[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by Wildy

Holy Shit, It's the most beautiful Travelogues I've seen ever. Last time, I thought the same, but this one is above all. Especially, those pictures, your narration and most of all, your braveness to go through the naxal areas to see the mother nature, Just Brilliant.

My special kudos to your wife for helping you to make your dream possible. I guess, Without her help and courage, this wouldn't be that easy.

P.S: Ever considered to work in Wild Life channels? You are perfect fit for that.

Wildyy...thanks for the kind words. You made wifey beam with pride when she read your comments and its true in the sense that without good company any endeavor would never be as thrilling and satisfying.

As for wild life channels...pls refer me if you know of any vacancy

[deepv]

Nikhil,

Awesome pictures!!
Great 'photologue', I would say, with clear inputs on each of your stopovers.
Chitrakoot Falls look just majestic .. with orange tinge adding to overall picturesqueness, in shots both from top and bottom!
This is not to play down the other view points here - just loved the algae greens of Lonar and milky whites of Tirathgarh.

Just got me interested .. seems like 750kms from Hyderabad, though not sure of route from Chinturu onwards to Malkangiri/Jagdalpur.
I have done Rajahmundry - Maredumilli - Bhadrachalam section, stayed at Maredumilli for 3 days.
No particular issues, except suggested to be back to your huts by 5:30-6pm.
You mentioned you contemplated return through Hyderabad, any background on this stretch?
Or was the reason for plan via Vizag was to avoid this?

-Deepankar

[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Excellent! What are the options to stay at Lonar apart from MTDC? Did you book MTDC in advance? Also would be helpful if you plot the bypass routes on google maps. Thanks.

Thanks Dodge_Viper (now thats some car!). Apart from MTDC, I didn't notice any other hotel or even a lodge all through Lonar village. The bypasses for Mumbai- Talegaon expressway exit- Chakan- Shikrapur- Nagar bypass- Aurangabad Bypass - Jalna (Beed Bypass) are all clearly marked out with good signages all through the road. Also I have HV Kumar's travel log from Mumbai to Nagpur...will share if you need it.

[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by Nempuguru

Very nice travelogue, beautiful photographs. Thanks for sharing.

Except Chitrakote waterfalls, remaining places are unheard of for me. Lonar crater is truly amazing.

Did you get a chance to taste "chapda" finally?

Thanks buddy. Glad you liked the pics and places. Yes, Lonar is a good stopover for the crater and the temples. No luck with the chapda...tried 4 local markets...we reached early at three of them and late at the last so if anyone has some chapda pls send over some to Mumbai.

[satrikon_454]

Your love for wildlife is clearly evident from this travelogue. Brilliant narration complimented with perfect photos.

[Swift Express]

THANK YOU Nik. You have done me a big favor. I was on the lookout for a offbeat travel destination that is doable in a weeks time from Mumbai.Your Excellent Write up has helped me make up my mind in doing this Trip in the first week of Oct-15. Thanks to your trip log it was easy convincing my wife as well.Have already checked with the team at Kanker Palace for a One Night Stay. Plan to do a Non Stop Run from Mumbai to Nagpur, stay over at Nagpur for the night and drive down to Kanker the next day. At Chitrakoot is it required that we do advance booking. Will need few inputs from your end, hope you can help me out. A Big Thank You to Raven Avi as well for the words specifically on the safety aspect.Also wanted to check for route options available for way back to Mumbai.From Chitrakoot is there any alternate safe route?. Is the route through chandrapur good and safe. Sustainable Tourisim is one of the many ways by which this region can develop.I am sure this travelogue will go a long way in convincing people like me to Explore such hidden gems of INCREDIBLE INDIA

[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by deepv

Nikhil,

Awesome pictures!!
Great 'photologue', I would say, with clear inputs on each of your stopovers.
Chitrakoot Falls look just majestic .. with orange tinge adding to overall picturesqueness, in shots both from top and bottom!
This is not to play down the other view points here - just loved the algae greens of Lonar and milky whites of Tirathgarh.

Just got me interested .. seems like 750kms from Hyderabad, though not sure of route from Chinturu onwards to Malkangiri/Jagdalpur.
I have done Rajahmundry - Maredumilli - Bhadrachalam section, stayed at Maredumilli for 3 days.
No particular issues, except suggested to be back to your huts by 5:30-6pm.
You mentioned you contemplated return through Hyderabad, any background on this stretch?
Or was the reason for plan via Vizag was to avoid this?

-Deepankar

Hey Deep, Glad you liked the locations and the pictures. I had planned a round trip return through Vizag / Hyderabad but due to paucity of time and some undue apprehensions I backtracked.

I did not face a single issue all through the trip but was all along advised by the locals to avoid Sukma and Dantewada areas and since the direct road to Hyderabad goes through Sukma I decided to avoid it. The road via Vizag would have taken up a lot of time so in the end it was back all the way I came in.

I guess If you are at Hyderabad then coming in through Vizag would not be an issue as all included it would be a easy week's trip.

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

Beautifully detailed, Nikhil! Take a bow. Rated your thread a fully-deserved 5 stars!

You paid us a visit at just the right moment of the entire season - the Chitrakote Falls are at their majestic best during these days of the year.

The Lonar part of your journey was quite nicely described. It tempts me to give the place a visit sometime in the near future, if I can.

I am really glad you made it back safe and sound. You looked a bit tired by the time you guys left Jagdalpur. Hope you had plenty of time to rest and recharge your batteries.

Be careful with the bow. Hope you don't shoot those arrows at some haughty neighbors around you!

P.S. - did your better half like the saris from Silk Palace?

Hey Avi,
Come to my part of the world buddy, Lonar turned out to be a surprise package and worth a day's stopover.

Was exhausted by the time we met since I had huffed and puffed down Chitrakote and then Tirathgarh the same day and then the prospect of wifey shopping pulled me down further . She shopped till she was happy and my wallet was sad.

A good nights sleep and some good food the next day at Nagpur threw me out at Mumbai with a 920kms drive on the last day...never too tired to drive!!

The arrows are real potent, am real happy to have got my hands on an authentic tribal bow and arrow set. Neighbor's beware!

[Sudipto-S-Team]

Thanks a lot RavenAvi. A little belated though, as I was off the computers since my last post. I guess I will need to get the route from you in better detail through PMs. All I know, as of now, is I turn right from Srikakulam and go via Raygada. We will be starting early morning from Bhubaneswar. I am going to stay in the same resort as where Nix1976in stayed. But the rooms are already full - two months in advance !!! We are booking a tent for 3 nights.

Incidentally, my wife is very excited to know that someone can show her the right place for Kosa silk in Jagdalpur :-) During our Rajasthan trip it was Kota silk from Bundi and now it seems we are destined for some Kosa silk from J.D.'pur :-) Thanks in advance. Team-bhp rocks, as always.

[deepv]

Originally Posted by nix1976in

...
I did not face a single issue all through the trip but was all along advised by the locals to avoid Sukma and Dantewada areas and since the direct road to Hyderabad goes through Sukma I decided to avoid it.
...

Right .. I was talking about that direct route towards Hyderabad when I mentioned Chinturu.
I later looked at it a little more thoroughly and noticed Sukma, and had my apprehensions.

So it has to be through Vizag (~1000kms) or through Karimnagar/Chandrapur (~800kms) which joins to your route at Kanker (or possibly earlier).

I suppose August-September should be best time for the falls,
however I noticed someone mentioned in this thread that they would be further magnanimous once at their full width.
Does that mean its lesser rain this year, or some other month of year that works out better .. your thoughts?

[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by Swift Express

THANK YOU Nik. You have done me a big favor. I was on the lookout for a offbeat travel destination that is doable in a weeks time from Mumbai.Your Excellent Write up has helped me make up my mind in doing this Trip in the first week of Oct-15. Thanks to your trip log it was easy convincing my wife as well.Have already checked with the team at Kanker Palace for a One Night Stay. Plan to do a Non Stop Run from Mumbai to Nagpur, stay over at Nagpur for the night and drive down to Kanker the next day. At Chitrakoot is it required that we do advance booking. Will need few inputs from your end, hope you can help me out. A Big Thank You to Raven Avi as well for the words specifically on the safety aspect.Also wanted to check for route options available for way back to Mumbai.From Chitrakoot is there any alternate safe route?. Is the route through chandrapur good and safe. Sustainable Tourisim is one of the many ways by which this region can develop.I am sure this travelogue will go a long way in convincing people like me to Explore such hidden gems of INCREDIBLE INDIA

Good decision buddy. Replies to your queries below
1) Mumbai- Nagpur - I stayed over at Nagpur since I needed to visit some relatives however if you are just looking for a stop-over then you can by-pass Nagpur so that the next days run is easier. Lonar is good stop-over if you have the time.

2) Kanker Palace is a great place to shack up. Make sure to book the palace rooms with the antique pankha...its quite unique. And the local cuisine is to die for. Try the desi chicken and country duck...assuming that your carnivorous.

3) Chitrakoot : The CTDC tents / rooms need to be booked as soon as possible. Pls see comments by Sudipto above where he mentions the place is already booked 2 months in advance. There falls may be less ferocious in November but you can enjoy other thrills like boating and having a dip there.

4) Route back to Mumbai : I explored routes through to Hyderabad and Vizag but didn't want to push the envelope so traced my steps back all the way. With some help from Avi, I guess you can make it back via Vizag if you have the time.

Am happy that my humble log has encouraged you to visit this place and trust me you wont regret it. Pls get back to me if you need any help with your planning

[Sudipto-S-Team]

Originally Posted by nix1976in

Am happy that my humble log has encouraged you to visit this place and trust me you wont regret it.

Please add me to the list too and I am sure there will be many more - members and non-members - who will benefit from this travelogue. Regarding booking - we found all the rooms are booked during Navratri week. Tents are still available, perhaps because they are expensive. We didn't delay and booked right away. We didn't check the status for early October though.

[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by deepv

I suppose August-September should be best time for the falls,
however I noticed someone mentioned in this thread that they would be further magnanimous once at their full width.
Does that mean its lesser rain this year, or some other month of year that works out better .. your thoughts?

Well..thats true the falls are in full splendour during the rains however this year was told that due to sporadic rains they were at around 80% of their strength. They would certainly taper down by October.

[RavenAvi]

Originally Posted by deepv

Right .. I was talking about that direct route towards Hyderabad when I mentioned Chinturu.
I later looked at it a little more thoroughly and noticed Sukma, and had my apprehensions.

Avoid the Sukma - Konta - Bhadrachalam route completely. The diversion via Visakhapatnam/Vizianagaram is much safer, and the roads are fantastic.

Originally Posted by nix1976in

And the local cuisine is to die for. Try the desi chicken and country duck...assuming that your carnivorous.

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

All I know, as of now, is I turn right from Srikakulam and go via Raygada. We will be starting early morning from Bhubaneswar.

Excellent. The roads leading from the Srikakulam diversion are a bit patchy, but quite safe. Most visitors coming from BBSR prefer this route.

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

Incidentally, my wife is very excited to know that someone can show her the right place for Kosa silk in Jagdalpur :-)

There are quite a few good shops dealing with Kosa silk, none better than the one where I took Nikhil & his better half. But I better warn you in advance - be prepared to spend much more than you have planned, because your wife might empty your wallet completely!

[nix1976in]

Originally Posted by satrikon_454

Your love for wildlife is clearly evident from this travelogue. Brilliant narration complimented with perfect photos.

Thanks buddy, glad you like the pics and log.

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

There are quite a few good shops dealing with Kosa silk, none better than the one where I took Nikhil & his better half. But I better warn you in advance - be prepared to spend much more than you have planned, because your wife might empty your wallet completely!

Yes Sudipto, beware of the trap, wallet's gonna be featherlight but the time wifey is finished with her shopping.

[Swift Express]

Originally Posted by nix1976in

Good decision buddy. Replies to your queries below
1) Mumbai- Nagpur - I stayed over at Nagpur since I needed to visit some relatives however if you are just looking for a stop-over then you can by-pass Nagpur so that the next days run is easier. Lonar is good stop-over if you have the time.

2) Kanker Palace is a great place to shack up. Make sure to book the palace rooms with the antique pankha...its quite unique. And the local cuisine is to die for. Try the desi chicken and country duck...assuming that your carnivorous.

3) Chitrakoot : The CTDC tents / rooms need to be booked as soon as possible. Pls see comments by Sudipto above where he mentions the place is already booked 2 months in advance. There falls may be less ferocious in November but you can enjoy other thrills like boating and having a dip there.

4) Route back to Mumbai : I explored routes through to Hyderabad and Vizag but didn't want to push the envelope so traced my steps back all the way. With some help from Avi, I guess you can make it back via Vizag if you have the time.

Am happy that my humble log has encouraged you to visit this place and trust me you wont regret it. Pls get back to me if you need any help with your planning

Basis your advice, Booked the tents Online today. And yes your assumption of me being a carnivoure is bang on and am damn sure the food spread will be awesome there as per what you have written here. Thanks again. Will PM you for more details on the route. Don't want to hijack this wonderful thread with my travel plan related posts.