Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
This is a brief travelogue of a 3 day trip we did from Bangalore to Mavanahalla (a small village in Mudhumalai Forest). We drove down in a Maruti Suzuki WagonR. The route: Bangalore-Mysore-Mudhumalai. Distance: Approx. 260kms. Travel time: Approx. 7hrs with brief stop-overs. Average speed: 60-80Kms/hr. We started at 5:30am and reached Mysore at approx. 8:30am.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
The Maruti Suzuki WagonR is a remarkable car. Although only 4 people can sit comfortably we were 6 of us squeezed into this tiny car. This is definitely not an off-roader, but its very smooth to drive on a highway. We did 500+kms on 30liters (7.9 gallons) of gas. The only drawback is that you lose drive and mileage if the AC is on. We filled-up 20liters before leaving from Bangalore. Mysore is the next stop for gas although there are gas-stations along the way. There's a Reliance gas station near Chennapatna. After Mysore there are very few 'good' gas-stations.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
Its a pleasure to drive on the newly laid Bangalore-Mysore, although there was still work going on in some sections. Since we left at 5:30am the traffic was light. Except for a short 5min pit-stop we drove to Mysore almost non-stop. After Mysore the road does get patchy and in places quite ragged. The long distance inter-state buses did not seem to mind the pot-holes and sped right past us as we dodged the craters.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
One of these poor chicks dangling by their legs could end up in your dinner plate. What a cruel way to transport these live chickens. Even death-row inmates are treated with better dignity than these.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
As you get closer to Mysore the traffic picks up, especially after Mandya. Mysore is a good place to stop for a bite and top-up gas before proceeding to Nangangud->Gundelpet->Bandhipur. We decided not to stop in Mysore except to pick-up a reel of film. We wanted to beat the heat by reaching Bandhipur as soon as we could.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
Watch out for crazy villagers. They come up the wrong side of the road to avoid going to the next turn-off. Seeing a vehicle come in the opposite direction when you're doing 80kms can be quite unnerving. One good thing though are the fruits and tender-coconut they sell on the road-side. Seeing a vehicle approach they flag you down to stop for a tender-coconut. At 7Rs per coconut, the rate does seem to be equal to Bangalore rates, but the size of the coconuts can almost be double. Other than tender-coconuts you'll also come across villagers selling guava, chickoo (Saporta) and grapes.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
An hour and a half from Mysore and we reached Gundelpet a small town just on the outskirts of Bandipur forest. Looming in the distance we could see the Nilgiris range. Gundelpet is the turn-off point to Wynad (which is another fabulous place to visit).
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
Bandipur and Mudumalai are part of the 5520 sq km Niligiri Biosphere Reserve. The Karnataka side of this reserve is called Bandipur and the Tamil Nadu side is called Mudhumalai. Bandipur is famous for the Tiger conservation project. Other wildlife sanctuaries nearby are the Wynad (south-west) and the Nagahole national park(north-west). We drove slowly through the forest hoping to catch a glimpe of anything wild - maybe a tiger, leopard or bison or elephant. Being mid-morning it was highly unlikely we would actually spot anything and we didn't. On the other hand even if something was out there in the thicket we 'city-folks' would've had a tough time spotting it.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
We stopped at a waterhole hoping to catch a glimple of that elusive tiger. The only ones we got to see were the ones on the sign-boards saying "Welcome to Bandipur". Bandipur consists primarily of dry deciduous scrub and in places mixed deciduous forest. Lying at the foothils of the Nilgiris the terrain here is undulating comprising a chains of hills, flat-topped hillocks and water-courses. Rivers in this area are the Kabini (the Kabini reservoir which separates Bandipur from the Nagarhole reserve), Mule-hole and Moyar rivers. Bandipur is rich in bird life. Common in this area are: Peacocks, Grey Junglefowl, White-throated and Streak-throated Woodpecker, Crested Serpent Eagle, Larks, Yellow-browed Bulbul and Malabar Whistling Lark. Animals common here are: Elephant, Gaur(Bison), Barking deer, Sloth bear, Jackal, Wildboar and the Malabar squirrel.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
Finally, we did spot a couple of elephants. One had a small calf. We switched of the engine and silently marveled at these majestic beasts. Elephants in herds or with young are less dangerous than lone tuskers.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
Soon we reach the toll-gate and crossed into Tamil Nadu. Mudhumalai, which is the Tamil Nadu side of the forest seemed denser with more moist deciduous scrub. The road here is far better than on the Karnataka side. Our first stop was Theppakad. We stopped here hoping to book for the elephant safari ride and visit the famous elephant camp. Alas, no such luck. TN chief-minister Jayalalitha had closed the elephant camp to visitors and stopped elephant safari rides. Hopefully, DMK will reopen the elephant camp. At Teppakad, the road branches off to Gudalur and Mavanahalla - which is the short, but steep route to Ooty.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
Besides the flamin May Flower trees at Theppakad, menacing rhesus monkeys were there to greet us. Although we did have previous episodes with these monkeys, we were a bit careless and as we stopped a monkey entered the car and snatched a packet of sandwich. Thankfully no one got bitten. These monkeys are quite familiar with human-beings and dont get intimidated easily. Best advise is to keep the windows closed and keep a stick handy incase you have to step outside.
Click here to enlarge (Linked to Flickr)
Originally uploaded by john's photo blog.
12:10pm: Turning off left at Theppakad we head toward Masinagudi a small township on the way to Mavanahalla which is our first camping site. Can't wait to unwind and explore.
