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Thursday 20 December 2012

Athirapally Falls

Athirapally Falls, (also known as Punnagai Mannan Falls by the locals, after the famous Tamil film shot here) is a 50 Km drive from Valparai thro' the Sholayar range (around 900 Km from Chennai via Coimbatore, Pollachi, Valparai). The drive thro' the dense green forest is an exciting and thrilling experience with the Vazhachal Falls (Captain Prabhakaran Falls named after the famous Tamil film shot here) en route and the destination Athirapally, where the water falls from 80 feet into the Chalakudy river, is a view that is beyond any vocabulary. A journey to be remembered for a life time !!!
 
 
 Sholayar Dam
 


Vazhachal Falls
 


Athirapally Falls
 



Top Slip & Parambikulam Dam

Top Slip is a 35 Km drive from Pollachi, en route to Parambikulam Dam (Pollachi is around 540 Km from Chennai). The elephant camp at Top Slip is just awesome with an oppurtunity to see how the elephants are fed and tamed. Parambikulam Reservoir is around 20 Km from Top Slip (55 Km from Pollachi) and requires permission from the Forest Check post at Thunnakadavu to visit the Dam. The drive thro' the ghat road is thrilling and if lucky enough, there is always a chance to spot wildlife. (deer, bison, elephant, etc..)
 
 
Top Slip
 




Elephant Camp @ Top Slip
 




Parambikulam Dam
 

 

Monday 17 December 2012

Amaravathi Dam

Amaravathi Dam, located in Udumalaipet near Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, is around 580 Km drive from Chennai via Ulundurpet, Salem, Perundurai, Coimbatore, Pollachi. The dam is a 1 hour drive from Pollachi and can be in agenda for Tours in and around Pollachi. The dam landscaped by Anaimalai Hills in the background gives a peaceful feeling.
 
 



Vellore Fort

Vellore Fort, Vellore is a 130 Km drive from Chennai via Poonamallee, Sriperumbudur, Arcot on NH 4. The fort built by Vijyanagar kings in 16th century is surrounded by a moat, filled with water. The fort is famously known for the first breakout against Bristish rule in 1806, when a group of Indian Sepoys revolted against the Bristish Officers for imposing a rule on them to wear round leather hats replacing the traditional turbans. A monument worth visiting for history lovers.
 
Fort Entrance

 
The Fort surrounded by Moat


Inside the Fort


Sri Jalagandeeswarar Temple inside Fort


Inside the Fort


St.John's Church inside Fort

Saturday 8 December 2012

Suruli Falls

Suruli Falls is located in the beautiful Surulipatti village, which is a 550 Km drive from Chennai via Trichy, Dindigul, Theni, Chinnamanur (on the Theni Cumbum road), Surulipatti. The road to the Falls passes thro' the scenic Surilipatti, reminding of some of the classic tamil village shooting spots. The falls has water thro' out the year and a feasible spot en route Thekkady (or) Munnar.
 




 

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Talakona Falls

Talakona Falls is a 60 Km drive from Tirupathi, AP thro' Bhakrapet. The drive to the Falls and the trek route (app. 1 Km) is absolutely exciting followed by the view of a high waterfall.
 
 Tirumala Entrance
 

 A view of Tirupathi from Tirumala downhill


A lonely spider's web enroute trekking

Talakona Falls

Horsley Hills

Horsley Hills is located near Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh. The Hills, which has got it's name after an English Collector - Horsley, who chose this location for his summer time holiday home, is  a 280 Km drive from Chennai via Wallajah, Chittoor, Madanapalle. An AP Tourism owned resort, housing a swimming pool, bar & restaurant is the only spot atop the hills. A long drive for a day with a good weather, clearly with no expectations of a Hill station in mind but only to spend time at a resort will suit a visit to Horsley.



 

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Munnar Hill Station


Munnar, Idukki district, Kerala, is around 580 Km drive from Chennai via Trichy, Dindigul, Theni, Bodi, Devikulam. There are 2 routes to make it to Munnar, the first and the most preferred being the above and the other being the Chennai, Trichy, Dindigul, Palani, Udumalaipet, Chinnar, Maraiyoor. The forest drive starts at Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Udumalaipet and the drive will be across the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary till Maraiyoor.
 
When taking the Theni route, the ghat road starts from Kurangani (a scenic village at the foothills, a right turn from the Theni - Cumbum road) and its a pretty long hill drive (around 3.5 hours) covering both uphill and downhill in a single way, since you drive across mountain ranges.
 
Munnar has a number of scenic spots, which keeps busy the photographer within you. The misty mountain ranges covered with a green carpet of tea estates, the blue sky above and the silver like waterfalls, definitely make this place as God's own country. The chill breeze and the greenery of the hills leave behind unforgettable memories.
 
Anayirankal Dam is enroute to Munnar (on the Theni, Bodi route) after Devikulam.
 
 
Chinnakanal Falls or the Power House Falls is also enroute next to Devikulam. The scenic high waterfalls is prohibited for bathing, but a perfect spot for a photograph.




Attukadu Falls is on the Munnar-Kochi road from the Munnar town. The falls can be seen only from a distance and it's the only spot in this route.


There are 2 routes from the Munnar town for the day tours. One being the Madupetty route and the other is the Chinnar route.

Madupetty Route:
Floriculture Garden - Photo Point - Madupetty Dam - Echo point - Kundala Dam - Top Station
 
Chinnar Route:
Rajamalai - Lakhom Falls - Maraiyoor Sandalwood Forest - Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary


Madupetty Route:

Floriculture Garden is a flower garden for plant lovers - the first spot en route from the Munnar town.



Photo Point is a pitstop for photograph with the lush green Kannan Devan Tea estate on the back drop.
 

Madupetty Dam, a scenic dam with boating and elephant ride.


Echo Point is known for the echo of your voice heard from the forest across the waters.


Kundala Dam, another dam enroute


Top Station is known for the 180 degree view of the  hills with the Tamilnadu & Kerala states' border line (visibility highly dependant on the weather). An enjoybale place, tho' it requires a bit of steep climbing tof he steps.


Chinnar Route:

Rajamalai also popularly known as Eravikulam National Park, is known for sighting the Nilgiri Tahr (Varai Aadu, rare species of mountain goat) and with good views. The spot is operated via battery buses from the car parking lot and the queues get longer as the day goes by, as much as even 4 hour wait time on a peak season day.


Lakhom Falls, an enjoyable waterfalls en route with more of rocks and pebbles.

 
Marayoor Sandalwood Forest is a drive thro' fenced Sandal wood forest.

 
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is  a perfect place for forest trekking and for wild life sighting.
 
 
Tea Plantations


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