Trip to Kolli Hills Part - 4

Day Four Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu 3rd September 2017

It was around 0750hrs in the morning, pleasant weather out side, birds are singing outside took a camera and went for a round around the resort. Calm and beautiful atmosphere took back me to 20 years back. Now a days its difficult to find such an atmosphere in our area, winding roads passe in front of the resort and in the empty road two school girls were walking on the road towards school in pink uniform, they were busy in chit chat, It took me to olden days, No mobile phones, FB Whatsapp, they are really enjoying their childhood.

Reception area Nallathambi Resort

Surroundings

Decorative palm tree

Around 0830hrs took a cup of tea and headed towards the Akasa Gangai Waterfalls located just 12km from Semmedu. The road goes between thick forest around, on the way found small restaurant while enquire breakfast is yet to ready, he suggested there are hotels available in next town near the bridge. 

Tea at Resort

En route to Waterfalls

Many small villages built on the way, the main occupation of the people were agriculture, they are  cultivating fruits and vegetables,  apart from this some of them are managing small hotels and shops.

Bridge On the way

As soon as crossed the Bridge entered the small village, there are many small tea shops over there they are busy in preparing the breakfast, we travel further and reached near the check post were entry fees are collecting just Rs.10 per motorcycle. The person who was collecting money told that there were good hotels available near the waterfall.

Check post collecting entry fee

Sri Arappaleeswara Temple

Around 0850hrs reached near the famous Sri Arappaleeswara Temple, this place is called Valapur Nadu, a small town, some shops and hotels were built around the temple and  waterfall entry also nearby.

Temple street

Temple Entrance

Inside the temple

This is believed that the God Shiva in this temple is Swayambhumurthi, a scare on the head of Shivalinga is visible, in olden days while cultivating the agricultural land plough hit to the Shivalinga and this made a mark on head of the Linga.

When we reached there we heard  drum beating sound, crowd also gathered near the temple, we parked our motorcycles near by a tented hotel and decided to visit inside the temple. It was one of the beautiful and colourful temple. 

When we entered the temple we found that some marriages going inside the temple, that's way they beating drums. Here one thing I observed that  the way of they are marrying is very simple Bride and Groom enter the temple along with some close relatives, drummers take them inside by beating the drum, In front of the God they exchange the garland, salute the god and one pradakshina over the tempel and a photo shoot, marriage is over.😆😆. No homa's ,mantras, nothing etc.

Photo Shoot

After visiting temple finished our breakfast near by Hotel and walled towards the famous Akasa gangai (Agaya Gangai) waterfalls. At the Hotel met some riders who came from Malappuram district of Kerala. To access waterfalls one has to descend 1050 steps.

Hot Idly

Plain Roast😋

It is too hard to reach the base of the falls, rocks are little bit slippery but it worth to visit, water falling from 300 feet looks fantastic.

Waterfalls entry

Steps

Side rails are provided

When we reach near the entrance of the waterfall ticket collector was went to take his breakfast, one of the person who sells bath towel and barmuda's etc. collected entry fee of Rs.10 per person on behalf of ticket collector.

Breathtaking view

You can take rest here

Beautiful View

Big Plant

Touch-me-Not😃

While descending the steps one interesting plant i.e Touch me not, In our area these plants are very small but here it's grown very big. Interesting this is when you touch it's leaves it shrinks away and folds after a minutes it again opens up.

 

Akasa Gangai (Agaya Gangai) Waterfalls

At 1010hrs reached near the waterfalls, took some photographs, its very difficult to use camera because water drops flying in the air turns camera lens with in a fraction of seconds. A small changing room also built near by, it helped to take some snaps of the waterfalls.

 Bus Stand near Sri Arappaleeswara Temple

Small shops near the temple selling artificial ornaments

Around 1100hrs reached top and returned back to resort, after a cold water bath at resort vacated the room and started our return journey, It was around 1200hrs one the way found a school, were all children are sitting outside the class rooms in the shade of the tree, teachers were busy  to teach them.

Before start to descend the ghat section just give a break for a cup of tea at Sollakadu and started ascending the ghat section around 1300hrs reached near the forest check post located near the base of the hill. Karthik me parked our motorcycles under the shade of the tree and let the brakes cool.

TVS XL100 Promotion

While passing through the small town found TVS XL100 Promotion vehicle, one thing I would like to share here that,TVS Mopeds are very popular in Tamil Nadu. where ever you go, small Green colour TVS Mopeds carrying goods, two adults plus 2, 3 kids in it. Most of the lady's are know to ride the two wheeler all most all of them are using TVS Mopeds and most of the mopeds are Green colured. It was around 1330hrs.We are searching of good hotel for lunch.

On the way found Hotel Saravana Bhavan on express highway finished our lunch and headed towards Sathyamangalam as per our plan we have to stay at there, but we reached littler early it was around 1730hrs so decided to go further till Chamarajanagar. And around 1930hrs reached chamarajanagar and find settled into a decent lodge.

Sunrise in the Sathyamgangala ghat (File Picture)

Dimbam (File Picture)

 On the way found Hotel Saravana Bhavan on express highway finished our lunch and headed towards Sathyamangalam as per our plan we have to stay at there, but we reached littler early it was around 1730hrs so decided to go further till Chamarajanagar. And around 1930hrs reached chamarajanagar and find settled into a decent lodge.

 Kollegala Junction

Day Five Return Journey 4th September 2017

Vacated the lodge at 0530hrs and headed towards Mysore around 0630hrs reached at Nanjangudu took a brake for the breakfast. After eating hot Idlies and Bisibele bath continued our journey at Mysore took Ring road and joined Madikeri Highway. At Sullia filled fuel and reached home by 1400hrs.

 Nanangud Temple

Total Distance covered during the entire trip 1420Km, it was one of the wonderful memorable trip, the culture, people everything unique. Cool people living in villages remember me the peaceful childhood.