[1lokesh]

Thank you dhanushmenon for this wonderful description and breathtaking pictures. This drive to Malshej has just sprinted to first place in my list of "drives to do" as soon as the rains hit Mumbai

Originally Posted by EagleEye

One of the best things about that trip was how we were able to breeze through all the toll gates without having to pay a single paisa, thanks to Mr. Dhanush.

How many toll plazas in total you guys bumped into? and is there a way you can share the secret to 'breeze through' these irritating toll plazas on an otherwise great drive?

By the way, one suggestion - do try lemon tea (with sugar ofcourse), if you hate green tea. Have done so and managed to take that higher ground of "healthy tea consumer" but with the taste I like

Cheers!

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

One of the glimpses from my many visits to this.
Attachment 1335518

Thanks Dodge_Viper.
Looks like we both had the same frame.
Only displaced by the splash of green between the two.

Your snap:


And Mine:

Originally Posted by NOX

India has so much beauty to offer. This place is going down my wish list, but coming in from the south might make this trip a long one.

Thanks NOX.
Don't tell yourself that it is gonna be long to reach from Chennai.
It isn't. To chase your dreams, the road is never long.

If the travel is long, no one would've ever driven from Kanyakumari to Ladakh.

Originally Posted by 1lokesh

Is there a way you can share the secret to 'breeze through' these irritating toll plazas on an otherwise great drive?

By the way, one suggestion - do try lemon tea (with sugar ofcourse), if you hate green tea. Have done so and managed to take that higher ground of "healthy tea consumer" but with the taste I like

Thanks 1lokesh for your kind words.
I do not remember how many toll plazas we had to cross.
Nothing much as compared to the ones on highways and expressways.
However, the secret of paying NIL toll is highly confidential!
(Remember the movie TopGun?
"If I have to tell you, I have to kill you" types...)


As a matter of fact, I have actually started liking the taste of Green tea these days.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Wow. You should be rewarded.
That you did'nt have time, still you took out time to reply on the thread.
Who is your boss? I shall tip him about a person who peeps into Teambhp whilst in Office

That would be just great, wouldn't it? First give me heartburn sneaking a peek at a terrific holiday while I have no time to spare, then get me fired so I have all the time in the world but no job to pay for my itch to travel.

[poised2drive]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Thanks for your kind words poised2drive.
You definitely have a flair for words.

Have I ? That is good to know - all thanks to your ecstatic travelogues and I hope they would keep coming !

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Shall I pop a Mountain dew?

Actually, you should have and that was one perfect spot. If at all the Mountain dew guys stumble upon this thread, they'd make sure to hire you for their next Adv.


Hmmm, may be

[philgrac]

[quote=dhanushmenon;3634427]
08 August 2014- The day of the Escapade

Yeah. I know. This report comes in pretty late.
The monsoons have gone by, the green leaves turned yellow and shed themselves over the months and the winters have also marched past.
The green spread we saw in Malshej would’ve started to turn to shades of brown now.
Still, it is better late than never.
Especially for likeminded people in a forum like this, a travelogue is always welcome. Ain’t it?
UNQUOTE

Dear Dhanush,
You did it again, Another TL full of Yummy pictures and memorable experiences. Here, you are not late in giving us this good TL as you can see, we all are eagerly waiting to gobble it up!
Specially loved the "lunch" experience and the shot of "Eagle eye and the Dog". Loss of "MAK Lubricant Umbrella" is sad!
Dhanush, please keep feeding us with our daily bread with your nice TLs

[kaushik_s]

Oh man, all those green and the feel of rain is making me craving for the rains. Hope to do a trip to some places in Maharastra this year around Aug/Sept timeframe.
Thanks a lot for sharing the travelogue.

BTW, what are the staying options in that area? Seems like you went for a day trip?

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

BTW, what are the staying options in that area? Seems like you went for a day trip?

We went for a one day trip; and therefore, we didn't explore or research into the options of places to stay over.

Unlike other popular tourist destinations, we didn't find hoards of hotels in the area too. Did not notice any ad board calling out attention. Blame it on the rains, the astounding beauty or may be the sheer absence of those.

However, I am sure that there might be places to stay in there. IIRC, there is a MTDC restaurant at the summit; but not sure of the facility to stay.

Ask uncle google and thy shalt be rewarded .
I was actualy hoping that someone who reads through the thread and has previously stayed there will update available accomodation facilities in here.

Originally Posted by philgrac

Dear Dhanush,
You did it again

Thanks philgrac for your words of appreciation.
I shall definitely pitch in as and when something pops up. As of now, there are no drives in near future

Originally Posted by poised2drive

If at all the Mountain dew guys stumble upon this thread, they'd make sure to hire you for their next Adv.
Hmmm, may be

Ha ha. I wish they do. But I know that they are not so stupid too.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

That would be just great, wouldn't it? First give me heartburn sneaking a peek at a terrific holiday while I have no time to spare, then get me fired so I have all the time in the world but no job to pay for my itch to travel.

If only your boss were reading this!!!
Fat chance right?

[Fly8843]

Chasing the monsoon is a dream and you perfectly lived it up there Dhanush.
Great travelogue with framed photos are testimony to the place which looks breath taking. The lush green carpet stitched with white threads looks awesome and you have captured them to the T. Thanks for sharing.

[RGK]

Wonderful travelogue Dhanush. Noopster is right. Your scenic and cool photos triggered me to have a hot beverage. A incredible place to visit within 3 hours during South West Monsoon for Mumbaikars.

[Dodge_Viper]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

BTW, what are the staying options in that area? Seems like you went for a day trip?

The best staying option is MTDC which is perched on top with fantastic views around. You can book online from their site too. However MTDC resorts are notorious for their quality and service. So better to get first hand reviews of the same.

[atul.sxna]

must compliment you on your writing style. While reading the blog it was as if i was in the car with you guys. Wonderfully kept the interest of the reader alive.

Looks like an awesome place, though being in Delhi I'm sure it'll take more than a cup of green tea for me to materialize this drive !!!

[Ddrive]

Nice trvaelogue with fantastic pictures as usual Dhanush.
You make us crave for the monsoons at this time of the year.

[mallumowgli]

Dhanush, the probability of spotting you at any point in the peninsula seems to be equal - a bit of a twisted quantum mechanics from my side!!

But really, what an amazing trip you guys have had. Impromptu trips are always the best

I think dogs are always able to sniff out a god lover anywhere! that was a great moment clicked

[humbleroadster]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

“What’s monsoon without a drive through the wet greens?[/i]”

You've got that one right!
and I thought just a drive through the ghats leading to the Konkan coast were an adventure!

Super snaps! Roads look amazing too. Will plan a visit to Malshej on my return to India in the monsoons.

Considering a trip in the monsoon, makes me wonder about the road conditions then. worth a try though!

A million thanks for this thread!

HR!

[dhanushmenon]

Sorry Guys.
Had been out of internet connectivity for some time.
Please bear with me for the late reply.

Originally Posted by Fly8843

Great travelogue with framed photos are testimony to the place which looks breath taking. The lush green carpet stitched with white threads looks awesome and you have captured them to the T. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Fly8843 for the kind words.

Originally Posted by RGK

Wonderful travelogue Dhanush. Noopster is right. Your scenic and cool photos triggered me to have a hot beverage. A incredible place to visit within 3 hours during South West Monsoon for Mumbaikars.

Thanks RGK.
Am I getting a hint that there would be a fantastic travelogue from you, come next monsoons?

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

The best staying option is MTDC which is perched on top with fantastic views around. You can book online from their site too. However MTDC resorts are notorious for their quality and service. So better to get first hand reviews of the same.

Yes. I also haven't heard much good about the MTDC up there.
Do update if you get any good news.

Originally Posted by atul.sxna

must compliment you on your writing style. While reading the blog it was as if i was in the car with you guys. Wonderfully kept the interest of the reader alive.

Thanks Atul.
Being in Delhi is not an excuse. C'mon, the road is never long to where your heart belongs.

Originally Posted by Ddrive

You make us crave for the monsoons at this time of the year.

Thanks Ddrive.
Reminding people of the greenery of monsoons was one of the purposes of dishing out this travelogue during this dry and brown season.

Originally Posted by mallumowgli

Dhanush, the probability of spotting you at any point in the peninsula seems to be equal - a bit of a twisted quantum mechanics from my side!!

Quite a nice conundrum of Physics there mowgli.
Good that Newton is dead now. You could still manage to turn him on his grave

Originally Posted by humbleroadster

And I thought just a drive through the ghats leading to the Konkan coast were an adventure!
Super snaps! Roads look amazing too. Will plan a visit to Malshej on my return to India in the monsoons.

Thanks HR.
The roads wouldn't be bad I reckon even during monsoons. Atleast that's the impression I got during the drive.