[laluks]

Day08, 26.08.2010
GAVI

We drove from Thekkady towards Vandiperiyaar. Just before reaching Vandiperiyaar, there is a junction called Kakki Kavala. From here you have to take left to go to Gavi.

Further from Gavi, there is a dam called Kakki. So I presume the namme Kakki kavala is due to that.

Once you take that left, you'll reach a forest checkpost at Vallakadavu. You need to have permissions to go further.

More on that and the route and distance details once I get more time.


So its GAVI from now.




continued...

[laluks]

Before I go elusive for the next couple of days, please find the GPS tracklog of this entire trip. This would give you an indication and may be more queries

OnamTripLog.kml

[laluks]

Gavi as a destination deserved a thread on its own.

We were at Gavi on Day 08 to Day10.
Day 08 : 26.08.2010 : Gavi (KFDC Cottages)
Day 09 : 27.08.2010 : Gavi (KFDC Cottages)
Day 10 : 28.08.2010 : Gavi, Moozhiyar, Pamba, Mundakkayam, Vagamon (Summer Sand Hill Resort)

Day08 to Day10 of the trip can be read here. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post2266856

Once finished with Gavi the rest of the log will continue here.

Day 11 : 29.08.2010 : Thodupuzha, Idukki, Vagamon (Summer Sand Hill Resort)
Day 12 : 30.08.2010 : Vagamon (Vagamon Heights)
Day 13 : 31.08.2010 : Vagamon (Vagamon Heights)
Day 14 : 01.09.2010 : Vagamon, Bharanamganam, Kumily
Day 15 : 02.09.2010 : Reach back Bangalore

[laluks]

Now the log for the last four days are remaining. We were at Vagamon and the surroundings.

Day 11 : 29.08.2010 : Thodupuzha, Idukki, Vagamon (Summer Sand Hill Resort)
Day 12 : 30.08.2010 : Vagamon (Vagamon Heights)
Day 13 : 31.08.2010 : Vagamon (Vagamon Heights)
Day 14 : 01.09.2010 : Vagamon, Bharanamganam, Kumily
Day 15 : 02.09.2010 : Reach back Bangalore

Please read the log for these days here http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...d-vagamon.html

Vagamon is a beautiful place and let Vagamon too have a separate thread on its own.

[laluks]

The logs for Gavi, Day 08 to Day10 and the logs for Vagamon Day11 to Day14 are completed in the respective logs as mentioned in the below posts.


To conclude, on Day14 from Kumily we started our return to Bangalore at 20:00PM

Kumily - Salem

We reached Theni by 21:00PM and headed on to Dindigul. We reached NH7 at Dindigul by 22:30PM.

We reached Salem by 12:00AM, nonstop from Kumily totalling distance of 303Km in 4 hours.

Day15, 02.09.2010
Salem - Bangalore

We filled some petrol from Salem and drove on nonstop again to reach home by 02:45AM, a total of 216Km in 2hrs 45 minutes.

By 03:00 we dumped all the luggage and hit the bed. When sleep took us over, we never knew.

The END


Thus ends our 15day long Onam trip to Kerala in the rains. It was the longest holidays planned and executed in the family till now. We really had an enjoyable time and had seen so much Kerala this time.

Kerala is indeed Gods own Country.


Friends, Thanks for reading.

[laluks]

The next trips

KAAS
After this trip @starvegabond had taken me to the beautiful flower valley at Kaas on 23.09.2010 to 25.09.2010. Please read the log by @starvegabond here. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...smiri-way.html

I was supposed to contribute to the pictures, and since I was busy never did it. Hopefully someday I'll add the Kaas pictures there.

GOA
Two weeks after the return from Kaas we drove to Goa for a family vacation (07.10.2010 to 10.01.2010). It was not planned and an impulsive decision.

Please find the log for all our Goa and coastal karnataka trip here
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...mangalore.html

Poovar
The very next week (15.10.2010 to 18.10.2010) we drove down to Poovar, a beautiful island between Kanyakumari and Trivandrum. This was a planned vacation. The log is not yet written. We are planning to go back to the resort again this summer, so probably I will write a combined log.

Valparai - Perumbavoor
The very next weekend (23.10.2010 - 24.10.2010) we drove to Perumbavoor for a private function all of a sudden. Unplanned drive again. We drove via Valparai and encountered the shy Lion Tailed Macaques (LTM). You can read about that encounter here in this very log. Post 197 http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post2118125
After the function we went to Malayattoor church before returning. The Malayattoor church visit will be updated in this thread soon.

Munnar
The very next week(30.10.2010 - 02.11.2010) we drove to Munnar. This was a planned vacation. I have not yet wrote about it. I intend to log it soon. Thinking to log it here http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ur-munnar.html or start a new one.


After this I got so hectic in official and personal activities that it took me 7 months to complete the Onam Trip Log . Hope now that it is done you guys will discount me for the delay.


This year seems hectic too, I have not travelled out anywhere after Munnar, which makes it by April 6 months of no travel. Hope to break the monotony soon. The only issue is once it is broken, we will just be on the roll




Thank you guys for all the encouragement and reading my logs.

[laluks]

24.10.2010
Malayattoor


As part of the Valparai - Perumbavoor - Malayattoor - Bangalore drive, the visit to the Malyattoor church was yet another thanks giving from our side. You can get more information of the church from here Malayattoor Church. St. Thomas, one of the Apostles of Christ is believed to have visited here.

The way to the church before the climb


The church is on top of Kurishumudy. Here also it is a steep and difficult climb. Here also there are 14 stations of the cross at regular intervals and a Church on the top. The 14 stations of the cross is ussd as a tool worldwide to reflect to the followers on the suffering and death of Christ.

First Station : Condemned


Second Station : Carrying the cross


Third Station : Jesus Falls under the weight of his cross


Fourth Station : Meeting Mother


Fifth Station : Simon carries the cross



Sixth Station : Veronica wipes the face of Jesus


Seventh Station : Jesus Falls the second time under the weight of his cross


Eighth Station : Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem


Ninth Station : Jesus falls a third time under the weight of his cross


Tenth Station : Jesus is stripped before the crowd


Eleventh Station : Jesus is nailed to the cross


Twelfth Station : Jesus dies on the cross


Thirteenth Station : Jesus is taken down from the cross


Fourteenth Station : Jesus is laid down in the tomb


The orientation of the church campus



continued...

[laluks]

24.10.2010
Malayattoor

Marthoma Mandapam


Ancient Chapel.


See the wall struck by the elephants


Miraculous water spring




The Church


Church Interiors




The Golden Cross






Foot Prints of St. Thomas






It took almost 2 hours to climb, and 45 minutes to descend. PPGs could not complete the climb, as it was very difficult and full of boulders.

It was 32 degrees which added to the difficulty.


The same time last day was at Valparai with just 18 degrees



continued...

[laluks]

24.10.2010
Malayattoor


View of Malayattoor lake from Kurishumudy


The beautiful Malayattoor lake










Civvy near the lake




A building near the lake


Malayattoor is here


Onwards we went via Coimbatore - Pollachi - Valparai - Athirampally - Ankamali - Perumbavur. The night drive throug the forest between Valparai and Ankamali was unforgettable.


Return was Perumbavur - Malayatoor - Ankamali - Chalakudi - Palghat - Coimbatore - Bangalore. Chalakudi to Avinashi is better not said, heavy traffic and bad roads.

The GPS trail of the Valparai Perumbavoor Malayattoor trip is here
Valaparai-Malayattoor.kml

END

[Nutty Nair]

Lalu, excellent log till now. This thread is a bonanza of information for other travellers. Thank you for sharing. I liked the three layers in the photo "Beautiful Malayattoor Lake" - water, earth & sky pictured beautifully. And is that Lotus real? It looks so big & perfect!

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Nutty Nair

Lalu, excellent log till now. This thread is a bonanza of information for other travellers. Thank you for sharing. I liked the three layers in the photo "Beautiful Malayattoor Lake" - water, earth & sky pictured beautifully. And is that Lotus real? It looks so big & perfect!

Thank you Nutty.

That's a beautiful meaning given to that picture

Lotus was not real.

[gadadhar]

@laluji - I think it is Manappattu Chira in that lake shot, KTDC had developed the place with boating and some shops long back, but guess is no longer there..

BTW my hometown is near Kalady and been to these place many times during my Pre-Degree days, Now its been years long since I have gone that side..

There is a road that runs through the forest connecting Malayatoor to Bhootathankettu/Edamalayar through Thundam (was the Popular rally route), heard its been locked by the forest dept now..

[laluks]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

@laluji - I think it is Manappattu Chira in that lake shot, KTDC had developed the place with boating and some shops long back, but guess is no longer there..

BTW my hometown is near Kalady and been to these place many times during my Pre-Degree days, Now its been years long since I have gone that side..

There is a road that runs through the forest connecting Malayatoor to Bhootathankettu/Edamalayar through Thundam (was the Popular rally route), heard its been locked by the forest dept now..

Thanks gadadhar for the info. Now nothing of KTDC is left - atleast I did not see any.

I want to go to edamalayar side sometime. I have read some one being there. Is there any other route?

[Coooolcat21]

Sir,
Been following your logs. They are like walking thru a dream land with superb pictures and narration.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Coooolcat21

Sir,
Been following your logs. They are like walking thru a dream land with superb pictures and narration.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards

Thank you Coooolcat21.
Infact I am silently enjoying your wildlife captures. The wonderful wildlife always amazes me.