[bijuks]

Have been thinking of posting the photos of my recent trips in April. But, did not get time to upload them. Finally found some time today and starting the uploads.

Trip Details:
1. Bangalore - Parathode (some 40kms off Munnar) - Bangalore
2. Bangalore - Mysore - Bangalore
3. Bangalore - Parathode - Perumbavoor - Chalakkudi - Athirappilly - Valparai - Pollachi - Palakkad - Bangalore


Car: WagonR
Occupants: 4 (2adults & 2 kids)
Round trip distances:
Trip 1 - 1180km
Trip 2 - 320km
Trip 3 - 1330km
Total - 2830km



Photos will follow in next couple of days. (Have access to net only in the nights - that too limted time. Hence uploads/responses would be slow)

[bijuks]

Frist trip was to my hometown and back. Did all packing in the night and planned to start by 4:30am in the next day. As usual, woke up late and could start from home only by 5:50am. 2nd April - it was the starting day of a long weekend and lots of traffic was already there on the roads towards Salem.

Crowded A2B on NH7


There were big queues on toll booths. But after crossing Salem, the traffic just vanished. Passed Dindigul at around 11:30am and reached Vattalgundu by 12:00 noon. After crossing the Kodai turn-off, stopped to have lunch (all packed from home). Started from there at 12:50.

View of Ghats - just after Bodinaykannur at the bottom of hill.


Climbing up the hill


Ghat roads on the way to Pooppara. Reached Pooppara by 3:00pm and had tea there. Reached home by 5:00pm for the family get-together.

[bijuks]

One day later, thought of exploring the place around with full capacity in car. Though my house is there, haven't stayed for more than couple of months in total. So, everything is new for me. Went through some small roads to reach at the top of a hill nearby.

From Parathode - right side view 1 from the top of hill


From Parathode - right side view 2 from the top of hill


From Parathode - right side view 3 from the top of hill


From Parathode - right side view 4 from the top of hill


From Parathode - right side view 5 from the top of hill


From Parathode - left side view 1 from the top of hill


From Parathode - left side view 2 from the top of hill


Place near Ponmudi dam

[bijuks]

Hanging bridge below Ponmudi dam. Saw a small passage to go down below the bridge and went down.


Rocks below the hanging bridge. You can also see the part of dam on top.


Clear water


It's a beautiful place with absolutely zero crowd around.








People on top of the bridge. You can drive the car on the bridge - but, bit scary.

[ampere]

Place looks nice with a good adventure for kids to venture down. Since its April, there is not much slush/slime. I guess the place gets worse with rains.

Please expand the last trip to more details. Would be helpful for many to plan an extended/long weekend to these places.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by ampere

Place looks nice with a good adventure for kids to venture down. Since its April, there is not much slush/slime. I guess the place gets worse with rains.

Please expand the last trip to more details.

The rocks will be slippery during rains and may not be able to even get down to this place. Even when we went, those rocks that are in water was always slippery.

Kids and adults - all enjoyed the place.

But, December to May seems like a good option.

More to come.

[jacs]

Kids day out .

Though i am from God's own country, TBHP is giving me lots of new POIs within 100KM radius to my home. Nice snaps, waiting for the rest.

[bijuks]

Had one more trip to the Idukki Dam. No photos. While returning home, it rained heavily and had to take many diversions due to water levels on different part of the roads. Also went to a ditch on the road damaging the left front mud-flap and suffered a minor dent just behind that mud-flap. Road was covered with rain water - so, could not notice the ditch while giving was for an on-coming car.


Stopped to fill fuel for the return journey planned next day morning. They informed us about the HARTAAL on the next day in Idukki district - from 6:00am to 6:00pm. This forced us to change the plan. Instead of the planned 10:00am start, we have to cross the Idukki/Kerala border before 6:00am.

Got up early and started by 5:00am. Could cross the border by 6:30am without spotting any Hartaal folks.

Bangalore route - Just after Bodimettu - climbing down to Bodinaykannur at 6:45am.


Morning sun - refreshing


Saw more cars - all may be trying to escape the Hartaal.


Had Lunch from Salem and reached Bangalore by 3:30pm.

[bijuks]

Next was the drive to Mysore zoo on 10th April. Was a one day trip.

This was the main attraction for kids



As recommended by many BHPians, do opt for the cart inside the zoo. It's worth.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by jacs

Kids day out .

Though i am from God's own country, TBHP is giving me lots of new POIs within 100KM radius to my home. Nice snaps, waiting for the rest.

Thank you. These places are not frequented by tourists.

[bijuks]

On 14th April, started again towards Kerala at 5:40am. Had breakfast from A2B and passed through Salem, Dindigul, Theni, Pooppara and reached near Ponmudi dam at 2:45pm. Small diversion to hanging bridge and took Lunch break there.

This has become one of the favourite places for our family.



















Had a quality time there - left the place by 4:45 and reached home by 5:15pm. Around 10 mins in to the drive, got a traffic ticket of Rs100.00 - not wearing seat belt . Stupid mistake - that was done only for about 10 mins in the entire trip.

[bijuks]

Return journey planned for 18th April. Wanted to drive through the Chalakkudi - Valparai route for a long time. Inspiration was the travelogues in Team-BHP.

Could make it this time. It was worth the effort and enjoyed every bit of it. We were so engrossed in enjoying the beauty and could not take much photos. Also, the late start on the day forced us to limit the number of stops en-route.

[bijuks]

Started at 9:30am from Parathode.
Neriamangalam bridge - crossed at 11:00am


Perumbavoor - signal on Aluva-Munnar road. Took a right towards Angamali at 12:00 noon


Went on till Chalakkudi after hitting NH47 at Angamali. The traffic was very bad and wasted lots of time there.
Stop for Lunch - somewhere before the Athirappilly falls


Raft - they crossed the river and disappeared in to the forests.


Athirappilly waterfalls. Did not take any ticket to go down to the waterfall. Note that one has to take a ticket here even to enter the Vazhachal waterfalls.

[bijuks]

Wrote vehicle details at the Vazhachal forest checkpost. He checked iside the car and told that we are not supposed to carry any plastic bags. All bags should be replaced by paper bags which has to be bought from somewhere there. Assured him that we are not throwing anything in the forest and moved on. Spent some time in the water at Vazhachal too and started by 3:00pm towards Valparai – the dream drive.

[bijuks]

It was dense forest with lots of bamboo sticks projecting out on to the road. That must have happened after rains. Possibility of getting some scratches on the car, if you don't notice them - especially, during drives in the night. Roads are kind of ok. With a mix of good strethes and bad ones. The bad ones are not very bad - can drive at a decent speed.




River on the way. Spent some 30 mins there. You can see the bridge(road) nead the top of this frame.





Many people were there - swimming below this point.


Started climbing uphill - many hairpin bends and good views. Photos taken from the driver seat.






Dam after that - could not get the best view in camera