MUNNAR - VISIT

31st May - 2nd June 2017

We wanted to utilize 2 nights/3 days holiday offer from Country Club. We booked for a hotel and it was Ayur County Resort, 22 km from Munnar Town, on the way to Thekkady.

Having left from Wayanad, 30th night at 10.30 pm in a KSRTC bus, reached Munnar town at 7.30 am, a distance of 370 km. The taxi and Jeep drivers were behind us to book for hotel. We chose a jeep driver StephanRaj to take us to AyurCounty Resort. He also showed us to Sharavana Bhavan to have breakfast, which we sincerely agreed to. After breakfast, he took us through beautiful picture book, sprawling tea plantations and winding roads to the resort, which was excellent. We checked in, relaxed and in afternoon, enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and the pleasant weather.

Next day 1st June, we booked a taxi for sightseeing around Munnar for the whole day for Rs 2000/- and left the resort at 9.30 am. After breakfast again at Saravana Bhavana, proceeded to Kallar falls and spent some time. From there, next stop was at Kerala Spice Farm, on the hills. It's massive organization with a aggressive marketing team. The moment visitors stop on the roadside, we are taken in a jeep down the hill with a guide for a Fee of Rs100.00 per person.

PURCHASED ITEM

The lady took us round the farm, giving explanation and uses of plants and its medicinal value. Actually it is marketing strategy. After an hour of touring round the farm, we are taken again in the jeep to shop selling ayurvedic medicine using those plants and invariably visitors end up in buying fairly good amount of stuff.

After returning to Munnar and having lunch at Sangeetha Restaurant, proceeded towards Metupatty side for dam, Honeycomb tree, elephant ride, wild elephants area, shooting spot, boating area, echo point and rose garden. It was 6 pm when finished our sightseeing and returned to resort by 7 pm.

It was a day well spent seeing various venues in cool and pleasant weather.

Next morning we checked out from the resort, came to Munnar by local bus, had lunch and took KSRTC bus to ALUVA, a distance of 110 km and reached at 5.30 pm to catch train at 9 pm, taking us back to Bengaluru.

Next morning at 8 am we were at Bengaluru Contonment station, where Rishi with Seena came to pick us up and back home after breakfast.

written 12th June 2017

KARLAD LAKE - WAYANAD

Monday, 29th May 2017

Karlad Lake is fresh water lake for nature lovers for calmness, boating and some adventure games also. It's about 20 km from Kalpetta, Waynad.

We reached there after 12noon, leaving after visiting Banasura Lake and there were many tourists. As we had to for lunch at a relations house in Waynad, we did not stay for long, just watched the boating area and the park entrance.

Ready for ZIPLINE

The seven acre land surrounded by this lake is a popular picnic spot. The lake is surrounded by thick bamboo groves,

One of the adventure activity at the lake was Zip Line,  second biggest in India. The person holding strings and zooms across the lake from one end to the other and just for 20 seconds thrill. The person land on the other side and returns in a boat. Mom and Dhanya had thrilling experience.

Nice place to visit and spend some time.

written Sunday 11th June 2017

BANASURA DAM/LAKE - BOATING

Waynad, Kerala 29/5/2017

Banasura Sagar Dama is the largest earthern dam in India , located in the picturesque, mist-clad hills with a wildlife sanctuary and park full of flowering trees. It is also wonderful picnic spot and boating facilities are available.The dam holds large expanse of water and its beauty is enhanced by chain of mountains called Banasura Hills.

It's about 15 km from Kalpetta, Waynad and we reached early to avoid crowd for boating. After parking the car, paying an entrance fee (Rs30.00), we have to walk a short distance and climb up the dam and reach the picnic, garden and boating spot. It's Rs 750 for hiring a motor boat, which can take five people. It's beautiful boat ride, in the picturesque surroundings and background. The water level was low, otherwise. it will be flooded.

After the ride, we spent some time at the FishSpa and the garden and proceeded to the next spot in our sightseeing program for the day.

written Saturday 10/5/2017

EDAKKAL CAVES - VISIT

Sunday , 28th  May 2017

It is in the morning 10am we reached the bottom of the Ambukuthi hill, the bottom of the Edakkal Caves. We never knew that we have climb a natural structure of 4000 ft up a mountain to reach the place,It is still wonder and mystery for archaeologists and historians.

Initially, the path is climbing uphill on a road, after a few minutes, you start gasping, which needs you to sit, After relaxing, continue the uphill journey for about half hour, when you reach a entrance gate, where you pay a nominal fee for the entrance ticket (Rs 30.00). Further you start climbing the hill on natural steps, sitting for few minutes and then continuing. To reach the top, you have climb up on steel steps, and railings were of great help.The lush greenery and the scenic landscape and the cool breeze that carry the aroma of coffee will make your journey unforgettable one.

Edakkal, means "a stone in between", one boulder miraculously wedged in between two bigger ones to create a cave. It is the fissure of the rocks which had been created due to natural causes/changing climatic conditions. The split in the rock is about 22 ft in width and 96 ft in length. The depth of the cleft extends to over 30 ft and there is large rock which has fallen forming a roof over it and this large cleft and the roof rock gives appearance of a cave.

The rock surface is full of linear motifs and weird shaped figures, crosses, triangle, squares, wheels various animal and human figures. Apart from these pictorial carvings, ancient inscriptions have been identified. It is the only known place for stone age carvings in South India, believed to be as old as 7000 years, belonging to Neolithic and Mesolithic Age include stone scripts.

After spending about 20 minutes, it is time to climb down the steps and the hill enjoying the scenery and watching the landscape.

It is like experience the venue of stone age, which still exists.

Written Thursday 8th June 2017

TRIP TO WAYNADU 2017

28th May - 2nd June 2017

We had a fantastic trip of 3 days/2 nights at Waynad and 3 days/ 2 nights at Munnar, beautiful places at "God's Own Country", Kerala.

Felicitating Melshanthi LakshmiNarayanan

Day1 : We reached Kalpetta, Waynad, early morning, 5.30am, having left Bengaluru previous night by Manish Travels Ac sleeper bus.

K P LakshmiNarayanan, Melshanthi, Gramam Devi Temple, Ponnada, ManiyanKode was happy to receive us and took us to their house in the middle of coffee estate, with beautiful surroundings.

at EDAKKAL CAVES

By 10 am, we left for first sightseeing, climbing Edakkal Caves, very challenging task, returned and had lunch at Udupi Hotel, Kalpetta. LakshmiNarayanan's daughter Dhanya accompanied us with the driver. Post lunch, we went to Kharapuzha Dam with LakshniNarayanan's wife and returned.

Day 2: By 9.30am, we left for BanasuraSagar/Dam and lake and boating. After spending some time we, proceeded to Karlad Lake for boating and ZIP LINE, Mom and Dhanya enjoyed it.

Boating at Banasura Lake

We then proceeded to KrishnaMoorthy Varambally's beautiful house near Meenangadi, remote area in the middle of farm. We had lunch in their house  and his wife Sujatha was very cordial and affectionate. From there we proceeded to Tea estate and to Tea factory with Lakshmi and family and we returned.

at KrishnaMoorthy Varambally residence

Day 3: Left by 9.30 am to Kuruva Island, a distance of about 30 km, crossing in a rowing boat and then walking in the island and returned for lunch at Lakshmi's house, as the hotels were closed due to some strike.
Later in the night, after dinner, left for Munnar by bus leaving Kalpetta at 10.30 pm

Day 4: Reached Munnar at 7.30 am, beautiful hillstation, weather pleasant. After having breakfast at Saravana Bhavan, we left by Jeep for Ayur County Resort, a place at a distance of 20km on Thekkady road, a beautiful drive on hilly tea plantations. Relaxed and walked around the resort.

at AYUR COUNTY RESORT

Day 5 : Engaged a taxi and left by 9.30 am for Munnar Sightseeing. Waterfalls, |Kerala farm, Metupatty Dam, elephant ride, echo point, Rose garden etc etc.... Had breakfast at Saravana Bhavana and lunch at Sangeetha restaurant. Returned to Resort at 6.30pm and relaxed.

Day 6: Walked around the resort, had breakfast and checked out from the resort at 11 am and proceeded to Munnar by local bus. Had lunch at again at Sarvana Bhavan, and left for Aluva at 2 pm to catch the train. Reached Aluva at 5.30 pm waited for the Bengaluru express train, leaving at 9 pm.

at the WATERFALLS

The train was late by 1 hour and reached Bengaluru Contonment at 9 am, Rishi was there with Seena to take us back home, thus ending six days of wonderful trip.

written Tuesday 6th June 2017