Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Travelogue Approved

Nice! Bring it on

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Better late than never!

Superb pics

Please post more!

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Thanks for the approval

Haha .. well said. Thanks man.

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

HYDERABAD - OOTY (900 kms)


So we started :

It was 1st of June, we started at around 5 pm. Plan was to start from Hyderabad and reach Ooty without a stay in a lodge (Money saving ).

My friend and me sourced saddle bags for the trip and like every newbie, overloaded the bags. Too much of everything. Bikes looked like donkeys with load on their backs .

The ride from Hyd - Ooty had to be totally boring and uneventful till Bangaluru atleast, thanks to long straight 4 - 6 laned highways with heavy crosswinds and my puny 125cc Commuter - all wrong combo. And as expected could not sleep during the day due to excitement and while clock struck 1, I started getting sleep shocks.

Keeping safety into concern, parked the bikes in a deserted Bus stop and slept for 1-2 hrs. That was a much needed power nap. By 6 am we crossed Bangaluru and stopped by a small beautiful restaurant and enjoyed lip smacking south Indian breakfast. GAME OVER. The heavy breakfast made things worse. I Can't explain that SLEEP ATTACK!! .. I remember I just could not hold the handle straight even for 50 meters.

It was a gentle reminder that we have pushed our exhausted brains way too far. Finally a Cafe Coffee Day by the highway (between Bang & Mysuru) saved us. We stopped by, used the loo and had awesome coffee and just died on the table. We came back to our senses 2 hours later. Those were the most amazing 2 hours of sleep.

From there on, the journey became super exciting ... Mysuru - bandipur - 36 hairpin bend road - Ooty ... we had done this before already so was a cake walk but we totally enjoyed it in the amazing weather.

We checked in our favourite lodge - Divine Highland in Ooty. This time they charged just 500 bucks per day.

Let the pics talk the rest :


Our machines loaded up




The bus stop where we slept for a few hours. The coziest bed I have ever slept on.


The small restaurant where we had a heavy breakfast


CCD Parking


The coffee we had before we dosed off


Karnataka - TamilNadu border ... the gate behind me separates the two states


Thats how Ooty looked from a distance of 30 kms
















Thats not fog, those are clouds in the background


My riding partner Harish with his machine


A view from our lodge


Thats Divine Highland

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Roads like these

I feel tempted now, especially with the better season/climate approaching!

Superb pics

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

The roads were indeed tempting.

Thanks ... Glad you liked the pics

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Day 3 - Ooty : Chal bhai dekhte aas paas kya hai Ooty me.

After a long nice sleep, got up to see a cloudy weather in Ooty. Got ready and started off for sight seeing. Wanted to visit all the "places to visit" in and around Ooty except Emrald lake as that was already done during our last trip.

Botanical Garden, Dodabetta Peak, Pykara waterfalls etc

Best thing about Ooty is everything around Ooty is beautiful, you just need to travel and get lost in the Nilgiris. The weather kept changing and we faced heavy downpour.

In the evening rode to Conoor in search of good dinner, but returned back dissapointed. Nest day we had to leave so packed up our stuff and kept everything ready for the next day.

Clicks :












The kink kong face Hill

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Superb clicks again! 👍
Greenery all around is always such a pleasant sight

Curious to know about the camera used

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Thanks again

Cam is Olympus 8 MP point and shoot and a Samsung point nd shoot (WB250F) and some pics taken with Samsung Core dual sim phone.

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Wow

I wouldn't have guessed that.

Please keep sharing your logs.
Nice crisp writing and superb pics

Cheers

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Day 4 : Bhai aj kahan chale? Kodai chalte hai

Ooty - kodaikanal

We got ready and started off from Ooty at 10am. The weather was gloomy with light drizzles.

We crossed Conoor, witnessed Nilgiri Railways narrow-guage train on the way. The weather became got and humid as we descended from the never ending hills.

Had breakfast after crossing Conoor. Food wasn't good but I gulped 2 Masala dosas due to the extreme hunger.

We rode via Udumalpet & Palani. The sky became real DARK while we were nearing Palani and finally the clouds burst.

We decided to ride in that torrential rain which was indeed a very risky decision. The roads uphill was extremely steep and streams were running down the roads due to the heavy shower. The scenic beauty was breathtaking.

We could not click much pics due to the heavy rains and our camera gears were not water proof.

Had a hard time hunting for budget lodges. We were drenched to the core shivering in the biting cold weather. Finally booked a room with the help of a road side agent at 700 bucks per day.

Then had a nice hot and steamy dinner and retired to bed. My clothes got drenched even with rain covers over the saddle bags. The rain was just too brutal.

The scenic beauty we witnessed during the uphill climb is just beyond the scope of words.

Photo Time :




Somewhere after Coonoor




When he sky got DARK and the wind became STILL










We saw streams like this everywhere

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

This region is just pure bliss in the right times

Whatever pictures you were able to click are quite wallpaper worthy :thumbup:

I'm definitely tempted now.
At least to make a day or two's trip

Cheers

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Nice captures Souritra!
Glued!

Re: Exploring South India - Part 2

Thank You so much.

The right season is nearing...ride on this route, it's worth it.

Thank you so much.