Hey guys,


This is my second blog on the site and hopefully many more to come.

Here is the link to the previous one http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/3...ty-munnar.html

After a fantastic trip to Munnar, I was eager to go for another one. But a hectic 2015 forced me to wait just over a year for the next trip. After going through many travelogues I decided to visit Ooty via Bandipur-Mudhumalai-Masinagudi-Ooty route with forest, wildlife and the 36 hairpin bends to add to the thrill of the ride.

The route


Since my friend Unni, who accompanied me on my previous trip is working in Bangalore we finalized the destination and the route. As we both are Royal Enfield lovers and currently doesn't own one, we decided to rent one for this trip. This was the best decision we took during the entire trip!

We planned for a 2 day trip and fixed the dates as 13^th and 14^th of February. I reached Bangalore on 12^th and we took the bike on the same day evening from Wicked Riders with whom we had booked the bike more than a month back. Here is a link to their website https://www.wickedride.com/. These people are pros and offer a variety of luxury bikes like Duke, RE, Ninja, Triumph, Ninja, Harley etc

We had booked a RE Classic 500 Desert Storm. The bike was just 3 months old with 13k km on the odo. They had a few conditions on renting the bike. The only one that bothered us during the trip was a speed limit of 100km/hr.

First glimpse of the bike


Wicked Riders


I have driven a RE Thunderbird 350 but never a 500cc mill. I gave it a go that night in the city but it felt like any other bike in the sub 60kmph range. But I was in for a surprise once I hit the highways the next day.

After roaming around in Bangalore we managed to sleep only at 1 AM. Still we got up around 4 AM and set off by 5.30 AM. We had 2 bags, one saddle bag with clothes and stuff which we managed to tie to the rear seat handle. And a light shoulder bag for camera and water.

Ready to roll


Bangalore at 5.30 in the morning felt like my home town Alleppey at 5.30 in the evening. There were so many people on the road, many shops were open and above all there was moderate traffic at this hour. We entered the Blore-Mysore highway via Nice Road. Both Nice road and the highway were great with smoothly laden tarmac, light traffic and above all no speed cams!

We stopped for some light breakfast at around 6.30 am at A2B



We were in full riding gear when we entered the Hotel and the server was curious where we were headed. He was first of the many who asked us this!

The food was delicious




It made me visit one more time even though am not a big fan of veg restaurants.

We hit the road again by around 7.15 AM and I took the drivers seat from there. The typical noise of the Royal Enfield engine felt like music to my ears. By the time I shifted the bike to its final gear it was already 80kmph. Whoa I was surprised! At 90kmph, the bike was super smooth, engine noise minimal, vibration hardly palpable and it felf like it had a lot of life left in it. Now I was disappointed by the 100kmph speed limit.

We reached Mysore bypass by around 9am and continued on to Gundlupete.



After riding for some 15-20km from Mysore the roads began to turn bad. There was work going on in patches and there was a lot of dust and the traffic began to pile up.

Mysore-Gudlupete highway


We stopped again for refreshments by 10.15 am at a roadside Hotel. The server was a Malayali and he too seemed surprised that we were riding by bike to Ooty!

We restarted by around 10.45 and the roads became better after a few more of the patchwork areas. From here the roads were kind on us up until Ooty. We stopped just before entering the Bandipur-Mudhumalai forest reserve, refreshed ourselves and took the camera out in case we encounter some wild animals.

There are a few rules you need to follow inside the reserve. Absolutely no horns and no stopping in between.

Bandipur


Well maintained road with markings at every speed breaker


The dry forest


Trekking spot



There were remnants of burnt plants and trees on either side of the road


Maybe they did this intentionally to prevent wild animals from wandering on to the road?

Managed to click a few deers only


Thanks for the pose


We stopped at Theppakadu by around 12.30pm. It was scorching hot!



From here there are two routes to Ooty. The Gudalur route which was 25km longer and the Masinagudi route which was just 36km and contained the 36 hairpins. Obviously we took the Masinagudi route.

The first 16 km was well frustrating. We were driving though a very deserted stretch of road with no signs of either hills or hairpins.



We saw a few cyclists on the way


The first sign of a uphill curve

But the final 20km was just mindblowing with uphill ride and the hairpins.

The first hairpin


Random one


The 500cc engine felt happy dint even break a sweat during this stretch. We reached by 2pm and stopped at the famous Hyderabadi Biriyani House for lunch.

HBH


Though the biriyani was good but it was not Hyderabadi style, it was more Tamil Nadu style.

Up untill now the climate was pleasant, not warm and not cold. But it was about to change soon!

Next we had to find a place to stay for the night. We asked around in quite a few places and everyone was quoting 1000 bucks plus for one day until one guy suddenly reduced it to 700. So we went back to one of the places we liked, Maruthi Cottages and took a room for just 650.

Maruthi Cottages


We dumped our luggage in the room had some sleep and went out to explore Ooty by around 5.30pm. But it was too late as all the tourist attractions get closed at 6 pm.

We stopped at the Railway station for a few clicks of the famous Nilgiri Mountain train which still runs on a meter gauge. I have read about this train journey as a must for people visiting Ooty. But since we didn't have much time and it was getting dark we decided to move on.

The Nilgiri Train


Next we stopped at Boat House but it too was closed. We parked the bike and hanged around the place. The temperature started to drop and soon our hands were numb! Brought some fresh carrots and some homemade chocolates.

Fresh carrots


Now for chocolate lovers, don't buy the chocolates sold by every other store as homemade chocolate. There is a dedicated shop called M & N chocolates. By the time we found that shop we had tasted almost every flavor of the so called homemade ones. We were surprised to taste the ones made by this shop. It was pure chocolate and after eating it we tried the homemade one and felt nothing! It was costly but was worth it!

We had dinner, grabbed a good nights sleep and set off by around 6 AM the next morning. Now we were feeling the full chillness of the Ooty weather.

First we visited Botanical Garden


The place was deserted as expected at this hour.

A macro shot


Next on the list was Doddabetta peak. The road to Doddabetta peak was great. Uphill, long sweeping curves, sharp turns and some occasional hairpins with heavy forest on either side of us!

Doddabetta peak


The place was even better. It had a great view and am sure it would look even better if it wasn't for the summer season! Let the pictures talk

Breathtaking


Some more...


Can't get enough


The blue sky


The entire view


Very peaceful place


We reached back to Ooty by around 11am grabbed some brunch from A2B. The food was again super. Vacated our rooms and headed back to Bangalore by 12.45pm.

At the diversion of the Masinagudi or Gudalur route police were diverting vehicles away from the Masinagudi route. We were disappointed as we want to ride the 36 hairpins again and not the plains of Gudalur. We got off the bike and talked to the policeman there and he told us that there was some block in the route at first. Then he told us that there was some function at a temple en route and they are allowing only Tamil Nadu registered vehicles through that route. Since we both knew Tamil we asked him again politely that we came on a bike just for this route from Bangalore. Suddenly he changed his mind and allowed us to go through! Thank you Sir

Downhill ride was a bliss. Bike in 2^nd or 3^rd gear, gliding slowly, the cool breeze across my face, It felt like heaven!



The penultimate bend


The final


A panorama


Bye Ooty