[laluks]

Originally Posted by RSimonS

Guvi is a place which was heard about a lot but not 'seen', infact one of my classmates was posted at Moozhiyar for sometime. 'Trip' never materialised, your log is definitly giving some good itches. Between, I am Located @ brookfields/Kottayam. Rating 5* for the narration and pics

Thanks RSimonS for the stars .

[laluks]

Day03, 28.08.2010
MOOZHIYAR

A little further, the scenery around was very beautiful








We parked our Civvy there and enjoyed the beauty







There I saw a board saying Welcome to Kakkad Hydro Electric project.


The other side said Welcome to Sabarigiri Hydro Electric Project


I saw a direction board there too


We continued from there and passed one more small Dam at Kochukoickal/kochandy. There again we had to enter the details.

We reached the final check post at Aangamoozhy by 15:30PM. Here also we had to enter the details. That makes it 60KM and 6hours from Gavi. A good but most rewarding 10KM/hour average.




Thus ended a beautiful trip to Gavi and the reserved forests and through some sensitive hydro electrical projects. I may not be able to do this trip again in the near future, but this indeed was one trip I despeartely wanted to do. All I can say is it was an amazing and rewarding trip.

It was all possible due to the enthusiasm and company of Mr. Varghese.






Finally we started seeing some good roads and normal direction boards. The Junction where we exited is 7Km to Plappally and 18Kms from Moozhiyar.



Sabarimala is 38Km from here.


So as per our plans we decided to drive to Pampa, even though we were delayed beyond imagination. We reached Pampa Bus Stand by 16:30PM.

continued...

[laluks]

Day03, 28.08.2010
Pamba

We reached Pamba busstand by 16:30PM. The place looked deserted. Can you imagine this place is filled with lakhs and lakhs of devotees during the Sabarimala Season.







We had a hot milkless tea from this teastall.


Some Forest Information Building




Welcome to Sabarimala




Some information


This leech travelled to Pamba all the way from Gavi


We moved on to the Pamba river.

continued...

[laluks]

Day03, 28.08.2010
Pamba

We reached the holy river.

Parked Civvy on the bridge.












Walked to the holy river.

Pamba River


















Some directions from the riverside



Some claims!!






We were there till 17:15PM. We returned from there in search of the road to join Mundakkayam.

continued...

[laluks]

Day03, 28.08.2010
Nilakkal

Enroute we stopped near Nilakkal. This is 23Km from Sabarimala.


There is a Mahadevar Temple here


The main gate to the road to the temple






Civvy parked


The entire hill is taken over by some creepers.




We continued on in Mundakkayam direction.

continued...

[laluks]

Day03, 28.08.2010
Pamba

We reached a bridge on Pamba which acted like a border between the roads of kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

One side was Kottayam roads.


The other side was Pathanamthitta roads.


The Bridge






River Pamba


Civvy Parked on the Kottayam roads


It was already 17:45 by the time we left here. We reached Mundakkayam by 18:30PM. We parked our Civvy near the busstand and went to a shopping complex nearby. We found an amzing restaurant serving hot parathas and chicken. Since we did not have eaten any food than the junk food, we pounced on to liberal servings of every item ordered. Finally with a satisfied tummy we left from Mundakkayam.

continued....

[ampere]

Laluks,

Since it was raining most of the time in most places, how did you manage with your DSLR?
Or was it the P&S which was active all the time?

[laluks]

Day03, 28.08.2010
Vagamon.

We drove through the thick fogs to reach Kuttikkanam. We reached Kuttikkanam by 20:00PM.

Mr. Varghese said bye to us, and wished us a happy journey and continuation of the holidays and took a bus to Vandiperiyaar which is nearby Kuttikanam.

We took a left and went towards Vagamon in the thick fog again. We finally reached Summer Sands resort at Vagamon by 21:00PM. Called Mr. Varghese and told we have reached safely. He had by then reached vandiperiyaar.

Waiting for the rooms at the resort.


We checked into the room. Wifey and PPGs were happy to get a bed for relaxing after the 12 hour drive, getting in and out and all the rainy mess.


We ordered some light stuff for dinner.

I was happy to see this



Me and my wife spoke for a while about the adventure that we had today. PPGs watched some TV shows.

Thus ended a beautiful trip to Gavi. From tomorrow the next holidays in Vagamon starts.


The END

[laluks]

Originally Posted by ampere

Laluks,

Since it was raining most of the time in most places, how did you manage with your DSLR?
Or was it the P&S which was active all the time?

It was DSLR. The P&S batteries were drained fast due to the weather. All I can say is that it was a circus

[laluks]

The GPS log of the trip from Thekkady to Gavi and from Gavi to Kuttikkanam.

GaviTripLog.kml




The map for an idea of the location and route.



This is not a frequented route. The beauty of the place is intact due to that. Further there are sensitive installations through out the route, combined with reserve forest.



I was always wanting to do this circuit, and thanks to Mr. Varghese for all the help.



This route is taxing on the sedans. Hatch backs and SUVs will do it fine as per the road conditions I have seen. But it had been raining heavily another three more months.



I am not sure whether the checkposts at Angamoozhy and Pachakkanam will allow you to drive through easily.



Please feel free to ask any information required if I have not mentioned it already.



Please also update any information that you have on the route and permits also here.



If at all you guys mangae to go to Gavi, please pass on my sincere regards to Mr. Varghese.




That's it folks. This was one of the fastest logs I had done in recent times

Good Night!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by laluks

It was DSLR. The P&S batteries were drained fast due to the weather. All I can say is that it was a circus

So what is the trick? Recently onwards I have been carrying a DSLR.
What are the simple things that one can do? Did you have a plastic/casing covering etc? Back-pack?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by ampere

So what is the trick? Recently onwards I have been carrying a DSLR.
What are the simple things that one can do? Did you have a plastic/casing covering etc? Back-pack?

The solution was simple. An umbrella and in car photography
In this trip I was not away from the car for long.

A load of tissue papers were kept in the car to dry the camera if some droplets were on it, and lens clothe to wipe the mist on the lens.

Avoided changing lenses outside.

[rajesh1868]

Great log as usual Lalu. And your decision to have a separate thread on Gavi has been good. I believe this is the first travelogue on Gavi here. I am planning for a trip here. need to couple this with a home visit. This will be my guide.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by rajesh1868

Great log as usual Lalu. And your decision to have a separate thread on Gavi has been good. I believe this is the first travelogue on Gavi here. I am planning for a trip here. need to couple this with a home visit. This will be my guide.

Thanks rajesh1868. Hope the log is helpful.

[maheshramaling]

Wonderful write up. 5 stars for your write up, another 5 stars for your photography (i loved the capture of gaurs crossing & trying to climb - amazing!) & 5 stars for the love of your car! Almost all pictures had 336!!. Guess - it's part of your family now!! Good job!

Few queries;

1) Curious to know why you chose Civic over Swift for such a road condition considering the GC?

2) What's the kind of mileage you got in this section....keeping aside the highway ride?

3) Could you post the full route map from Bangalore to Bangalore? Guess - this will be useful for folks like me who started to venture out!!

Thanks for this wonderful travelogue & looking forward to the pictures/ writeup of vagamon trip holidays!

P.S: A TBHP sticker would have looked great on your 336!!