After initiating and discussing for quite some time we (Sagaro & myself) embarked on the first edition of Make Your Trip. This was also a trial version, we had lot of learnings and plannings for future. We did 8 out of 10 villages in all in about 1200 bucks each.
The complete route was Bangalore (Silk Board Junction) – Banshankari – Rajarajeshwari Circle – Mandya – Pandavapura (D1) – Mysore – Ooty – Gudalur – Ayyankolly (D2) – Sultan Bathery – Kalpetta – Manathavady – Melechova – Veliyanur (D3) – Kannur – Calicut – Thrissur – Chembavoor – Kollam – Kottara (D4) – Tenkasi – Uttumalai (D5) – Courtallam – Madurai – Tanjore – Mannargudi – Kumbakonam – Jayamkondacholapuram (D6) – Chennai – Nellore – Sangam (D7) – Bangalore
We crossed Kalady which was another destination but we did not take any photos due to lack of light and rains.
Click here to read the earlier post.
1. Pandavapura: This place was more of town but 1km away you enter the fields, lush green with stream of water flowing by. We had water from this stream which also flows the detergents from clothes washed by washerwoman. Not only that, cows & buffaloes stop there to take a leak!!
2. At Mysore bus stand with no sign of bus to Ooty, initially I sat on the ground in front of bus only to shift later to the comfort inside the platform for some sleep. Fortunately the beggar association president did not kick us out.
3. Chembakolly which was the name of destination in Nilgiris mentioned in Maps of India was wrong. There never existed such a place. But on enquiring the correct place was Ayyankolly. There was nice gentleman who took us around and showed pepper leaves for which this place is famous.
We also noticed India’s No.1 Tailor shop!!
4. Kalpetta was the worst nightmare. We took a room in Matha Tourist Home due to heavy rains only to be smitten all over by bed bugs!! I had boils all over while my friends eye was swollen to large extent!!
5. Valiyanur did not have many houses. We sat under a tree to have lunch and the spot became a cult. Once we got up, lot of other local people went and sat under the tree. There is of course a school which is under renovation.
6. Sitting in Thrissur bus stand was a terrifying experience. First bus stand we came across where we had to pay for using the toilets which were also not clean. After sometime, in Rome be a Roman. So look for vacant spaces!! We sat on a chair and it was not comfy, so I shifted to the ground later.
7. When we reached Kottara, my toes were paining because of new shoe and also walking so much. I took out the swiss knife and did a small operation only to be watched by all the villagers. I made myself famous there!!
8. Kollam beach was real nice with no much pollution. This place had an artistic sculpture and Sagaro stood in front of it with another artistic way for me to take a neat photo. It took me 15minutes to take this by when the entire beach was watching us. A guy who was on mobile was not able to control his laughter. For all those perverts, we are talking about art. Due to censorship reasons I cant post the photo here.
9. Tenkasi was real cold in the morning with slight drizzle. We went to Uttumalai. We were damn hungry that we ate about 10 idllis, 4 puris & 3 vadas all for Rs.24/-. Sunflower oil farming & corn are major. There are also lot of windmills in this region for power generation. Sagaro tried to commit suicide here, unfortunately the well was not deep enuf. So he climbed out easily. I even brushed my teeth here after two days!!
10. Courtallam is famous for its water falls. Due to lack of rains there were not many. We went to Five Falls and had our bath for second time in 4 days!! We walked about 5kms to reach the falls. Enroute an autorickshaw guy asked us to come in for Rs.5/- and later reduced to Rs.4/- but we refused to take it. While returning he tells his colleague dont ask them, while coming itself they didnt take the auto!!
11. In Tanjore, we visited the Brihadeeshwar temple. This temple has got lot of history and I have been to this place most of summer vacation during school days that I got so much attached. Which is why every time I cross this place I atleast want to visit the temple, no religious reasons of course.
12. Jayamkondacholapuram is a small little town. But the people are very friendly like in other villages. I was also offered tea at someone’s house when I was searching for shade to take some rest.
13. Chennai the interim halt for breakfast at my house. We walked all the way to my house a distance of about 7kms early in the morning!!
14. From Nellore, we went to Sangam and did some rock climbing. The view from the top was just beyond words. I took my friends camera and went to top risking the camera more than myself!! There was another hill nearby, the road looked like cutting through.
After this we had to cut short the trip. Further travel costs just got costlier prohibiting the journey. So, now am back in Bangalore.
Few photos which I liked from the entire trip.
(Sunset @ Sangam, Andhra Pradesh)
(Scary Me)
(At Uttumalai)
(@ Pandavapura)
For remaining photos goto my Y! photo album (link also provided in the right sidebar) and check out albums starting with MakeYourTrip*.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen 