[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

Some more pictures from the garden










Somebody was getting a photo shoot done!



continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

Some interior pictures
















continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

By 16:00 hours we said bye to the Palace. It was a wonderful lunch and the time we spend on the garden was so amazing. The normal crowd just does not get in here and we have our peace and tranquillity here for sure. Wallet factor is approximately Rs 750 for buffet per head.

Our steeds waiting for us




Our steeds at Fernhill Palace


A panorama


Fern Hill Palace


we started our return journey to Bangalore and we chose Naduvattom Gudalur Route.

continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

By 17:00 hours we went to see Pykara waterfalls


















This is what is left of the waterfalls



continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

He is disappointed


Some views








Information


Cormorant


Kiddies found themselves some vantage positions






continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

Copper tree here too






Disappointed we walk back






It was already 17:45 hours by now


continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

We had a quick peek at Pykara Lake too
















Information for you


Additional points to note :
1. Pykara waterfall entry closes by 17:30 hours, bethere latest by 17:00 hours to be safe. (considering there is enough water, at the present conditions give it a miss)
2. Pykara Boating can be booked only till 17:00 hours. Be here at least by 16:30 to book the last boats.

continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

Civvy reaches another milestone


She was at the Pykara Boat House road at that point


By 18:00 hours we started the return journey to Bangalore via Naduvattom Gudalur route

continued...

[laluks]

Day 04
20th August 2012

Some where before Gudalur we had this wonderful phenomenon of clouds
















Everybody enjoyed the phenomenon


Clouds

Clouds - YouTube

Cameras can never capture what we saw and enjoyed there.


It was 18:45 hours. We then drove non stop all the way to reach Mysore by 22:00 hours.

The road were filled with crazy bikers who had absolutely no sense of riding. One guy did a tight overtaking and fell in front of my Civvy and a bus. Lucky that we both were able to stop in time to save him.

We just entered the Forest chec kpost at Theppekkadu by 20:00 hours, and the forest road had a lot of vehicles in both direction. Traffic was very heavy. In the mean while we saw a baby elephant by the side of the road too. Starvegabond says there were the entire family nearby.

After exiting Bandipur Civvy and Aria did some catching catching game and reached Mysore outskirts. mjothi led us into Mysore and we stopped for Dinner at Kamath.

After Dinner mjothi and Starvegabond took turns to lead the team out of Mysore, and we circled interior Mysore roads for an hour before we could figure out the Mysore road to Bangalore.

I particularly hate Mysore road for the innumerable humps they have on the route. I slowed down to around 70Kmph and cruised comfortably.

We all met up at NICE road entry, and bid goodbye to Starvegabond. Me and mjothi took the Nice road and exited at Hosur Road and took the outer ring road towards our homes.

continued...

[laluks]

Day 05
21st August 2012

We reached our home safely


It was 02:00AM


Banglore was a pleasant 22 degrees


We all exchanged SMS stating our safe arrival with each other.

By 02:30AM I hit the bed and slept off.

A beautiful trip with friends and family. Amazing and fulfilling drive.


Statistics

Onward journey
Bangalore-Mysore-Bandipur-Masinagudi-Ooty 285KMs

Return Journey
Ooty - Naduvattom -Gudalur-Bandipur-Mysore-Bangalore 340KMs

Civvy gave an Average FE of 11.9KMPL for this drive.


The END

[MaverikMahesh]

Originally Posted by laluks

Day 05
21st August 2012

We reached our home safely
Attachment 977926

It was 02:00AM
Attachment 977927

Banglore was a pleasant 22 degrees
Attachment 977925

We all exchanged SMS stating our safe arrival with each other.

By 02:30AM I hit the bed and slept off.

A beautiful trip with friends and family. Amazing and fulfilling drive.


Statistics

Onward journey
Bangalore-Mysore-Bandipur-Masinagudi-Ooty 285KMs

Return Journey
Ooty - Naduvattom -Gudalur-Bandipur-Mysore-Bangalore 340KMs

Civvy gave an Average FE of 11.9KMPL for this drive.


The END

Hi Lalu,

As usual, wonderful travelogue with lot of details and bountiful of beautiful pictures. As i was reading your travelogue and looking at the Derby Green CM pics, on an impulse, i booked myself (and my extended family - in laws, brother and his family) into CM for just one day - 8th Sept. Can't take off more days as we are also having the Rajasthan trip coming up in October.

I have few queries:

1. I plan to go via the 37 hair pin bends route rather than the Gudalur route. On the way back, i wanted to do the Gudalur route so that i can cover Pykara falls. After looking at your pics, i will give this a skip. Is there any other reason why we should do the Gudalur route (scenery wise)?

2. Also, i was keen at doing the lunch at Fernhill palace. But i felt that the price of 750 per head was too steep. Is the food really worth the price? Is it significantly better (in terms of taste and variety) and VFM as compared to buffet at CM?

3. We are a chocolate crazy family and am sure that chocolate shopping will be a major activity in Ooty. Do you recommend the chocolate factory near Doddabetta (as mentioned in your TL) for VFM and choice of verities, or the shops in the city (near Charing cross, close to Nahar Hotel)?

Appreciate your response. Thanks

[laluks]

Originally Posted by MaverikMahesh

Hi Lalu,

I have few queries:

1. I plan to go via the 37 hair pin bends route rather than the Gudalur route. On the way back, i wanted to do the Gudalur route so that i can cover Pykara falls. After looking at your pics, i will give this a skip. Is there any other reason why we should do the Gudalur route (scenery wise)?

2. Also, i was keen at doing the lunch at Fernhill palace. But i felt that the price of 750 per head was too steep. Is the food really worth the price? Is it significantly better (in terms of taste and variety) and VFM as compared to buffet at CM?

3. We are a chocolate crazy family and am sure that chocolate shopping will be a major activity in Ooty. Do you recommend the chocolate factory near Doddabetta (as mentioned in your TL) for VFM and choice of verities, or the shops in the city (near Charing cross, close to Nahar Hotel)?

Appreciate your response. Thanks

1. In the Gudalur route you have

a. Shooting Medu (Medows)
b. Pykara falls
c. Pykara Lake (Boating)
d. Glenmorgan (hope the lake has water, going by the scenes I highly doubt)
e. Needle Hill view point (if misty can be avoided)

2. That is basically a personal preference. The point to be noted is that we were there on a Sunday and a busy holiday week. I guess Ala carte will be avilable on off peak days. Further I like the ambience and the far from the crowd feel there. Club Mahindra on off peak days has only TDH menu, which I felt was limited in choice. If buffet available, there are many varieties there too. Check that before you decide where to dine. I particularly hate the crowd at Club Mahindra on peak days. They simply don't know how to manage the crowd!

3. Chocolate factory is name sake, its not a factory for chocolate making, but a counter for chocolates in the tea factory. They sell chocolates. We go there just for the fun sake for the kids. Some 10 varieties are there, tastes Ok. You can skip this too.

[MaverikMahesh]

Originally Posted by laluks

1. In the Gudalur route you have

a. Shooting Medu (Medows)
b. Pykara falls
c. Pykara Lake (Boating)
d. Glenmorgan (hope the lake has water, going by the scenes I highly doubt)
e. Needle Hill view point (if misty can be avoided)

2. That is basically a personal preference. The point to be noted is that we were there on a Sunday and a busy holiday week. I guess Ala carte will be avilable on off peak days. Further I like the ambience and the far from the crowd feel there. Club Mahindra on off peak days has only TDH menu, which I felt was limited in choice. If buffet available, there are many varieties there too. Check that before you decide where to dine. I particularly hate the crowd at Club Mahindra on peak days. They simply don't know how to manage the crowd!

3. Chocolate factory is name sake, its not a factory for chocolate making, but a counter for chocolates in the tea factory. They sell chocolates. We go there just for the fun sake for the kids. Some 10 varieties are there, tastes Ok. You can skip this too.

Dear Lalu, Thanks for the response. Maybe I will do the Gudalur route on my way back.

There was a photo / article in Bangalore Mirror (30th Aug) on Chunchunkatte Falls near Mysore. On the way to Ooty, I am planning to visit this and report back in my TL. Has anyone done this recently? Any reviews?

[laluks]

Some Comparisons from 2009 to 2012

Pykara Falls in 2009






Pykara Falls in 2012







Absolutely no water. I have no idea where we are headed to

[laluks]

Emerald Lake over the years (2006 - 2012)



May 2006











November 2009











August2012









Where did all the water go?