[scopriobharath]

We did a Weekend Trip to Hogenakkal on my Santro.

We left at 6:00 am from Chennai and took the usual route

Chennai - Vellore - Krishnagiri (Turn Left) - Dharmapuri (Bye PAss) and then take right to enter hogenakkal.

After Krishnagiri, drive towards Dharmapuri, take Dharmapuri Bypass and take the road below the flyover and take right. couple of Kms and you would be in Hogenakkal.

We stopped for BVreakfast on the way and filled up at a CoCo Pump before Ambur. We reached the foothills of the Hogenakkal and we were asked to buy a ticket for Rs 30/- . There was a Police check post and we payed Rs 10/- . No questions asked. I am not sure why but i just payed up , signed a register and left.

We took the hill and as soon as we were about to enter hogenakkal, We were flagged down to pay another Rs 20/- as Panchayat Fees

We had already booked accommodation at Hotel Tamil Nadu. We booked two AC Rooms one for my family and one for my colleague's family.

The rooms are good, but the problem is that there is frquent Power shortage and there is only sporadic use of the generator.

Places to visit in Hogenakkal

Waterfalls
Aquarium
Crocodile park

Other Services
Full Body Oil Massage
Head Oil Massage

We reached hogenakkal at around 12:00 noon and checked in. There was no power in the rooms. We somehow managed to freshen up and went out for Lunch. We had fried rice and meals at some CM Hotel. The quality was very average.

We then came back to our rroms, took about an hour of rest and went for boating at 2:00 pm. The Attender at the hotel told us to start boating by 2:00 / 2:15 pm. As we were walking along, many boatment approached us. The quote was 1000/- and as instructed by the attender at the hotel, we bargained for Rs 700/- for Ride only. (No stopping for bath)

The system is more streamlined now. They have a union and boats are numbered and operate only in sequential order.

Cost Of Boating: Rs 840/-
RS 700/- Ride Fee
Rs 40/- Govt Ticket
Rs 100/- We payed tips voluntarily as the boatman was too good.

The boat took us around the falls and showed us the Karnataka border. He gave us an option to go to the Karnataka side and take a look, but we declined as there were only a few shops and a KSRTC Bus Station.

We had Fish on the way and trust me that was the best Fish i ever had in a long time.

We completed the Boat ride, tipped the boatman and walked around the area to view the hanging bridge, and another small falls.

We came back to our rooms by 5:00 pm and immediately started for the Aquarium and crocodile park. We could not see the crocodile park as it closes by 5:00 pm. We went to the aquarium and spent about 30 mins there. Overall it was a good trip. Next morning we started from hofgenakkal by around 9:00 am and reached chennai by 3:30 pm

We stopped at Khaja Vaniyambadi for some Briyani and halted for Vellore Ariya Bhavan for Lunch

Let the Pics do the talking






























































More Pics to Follow

[scopriobharath]

More Pics of Waterfalls & Pics from the Aquarium

[Ragul]

Many interesting looking fish to ponder and contemplate! Are all these local to the Hogenekkal waters?

[snaronikar]

Looks like nothings changed since my visit since 2 years back. Good pics though..

[scopriobharath]

@ Ragul - I think the fishes are not native to hogenakkal. I think they must have been brought from elsewhere and displayed here. If it was native to Hogenakal, we could see many Hobby-Fish Stalls in Hogenakkal.

@ snaronikar - Thank you. I visited in 2006 last and the Aquarium and Crocodile bank were'nt there at that time.

[scopriobharath]

Rooms at Hotel Tamil Nadu

We took an AC Room costing 990/- per night (900 rent + 90 taxt) + we payed Rs 10 as tips to the waiter. So appx, 1000/- per night

Rooms are decent. Frequent Power cuts.

[itsmyalto]

We did the falls last September on a long weekend (dont remember the exact date). Unfortunately, it was a big fiasco. Hogenakkal was in total chaos. It almost resembled Kumbh Mela - what with bare chested, pot bellied gentleman all oiled up after a soothing massage in hordes roaming allover. There were thousands and thousands of people and as many vehicles in every nuke and corner. To add to our misery, the climate was pretty hot and humid. The beautiful and serene image from the movie "Roja" was all shattered :-(

[bottle]

Nice pics, especially posting detailed pics of the accomodation.

The aquarium looks like something you would see at someones home, is it a professional one?

[Sunrise]

Great report, sad that every place we go, some "hidden Fee" has to be paid for unknown reasons, when will we see honesty!
Is it not unsafe just to be in the coracle with NO life jackets? Too much to expect but then how come its been like this for years?
Nice pics of the hotel, it really helps to see accommodation options, but wondering if its really needed to stay there as i have heard most people go for a day trip

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by bottle

Nice pics, especially posting detailed pics of the accommodation.

The aquarium looks like something you would see at someones home, is it a professional one?

The aquarium is maintained by Govt of Tamil Nadu. I think that must be a way to make tourists stay overnight. Generally, people come in the morning, see the falls and go back by evening. The same story with the crocodile bank, though i did not get a chance to visit the same.

Originally Posted by Sunrise

Great report, sad that every place we go, some "hidden Fee" has to be paid for unknown reasons, when will we see honesty!
Is it not unsafe just to be in the coracle with NO life jackets? Too much to expect but then how come its been like this for years?
Nice pics of the hotel, it really helps to see accommodation options, but wondering if its really needed to stay there as i have heard most people go for a day trip

I support you. India has to come a long way in the same. If the same was the west, we would not even have to ask. Infact, if we ask for life jackets, i am sure the boatmen would laugh. When i wear a seatbelt in my office cab, the driver and other associates laugh at me. I know that my safety is important. Accidents do not happen as a planned activity.

There is a fee at every tourist town in tamil nadu. Even little places such as Kovalam beach, Mahabalipuram etc have a fee. The same is not in popular places i have visited in MH / KA .

I too am against this exorbitant practice, but what to do, I am a simple common man. I do not have any political or Police or anti-social connections. If i fight with them or argue for a paltry sum of Rs 20 / Rs 30/- , i will be booked for some offense, that i would not even think of in my dreams.

It will take at least 50 more years for India to change.