[pramod]

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

All I can say is that the photography is excellent.
The roads, it looks like, are dangerous, specially the blind turns and moreover the drivers coupled with the width of roads. I never knew such beautiful places do exist in India also.

Can you provide a map view of this place ? I mean show your route in a map ( if possible ). This will make people like me know more that where exactly these places exist and how to reach them from a distant state.

Thanks mate for your compliments mate!!
This is all part of western ghats... Whether you are in Khandala or in Karnataka's numerous places or in kerala, or Tamilnadu ooty hills, you are in treat for all these splendours! I am sure this is true with other parts of India tooo... but i am familiar with South India only

Hope the map below helps... The point marked is Munnar... Then i travel further down to reach BACKWATERS of kerala (Kumarakom)..
Finally travel North over the coastal NH 17 and then turn right to the hills again to reach Bangalore via Mysore.

[pramod]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Waiting for the KLR review - everyone thats stayed there is full of 'oohs and aahs' afterwards. Hope it was likewise with you.

Steeroid!
KLR snaps are on their way not far!
Well, its the epitome of luxury, facilities, Quality of food, crowd, Nature above all! If u wanna have a bash with your BAAIS, this is not the place... If u want to have a romantic , quiet time with your hubby, this fits the bill.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by pramod

If u want to have a romantic , quiet time with your hubby, this fits the bill.

Errr...please correct that to 'wife'.

For a bash with the BHAIs (not with the Bai, thank you very much!) we know exactly where to go, fear not!

[pramod]

Bid good Bye to Memorable Munnar and check out of Siena Village.
Started travelling to Kumarakom which is around 170 Kms away but believe me.. wil take a lot of time... as much as 5 hours.

Day 4 Route :

Munnar to Kumarakom ---> Munnar - Adimali - Thodupuzha - Pala - Kottayam - Kumarakom (170 Kms)
The journey starts with Tea estates and then much more tea estates and after a while you want to see some variety... Bingo! there you go.
The tea estates disappear as u descend and you have ever green forests untill you reach the plains..
You come across 2 water falls on the way and you cant miss them. They are next to the NH !! One is VALARA falls and the other starts with a "C". dint bother to remember.. Just enjoyed clicking

Let the snaps do the talking now: (Enroute to South Kerala)












To be continued..

[pramod]

More snaps on the way...












To be continued.

[anujmishra]

Excellent trip and way to descriptive photos. Look like you both have enjoyed a lot. Great pramod... We are waiting for more...

[laluks]

Originally Posted by pramod

How far you wandered on that route... I am sure it wasnt on ur ciVic !

That was swift. Civic

[mjothi]

@Pramod,
One question.

The Eravikulam is on the way to Udumalaipet right? If I am right, the cochin direction is exactly opposite to this one isn't?

[trrk]

Hi Pramod,

> Had lunch at T&U resort restaurant. There was a lunch buffet for 300 Bucks > and was worth it.

Is there any expansion for T&U? In my last visit, I did not find many places where the food was good. So trying to get some pointers for my next visit.

Beautiful photographs and good narration.

Thanks.

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by trrk

Hi Pramod,

> Had lunch at T&U resort restaurant. There was a lunch buffet for 300 Bucks > and was worth it.

Is there any expansion for T&U? In my last visit, I did not find many places where the food was good. So trying to get some pointers for my next visit.

Beautiful photographs and good narration.

Thanks.

I guess he meant this T&U Hotels Munnar, Resort Accommodation, Munnar Tour Packages, Kerala

[Jammy70]

Hi Pramod,

Congratulations and wish you a happy married life! What a wonderful way to kick start your new innings!

Lovely report and details, and photos too. I completely agree with you when you say the mountains should be visited just after the monsoons - it holds very true in Munnar's case. My last visit was ages back and was just after the monsoons; the green is so captivating!

Cheers,

[pramod]

Originally Posted by mjothi

@Pramod,
One question.

The Eravikulam is on the way to Udumalaipet right? If I am right, the cochin direction is exactly opposite to this one isn't?

U are right. its not on the way to kochi... the board in the snap tells "Rajamala 14.5 kms"

[pramod]

Originally Posted by Jammy70

Hi Pramod,
What a wonderful way to kick start your new innings!
Cheers,

Thanks for the warm wishes! Yes, i have been scoring pretty well in this innings

[pramod]

Kumarakom is the backwater country.... The largest lake in the region, Vembanad Lake stretches for 90 Kms in length across the Southern Kerala, off the coastal line.
Many 5 star Resorts/Hotels have come up on the shore of the lake, to make good business out of the Serenity of the lake, the narrow backwater lanes and just the culture of this Beautiful place.
Radison, Taj, The Paul group are just some of the superb accomodation you could look for.
We reached KL resort by 2 pm after a unexpectedly long ride from Munnar.
I had forgotten my handy-cam's charger at home in Bangalore :(
So, had a quick lunch at the "Ettukettu" hotel inside the resort which serves a buffet every noon for a whopping 1400 bucks!
Went to Kottayam which is 15 kms away from Kumarakom in search of th Canon charger, but couldnt find one, even though it is a decent sized town.
A few pictures of the resort and the Vembanad lake to start with...
Will post many many more snaps as i go along.
Enjoy!





















To be continued..

[pramod]

On this trip, one place we havent covered is Thekkady. Will surely do it seperately sometime.
Because of the cost of food in KL resort, we even did a few dashes to Kottayam to have a stomach-full at 1/10 the price. Makes sense right!?
A few more snaps at Kumarakom below and then we travel North towards Thrissur, Guruyavoor, Calicut, on the way to Wayanad (kalpetta).
There was some 4 laning contruction happening in the Kochi - Thrissur section which should help a great deal , once completed.
another incident worth mentioning was that: As the cost of petrol was increased, Kerala state as a whole went on strike and most of the petrol bunks got closed on the day we had to leave this place.
We had 200 Kms worth petrol in the tank and had to drive atleast that much distance to cross Kerala border. But finally found a bunk in Kottayam where each litre was sold at 5 Rs premium. All the local Auto drivers came in with big cans and they were given all the priority in filling, even though there was a huge queue of vehicles. The explantion given by the owner of the gas station was "Sir, these auto drivers come to me every day and i need to be good to them, but you people are from other state, so u may not even come here again, So why try to do good to you!!!".
Waited for 1 hour and finally filled tankfull.
Below are also the snaps of the drive upto Kalpetta.









Drive to Wayanad from Kumarakom:
Stayed at GreenGates hotel in Kalpetta overnight. Drove next day morning from Kalpetta to Bangalore the next day in 4.5 Hours, a distance of 280 Kms.


















Final Day :

Drive through Bandipur after crossing the Karnataka border:



THE END.

expected more responses from Team-bhpians..... never mind... i like sharing my snaps and will continue to do so

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