A brief account on my vacation (to Ooty and Valparai)

I skipped last week’s intense summer heat by going on chill vacation to Ooty and nature’s paradise Valparai. I was in need of a break from the routine, as well for a change (since a year I traveled anywhere long) and as an alternate route to keep away the misery haunted lifelong; the hot weather wants me to drive somewhere to keep sometime cool enough. Ooty wasn’t so cold and surprisingly it had a best climate I ever experienced there and the sun was shining so bright over the Blue Mountains, enhances the spirit rather being laze inside the clouded atmosphere.

First time I took a night travel to Ooty from Chennai and it is also the first time for me to take an overnight travel to any other destination. I hesitated when my parents decided to take night ride to avoid traveling in day hot weather and to adjust room rent, but later convinced to take since it is first time for me, I decided to experience it. I doesn't find any difficult during the journey and we traveled at limited speed covering Vellor, Krishnagiri, Mettur and Mettupalayam and the dawn was really enchanting with warm sunlight embracing the cold morning.

Even though it was comfort during the night journey, I felt fainting and sleepiest the whole day getting down in Ooty. Glad we haven’t planned anything that day, and stayed at the cottage and had delicious Biriyani and watching TV and cherished the pleasant cold weather. I was disappointed with few things anticipated over there and one among them was the cottage we stayed in. I looked for cottages in Ooty at Olx.com and few other websites related to Ooty and found a home which would be suitable for 12 of us to stay and esp. a ground floor for my convenience.

Avalanche Lake (click pic for enlarge)

Being a peak season time, getting a suite is also not easy and prices a lot. So we had no other option rather booking the cottage and what I saw on the net weren't we stayed, but it was another one somewhat compact and enough for only 8 members and others were stayed at another place, which they used only for sleeping at night. The cottage was little away from the city center, so it was calm to stay at somehow peace and even it was a little home, looked pretty neat and painted in vibrant yellow and green. Each room had a TV, which is nothing but the free TV sets distributed by govt.

Another disappointment came in different form and for that I can’t blame anybody rather myself, because I put it into a casual mode since I heard or those conveyed me made certain that we need no permission to visit Parson Valley. ‘Just making a note at the forest check post before entering is enough.’  We were close to the Parson Valley Lake or about 1.5 km from the site, the forest officers stopped us denied permitting inside and also warned that coming such long itself need permission. The road to the valley is quite rough and we traveled in two cars, and our SUV has no issue with such roads, but uncle’s Hyundai Accent with bad tyres made a great attempt surviving the road… it feels sad taking such a path with nothing to hold back.

Making it as a more special vacation, I met my dearest friend Andrew who was also on a trip to Ooty while we were. Couple of day before leaving, I casually asked him seeing his photos taken in Ooty at Facebook and he told he’s boarding flight tomorrow to reach there and I also conveyed my visit and we both felt happy and made sure meeting each other. He was staying at his friend’s place that was very close to where we accommodate, and he made a leisure walk to our cottage the next morning, making it more refreshing and cheerful day.  He brought me warmth hug and sweet embrace making quite delight and I really enjoyed the moment even it was brief.

Valparai (click pic for enlarge)

We spent just two days in Ooty and moved to Valparai. Since my uncle and aunt hadn’t been with us during our last two trips to Valparai, we decided to give them a chance to visit. We haven’t really planned to visit Valparai and it was a decision taken only after reaching Ooty and it wasn't the best time of the year to visit Valparai (I always want to be there only at post monsoon when the entire landscape shimmers in green and full-fledged water bodies). Being a month of summer, Valparai was little busy unlike ever, perhaps because both our early visits were during winter.

I have covered almost places in Valparai in my previous visits and this time just revisited few places where people usually go as tourist reaching Valparai. I hear few tourists saying there’s nothing to see in Valparai, but I only thought that they need to develop their mind to grasp the beauty of nature dumped over everywhere there. Valparai isn’t quite a tourist oriented place, but there’s a lot to perceive and it is a place that geographically significant and everyone need to travel with consciousness preserving the   large biodiversity exhibits there.

Valparai is also an engineering marvel with number of water bodies interconnected through tunnels and contour canal, setting an example how rivers could be connected. We traveled to Sholayar Dam, Nirar and Balaji Temple, but I wasn't content with the sights this time except for the visible of wild elephants, Indian Gaurs, Lion-tailed macaque and barking deer. I was excited to encounter these wild animals and riding thought the winding Ghats of Valparai is quite another pleasure I enjoyed through the leisure drive this time.  I had a wonderful time with my family at both the destinations, make quite lovely despite passing various phases of frustrate and surprise. 

A brief on my travel to Nilgiris

Kodiveri dam-falls, created by carving 20 foot wall of rock in 1125 AD

One week has passed since I came back from my travel to Nilgiris aka Ooty and its surroundings and it was about 2am when we reached home on Sunday (April 9). Begin on 3^rd April morning; we reached Kodiveri waterfalls by evening traveling about 450 km from Chennai via Salem ‘n’ Bhavani. It was very hot day and as we move close to Salem it turned terrific hot. Even the AC car couldn’t keep heat away completely and only thinking that we delayed the drive back home by wandering on hills until 2pm and leisurely dropped via Mettur ‘n’ Krishnagiri. I know the state has been going through historic drought but I still had hope there should be some water flow at Kodiveri falls come dam. And yes, there’s water more than what I expected and that surprise continued to flow throughout my travel.

The interior of our room

Though there were few disappointments when we tried to venture certain areas that I want to explore but the journey doesn’t went that way rather unexpected routes and doors opened for me. We had a comfort stay at the Nilgiris and just outside the Ooty town, called as Funcity, the area has handful of homestays and resorts but still quite calm always. Half a km inside from the Ooty-Coonoor main road, the couple of rooms we booked for 4 days (for 6 people) had beautiful views from the balcony overlooking the Elk Hill and fields of carrot and greenhouses. The interior of the rooms are very neat and spacious enough for 3 per room and well lit by led lamps. The travel wasn’t hurriedly and we moved around leisurely checking couple of places in Ooty and Coonoor apart a long drive to Upper Bhavani.

The view  from our balcony overlooking  Elk Hill

It was a long-time dream for me to check Upper Bhavani Dam. I have been to the backwater area of the Upper Bhavani (in 2011) traveling through the Avalanche forest and it was a great experience and sheer pleasure to venture the wilderness. Then, we had permission to drive up to Upper Bhavani dam but we turned back halfway as my parents hesitated to go deep into the wild forest. But that time visiting the dam doesn’t need permission to go via Kundha, which we tried this time and went up to forest check post and turned back as we denied entering the dam area due to the restriction  since some antisocial intruded the forest. When we tried to check the Pilloor Dam, while driving up to Ooty on the unusual road, we faced the same and the 3 check post we crossed had the photos on antisocial to mark the seriousness as well as warning.

A post shared by Jeevan Kumar (@jeevan.grp) on Apr 10, 2017 at 10:14am PDT

Tea plantations  and  pristine mountains  behind

By this travel I have covered the western side of the Nilgiris to the most but I still want to go there again sometime because the wealth of nature is abundant there and words could not describe the pristine I admire there. So far I haven’t written about the western catchment of Nilgiris and I believe people who are truly interested will seek information on available, alike me. And it is a great natural source of Tamil Nadu which needs to be preserved seriously and the forest officials are doing their best. Our stay at Sathiyamangalam, before heading to Ooty, was very convenient and guest house was spacious and disable friendly where I could come around the beautiful house in my wheelchair. Located on the bank of Bhavani River and canopy of trees create cool ambiance with birds frequent around.

@ Sathiyamangalam guest house

Look forward for more on my travel... decided to make many posts out of it

Elk Hill Residences

Elk hill is a hillock facing the Ooty town and the other side sliding down the Ketty valley, on Nilgiris, has slopes of hill residents and private resorts with tea gardens and woods spread around. Glad I was able to homestay right opposite to the hill (during my visit to Nilgiris aka Ooty in April 2017) to have a wonderful look on the same and the houses built in step formats. Our homestay had two big balconies overlooking the hill across the carrot and vegetable farming and Ooty-Coonoor main road. I really enjoyed this view and also the night ones with glittering lights from the hill residents (unfortunately I don’t have photos from night) and most of the houses built on the slope was tiled roof and built wall-to-wall with neighbours. I hope they all live as a community with peace and harmony unlike the different colors of house which perhaps one of the reasons for me to zoom for details. Looks most of the houses built there has to take only steps since there isn’t space to lay roads.

Btw. I don’t have any idea or found details why it is called Elk hill, but it only wants me to think either it should have Elk deer once on this hill or British (who discovered Ooty) brought some from their homeland. The other side of the Elk Hill has a popular Murugan temple built on the idea of Malaysia’s Batu Cave with a moderate golden statue of Muruga.

Lovedale ! Railway Station

It’s not easy for a wheelchair bound to board a train and traveling in a mountain railway is out of dreams but I always wish to visit at least a railway station of the century old Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Many movies have captured the beauty of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and its picture postcard railway stations and smoky stream engines chugging out of the stations and making journeys through scenic mountains. Lovedale is a popular location for the climax scene in Tamil hit film Moonram Pirai. Last time when I visit Nilgiris in April 2017, I was intent to check any of the railway stations of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Lovedale was my prior.

How appropriate to name alike?  I simply Love this place...

As I took an unusual road to Ooty, I passed Lovedale before entering the town and found it wasn’t far away from the town, so we passed without stopped there with a plan to return later leisure. Making it certain, the cottage we stayed was close to the Lovedale and opposite to the road leading there from the Ooty-Coonoor main road. We stayed at a place called Fun City, on the outskirt of Ooty and it is a place formerly seems to be an amusement park which later turned into property development and many cottages and homestay keeps emerging out there. Lovedale is just 6 minute drive from there and it was almost afternoon when we checked the lovely (Lovedale) railway station.

Yours truly waiting for his train haha..

I had no idea about the timing of the train’s arrival and passing the station but we learned only after we reached there that this was the time of the arrival of a diesel engine with passengers from Ooty. Actually we packed the lunch when moved out of the homestay and wanted to make to the railway station after having the lunch, when we already parked at the station parking. It was 1.30 pm and the station guard told the train will arrive in 10 minutes, so we postponed the lunch and waited for the train. Meanwhile I took some lovely photos around the station where we are the only visitors and various aspects of the station attracted me.

The pretty blue lovedale railway station

Lovedale, like all other Nilgiri railway stations, continue to operate from its original structure and it shares similar architecture as well. Coonoon being the junction railway station and Ooty as important and final destination on the mountain journey comes up with big operation rooms and passenger hub. But Lovedale is a passing railway station and only local people seems to board on and off and sometime tourist get down and take some snaps while the train halt for few minutes there. I actually thought the entire Nilgiri mountain railway (runs for 46 km) has turned into diesel locomotive but what I really don’t know was the stream engines are in continuous operation between Mettupalayam and Coonoor and only further upstream to Ooty (18km) is operated on diesel.

The train entered the station at 1.50 pm and moved exactly after 2 minutes halt and the train was fully loaded with passengers. As I was excited taking photos on the emerging/halted train, the passengers were curious watching me, taking photos from the wheelchair. When the train enters the platform the station guard exchange the rings (which looked like a wireless tennis bat) with the driver, which I Google to know is a “railway signalling process and the ring is a token, a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track”. In the picture above u could see the guards ready to exchange the rings, but the driver dropped the ring on the platform and took the ring from the station guard and it’s perhaps due to the speed.

As soon the train moved out of the station, the guard went up a small platform on the opposite side and changed the track gear. In short time it started to drizzle and the entire ambiance turn wonderful and much lovely and I really enjoyed the moment from the station porch, where I found couple of house sparrows making way through the portico. Though I hesitate to look into the station master room, through the open door I able to capture the token instrument placed on the table along an old telephone. The Nilgiri mountain railway began its construction in 1886 completed in 1908 with the building of track between Coonoor and Ooty, where Lovedale is interlinked.

The old token instrument and dial phone, the wooden ticket counter in booking room & hanging clock from the porch roof of the railway station.

Leaving to Garden City

The garden city is the nickname of Bangalore which has many gardens to derive its names from. I have come across Bangalore couple of time but only now got a chance to stay over and discover the places those are familiar with names of garden.

One of our friends, who come to know and become familiar via blog, had invited us to her home in Bangalore. The plan has been on consider for very long time and only get approved by us now, so leaving to Bangalore tomorrow with a list of places to visit and take rest in the presence of much better and very pleasant weather unlike Chennai, and moreover it’s the warmth and care wanted us to stay at her place.

Here I come up with few pictures captured from the Botanical Garden in Ooty, from our latter visit.

The Fern House (above pic) in the Ooty Botanical Garden is home to many ferns and orchids. Established in 1894, this house is dedicated to W.C. Mc. Ivor, in whose response the Garden has been developed to this stage from the then a patch of vegetable garden and wilderness of Shola and shrubs and the lower part as a swamp traversed by deep ravines.

Green lawns of Ooty Botanical Garden

Display of flowers : Ooty, famous for its annual flower show had begun recently in the botanical garden, with varieties of roses and flowering plants at display, and creation of sculptures using colorful flowers. Keeping in mind of India won the World Cup in cricket, a floral replica had been created which expected to attract more visitors this year.

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.

Glenmorgan

click pictures for enlarge

This is one of a very lonely place in the Blue Mountains of Nilgiris, northwest of Ooty. It’s just a 25 km drive from ooty center taking the right narrow path next to Pykara falls on Gudalur road. When searching for some newly places in net rather than the usual tourist visit and I found some places in that Glenmorgan is what we visited on the 2nd day after arriving Ooty. Right oppose to ooty this place is completely silent and more than a tourist place it’s a picnic spot to spent a day, on the day we went it was mixed under cool breeze and sunshine giving enough soothing. It’s a narrow path to reaching Glenmorgan is one besides having tall trees monkeys occupied and grass sloppy hills. As we enter there was a small army camp was going and soldiers where on exercise, army vehicles and horses stayed. Little move further comes this small stream that a flow from few feet high is simpler joy, but it was down to capture and the glenmorgan tea estate welcomes with colorful bloomed flower garden belong to some private estate.

Before reaching the turner and top station in Glenmorgan, we parked on road side of the beautiful lake bank for lunch and it was greenish earth and chillness weather because of being near lake and the little waterfall sound just for only nature and our families the only nosier. After lunch, I and my cousins went around climbing the off-road then to getting a view of the lake, tea gardens and slopes; my wheels are helpful going around myself along the lake road and towards viewer point. The lake is used as fore bay for Pykara power house and fishes been catches in lake. To see our little cousin was disappoint not bringing the fishing hook to catch fish. In the whole trip this is some place unforgettable and the best in all.

Glenmorgan is one of an oldest tea estate in Nilgiris and a very famous then. Those these days it’s a gateway for Electricity Board workers to reach Pykara power house in Singara which is about 3km down from the hill here. To reach the viewer point and winch station at edge of the hill, one need to get permission from the EB office their; for us it was easy to enter where dad being a government official they leave us sending a guide to explain and inspect whether we are using cameras, which is strictly banned. To our surprise it was something unexpected to see a winch been operated (but not now) towards the steep valley and visible track passes along narrow steps and pipers caring water to the power house. The guide explains that EB workers used to go through the winch besides deep forest and shoals reaching power house and incase of even climbing up/down in the fearing steps.

To know the valley there is called green desert, to the eyesight where it’s only forest and shoals. The winch operation is temporary stop there because of disturbance by wild animals; and few meters away from the end, is said to be a road come tunnel been created for EB vehicle to reach Singara. A small statue of memorial of the chief engineers of the project Sir Henry Howard was kept their behind as lake. One thing is, we get a picturesque view from the edge of mist and green covered mountains and deep forest which is said to be the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Getting back from there the sky was nearly closed by dark clouds and just after reaching govt. hostel where we stayed in ooty it was heavier the rain and kick started the strong cold.

Hindustan Photo Film, Ooty

The Hindustan Photo Film is one of the major industrial units of the Nilgiri district and a public sector enterprise. This unit is located about 5 Km away from Ooty railway station over a sprawling area of over 300 acres, near the Ooty Golf-links on the Ooty- Mysore road. The HPF was inaugurated by late Prime Minister Mrs. Indra Gandhi, in January 1967.

This industrial unit is currently producing Indu roll films which are used for taking photographs; Hindu X-ray films, the quality of which is acknowledged to be among the best in the world; Hindu bromide paper on which photographs are printed; and Hindu aerographic for geological and defence mapping, industrial X - ray film, laser recording film, CAT film, special film for space photography, oscilloscope direct print paper, photo typesetting paper and range of chemicals for the film processing.

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Powershot Sunday - St. Stephen’s Church, Ooty

“St. Stephen's Church in Ooty is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. Stephen Rumbold Lushington, the then Governor of Madras, who keenly felt the need for a church in Ooty exclusively for the British, laid the foundation for the church on April 23, 1829, to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. St. Stephen's Church, consecrated by John Matthias Turner, Bishop of Calcutta, on November 5, 1830 was opened to the public communion on Easter Sunday of April 3, 1831. It came under the Church of South India in 1947.” - Source Wikipedia.

Footnote:

The picture was taken in 2011 during one of my visit to Nilgiris and I haven’t gone inside the church, but just shot it while waiting at Ooty collector’s office parking lot to get permission to drive through Avalanche forest. St Stephen’s Church is on the road to Mysore from Charring Cross.

Into the wild - Mudumalai

About 10 in morning we were waiting at the Ooty Collectorate, on the recommendation of one of dad’s friend to get official permission to enter the Avalanche forest to led up to Upper Bavani backwaters and dam. But our bad chance the DFO had been on off-duty that day and being promised by the officers to get permission for next day, we decided to check the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 60km from Ooty, which we have planned for other day.

I have passed Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve couple of times over visiting Mysore and one of it at night; but this was on a bright summer day last year and it was such hot as soon we climbed down the hills from the very pleasant weather at Ooty. The cold breeze was brushing us against seeking some warmth while waiting for the response at collector office, which has some tall pine trees adding some more chillness.

We had some wonderful sightseeing driving down the winding road, stopping here and there for some shots and the above photo was on a small lake-come-check dam we passed and being summer, there isn't much water in any lakes or dams around the Nilgiri. While the condition on hills where like that, the plains doesn't need explain. But it was incredible hot even at Gudalur above 1000m MSL and we spent some time there getting our lunch packs and moved into the wildlife sanctuary, welcomed by an arch.

A part of our drive into the sanctuary was under scorching sun and we couldn't find an animal until reaching the Theppakadu – the head of the sanctuary, where the tourist activities hold around. Since it was summer and prevailing to drought, the sanctuary was closed for visitors taking safari and staying at their forest guest houses. We decided to drive on the National Highways that cut across this National Park, until the Tamil Nadu State boarder and while driving back to Theppakadu we found an adult bison (Indian Gaur) climbing down a mound, apart grazing.

The bison moved like a boulder, imposing to muscular body. It was the only so wild animal we found other than spotted deer and Gray Langurs. We also come across a Kumki (tamed elephant), carrying some green bushes in-between the tusk and trunk, drive by a mahout sitting on its top. During the month of Nov-Dec, the state government conducts refreshing camp in Mudumalai, which brings many temple elephants from across state to the permanent elephant camp in Theppakadu. But only this year the camp was shifted to the bank of Bavani River near Mettupalaiyam, to avoid giving trouble to elephants drive through Ghat Roads.

Even the wildlife sanctuary’s safaris are closed for visitors; there are number of private jeeps available to take us around the park, by certain routes allotted for them. But avoiding them, we head to Masinagudi. My bro had been there for two times and befriend with a jeep driver, so we called him to stay up there who was on a safari and before he arrives we had our lunch on the outskirts of Masinagudi and also drive up to Singara, looking for animals on either sides of the road.  Singara is where the Pykara Hydroelectric Power Plant is located, which brings water through pipes from GlenMorgan Lake at a height of about 1000 meters.

I know it wasn't easy for me to board a jeep, but wished to see what type of jeep it was and convenient by chance. Regrettably the jeep doesn't show any kind towards me carrying on, unlike the jeep guide who comes forward to take us via roadways in our SUV. The wear out tires refused to give me even that chance because it may take us through rough terrain.

For the back drive we took the road from Masanakudi to Ooty, which is an endanger route to drive past sharp hairpin bends and road climbing steep. Initially we took this route way back in 1997 to reach Mysore, unaware it’s endanger then we never took it later and only this time that too for climbing up and not down. The friend who drove the car was an experienced one and has been taken this route early once, decided to make a very careful drive and safe passage. We stopped at the Kalhatty fall and checked the view point, which shows nothing but a tract of wet rock.

Gray Langur

Before heading to Kotagiri, we made a visit to my friend’s house at Ooty and he being busy with his house under whitewash, we couldn't spend much time and also needed to check with officers at Collectorate about our next day visit to Avalanchi. Gladly we got the permission from the DFO, who was back at office in the evening, it was very exciting how the day gonna break tomorrow leading us to road less travel – which is another venture, for another day to share with you all.

Thank you J

Backing the Memories

Friend Balar has tagged me to write about my eight-summer holidays. Here is mine (a big post!!)

Summer holidays are very expected times that too in our school and collage days. For me holiday is as usual like others its grannies house. My grandpa house is just 2km from my house, in my childhood days I go there in weekends and come, but on holiday times only I could stay their and I enjoy with my sweet aunty. I used to roaming behind my aunty wherever she goes, we both go to her friend’s house, beach, and cinemas... Bro and me would like to fight with her with pillows and some times even with broomsticks hehe… Playing with the tube water, spraying on each other, bathing in the water tank at grandpa bull shed are the days that never comes again. After aunty was married our visit to grandpa house has reduced, but it’s really fun if the grannies houses have a terrace. We usually spend our times in the terrace by leaving kits. In this my bro fly kits well, we also used to put maanja (no English meaning) for the thread, not like using glass piece or rust, with the Kolamavu (the powder used to draw kolam) and color calcium power that used for whitewashing house.

Visiting grandpa’s village is another fun, the green fields, playing in vayakkal (canal) and bathing in pump set is a wonderful enjoyment. In our village visit there was this interesting sight kattukku porathu (going to forest), to pick cashew nuts. Going there is very thrill as the forest was under government, its risk to go inside, but we go with our uncle to pick cashew fruits and nuts; we kids collect the nuts that was spills and bring it to field. Then we burst the nuts in fire and my uncles distribute our shares. After eating nungu (Palmyra fruit) we create this adventure vehicle called nungu vandi (Palmyra vehicle), I love to drive this vehicle. Taking two nungu and connect with a bough and another stick to push it is called two-wheeler and single wheeler is taking a bending stick and connecting with it. To add more fun, we take the dry plam leaf and stick it with big thorn and drive in the village streets, it gives this tap tap tap sound.

In one of my holiday to my relative village, my cousin and me were walking inside the Savukku grove (the trees that use for burn fire) that we always do to reach the lake. That day in the middle of the grove we were shocked to see this cow was died, and being alone we screamed in the fear, and my cousin run from that place quickly, as I was running slowly I couldn’t see him near. I was crying in fear and confuse which way to go and the thoughts of the ghost rumors were threatening me and with a different sound from the grove was more shivering with me and only I could reach the house after roaming sometimes inside the grove. After this I have little fear on the groves.

The most excite expectation was to visit my small grandma house near Chengalpattu. They live in a calmness place with little house and hills surrounding, it’s the place for us to enjoy well with my cousin aunty (she is a year elder than me) and uncle. We spend much time to story taking (kadhai peasa) and playing dice, going to their garden. Sitting behind the cycle with uncle and rounding all places is our main work, and escaping from my bro who cries to come with us. Going to Thirukkalukundram and visiting temples, going around the hill on full moon days is what I like, esp. to eat sundal, pongal that was given by houses around the hill.

My first long time travel for the holidays and very enjoyable one was to Ooty. That was a big story till we start and end our trip. We had this big travel in the small Maruti car with 5 adults and 3 children (that time i was 11 years old), including the bags. Climbing the hill was so pleasant the chill wind experience is awesome. Rolling in the green grass at botanical garden, being with my little cousin the trip was enjoyable. Driving on the Ooty-Mysore road was a jungle safari; near mudumalai sanctuary we find dozens of elephants, monkeys, dears... The cool breeze, in the calmness road we making noise esp. shouting Veerappa ennga irukka (calling the sandalwood smuggler veerappa, where are u), that was the times veerappan were involved in kidnapping, that was funniest :D Going to the great Mysore Palace, beautiful and the tired waking on Krishnarajasagar Dam to watch dancing water. In that trip the more adventures and fearful place was this Hogenakkal. Traveling in the Parisal (Coracle) in the 60-foot deep water, the bathing in the falls and the canal, hot fish fry on the banks are superb.

My first time holidaying in kodaikanal (my most favorite hill station) was very stressful, even thought with some kind hearts I managed to enjoy with pain. The place we stayed was like an old bungalow, but mornings were very different, with rose flowers blooming around our house. Last year we were with our whole family to kodai, with the help of wheel chair I could go everywhere, the mist filled sight in Coaker walk, drizzle rain allover are awesome season. The road leads to kodai to thekkady was great sense, the both sides are sky raised hills and green fields, different language. The boat ride in Thekkady was shivering joy.

Its 10 years since this summer holidays we visit Ooty, very happy to write the memories again here. First pic was from Ooty, with my family, the boy in violet coat is me:) the 2nd one was the car we travel to ooty. Thanks for giving time to my big post!

I send this tag to one and only Thooya:)

A detour around Ooty

Trees rise and fall in nature's lap

During my visit to Nilgiris in 2017, I took a detour around the Ooty town, what I usually do or look forward to whatever places I visit, we took the road adjoin The Lawrence School following our stop at the lovely Lovedale Mountain Railway Station, and it was a casual turn toward this road while looked for a place to have lunch that we took along when we moved out of our homestay. The road led through calm and natural presence of woods and shrubs; amid where we found this Indian Gaur (aka Indian Bison) munching quietly some ten feet above our parked car and herd of sheep grazing alongside the road winding through some fresh patches of green or meadows. I really enjoyed taking this route even though the road isn’t good in shape it has some nice country sights where vegetables are cultivated and colourful houses built on hill slopes. Coming across these found the Mountain Railway track winding along the road and it was really surprise for me as I have seen this place and wished to visit when I read an article related to it on the Hindu Metro Plus, very long back, plus it has come in movies esp. the popular Tamil film Vaali.

I loved seeing the arched railway bridge at a turn of the road, which was picturesque but unfortunately it started to rain when nearing the bridge so I couldn’t get clear shots and also the iron fence along the way interrupted the view. There was lot of tiny wildflowers alongside the road and this stretch was really refreshing, breathing through the fresh mountain air and essense of soil and different form the usual views on Ooty. Following were some photos from the drive

Some sheep grazing on the roadsides

A cute one grazing alone

View on some colorful houses and residents made life thought mountains, grazing sheep and cultivating vegetables and tea. Being a part of Ooty perhaps their lives depend on tourism activities. 

A cemetery locating very close to the residences you seen a pic above

Something interesting caught our eyes, as we could see it was some kind of cultivation which resemble some arrangement of stones. There was none around there to enquire about the thing and it wasn't nearby to look closer

Saw this beautiful house on the way made through salubrious environment of green fields, tea garden and fresh mountain breeze.

A pleasant countryside view  

The winding mountain railway track along the road (between Lovedale - Fern Hill) and I wished there was a streamer passing by as we drive through.

Here comes  the pretty arch bridge or underpass of the Nilgiri Mountain Railways... where the popular tamil song Oh Sona (from Vaali) was shot.