Date: Jan 24th - 26th, 2009Route map: Bangalore
- Mysore - Gundlupet - Bandipur - Mudumalai - Ooty
- Cuddalore - Bandipur - Gundlupet - Mysore - BangaloreSo far our trips were only for a day. For a change we wanted to go to a place where we can spend 2-3 days. The nearest possible location is Ooty, Queen of all hill stations. Ooty is around 387 kms from Bangalore and its going to be our longest trip so far. We have doubts whether it is doable or not.
There was a long weekend coming, Jan 24 - 26th, and we decided to hit road during that time. It was our first long journey, so started planning for the trip before a month. Murali annan & his friend also (from Mysore) also joined us this time. We got all the route maps and places of interest in and around Ooty. Ganesh kumar was doing his Masters in GCT, Coimbatore. We have asked him to join us in Coonoor.
Myself, Sakthi Ganesh, Mohamed Ali, Thanimalai Rajan and Murali annan started in 3 bikes, Hunk, Pulsar & Discoverer, from Bangalore on Jan 23rd evening. Plan is to reach Mysore by midnight, stay at Vinod's place and start next day early morning. Murali annan's friend would be joining us in Mysore in his Apache. We reached Mysore in the midnight, had a good sleep at Vinod's house. Big day was waiting for us.
Next day, we started from Mysore around 6.00 AM. Vinod's house was near to Infosys, so it is quite easy for us to find the Ooty road. We decided take the Bandipur - Mudumalai route for onward journey. Except few patches here and there, the road till Gundalpet is fairly good, with lots of speed bumps. I really hate Karnataka roads for these speed breakers. You will hit a speed bump, when you least expect it. But the weather was so good for driving. The visibility on roads was less than 3 meters.
We had our breakfast in Gundlupet, and started towards Bandipur. The road till Bandipur is at its worst. Pits and patches everywhere. Road was fairly good after Bandipur. We had spotted few deers while crossing the Bandipur wildlife sanctuary. Then we entered Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, where the Tamil Nadu border begins. We were instructed not to stop our vehicles within the sanctuary range. We didn't spot any animals in Mudumalai though. After crossing Mudumalai, we had driven some 30+ hair pin bends to reach our final destination. We managed to reach Ooty by 12 noon. Raja had already arranged accomodation in SBI guest house.
We had our breakfast in Gundlupet, and started towards Bandipur. The road till Bandipur is at its worst. Pits and patches everywhere. Road was fairly good after Bandipur. We had spotted few deers while crossing the Bandipur wildlife sanctuary. Then we entered Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, where the Tamil Nadu border begins. We were instructed not to stop our vehicles within the sanctuary range. We didn't spot any animals in Mudumalai though. After crossing Mudumalai, we had driven some 30+ hair pin bends to reach our final destination. We managed to reach Ooty by 12 noon. Raja had already arranged accomodation in SBI guest house.
Ganesh Kumar told he will be reaching Coonoor around 5 in the evening. So we had decided to visit Doddabetta before that. The road which goes to that highest peak is just pathetic. It is so narrow with lots of potholes. You will get a nice scenic of Ooty from that peak. Now our next task is to pickup Ganesh Kumar. We had to rush to Coonoor to pick him up. The drive from Ooty - Coonoor is the best one I have driven till date. Any biker will love to drive in this road. It is double lane road with upcoming traffic, lots of turns and curves.. We just love it. We picked up Ganesh Kumar, finally I got my pillon rider :). We had visited few tea estates in Coonoor and the botanical garden, then started to Ooty.
We are pretty much tired by the long journey. But we just don't want to sleep. At 2'o clock in the night, we went for long walk in the streets of Ooty. One of my life's best moment. Chatting with my best buddies in the deserted roads of Ooty, its just a bliss :).
On day 2, we had visited Botanical garden, Rose garden, Boating, and did some shopping in the market area. We are pretty much covered all the small & major tourists spots in Ooty. We had planned to visit 9 miles & Pykara falls on day 3.
Pykara falls and 9 miles are on the way to Cuddalore. So we had planned to visit those places and leave for Bangalore. 9 miles is a famous cinema shooting spot. You could have watched this place in all the Tamil movies shot in Ooty. May be god's private lawn :). Then we went to Pykara falls, there was no water in the falls as it was not the season time. Finally we wrapped up, and started to Bangalore. I asked Ganesh to come to Bangalore, but he had some important work in college (?), as usual. So we had dropped him in Cuddalore. The road from Ooty to Cuddalore is also very good, you need to watch the upcoming traffic. In Cuddalore people suggested us to enter the Bandipur forest area after 5 PM, so that we can spot few animals. We entered Bandipur around 5.30 PM, where we spotted few elephants (I saw a wild elephant for the first time), deers, etc. Then comes pathetic Gundlupet road, and then Mysore. We had our dinner in Mysore and then started towards Bangalore. Finally we managed to reach Bangalore at 12.00 AM in the night. I was driving my bike from 12.00 PM - 12.00 AM for the first time. It had never let me down :). I was very happy that, we all reached Bangalore safely, in one piece ;). From now on, our targets are getting just bigger :D
Pykara falls and 9 miles are on the way to Cuddalore. So we had planned to visit those places and leave for Bangalore. 9 miles is a famous cinema shooting spot. You could have watched this place in all the Tamil movies shot in Ooty. May be god's private lawn :). Then we went to Pykara falls, there was no water in the falls as it was not the season time. Finally we wrapped up, and started to Bangalore. I asked Ganesh to come to Bangalore, but he had some important work in college (?), as usual. So we had dropped him in Cuddalore. The road from Ooty to Cuddalore is also very good, you need to watch the upcoming traffic. In Cuddalore people suggested us to enter the Bandipur forest area after 5 PM, so that we can spot few animals. We entered Bandipur around 5.30 PM, where we spotted few elephants (I saw a wild elephant for the first time), deers, etc. Then comes pathetic Gundlupet road, and then Mysore. We had our dinner in Mysore and then started towards Bangalore. Finally we managed to reach Bangalore at 12.00 AM in the night. I was driving my bike from 12.00 PM - 12.00 AM for the first time. It had never let me down :). I was very happy that, we all reached Bangalore safely, in one piece ;). From now on, our targets are getting just bigger :D
Few snaps:
WOW. You guys are really adventurous.What nice way of spending your holidays and discovering new routes and destinations. Most important enjoying nature.
ReplyDeleteAll the very best to all of you for your forthcoming trips.
Rgds
Seema
Thanks a lot for your wishes :)
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