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Hello Fellow travelers,
Summer vacations again (For Kids though, I am poor guy working in IT)!!!!! Yahoo its time for a trip!!! But, I am less excited than last year reason I am driving this year not Riding my White Rhino (RE Himalayan)
I am a regular rider for trips and commuting, due to certain developments back at my native we got only 5 days of break with just 2 days to plan and we were not able to leave our kid with her grandparents. So, it was decided that we will do this trip in our car (Fiat Punto Emotion – named as Brownie by my wife) but promised our self that we will go for the ride before the vacation ends.
We decided that the dates would be 27th April to 1st May 2019 and place would be Megamalai on Day 1, Kodaikanal on the rest of the days.
April 27: Attur – Megamalai – Uthamapalayam (Only for stay)
April 28: Megamalai to Kodaikanal, Kodaikanal Lake and the children’s park
April 29: Kodaikanal Lake (Horse Riding, Cycling), Coakers walk, Poombarai Village, Kodai Lake again for Boating
April 30: Guna Caves, Green Valley View, Pillar Rock, Wax Museum, Bryant Park, Kodai Lake
May 1: Kodaikanal – Attur
Day 1: Attur – Namakal – Karur- Dindugal – Bathalagundu – Theni – Megamalai
Started early by 5.30 from home and it was a non-stop drive till Karur, stopped for breakfast at 8.45 at the Highway hotel and continued till Megamalai with few breaks in between. Getting the right route for Megamalai was a task. The Google map shows a different route when you search for Megamalai, You should look for Highwavys and it will take you to the right route easily. We could see forest fire on the hill just beside the road.
Information about Megamalai:
Now I will let the poorly taken pics do the talking:
Initial Valley view from Megamalai:
View attachment 767720
Forest Fire at Megamalai
After spending good amount of time here, we started our journey towards our stay at Uthamapalayam. I booked a room in Hotel Sixth star Inn, if you are with your family this place is not for you. The moment we entered the hotel it looked like a Boys hostel (though I don’t know how a girl’s hostel looks like..lol). I checked out immediately and started looking for other options and got an AC room for 1000 Bucks at Apple residency, it’s an excellent place to stay with family.
Had dinner at a hotel nearby and crashed into the bed.
Day 2: Uthamapalayam to Kodaikanal
Started the day little lazy, got ready, had breakfast and started our journey towards Kodaikanal.
Within few KMs of drive on Kodai road the uphill starts and my car was able to handle it easily. On the way we stopped at silverline falls which is right beside the Kodai road. Took some pics and checked into our stay ‘Hotel Spring Valley’ which is right inside the town.
We all felt extremely hungry and found a hotel called ‘Hajiyar Mess’ and we were surprised by the taste of Mutton Biriyani Made of Jeera Rice. We ended up having most of our meals in this hotel and it never disappointed us.
We then headed towards Kodai lake and the Childeren’s park just to kill the time. Came back to hotel and crashed on to bed early after having dinner in the same hotel I mentioned above.
Day 3: Kodaikanal Lake (Horse Riding, Cycling), Coakers walk, Poombarai Village, Kodai Lake again for Boating
Woke up lazily, had breakfast in the same hotel and went to Kodaikanal lake for Cycle riding and Horse riding, one should not miss these amazing experiences. The lake is vast and the total distance around the lake is about 5KMs, they charge INR 50 for bicycles for 40-50 mins.
Next destination was Coaker’s walk which is about 5 mins of drive from the lake. Another unique experience and a calm location which is overlooking the valley. I would say one of the most romantic places in Kodaikanal.
Right from the day of kodaikanal trip planning, I was curious to visit the Poombari Village which is famous for its Step Farming, this place is about 20KMs from the Kodaikanal town. The route towards Poombarai village is amazing to drive and commercial activities are limited. When I reached the destination, our kid was already fast asleep, and I alone just got out to take some pics and enjoyed the nature at peace. If you really want to know how the life of a mountainous farming village, please don’t miss Poombarai. You got stay at tent options at this location. We had organic mushroom soup here with mist and mountains around us. Overall a great experience.
We came back to Kodaikanal lake for evening boat ride. We took a 4-seater pedal boat and a relaxing 45 mins of our own time in the middle of the vast lake.
Day 4: Kodai Solar observatory, Guna Caves, Green Valley View, Pillar Rock, Wax Museum, Bryant Park, Kodai Lake
Another lazy morning had breakfast and head straight towards Solar observatory, be here before 11 AM to see the live reflected image of Sun and a session on solar system. Then we continue towards Guna Caves. This route is a protected area and a one way. If you miss a place, you need to finish the circuit and start again. Nothing interesting other than the valley view at Guna Caves as the caves are closed for public entrance due to the increasing number of fatalities.
Our special place for Homely food:
Guna caves:
Next destination was Pillar rocks, which is rock formation in the shape of pillars. Again, a disappointment as this place was also covered by fog.
Our next stop was Green Valley view (previously Sucide point), another disappointment as the valley was completely covered in fog.
Green Valley View Point:
Work of our tourists with responsibility (really disappointed):
We then moved to a private owned wax museum which is nothing significant other than the entrance fee.
And the soul who is being criticized for being a victim:
Our next destination was Byrant park which is like the botanical garden at Ooty. This place is adjacent to the Kodai lake and has an entrance to the lake from the park as well.
Upper Lake view Point:
Bryant Park:
We went to Kodai lake again for a Horse ride for our kid and returned to our room. Had dinner at Hajiyar mess again and retired for the day.
Day 5: Kodaikanal to Attur
Had breakfast in the same hotel and went to lake again for some shopping and started our journey towards our native and reached home by around 4.30 PM.
Vaigai dam view Point:
With this our Summer trip 2019 came to an end. Unfortunately We were not able to plan for a bike ride this summer due to certain issues back at native.
Summer vacations again (For Kids though, I am poor guy working in IT)!!!!! Yahoo its time for a trip!!! But, I am less excited than last year reason I am driving this year not Riding my White Rhino (RE Himalayan)
I am a regular rider for trips and commuting, due to certain developments back at my native we got only 5 days of break with just 2 days to plan and we were not able to leave our kid with her grandparents. So, it was decided that we will do this trip in our car (Fiat Punto Emotion – named as Brownie by my wife) but promised our self that we will go for the ride before the vacation ends.
We decided that the dates would be 27th April to 1st May 2019 and place would be Megamalai on Day 1, Kodaikanal on the rest of the days.
April 27: Attur – Megamalai – Uthamapalayam (Only for stay)
April 28: Megamalai to Kodaikanal, Kodaikanal Lake and the children’s park
April 29: Kodaikanal Lake (Horse Riding, Cycling), Coakers walk, Poombarai Village, Kodai Lake again for Boating
April 30: Guna Caves, Green Valley View, Pillar Rock, Wax Museum, Bryant Park, Kodai Lake
May 1: Kodaikanal – Attur
Day 1: Attur – Namakal – Karur- Dindugal – Bathalagundu – Theni – Megamalai
Started early by 5.30 from home and it was a non-stop drive till Karur, stopped for breakfast at 8.45 at the Highway hotel and continued till Megamalai with few breaks in between. Getting the right route for Megamalai was a task. The Google map shows a different route when you search for Megamalai, You should look for Highwavys and it will take you to the right route easily. We could see forest fire on the hill just beside the road.
Information about Megamalai:
- Only 14 rooms are available which is being ran by Panchayat and it requires a pre-booking over phone.
- The facilities are very basic, since this is mostly an unexplored place with less tourist attraction It is good for people who wanted to have a peaceful trip.
- Very basic food options
- The roads are in excellent conditions, previously there were no tarmac road to this place
- It’s a small hill station just around the lake and I am sure you will love it
Now I will let the poorly taken pics do the talking:
Initial Valley view from Megamalai:
View attachment 767720
Forest Fire at Megamalai
After spending good amount of time here, we started our journey towards our stay at Uthamapalayam. I booked a room in Hotel Sixth star Inn, if you are with your family this place is not for you. The moment we entered the hotel it looked like a Boys hostel (though I don’t know how a girl’s hostel looks like..lol). I checked out immediately and started looking for other options and got an AC room for 1000 Bucks at Apple residency, it’s an excellent place to stay with family.
Had dinner at a hotel nearby and crashed into the bed.
Day 2: Uthamapalayam to Kodaikanal
Started the day little lazy, got ready, had breakfast and started our journey towards Kodaikanal.
Within few KMs of drive on Kodai road the uphill starts and my car was able to handle it easily. On the way we stopped at silverline falls which is right beside the Kodai road. Took some pics and checked into our stay ‘Hotel Spring Valley’ which is right inside the town.
We all felt extremely hungry and found a hotel called ‘Hajiyar Mess’ and we were surprised by the taste of Mutton Biriyani Made of Jeera Rice. We ended up having most of our meals in this hotel and it never disappointed us.
We then headed towards Kodai lake and the Childeren’s park just to kill the time. Came back to hotel and crashed on to bed early after having dinner in the same hotel I mentioned above.
Day 3: Kodaikanal Lake (Horse Riding, Cycling), Coakers walk, Poombarai Village, Kodai Lake again for Boating
Woke up lazily, had breakfast in the same hotel and went to Kodaikanal lake for Cycle riding and Horse riding, one should not miss these amazing experiences. The lake is vast and the total distance around the lake is about 5KMs, they charge INR 50 for bicycles for 40-50 mins.
Next destination was Coaker’s walk which is about 5 mins of drive from the lake. Another unique experience and a calm location which is overlooking the valley. I would say one of the most romantic places in Kodaikanal.
Right from the day of kodaikanal trip planning, I was curious to visit the Poombari Village which is famous for its Step Farming, this place is about 20KMs from the Kodaikanal town. The route towards Poombarai village is amazing to drive and commercial activities are limited. When I reached the destination, our kid was already fast asleep, and I alone just got out to take some pics and enjoyed the nature at peace. If you really want to know how the life of a mountainous farming village, please don’t miss Poombarai. You got stay at tent options at this location. We had organic mushroom soup here with mist and mountains around us. Overall a great experience.
We came back to Kodaikanal lake for evening boat ride. We took a 4-seater pedal boat and a relaxing 45 mins of our own time in the middle of the vast lake.
Day 4: Kodai Solar observatory, Guna Caves, Green Valley View, Pillar Rock, Wax Museum, Bryant Park, Kodai Lake
Another lazy morning had breakfast and head straight towards Solar observatory, be here before 11 AM to see the live reflected image of Sun and a session on solar system. Then we continue towards Guna Caves. This route is a protected area and a one way. If you miss a place, you need to finish the circuit and start again. Nothing interesting other than the valley view at Guna Caves as the caves are closed for public entrance due to the increasing number of fatalities.
Our special place for Homely food:
Guna caves:
Next destination was Pillar rocks, which is rock formation in the shape of pillars. Again, a disappointment as this place was also covered by fog.
Our next stop was Green Valley view (previously Sucide point), another disappointment as the valley was completely covered in fog.
Green Valley View Point:
Work of our tourists with responsibility (really disappointed):
We then moved to a private owned wax museum which is nothing significant other than the entrance fee.
And the soul who is being criticized for being a victim:
Our next destination was Byrant park which is like the botanical garden at Ooty. This place is adjacent to the Kodai lake and has an entrance to the lake from the park as well.
Upper Lake view Point:
Bryant Park:
We went to Kodai lake again for a Horse ride for our kid and returned to our room. Had dinner at Hajiyar mess again and retired for the day.
Day 5: Kodaikanal to Attur
Had breakfast in the same hotel and went to lake again for some shopping and started our journey towards our native and reached home by around 4.30 PM.
Vaigai dam view Point:
With this our Summer trip 2019 came to an end. Unfortunately We were not able to plan for a bike ride this summer due to certain issues back at native.
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