Day Two 24th January 2021
Kotagiri town
After finishing lunch at small hotel located downstairs of Ramesh Vihar Lodge headed towards Kodanad view point it was just 18 Km far from our location. It was one of the main tourist attraction of Nilagiri District. From Kotagiri bus facilities are also available, the beautiful properly tarmacked winding roads nestled between Tea plantation looks like heaven on earth.
Kodanad View Point Parking area
View Point
View from the point
Some more views
Water Falls view
There is a watch tower built on that place one can watch the waterfall view on telescope also by paying Rs.5 per person, apart from that some local products like tea powder, chocolates and cake etc. also available to purchase, at basement of the tower a small canteen operates, which sells hot Bajji's and Tea.
Plants which served as boundary to tea estate
After sipping a cup of tea with hot Mirchi & Raw Banana Bajji headed towards next point i.e Catherine water fall, which is located just 22km from there. To reach Catherine water fall till Kotagir have to use same road, form there have to take diversion, had plenty of time so lazily moved around the Tea plantation and headed towards water fall.
Thoda Temple
On the way visited the Thoda Temple which was build on en route to Kotagiri, a small temple belonging to Thoda tribes of Nilagiri, entry inside temple was prohibited to trhe public. Inside the fencing some rear Thoda breed buffalos calves are taking rest.
Thoda Breed Buffalo Calves
Above image was took just behind from the Thoda temple, a small road was going to near this beautiful large estate, so tried this way after going through narrow broken road it reached to the gate of the Tea estate where public entry was prohibited.
This beautiful large Kodanad Tea Estate is belongs to former Chief Minister Smt. Jayalalita / Sasi Kala, it had many controversy of ownership, any how its huge and beautiful estate. Clicked many pictures on the way, evening light gives perfect support for landscape photography.
Blue flowers at Kodand
Te plantain worker's housing Colony
Tea saplings are produced here
Township
Beautiful Bungalow
Landscape
After passing the beautiful landscape on winding roads reached Catherine water falls which is located inside private estate, to reach top of the water fall one has to walk for 20 minutes inside the estate, many tourists are going to see the falls we also followed the same path and reached the water falls, there is no much water in this season.
It was already evening so headed back to our lodge, cold wind start to blowing, after the bath finished the dinner at friendly Nepali hotel just opposite of the lodge. The Nepali person who runs the hotel was very friendly, he speaks Hindi, Tamil and Kannada fluently and greets customer in their languages to make them comfortable. After finishing dinner parked my Green Bull at parking lot of located at basement of the lodge and went bed little early.
Crispy Onion Roast with tasty sambar, red and white chutney😋
Day Three 25th January 2021
Wake up at early morning 0315hrs, freshened up and vacate the lodge, last night owner of the lodge given his number and told to make call if any help required, we kept key at door and came out from the lodge but parking lot gate was locked, so tried owner's number he picked up in few rings and arranged to open the gate.
It was around 0400hrs in the morning, heavy cold wind blowing in the dark sky, I was busy with trying to tie my luggage in Bull, heard a typical Tata Sumo diesel clattering along with squeaking noise of brake followed by dialogue in Tamil "Tambi Inge va" (Bro come here). I Just went near the Sumo they are Nilagiri Police. They started enquiring who I am, what I am doing here, where did I come from, where I am going, where did I stayed one by one question, answered all questions then the person who opened the parking lot gate also reached that spot, they confirmed that we are stayed on this lodge previous night and after that waved the hand and proceeded to petrol.
From Kotagiri headed towards Sri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta located at Bandipur forest range, I have visited so many time over there, when ever I visit this place it gives different experience so I never miss this place.
Fantastic Tea👌👌
Kotagiri to Ooty road there are very less traffic, due to early morning only some trucks are playing around the road winding hill road and blowing cold wind restricted speed under 40kmph, it was very cold, around 0530hrs reached Ooty. My eyes were hunting of a Tea shop as soon as found one stopped there to sip a fantastic Tea.
After Ooty took Masingudi route, it was a breath taking experience, riding 36 hairpin bend in the early morning while cold wind blast is fantastic, well built road along with proper sign boards helped to tackle this hair pin bends. In many turns it was mandatory to use first gear.
After Masingudi took Mudumalai, Teppakadu, Bandipur route and reached base of Sri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta by 0815hours.
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Super smooth road inside the Reserve forest
While cursing in Mudumalai, Bandipur area seen plenty of Deer herd and wild boars but unfortunately unable to click photos, sudden change of temperature from cold to hot fog built inside my camera.
Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (Hill)
Parked my Bull at Parking lot at base of the hill, time was 1820hrs, bus services to the hill yet to start few peoples are already in queue at 1830hrs reached first bus to Betta, it was came from Gundlpet Depot. Within a fraction of minutes bus filled with passenger, we took second bus, to travel Goapalswamy base to hill they charges Rs.30 per person. Bus services are available from 0830hrs to 1700hrs after that entry was restricted, plastics are not allowed inside the premises.
Vibrant Surroundings
At top cold wind was blowing, as soon as reached at top directly went to take Darshana of Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy, the beautiful full sized Goapaswamy Idol was beautifully decorated. When ever I visited there it gives different experience, weather the crowed, everything was unique.
Temple Car
Dasayya
After visiting temple left the place by catching the return bus reached base of the hill by 1030hrs, till morning we didn't ate anything expect fantastic tea at Ooty, stomach start to signal so decided to finish breakfast at small hotel built over there.
Chitranna was served with Chutney and hot Mensinkayi Bajji's (Green Chilly Bajji), after finishing the breakfast chit chat with the hotel owner about post Corona effect walked to the parking lot to pick the the Bull.
Tasty Chithranna served with hot Menasinkayi Bajji and Tea
Next destination was Male Mahadeshwara Hills which located at Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. Normally one can chose either Therakandabi, Yelandur, Kollegala, Hanur route or Begur Nanjangudu, Kollegala route. I have travelled both these routes earlier, so this time chosen a different and less travelled route, which goes through Pujanur, Germalam route.
This route is around 40 km longer then other route but goes through dense forest only local people chose to travel on this route, first you have exit Karnataka boarder near Punajur and enter Tamil Nadu region, again you have to enter Karnataka after Germalam.
From Gopalaswamy hill directly went to Gundlupet town from there road goes through some village and at last touched NH948 Bangalore Coimbatoure Highway which passes through Sathymangalam forest range.
Peepal tree
Temple on en-route to Germalam
Traffic on NH948 moderate, but heavy trucks are playing around on this route, road condition in Karnataka area is very bad, large pot holes are every where, some stretches are very dusty, may be by it will get repaired soon, boulders and other construction material seen around the road side.
Village
Karnataka - Tamil Nadu Border
Once enter the Tamil Nadu state Highway condition gets good, wild boars are very common on this route, when we are on highway TN Police stopped us for checking, friendly police personals searched our baggage's thoroughly, hearing my broken Tamil accent one of the person asked at me "Do you know Kannada ?😍" while chitchatting with him in Kannada he asked why did choose such a long route, I have told I would like to see the route so choose a less travelled route, while talking with him his senior officer also joined he showed interest in my Bull's and asking about the details🤣. After the checking they properly closed zippers of our bags and give warm sendoff.
Wild Boar on NH948
I have set route map at Gudlupet to Germalam, but in this route mobile signal was very low, works only in few places, most of the time it was offline. When we reached to Germalam just before the Forest check post it showed you reached your destination.
I didn't had much idea about this route, there is no mobile signal either in BSNL or Vodophone, at last a found a man and asked about the route, he directed to the next village called Oderpalya and said to ask direction from there.
After crossing 2km reached Germalam forest check post junction, enquired the route with officer on duty he nicely explained, from there again enter the Karnataka state forest and headed towards Hanur on Kollegala road. After going few kilometers got another forest check post, he has given clear idea about the route and he said mobile signal will starts once you cross that village.
It was around1430hrs didn't took lunch so took a break at small village after consuming tea and biscuit headed towards Male Mahadeshwara betta via Hanur.
At 1730hrs reached Male Mahadeshwara Betta, already booked the room through online so non tension about the availability of room. (http://mmhillsreservation.dyndns.org:85). If you booked room or not first you must go to the Information counter to show the booking details. I have booked in Nagamale Bhavan, it costs me Rs.750/- during online booking, at Information Centre they took Rs.50/- for sanitization charge and Rs.750/- refundable deposit which we have to collect back when vacating the room.
After freshened up and went walked towards the temple, on the way there are few people walking around the street, I thought it may be the post corona effect so less people over there, but once reached temple premises I have shocked a very huge crowed gathered over there, because that day was special day Golden Chariot festival was going😎. By god's grace we also got opportunity to participate on it.
Large crowd gathered for Golden Chariot festival
Golden Chariot
Devotees performing Seva
Front View
After watching the festival went back to the lodge, on the way finished our delicious dinner (Mudde Oota) near bust stand. Hotel staff guided us which curry should be used to in Ragi balls, and how to mix chilly paste in the Bassaru (Curry which is specially built for Ragi Balls).
Mudde Oota (ಮುದ್ದೆ ಊಟ) (Raagi ball, Rice, Bassaru,Saru, Sambar, Pickle, rice papad & butter milk)
Nagamale Bhavana Lodge
Day Four 26th January 2021
After taking bath around 0600hrs went to temple to make Darshana of Male Mahadeshwara, temple timings are available on their website,(https://mmhillstemple.kar.nic.in/) generally it open at 0630hrs, after sipping a taster tea at small shop which was run by a lady just in front of the temple went inside the temple.
Morning Vibes
There was not much cowed so easily get Darshan and came outside. After finishing breakfast near Bus stand returned to the lodge packed up all luggage and vacate the room.
Donkey laying down on street🤣🤣🤣
Rangoli in front of the lodge
Breakfast
Lunch at Noon
After vacating the lodge collected room deposit amount from Information center and started return journey via T Narasipura, Madikeri, near Mysoru took a lunch brake and reached home by 2000hrs. Totally in three and half days covered around 1050km in three states, most of the route are under reserve forest and tiger reserve.
