[OffRoadFun]

I have driven to the farm and enjoyed a lot with the family with various overnight stays after building a farm cottage a year back. It has been a lot of fun. This has also given us some time to explore (largely unknown or shall I say unremarkable "attractions" nearby. But I like to explore such place especially because they are largely untouched because of being "unremarkable" and offer reprieve from crowds of the cities which we are used to live in. Please excuse if you find me harping on those in this post).

A glimpse of the trips and some twist at the end.

One fine day I checked the weather forecast for the area for the weekend and surprisingly it was pretty mild for the area ) 31C/22C plus drizzles expected. Planned a quick 3 day trip to the farm, of course stay is free.

Reached there late after noon and prepared tea and some cutlets.




Added some kachoris and evening snacks are ready:


With the car in the background:



The kids explored the farm and were curious to see the cow:



The evenings in the area, usually irrespective of the day temperatures of Rayalseema, are pleasant with nice breeze. We headed towards another mountain my farm manager told me he has "found" for us.

Here we go, those were big granite boulders with sparse vegetation on them.
The kids started running fast towards the top:


It was beautiful and more importantly unadulterated view with nice breeze. Very pleasant.


Finally we all reached the top:


My farm manager posed for a nice pose:



Went to the room for after the sunset and had nice sleep.


I slept in the open. Someone was too lazy to get up
next morning.

Kids enjoyed some games in the open in partially cloudy weather:


Next day, I took the kids to the nearby windmill:



And took the picture of Q5 closeby, after doing some offroading through the farm. Quatro never fails to deliver :


And then to a mango/sweet lime farm:


In the evening we went for hiking where we captured some nice colors in the barren boulders during sunset. No one to be seen in kilometers except us. Amazing feeling.

These boulders were interesting and precariously balanced, or at least they appeared to be


My farm manager posed confidently on one of the precariously placed ones:


Other started heading down:



I continued towards those big boulders. They were BIG.


I was advised not to go beyond that point as black bears are supposed to live inside the natural caves of those boulders. It was a bit scary there, BIG honey bee hives were seen.

It was close to sunset when we came back down. We captured a few pics with nice colors in those arid boulders.



And finally sunset colors:



Another trip, with aim to relax and to explore in the area.
This time we reached by night. Weather was OK, not that hot.

Another serene morning with windmills in the background:




Family breakfast time:


Maggi time for the kids:


And captured Q5 shot under the tree:


We then headed to another granite mountain where there was a Lord Shiva temple also, it had road access till some height (though not visible in the picture, it was a very steep road for a car):



Started climbing up, there was rainwater accumulated on the mountain, unpolluted:


The views were good, it was very windy (that's why they have windmills in the background):





Beautiful evening colors from the top:



Others holding together against high winds on the top:


Reached home as it was getting late, prepared the dinner and had various fruits as desserts (brought from Bangalore). Simple yet delicious dinner after hiking and desserts tasted awesome:


Reached 30 pics limit, continued

[OffRoadFun]

Next day, we went again to explore more towards the other side of the same mountain, it was a moderate hike with some really steep sections on granite boulders.


It was very windy up the hill (due to elevation) as is evident from the shape of this palm:
How this palm grew on pure granite is another miracle.


Continue the steep climb down on other side of the mountain:


It was good view as there was another small hill on other side and kind of wild area there:





Another one:

Time to climb back up, a steep one:



Now, I have a dream of a cozy cottage in semi-arid area ensconced between mountains perhaps like many others. Like this one (which was on my mind even before visiting this place). Dreams don't cost anything after all!



I thought this looks like a dream place but of course I was just visiting.

Of course, we packed up. While going back, got some harvest from the farm:
Next day, we went again to explore more towards the other side of the same mountain, it was a moderate hike with some really steep sections on granite boulders.


Got a puncture on way back but got it repaired on way back (time for TPMS on this old Q5?).


Some twist. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I will HAVE to sell the current farm (and the room which I constructed only a year back.

Not believing in giving up, but I intend to buy another farm and re-build a farmhouse hopefully. I have been thinking may be this time I can get a farm close to mountain/boulder.

Recently had to visit the farm again. I collected lots of cloths from my neighbors to donate to the poor villagers in the area:



Donated to the villagers during the visit:



And then off to some fun again. Another one, reached a bit late inthe evening. This passed through some farms abutting the mountain, of course, Q5's Quattro was handy:


It was late in the evening by the time we reached, but it was close to full moon so the pics came out good (thanks Google Pixel phone!)



Glance of the entrance to the mountain:



Time to head back home. My farm manager cooked some tamarind daal Andhra style with rice, it was amazing also because I was hungry:




The bed was ready, out in open:



I liked the place so much, I visited the mountain again next morning though my family wanted me to be back again immediately.

The views on the big boulder were amazing and as always, serene:


Another one:


I had my breakfast between those boulders ( I noticed what looked like bear poop over there):




There are two more mountains on the side, attaching some views from up:


Looking east:



Steep boulders, A perfect place for a room!
:




View from the top:



Sideways:


I finally made use of some AI and imaging tools to see what can be created here:


Or one day may be close to dream!

Right now things are a bit fluid. My Q5 is also going through engine rebuild. Stars need to align for dreams to materialize!

Thanks for reading through!

[itwasntme]

So invigorating to read your farm visit updates and your family's peaceful fulfilment. Also looks like you've already found your true dream farm location too. :-)

By the way, avoid eating near any potential wild animal habitats. They are far more likely to come out to check what the aroma is from!

[arundeepbv]

Your farm seems like a wonderful place, and it's great to see such enthusiasm for sharing your experiences. It's great to see your enthusiasm in sharing these experiences.

[cooldip]

Originally Posted by OffRoadFun

I was advised not to go beyond that point as black bears are supposed to live inside the natural caves of those boulders. It was a bit scary there, BIG honey bee hives were seen.

Amazing experiences I guess!

The bear caves and the bee hives sounds straight out of the one of the Kenneth Anderson's conflict leopard hunt stories.

And the habitat looks like great place to spot leopards basking in the sun i.e. if there are any left.

[Dry Ice]

Thanks for sharing! Just reading through it sitting in a city freshens you up, so I can only imagine the joy such trips bring to your family.

Originally Posted by OffRoadFun

Some twist. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I will HAVE to sell the current farm (and the room which I constructed only a year back.

Not believing in giving up, but I intend to buy another farm and re-build a farmhouse hopefully. I have been thinking may be this time I can get a farm close to mountain/boulder.

That’s a bummer! But, like you say, I am sure you will find something better soon. Good luck!

[Accelro]

Originally Posted by OffRoadFun

Some twist. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I will HAVE to sell the current farm (and the room which I constructed only a year back.

Not believing in giving up, but I intend to buy another farm and re-build a farmhouse hopefully. I have been thinking may be this time I can get a farm close to mountain/boulder.

I am very sorry to hear that, hope your dream is fulfilled sooner than you expect! And an amazing thread - which place is this near to rayalseema?

[Kkumar]

Nice to see someone enjoying farming. Great location for a farm as well as to find one’s inner self. Happy farming.

[lejhoom]

To sleep out in the open! No mosquitoes. That’s a dream. And looking at the topography, I guess all the romantic feelings might evaporate once summer comes. Aren’t you afraid of snakes there?

[OffRoadFun]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

So invigorating to read your farm visit updates and your family's peaceful fulfilment. Also looks like you've already found your true dream farm location too. :-)

By the way, avoid eating near any potential wild animal habitats. They are far more likely to come out to check what the aroma is from!

Thanks. Good point regarding bears, will keep that in mind.

Originally Posted by Accelro

I am very sorry to hear that, hope your dream is fulfilled sooner than you expect! And an amazing thread - which place is this near to rayalseema?

Near Kalyandurgam.

Originally Posted by lejhoom

To sleep out in the open! No mosquitoes. That’s a dream. And looking at the topography, I guess all the romantic feelings might evaporate once summer comes. Aren’t you afraid of snakes there?

Good points. Because of lack of rains this year, there were zero mosquitos this year.
The weather there is very hot for sure from March to mid-June. Evenings are usually OK and many times cloudy. Usually because of easterly winds (same winds which reach B'lore from East), it is OK past evening, especially if one is out in open. Now-a-days, data is at one's disposal. I could gather, just out of curiosity, the temperatures for July 2023. They look mild to me. Even June is similar:



Regarding snakes, yes, I asked my farm manager about snakes and I was a bit apprehensive especially considering snakes are not so uncommon there. But he told me snakes can not climb iron legs of the cot so I went ahead.
TBH, woke up couple of times just to see no animal around but it was still a good sleep.
BTW, he chose to sleep inside the room.

[ex-innova-guy]

Wonderful to see your family especially your children enjoying the farm stay. Growing up I always liked going to my hometown where my grandparents have a pretty similar farm (although no windmills nearby). We also had some cats, dogs and cattle and this post made me reminisce those days. The solace you feel after leaving the urban jungle behind and getting closer to your farm is unmatched. Apart from this my dad and I had a tradition of washing the car while visiting our farm.

All the best for the construction of your new farm house.