Munnar : The Twist - The Horrible - The Drama - The Heaven

Route : Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Salem - Tiruppur - Munnar - Karur - Salem - Bangalore

Round Trip :  1312 KM  

Time : Jan 23rd  2016; 10:36 AM - Jan 26th  2016; 05:55 PM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

Places to Visit:
         Use this LINK to get Itinerary.


The Trip Beginning...:

           Somehow Me and Srikanth going for trips only on Independence holidays, last time Hogenakkal, Goa and now Munnar.

           

           Srikanth told me in watsapp that he sent a mail...but I did't check mails for two days, as I am so busy in my office work.  Finally when I checked, link not working at home somehow. Next day tried in office and yahh its working. Its about some best roads for bike ride... and coming Tuesday is Republic day holiday, so we have long weekend. Its winter season and 4 days holidays...so we both decided to go for a bike trip.

        Where should we go? winter means Kerala is one the best spot for its sheer greenary especially Munnar is in target list. Munnar need 2 days for covering all places and 2 days for to & fro journey, so we have a Lock on Munnar. From the past trip experience, we have learned not to do night ride by skipping the sleep. so below is the schedule :

                                   Friday night Srikanth starts from Hyderabad

                                   Saturday day time ride to Munnar, 

                                   Sunday and Monday covering Munnar and then 

                                   Tuesday day time return back to Bangalore, night Srikanth goes to Hyd.

       We read different blogs and learned places to visit; good thing is, all the imp places are located on two roads, so very easy to visit them one by one in two days. Everything is ready for the trip, Bike got serviced 2 week backs and petrol cap replaced due to its rubber watcher damaged.

       On Saturday morning, Srikanth reached my home at 8:30 AM and then we booked Hotel. At 10:30 AM finally after all the checks done, engine revved. Srikanth want to buy helmet, so we were going slowly below the EC flyover while looking for shops. Brought one helmet and then moved on swiftly...

      Weather was nice, did't feel much heat any where due to winter time. Had lunch at Anand Bhavan at Salem. After multiple breaks, finally took deviation from NH at Tiruppur. From Tiruppur onwords roads are mostly jammed but road condition is fine. Near Udumalpet, filled petrol, as oil price would be high on hill.

To & Fro routes:

The Twist:

            While filling oil, we just asked any time limit to enter into Ghat road, one of the worker said, Yes after 7:30 PM not allowed. Current time is 6:45 PM, another 30+ KM to touch the ghat road. We moved rashly and entered into Ghat road at 7:15 PM. Crossed two normal police check posts and then relaxed as we reached within the time. Already it is pitch dark and open forest and we are alone on the road. Initial roads are good, but sudden speed bumps kicking our butts. 

         After 13 KM of ride in the ghat road, there is another police check post. But this time, gates are closed and few Bikes and cars stopped there and people are going inside and something happening.. For a movement, we got dis-pointed  as we recalled petrol bunk worker words "after 7:30 PM, not allowed". After talking to fellow riders, life came back; we just have to sign in the register.... Thank god. I just asked police man: is there any time restriction to enter? and the Police politely said No, we can go any time. Written bike number and etc details.. and then gates lifted to go. So that's how Twist ended happily.

              After a 10 mins of break; we entered in to the deep forest....we observed fencing along the road at some places, not sure its for safety from wild animals or not to foll off from the hill. We are alone on the road, so we thought of catching few fellow riders who are 10 mins ahead of us. Suddenly we saw two flashing eyes...it's some animal on the road and its disappeared, its look like a deer. What if an Elephant or other wild animal comes.....we cant even go fast as its ghat road and not much visibility of the road.

The Horrible:

           We haven't reached half the way but time is already 8:30 PM, and then the horrible started. Suddenly full fog covered the road, not able to see more than 15 feet road and sudden potholes...no time to twist the handle. At some places little water flows on the road, we thought it just small water and neglected, boom.. its a huge pothole and our entire body got kicked up and down. same thing happened couple of time. We are riding at @20 KMPH but still its too much horrible with sudden holes and fog. Most of the road is smooth and lures us to throttle up and then suddenly bangs. As we are reaching to the TOP, bone eating cold started. Gloves also not helping much, I thought I should have brought my leather gloves. Finally at 10:00 PM, reached Munnar city, decided to take parcel food and go. Took two Biryani packets and followed google maps to the stay house. within 20 mins, reached the target location.

Can you see the road...?

The Drama:

        Google maps shows reached restaurant, but we don't find it. We are inside some hill area, no mobile signal, no one on the road. We inquired nearby restaurant, they said, don't know. The drama begins... We checked multiple times still no signal, luckily Srikanth's another mobile Vodafone having few signal bars. We don't have restaurant number also, so we called Go-ibibo support, they gave one landline number. Some old lady lifted the call and she speaks only in Malayalam, don't understand single word, so I started asking only one thing.. English English....? Finally she understood and give some mobile number. 

           Someone lifted the mobile call and he is speaking in English, ufffhhh.. we got little relaxed because at least we are able to tell our situation now. We told our location, and then he asked us to come back to main road and take left and come another 8 KM. What the hell, 8 KM riding in this hill area without mobile signal is really nightmare. We started back to main road and then we got a call. This time another guy called from restaurant and gave us some proper route directions (near by landmark is "pipeline view point") So we have to go on Kochi route for 8 KM's and on the road side we will see the Restaurant name.

          We reached main road and googled for pipeline view point in maps, something came up in maps and looks promising with the 8 KM distance in Kochi road.. After roughly 8 KM's we saw some Tea-factory, and called again to double check the route. Yes this time we are going in the right direction, and the restaurant guy said; they are waiting on the road side for us. After 5 mins, finally we reached them. Restaurant is some 200 meters down the hill with a gravel road. its so scary going down on two wheeler. Slowly reached down the slope and checked-in at 11:00 PM.  Finally the Drama came to an end. Had the Biryani and slept within no time.

The Heaven:

Day-1:

              Yesterday's Ghat road journey was completely in night time, So we don't know how is the Munnar yet, though we reached 9 Hr's back. As usual I woke up at morning 6:30 AM and I don't feel much cold even at night. Ooty was much colder as I experienced. Went outside the room, and mesmerized by the beauty of the green hill slopes, chirping birds sounds. (Behind our restaurant, it's like complete dark forest.) Had breakfast and started to see the Munnar real beauty.

             Carefully climbed up the gravel road and then surprised by the beautiful landscape opposite to us. We didn't observe anything at night time, its really amazing to see the landscape hill and huge pipelines routed to top of the hill. Immediately clicked our first pic of the day. Spend 10 mins and then started to Top-Station view point route for today. This route covers most of the attractions in Munnar. Few View points, Boating, Dams and few Photo points on the way.

Pipe line view point nearby our Restaurant:

             Honey Tree spot is one of the best to see vibrant green colored tea leaves. most of the places are dark green colored leaves. but Honey tree spot is real beauty. Took few photos and about to leave the place, suddenly some couple asked us to take the their pics and told us they also from Bangalore after seeing the bike number. In exchange they also helped us to take our group photo.

Honey Tree spot:

           Next we stopped at Elephant ride, Entrance ticket is 10/-. but Elephant ride is too costly.. per person 300/-. We did't stay much time there and we left from there. While leaving we saw the same couple entering by car. (Better not to go inside, waste of 10/- entrance ticket itself)

          Next we stopped at Mattupetty Dam, nothing great to see in dam, but the surrounding landscape is great with lake and hill view. A must stop for photo lovers.

         Next is Boating; Took the entrance ticket of 20/- each and entered. This place is good to spent time, few games and nice canteen and mainly Speed Boating. Speed boating is 600/- cost per boat and 5 people allowed. (we can team up with others to save money, no one object us). By the time we reached the ticket counter, the same couple we met earlier waiting for team up with someone. So four of us purchased one boat ticket. We went inside to the boating place, nearly waited 20 mins for our turn. Security Team gave us life jackets and waiting for the thrill. For me its first time on speed boat.

         Got into the Boat and swiftly went into the deep waters surrounded by hills and forest. Boat driver is really skilled and added more thrill to our ride by tilting the boat by 75 degree at corners. our heads literally touching the water. that was really amazing experience. And also driver took our photos with one hand while with the another hand tilting the boat. Nearly 30 mins we spent boating and returned back. Said good bye to our team couple and left to canteen for snacks.

Beautiful Landscape near DAM/Boating:

     

      Next is echo point and Shooting point, we didn't stop there, as we already reached there while boating. Next stopped at Kundale lake, nothing much to see here, but nice relaxing place for families.

        Next is Top station, which is 10 KM away and its the last in this route to see. Time is already 2 PM, we decided to have lunch at Top Station. Top Station is a view point, from there we can see Tamilandu and Kerala of-course we can only see forest region. Ticket is 20/- each, purchased and went inside. 300 meter down steps is medium tiresome, but coming back is really hard. not good for heart patients. Reached the end view point, but mostly covered with fog, kind of dis-pointed, but view is great and also dangerous if not careful. Had bread omelet and returned back to Restaurant.

At the Top-Station:

      Near by to our Restaurant, we saw a Attukad waterfall sign, so we thought give a try as maps shows its only 2 KM. Road is very narrow and we have to go down the hill. Nothing much water there, so returned back quickly after a few snaps.

Attukad waterfall..ya I know there is no falls:

      

Day-2:

           Day-2 is Eravikulam national park route. Got up early and started to Park, which is 10 KM away from Munnar central. We reached there by 9 AM and tickets counter opened already. Some 30 people already in Que. Within 15 mins,  took tickets and got into bus to go up the hill. Eravikulam national park is just a hill area, its not a zoo or safari ride. some 30 min bus ride through the mountain view is good. Bus will be stopped some 300 meters before the end road. So those 300 meters walk is only we can do on top.

View from the Eravikulam Hill:

     
         "Nilgiri Tahr" animals only we can see on top, some time they come close to us and we can touch them. There is a mountain water flow diverted to a pipe, its really tasty and rich. I thought if I had a bottle, must have filled.  After reaching the TOP, nothing to see and returned back. Again had stomach full of mountain water and reached back to bus stop. got into the bus in Que and reached down. Bus route also more enjoyable with green Tea plantation. Best is to take a video while going up and down with sports mode video settings. By the time we reach to the parking area, huge Que with around 300+ people waiting at 11 AM, so we must enter before 9 AM.

Nilgiri Tahr Animals:

         Next stop is Lakkam water falls, which is some 20 KM away. Its one of the best to do in Munnar. In Feb also, water at good force. We did't except the waterfalls such a simple and easy access for us to go into water. otherwise we could have come with some extra pair dress. But anyhow we got into water with our jeans pants, most of the places water level is above the knee. we put our camera bag on a rock visibly and we went inside the water. We enjoyed more than 1 Hr in the water and returned back to camera bag. yah it was safe.... and then suddenly we saw someone saying Hi to us...we met the yesterday's coupe again..had a little chat with them and moved on to Next coming spot after the lunch. Couple said they are going back after Sandal wood visit.

Lakkam water falls:

                Sandal wood forest is just on the main road sideways nothing to great to see in it, which we anyhow see while coming from/going to Bangalore. We don't find where the Muniyara caves is. Next pending is Chillar wildlife, which is 30 KM away; close to the end of the Ghat road. Lot of time is there still, so decided to go there. In between filled petrol and chain lube. Still 10 KM away to Chillar wildlife, while going....suddenly we saw the same couple stopped at some huge waterfall view at long distance. Took few photos and then started, they are also coming to chillar wildlife. Finally after reaching the place, its none other than where we signed at the police check-post  while coming from Bangalore.

Some Water falls with 300mm Zoom:

              Went inside the Chillar wildlife, there is a information center. The Staff said its a pure trekking into forest with or without guide. Mostly we will not find any animals, only a few birds can be seen that is also if we go with guide, he will take us in right direction. Time is already 3 PM, if we go inside now, don't know when we will be back and night time ride...no way again. so we deiced to skip it and go to Munnar immediately before getting dark. we said final Bye-Bye to the couple and started back to Munnar by signing 3rd time at check-post.

           At 5 PM itself some places already covered with fog. Went to visit the Tata Tea Museum , but our bad Monday is holiday for Museum. So decided to go to the flower garden which we skipped yesterday, which is beginning of the Top-Station road. Luckily reached there by 5:20 PM, still 20 more mins to close it. 20 mins is good enough to cover it. Lighting was perfect to take the photos and pics came superbly like macro pics. 

        Reached Munnar city and took parcel for dinner and some fruits at 6 PM itself, as the road towards the restaurant is very narrow on Munnar to Kochi route(land sliding spot). Yesterday we struggled a lot in traffic at this spot while going for dinner at 8 PM. Reached back restaurant by 7 PM and took rest for the tomorrows return journey.

The Return Journey:

       Started morning at 8 AM, without taking much breaks.. descended the 80 KM ghat road(which we just came on yesterday). This time we took the Karur route so that we can stay more on NH-7 to avoid the traffic. Took hourly breaks and shifts and also maintained @100 KMPH mostly. Had lunch again nearby Salem and reached Home Bangalore by 6 PM. Srikanth booked bus tickets and left to Hyd at night. Finally The Heavenly Munnar trip finished safe and soundly though few twists teach'd us good lessons.

Random pics: