Route : Bangalore – Ooty – Coonoor - Bangalore
It’s been a while I had been on a road trip. Last one was sometime in July covering most of Western Ghats in Karnataka. I actually was planning a trip to Goa this time of the year, but due to some other priorities had to postpone it to January next year. Never the less, I wanted to get out of Bangalore and planned this Ooty road trip a couple of weeks back. Wanted to take my parents along this time. Sister did not get leaves at work and my dad decided to stay back with her. So it was only me, my wife and mom. With the low depression looming over Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, there were a lot of apprehensions about this road trip. No looking back, I want to go. Rains or thunderstorms, no stopping.
Preparation:
The car has done close to 16000 kms. Filled up fuel at IOC (Rs. 1000) on RV Road the previous day. Had the tyres checked for air pressure. Loaded some songs on the portable HDD. Packed bags which included lots of woolens and some rain gear. Also had got a Pioneer steering remote for the DEH-7950UB, so time to make use of it this road trip.
Day 1 (27th November, 2008) : Bangalore – Mysore – Nanjangud – Gundalpet – Ooty
Actually had planned to leave Bangalore by 6.00 AM. Due to work I returned home only early in the morning around 3.00 AM. Did not want to leave without proper sleep and I was pretty exhausted. Slept for 6 to 7 hours and left Bangalore only by 11.30 AM. Took the Kanakapura Road from Jayanagar and then took the NICE road towards Mysore road. There were rains the entire night and the weather was cloudy with slight drizzle. This did not dampen my spirits and I decided to go on with the road trip. The traffic on Mysore road was not much. Because of the wet roads and the spray of water from other vehicles, kept the Speedo needle hovering around 80 – 100 kmph. Spotted a camouflaged Skoda sedan doing road trials. I think it must be the new Skoda Laura. The front grills and the rear tail lamps looked similar. The vehicle was doing impressive speeds. Tailed the vehicle for quite some time, took snaps and finally let it go.
The Skoda Sedan doing road trails
I only had some bread and eggs early in the morning before going to sleep and now hunger pangs have started. Decided to drive till Channapatna and stop at McDonalds. Had a nice meal of McChicken and fries and decided to stop for Lunch around 2.00 PM at Mysore. After Maddur, wife wanted to stop at Café Coffee Day. Picked up some coffee and drove towards Mysore.
Approaching Mysore I was relieved to see no wet roads in Mysore and weather was pleasant. Entered Mysore around 2.00 PM, went past the Bus Stand and then decided to go to the famous Hotel RRR for lunch. It’s an Andhra Style restaurant located at Gandhi square very close to Mysore palace. Very delicious Non vegetarian Biryani and vegetarian meals. Very crowded most of the times and would have a wait for at least 20 minutes to get a table. It’s a no nonsense place for a quick lunch. Might have to share the table with strangers. The AC part of the restaurant is much tidy than the non AC.
McDonalds at Maddur
Starting to get dirty
Beautiful Bangalore - Mysore highway
Hotel RRR at Mysore
Leave Mysore by 3.00 PM and take the road towards Gundalpet. The 2 lane highway is good with most of the potholes covered with asphalt. You will find broken tarmac occasionally. Good for speeds up to 100 kmph. Roads till Gundalpet is good. Immediately after Gundalpet, take the road going straight towards Ooty. The road going right where most heavy vehicles are going goes towards Kerala. The road after this Junction is in a very bad state. Completely riddled with potholes for the next 10 kms. After about 5 kms on this bad stretch the roads become nonexistent past the Gopalswamy Hills junction. After the bone rattling ride the roads become super smooth approaching Bandipur forest. Stopped at the check post where the guy checked the vehicle papers and my license. Continued further ahead and took the left turn at the junction over the narrow bridge towards Masinagudi. The drive from here is what looks like a smooth single lane road. You will occasionally find these M&M pickups which will not get off the road to make way for other vehicles with lower ground clearance. Saw a few deer’s and other wildlife.
Approaching the Kalhatti Ghats the roads goes straight for a few kilometers before the hairpin bends. I am doing close to 70-80 kmph behind a Scorpio who is doing similar speeds. Suddenly this guy in the Scorpio brakes hard. I am maintaining a safe distance and I too brake. Just meters ahead of the Scorpio, a group of 4 elephants cross the road. Once the elephants cross the road safely there is one huge elephant which turns back towards the road making sure no one is following it and blocking the path where the elephants just entered. Very unexpected incident which made me think how dangerous these roads are for wildlife if the drivers are not careful and over speed.
Roads inside Bandipur Forest
Approaching the checkpost
Spotted some wildlife
Roads inside the Forest - Tamilnadu
Towards Masinagudi
As I approach the hairpin bends, I encounter slight drizzle and fog. As I keep climbing the fog gets thicker and visibility is reduced to couple of meters. The Hairpin bends are slowly tackled in 2nd gear. Last time in good weather the Swift D did manage half of the bends in 3rd gear. Slowly tail a Santro till the bridge near the Kalhatti waterfalls. Stop there for fresh carrots and stretch my legs. It’s around 6.30 PM and getting dark. Get back and drive slowly towards Ooty. The roads are in very good condition as you approach Ooty. Newly done roads with parts of roads done with cobbled stones. Now there is a constant drizzle and a chill wind blowing.
Kalhatti Ghats
Tailing the Santro at the hairpin bends
Carrots - really good ones
Fog filled ghat roads - Near Kalhatti Water Falls
Enter Ooty around 7.00 PM and find the hotel on the Ooty – Coonoor road near the Wax museum. Have 2 rooms booked at hotel Blue Bird. Check into the hotel. Just OK rooms with nothing much great about the hotel. The room is freezing. Order more blankets and room heater from the reception. Relax for some time and head out for dinner. Go to Charring Cross, and have dinner at the restaurant in Hotel Nahar. Nice cozy restaurant with a fireplace and awesome vegetarian food. Shop for some woolen gloves, chocolates and head back to the hotel. Room is warm, I had the heater on when we left for dinner. Watch news about the Mumbai attack for some time and finally retire for the night.
Day 1 has been good. Unexpected delay leaving Bangalore pushed plans I had in Ooty for Day 1 to the next day. Weather is cold, the coldest I have experienced in Ooty till date. I guess it was around 11-12 degree C. The steering remote is fun to use. Very useful and I can now control the ICE without lifting my hands off the steering wheel. Still needs some getting used to.
Continued..