Reaching Nilgiris

Yelagiri hills & Mettur dam

In mid may we were planned for a trip and in wish I was looking forward to visit Valparai in Coimbatore district, but for some reason and doubt of getting leave for dad, it was canceled. Then in between, dad’s friend in Coimbatore urged at least go to Nilgiris where he can arrange govt. hostel in Ooty to stay, which was vacant because of students’ vacation. Before that, dad want’s permission from his higher officer for vacation, ‘though dad wondered and many of us that as soon he asked him leave for a family trip he signed immediately which none gets easily. So it was and then arise another problem in transporting. Dad think if we go on travels they charge more and if get a vehicle, only diesel and driver charge cost. So we thought of taking our aunt’s Scorpio, but here also a difficult that there Scorpio doesn’t have a carrier. Just for our four it was comfortable with luggage and my wheelchair, but we are taking our uncle’s (chittapa) family and we need a carrier. Same time my sister was also on plan to visit ooty and she told waiting to join with us, though she and her parent are feeling lonely visiting and we are to share with their Sumo making our trip comfort and also calling our grandparents with us.

Mettur dam

Waked up early 5am, packed and reached uncle’s place where we all get-together to start our journey. By 7 we left home after packing things, food and everything for our journey. We take the Vellore, Dharmapuri, Mettur and Satyamanglam route to reach Nilgiris; it was smooth an easy traveling from Chennai to till Dharmapuri border and from there for miles the road work been disturbing alike braking the speed. The road we travel passes through Mettur dam’s 16 eye way and the time it was 100 foot water storage and to get the view of the dam right and canals that something seen often in television, but the row of vehicles just behind make us move fast even I take some pictures. From there it started the Western Ghats Mountains on right and the up down roads from Satyamangalam is still a recall of memories of 11 years old where I use to urged my uncle then to leave accelerate the road goes down and making sounds like ‘Veerappa enga irukka?’ (Calling the sandalwood smuggler in those days whom used to be roaming there then) :D

I just want to show my sis we have to enjoy happily our trip in SMS, who is in another vehicle before climbing hills, but to see it was still undelivered even after retuning home and it was over 7pm in evening we started to drive on hills and because of over traffic slow downs the drive reaching Ooty by 9.30pm. I wished there was natures light when climbing on mountains getting the nature visible, though it was dark aright and it was the eucalyptus scent in breeze welcomes. Few km further on hills got the view like multi gems dropped down beneath to my left; and those are the lights from the town near shines in red, green, yellow…. Before arrive hostel, the place we actually stayed in ooty, my sister’s relative arranged a guest house known as Stone House a famous old house in ooty belong to English men period. First we thought to stay their, but there is no more facilities for us, so we left hostel by 10.30 and after dinner it was nearly 12 to leave bed. Already Nilgiris are wet everywhere of rain and it was raining still after arriving hostel the cold ever high we felt that night. If everything was ok then, we would have got a chance staying in Stone House which is so clam reside and a top place to get the whole town under sight.