kms away from house & on way to Nandi Hills); I asked my wife & my cousins (who were with us) if we should go to Hogenakkal Falls. The collective voice & answer was 'YES'.
So, I took a U-turn and headed towards Electronic City - Hosur.
Hogenakkal Route
With a sudden change in plan, I didn’t have noted down anything regarding route, places, deviations etc. But, I did remember going through number of threads about this place and hence knew the rough route.
So, the route we followed : Silk Board - Electronic City (Fly Over) - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Hogenakkal.
About the route
Simply amazing roads, perfect, hardly any speed breakers, since it was early morning - so NO TRAFFIC. Only One Toll at Krishnagiri (Rs.38 for Return Ticket).
Surprisingly Electronic City (New Fly over) did not have any Toll.
Break for Breakfast - became sightseeing of Dharmapuri
Don’t be surprised ! You would ask - 'what is there for sightseeing?'
Actually, I had forgotten to withdraw money from ATM and we wanted to have good & heavy breakfast at some place. But, we had bypassed Dharmapuri town and had hit the diversion to Hogenakkal Falls. So, realized that we have to go back to the town.
After asking some localites; we headed back to Dharmapuri.
Thanks to one Old Uncle, who misguided us - this made us ‘doing sightseeing of the town’. But, finally we entered the town and saw ICICI, AXIS, and SBI ATMs.
Breakfast at : Hotel Meenakshi (Adhiyaman Complex); delicious food & reasonable price.
Dharmapuri to Hogenakkal
It’s around 45 Kms and after driving through Bangalore - Chennai (3X3 lane express way); you would be lit'l disappointed. But, the road condition was still good. You would enjoy this - driving through villages and lot of curves (Especially, just before Hogenakkal).
On way, we were stopped at 2 check posts; where police were doing video shooting & noting down all Vehicle details / where / whom etc. (routine check up I suppose)
Next, just before Hogenakkal (2 Kms) you would pay Rs. 30 to Forest Dept. (To enter this area).
Reached Hogenakkal
I had gone through some threads; which helped me while negotiating with theCoracle people. These guys (A Big Gang) will follow you right from parking slot till you finalize the deal with one of them. Actually, we felt like they were escorting us everywhere. ;-)
Plz Note : It’s not necessary to park your vehicles in the parking slot. Some ppl will approach you with parking ticket / fees. No need to take that. You can park anywhere else (I had parked my Car next to one Temple). It was safe.
What to do at Hogenakkal
1) 1st Fall : You need to walk and cross one hanging bridge to see the 1st fall. Have to buy Rs. 5 per head ticket & Rs. 10 for Camera just to visit this fall.
Beside this falls, they have collected / blocked the water (To make it like a big tank). Here you can pay Rs.3 to take bath. (We didn't do this; since it was an unplanned trip and we didn't have spare pair of clothes).
2) Main Falls & Island : You need to take Coracle (Round Shaped Boat) to reach this place. So, I negotiated for Rs.100 per head (4 of us) for visit to main falls and island (2 hrs trip total).
What an experience ! Amazing ! The guy takes u near main falls and makes sure that u get drenched here completely. :-)
Island was okay, unless you don’t want to have fresh Fish there.
While we were on way back from Island to the end of the ride; I asked the fellow to take us back near falls (Since it was lit'l hot and we wanted to have that experience again). I told him that we would pay him Rs.100 more for this. He agreed and actually spent more time this time around the main falls. :-)
Then, we headed back after each piece of my clothes was fully watered. Somehow, we managed to save mobiles, Car remote lock (Key) and Wallets from water by carrying one Big Plastic Bag with us.
3) Crocodile Park : We didn't visit this. (Not interested)
So, we had reached Hogenakkal at around 9.15 AM and we were out on way back by 11.40 AM. Didn't want to stay long, since it was getting very hot.
Return Journey
We took another route : Hogenakkal falls - Pennagaram- Hosur - Bangalore.
So, u don’t need to reach Bangalore - Chennai Expressway. This route is in good condition. But, I realized that the expressway route would have saved more time, even if distance was 15-20 Kms more.
Lunch at Dhaba
We had good lunch and one typical Dhaba. Had Rotis (8 Nos), Daal and Chana Masala :- Total Bill was Rs. 87. :-)
Reached Bangalore by 2.40 PM (2.30 Hrs drive excluding half an hour lunch break).
It was a wonderful Journey. Enclosing some pictures.
Cheers,
- Neo.
Looks like its been ages since I visited this place. Last time I went there was no hanging bridge? When was this put-up?
I think I diverted from Hosur. During my other drives on NH7, I thought I had a diversion clearly marked for Hogenakal at Dharmapuri? Is'nt that so?
How was the performance of the car?
Last time I visited this place there was not hanging bridge, good to see one.
You didn't get a massage? it's one of the things that you should do it out there.
How was the weather?
I saw in some more threads of photos taking a complete view of the main falls, where are those taken from?
Planning to go there some time later, looks like in summer its gonna be very hot.
Looks very different to when I was there last! Hanging bridge looks pretty good :)
The place is pretty tricky. For a small width, the river is extremely deep (may be 50-100 feet easily though its my guess). I thought I will take a shot at crossing the river. On top of it I committed by biggest IQ demo act.
Though, I am decent swimmer (Chambal, Ganges etc and I easily do 50/60 laps on 25m pools), but at that time, I was reviving myself on the swim circuit after a long gap, and what a place it was. On a whim I said lets do it.
I went three fourths of the distance, and was gasped for breadth. I realized I can t do the rest and at the moment, light shone upon and I came back :D.
The boat guys were saw me hobbling around and shouted to go the other side, but my sense of hearing had gone off. In the end as you would have realized I ended doing 1.5 time the river length.
I guess most of the people don't go to the bridge (Hanging Bridge Side).
Because, when we started walking towards the bridge (This is - After Hotel Tamilnadu & After the place where you take coracle boats).
Ppl (Boat walas) were saying - 'Nothing is there, only parking and all, dont go'. But, we kept walking and saw this bridge. Paid Rs.5 for entrance and went to see this 1st fall. It was wonderful. And then came back to take Coracle boat ride. (Opposite to Hotel Tamilnadu)
@ Raghu - Yes, oil massage was something I found interesting. But, you can do it if you have spare pair of clothes to take bath after that. (Which I did not have).
@ Srikanth - Main Falls photos are taken while on the boat ride.
@ ampere - Yes, the roads / diversions are clearly marked. But, as I said - we had to come back to Dharmapuri town for ATM & then breakfast. This is where we lost the way. ;-)
And On the way from Main falls to Island, where the river was calm & clean; we saw 3-4 ppl swimming around their boats. The depth of water is around 80 Ft.
The Boat fellow told us that : During August to November : This side of the falls (In pictures above) is closed for boating and on the other side; you can see around 50 falls (Mini Niagara they call it). So, these boats will be taken that side.
In short, depending on season - you would see different falls & different places.
So, many wouldn't have seen the bridge and other places this side.
And Yes, right now its too hot after 10.30 AM. So, you can expect more in April-May.
Better to reach there by 8 AM and leave by 11 AM.
that was a brief and crisp log. Thanks
The last time I went to Hogenakal was during my college days about 13 years back. At that time except for the fall area I found the approach and the entrance surroundings were dirty to the core with lot of pigs loittering around. How is this scene now, any improvement to the place ?
Hi Siva,
We didn't find such things out there. The place was clean (80%). But, no animals / pigs around. The officials have put enough boards to say ' Its a plastic free zone'. But, still you find them.
Otherwise, nothing to worry as such.
Thats great to know they have cleaned up the place ! Thanks for sharing the info. I need to now plan a trip to Hogenakal with my family.
I went there on last Saturday, 20-Mar. Everything turned out to be perfect. Lots of water, not much crowd, and pretty clean banks.
We spent around 5 hours playing in water. I even did a few jumps from the top of the cliff where the kids where jumping from!
I would love to go there once again during / after rains.
You have mentioned one can park the car anywhere and no parking fees to be paid and you have said it is safe.
One will have to leave the car unattended for almost 3-4 hours as we will be away at the falls. These fellows hovering around the parking place knows that the car owners will not be coming back for at least 3-4 hours and can try to do some mischief with the car. Don't you feel so ?
I was also thinking to go to Hogenakkal, but fearing this reason, have not really given it a try. Both times i have gone to Hogenakkal, i have gone by private taxi, wherein i do not have to worry for the safety of the vehicle.
Rajesh,
I said : There are parking (Paid) places available at Hogenakkal.
But, there are many who don't park inside those parking areas and park it in other areas. IF you are concerned; you can park it in the specifide Zone and pay some nominal (Rs.10/20) charges. ITS SAFE !
Dont worry at all.
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