Photographs, Travel Stories from India
Monsoon Drive 2016 – Karnataka (Jul’ 2016)
The third of 5 Monsoon drives planned across India by HV Kumar Fan & Forum and it was in and around Mysore.
Monsoon Drive 2016 – Maharashtra (Jul’ 2016)
The second of 5 Monsoon drives planned across India by HV Kumar Fan & Forum and it was Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
Route taken (2600 kms)
Chennai – Bangalore – Kolhapur – Karad – Patan – Chiplun – Sawarde – Ratnagiri – Aareware Beach -Ganpatipule – Chiplun – Patan – Karad – Kolhapur – Bangalore – Chennai
Monsoon Drive 2016 – Kerala (Jul’ 2016)
This was the first of 5 Monsoon drives planned across India by HV Kumar Fan & Forum and the first one is in Kerala.
Meghamalai (May 2016)
It’s been a couple of years I last visited Meghamalai. It was a back breaking trip then as I took a sedan and it took almost 3 hours to reach the top from the checkpost. This time around it was quite an easy drive as XUV did it’s job quite well. The roads have been widened through out, from the checkpost till Meghamalai. Though the progress has been halted as someone has got stay from green tribunal. But people are hoping the stay will be vacated soon and the road laying will start.
Since it was just a day trip we just visited Maharaja Mettu & it’s surroundings and on our way down we stayed in Meghamalai Resort. It’s located between Chinnamanur (25 km) and Meghamalai (8 km). The views are awesome from the resort. Sunrise shots are taken from the resort. From the resort you can see Chinna Suruli.
With the development I saw Meghamalai won’t be the same in couple of years time. So, visit before it gets in to the tourist circuit.
Places of interest:
Vattaparai
Manalar Waterfalls (Inside a private estate)
Iranvigalar Dam
Maharaja Mettu (View point to see Thekkady, Cumbam, Theni, Chinnamanur)
Lower Manalar
Upper Manalar
Thoovanam Dam
Vanniar Dam
Thekkady Dam
Chinna Suruli Waterfalls
Suruli Waterfalls
Accomodation Details:
Sand River Cottage
Cloud Mountain Bungalow
Inspection Bungalow
Panchayat Guest House
Meghamalai Resort (you will see this resort enroute Meghamalai)
Chennai – Delhi – Chennai by Road in XUV 5oo (Dec ’15)
Route Taken for Chennai – Delhi (2800 kms)
Chennai – Vellore – Bangalore – Tumkur – Chitradurga – Hubli – Kolhapur – Satara – Pune – Vashi – Thane – Nashik – Dhule – Ratlam – Neemuch – Chittorgarh – Bilwara – Jaipur – Gurgaon – Delhi
Day 1 – Chennai – Bangalore
Day 2 – Bangalore – Hubli
Day 3&4 – Hubli – Delhi (Non stop drive for 30 hours with 3 hrs break)
Return Journey from Delhi to Chennai (2250 kms)
Delhi – Gurgaon – Faridabad – Mathura – Agra – Gwalior – Jhansi – Lalitpur – Deori – Narsinghpur – Lakhnadon – Seoni – Pench – Hinganghat – Adilabad – Nirmal – Hyderabad – Narketpalli – Miryalguda – Piduguralla – Ongole – Nellore – Gudur – Gummidipoondi – Chennai
Day 1 – Gurgaon – Seoni – 940 kms (6.30 AM to 9.30 PM) – 12 hrs drive + 1 hr break
Day 2 – Seoni – Chennai – 1310 kms (7.30 AM to 2.30 AM) – 18 hrs drive + 1 hr break
More details to follow
Bir Billing – Paragliding Site (Dec ‘2015)
Bir is a village located in the west of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The uncluttered view of Dauladhar mountain range is quite beautiful. Bir is also home to several Buddhist monasteries. Though we missed visiting them, will surely planned to do in our next visit. You need at least a couple of days to explore Bir. Paragliding is the main attraction of Bir. The experience is quite awesome and one must try it without any fear.
Thekkady (Sep ‘2015)
Wildlife Sightings in Thekkady (Sep ’15)
Gavi, Ecotourism (Sep ‘2015)
Gavi, a part of Periyar tiger reserve is an eco-tourist spot in Kerala, located 45 kms from Thekkady. The route to Gavi is Thekkady – Kumily – Vandiperiyar – Gavi. If you wish to take your own car to Gavi, you have to get a permit from the KFDC office at Vandiperiyar. For this you have to reach the office by 8 AM so that you will be given a day pass to visit Gavi. Alternatively, you can book a stay at Green Mansion maintained by KDFC with Rooms & Swiss Cottage tents.
At least a day or two stay is recommended to explore Gavi to spot Wild animals and summer would be an ideal time to visit as animals will reach out to the lake to quench their thirst. During our stay we could spot the elephant crossing at the fag end of the day and also mist covered the entire place, so couldn’t get a decent shot of elephant. Mist covered next morning hasn’t helped either to spot any wild animals on day 2.
Things you can do at Gavi
Boat ride at Gavi Lake
Visit to Cardamon factory
Jeep Safari for 2.5 hrs
Sabarimala Viewpoint
Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar – Koyna – Kaas – Satara (Jul ‘2015)
Only three cars did this route on our way back from HiVayKing Monsoon Drive 2015. What a drive it was with breathtaking views all around with lush green landscape, mud, slush, farms, lakes, waterfalls and driving through wildlife sanctuary.. It’s an wonderful experience..and is aptly called ‘GREEN LADAKH’.. It took us 8 hours to cover 160+ kms and if I am alone would have taken double the time as it’s a photographers delight.
