This was a quick plan. I was supposed to have guests over for the weekend, and they cancelled at the last moment. Messaged friends 'rbp' and 'ebmrajesh' to check if they are free and we quickly decided upon a plan to ride to Kodai and back.
Met up with rbp at 4AM near Hebbal, Rajesh at 4:45 AM near Silk Board and started the ride. By sunrise we had already covered good distance - crossed Krishnagiri and was nearing Dharmapuri.
Breakfast + fuel break at Dharmapuri.
Happy faces after the fast paced morning run -
Back on the roads post breakfast -
Boring, yet beautiful highways of TN -
Stop to avoid sleepiness. The roads were arrow straight without much traffic. By 9:30 AM, we were already nearing Dindigul.
Time for a coffee break -
Nearing Dindigul
Good old two lane TN highways welcome us -
But soon we realize that none of the signboards read Kodaikanal and all were hinting at Palani and Coimbatore. We were on the wrong road.
Lost a lot of time due to this wrong move! Took the Oddanchatram - Sempatty road to connect back to the main Theni highway.
Finally by noon, we start the Kodai ghat climb -
And immediately beautiful mountains and clouds welcome us -
Corners!
But with a lot of weekend traffic.
The roads open up once we get past the initial few struggling cars -
Welcoming corner -
This bus came at the maximum possible speeds almost half into our lane! Good scare, but thankfully wasn't leaned into the corner early.
Took it easy for sometime as the roads were narrow, and had a lot of monkeys running around for food. People feed them despite warnings from authorities, so they are not scared of vehicles.
Just about enough width for a bus at places -
But soon the roads open up enough to enjoy the corners.
Corners -
Corners
And some more corners.
Nearing the town. Roads were average, with a lot of traffic past this point.
Waterfall enroute -
And a huge crowd fighting for place to stand and watch. We didn't bother stopping!
Traffic block on top, but almost nothing compared to what we faced at Ooty few months back -
Lunch break with good parking away from the crowd -
