N.Sukumar

Yercaud hill station

2007-11-16T00:26:00.000-08:00

10 Nov 07

Yercaud is a quiet hill station with picturesque surroundings and nice climate. Compared to other hill stations, it is small, best suited for weekend picnics. Being less expensive, it is also called as the poor man’s Ooty.

There are many places to see around Yercaud : view points , temples, parks , a big natural lake, and also a waterfalls. If sufficient time is there, one can explore all the places by walk and enjoy the nature at the best.

Last week , when I came across one article , http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/11/stories/2006021102780300.htm
I decided to visit that place immediately .

From Chennai on 9th Nov night, I boarded a train Yercaud express. After getting down at Salem junction early morning, took a bus to Yercaud. It was one hour journey from Salem to Yercaud by crossing many hairpin bends on the ghat road. While entering Yercaud, I saw a big lake . Near the lake, there is a sign board ‘way to Kiliyur falls’ showing 3 Kms distance After getting down there, checked into a hotel ‘Aishwaryam Inn’.

After refreshing & taking breakfast, decided to trek to the waterfalls. By walking some distance, saw few children requesting the tourists to buy some fruits from them. Reached another signboard pointing that Kiliyur falls is 0.5 km away. Those who come by bikes and other vehicles need to abandon them there only. I saw many people stopped there and returned back.

Further way to the falls is very tedious. The path is very narrow and steep. One side deep valley and other side is boulders & trees. At some points , I had to slide down. Finally I reached the waterfalls. The water is falling down from a height of 300ft over a cascade of rocks. They say excess water from the lake and streams from higher mountain points falls in Kiliyur valley. As there were rains few days back, plenty of water everywhere. I forgot all tiredness after taking bath there. After spending an hour & taking photos, I returned from the waterfalls.

By the time I returned to the lake, many people were there. Some were boating, some in the adjacent parks. As the peddling boats were already occupied at that time, I hired a rowing boat. Being in demand, the charges are a bit high, for 15 minutes it is Rs. 75 /- . The 15 minutes time was sufficient to make around the lake. By 6.30 PM , it was dark all over and for me there was no option except to return to the hotel room.

Next day, the reception person arranged an auto rickshaw for local site seeing for Rs. 300 /-. We visited different locations: Pagoda point, Rajeswari Temple, Shevrayan temple, view points ( Lady seat, Gent’s seat, Children’s seat) etc. By afternoon, the site seeing was over & I took a bus to return to Salem, from there took a train to Chennai.

Photos:

1. On the way to Kiliyur falls. End of the road for vehicles. The stream from the lake that leads to the waterfalls is in the background.

2. Children selling fruits

3. Steep way down to waterfalls

4. at last..., reached the falls.

5. Water falling from a height of 300ft.

6. The big lake

7. Boating in the lake

8. View at pagoda Point

9. Near temple at Pagoda point

10. Shri Rajarajeswari Temple. Herbal medicines also available here.

11. The path that laeds to Bear caves.

12. Sevaryan temple at heighest point of Yercaud. Also called as cave temple.

13. View from Sevarayan Temple

14. Telescope house at Lady's seat

15. View from lady's seat.

16. Gent's seat view point

17. View from Gent's seat

18. Children's seat view point

19. The hotel where I stayed

Dumukurallu Waterfalls( Kaigal falls)

2007-11-06T07:23:00.000-08:00

Dumukurallu falls are located near Kaigal village in Chittore district a place that is near the boarder of three states Andhra,Karntaka& Tamilnadu , approximately 200KM from Chennai . The name Dumukurallu came as the sound of the waterfalls resembles with boulders falling from top when there is lot of water during rainy season.

After returning from Picnic of Kolli hills ,I was still in picnic mood and wanted to visit one more place.

Saturday, 20.10.2007 afternoon : From Chennai depot, I boarded a bus to Palamaner. There I stayed in a lodge room & spent entire evening by roaming around and then went to a movie. The movie is a dubbed english horror movie 'Bloodrayne', in Telugu titled as 'Bharavakota'. Thrilled to watch a vampire movie in almost empty hall.., hardly there were 15 people in the entire hall.

Nextday morning, I boarded a bus that goes towards Kuppam. After getting down at Kaigal village, saw a mile stone showing that the falls are one and half kilometres from there.

I walked throught the mud road , saw some sign boards about that protected forest area, Krisnamurthy foundation, rare plants etc , reached a checkpost .All the vechicles are to be halted there only and the visitors need to go further by foot.

The climate was pleasant & after walking another 15 minutes , found few people near the falls. I gave my camera to one of them requesting to take my photographs. Most of them are from Kolar in Karnataka, a place 40KM from there.

Due to lack of rains at that time , there wasn't much force in the water , but one way it was safer. After spending two hours there, I took lunch ,thenI returned to Palamaner to board a bus to Chennai.

Photos:

Kolli hills Water falls

2007-11-06T05:37:00.001-08:00

This is another hills station in Tamilnadu located in Namakkal district. It is famous for medicinal herbs, spices and fruits. These hills are surrounded with lush green vegetation and water streams.

Important places are 'Akasa Ganga' waterfalls, Arappaleeswar Temple, Herbal farms, boatclub etc. We visited this place during the first week of October'07, as a part of picnic arranged by our bank's sports club. Kolli hills are 50 Kms from Namakkal town , and can be reached by road after passing through 72 hair pin bends straeched over a 20 KM path .

After reaching the kollihills , accomodation was provided in Nallthambi resort. First day, we visited herbal farm, boating club, view tower etc . Second day, we went to Arappaleeswar temple & waterfalls.

To reach the water falls, one should climb down around 700 steps from the temple. At some places these steps are too steep. The view of waterfalls is spectacular . As there are rains during that season, lot of water is there,gushing with more speed. We spent an hour there. While returning from the falls , it took almost one and half hours for me to climb up.

I could not take much pictures as my camera fell in water. The film got spoiled and I could get few pictures after developing .But I am lucky to get few photos from other members and also a video clip. I already uploaded this clip at YouTube.

Photos

Kodaikanal hill station

2007-11-06T03:52:00.000-08:00

Kodaikanal is one of the famous hill stations in southern India. Located at an altitude of 2500 metres on upper Palani hills of western ghats, the place offers scenic view of mountains,waterfalls,lakes,flora etc.

The place is famous for an unique flower called as 'Kurunji' that blossoms once in 12 years. The last time it was in 1994.

The trip to Kodaikanal hill station was arranged for 3 days by our bank's Sports & recreation club. We , around sixty members started from Chennai on 25.08.2005 night by train 'Pandian express'. Early morning , after travelling for seven hours, we got down at a small station called 'Kodai road'. After taking tea & breakfast, we got into two buses to start further 80KM journey to the hill station.

The morning weather was very cool & fine and we travelled through a line of mountains. In between we saw a huge waterfalls called Dum /Dum falls. The falls is completely inaccessible to reach & we could satisfy ourselves watching the falls from a distance . My binoculors was handy to watch the falls and all surrounding coconut gardens spread accross the valley.

Just before reaching the hill staion, we saw another water falls called as 'Silver cascade'. After spending half an hour there, we went the Tourism corporation's hotel. Our sports club organised well for arranging accomodation,food and sight seeing facilities.

On the first day we visited few places only: Pine tree forest, Steep valley point (around 7000 ft. down) called as failed Lover's point, Guna caves earlier known as Devil's kitchen (as may lost their lives there by committing suicides or accidentally). Now the place is sealed with fence with warning sign boards and a memorial was constructed there. At the end of the day,we went to the famous 'Kurunji Andavar' temple. Inside the temple compund, we saw the 'Kurunji tree'. On the wall backside a number 1994 was written indicating that it blossomed in the year 1994. So next time it will be in 2006.

Next day morning , we went to the other places : Green valley, Kodai Lake , museum,Bryant park & Coakers walk. Green valley is excellent , with clouds floating beneath. We could see Vagai river faraway and sunshined peaks. The Kodai lake is very beautiful ,Star-shaped with a circumference of 6 Kilometres. People were boating, horseriding and biking. I preferred biking around & horse riding. Bryant park is good with different kinds of flowers. At the end of the day , we went to Coakers walk. This place was told to be the best in Kodaikanal and one can spend more time walking on the path built just beside the valley, watching clouds passing by, the greenery down the valley etc.

On the last day we left Kodaikanal to visit another place 'Palani'. The place is famous for a temple on top of a hill and one can reach there by cable car/winch only.From there we travelled to 'Dindigul' railway station to catch the train back to Chennai.

1. Silver Cascade water falls. It comes 6 KM before on way to Kodaikanal.

2. Silver cascade -2

3. Pillar Rock Gardens - 1

4. Pillar Rock gardens -2

5. Green valley

6. Near Green Valley -2

7. Lake View

8. Kodai Lake

9. Near Museum

10. Coakers walk

11. Coakers walk -2

12. at a village while returning back from Kodaikanal

Belum Caves

2007-11-06T03:06:00.000-08:00

Belum caves is the second longest cave system in India which is around 3 kilometres length. APDTC (Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) developed this place into an excellent tourism spot,which won the best eco-tourism award of the country. The caves are about 120 ft. down the ground level with streams, stalactite& stalagmite formations,with very narrow tunnels at some places.

Belum caves in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh can be reached easily from Bangalore,Hyderabad( by road) & from Chennai (by train).I visited this place on 24 July 2005 . I started from Chennai on saturday afternoon by train 'Mumbai mail' to reach Tadipatri station at 8 PM. That night I stayed in a hotel and next day morning took a bus to Belum caves which is around 30 km distance. The weather was cloudy but very pleasant. While approaching the belum village , I could see a small hill with the words 'Belum' appearing on top of it.

The caves are quite thrilling & excellent and whatever I heard about them is correct. Proper ventilation & lighting arrangements are made. After coming out from the caves, I climbed the adjacent hill where rocks were arranged in the form of word 'Belum'. From the top, I could see all surrounding places clearly.

After spending nearly four hours, I went back to Tadipatri town to catch the train back to Chennai.

1. The board at the entrance. It is written 'the longest cave system in South India. Breath taking view of stalactite & stalagmite formations'
The longest cave structure of the country exist in meghalaya,which is of 21 KM length. Where as Belum caves is of 3 and half Kilometres.

2. The entrance gate. In the background, one can view a small hill, on top of which the words 'Belum' arranged with huge white painted rocks to identify from a distance. The restaurant is just inside the entrance.

3. 'Hotel Punnami' provides accomodation for the visitors. It provides comfortable facilities for the visitors by charging a mere Rs. 40 per day.

4. near Buddha Statue - 1

5. Near Buddha Statue-2

6. At the way to caves. Behind the tourism counter.

7. The entrance gate to the caves .

8. The staircase (30 metres down) to the caves.

9. The pictures inside the caves. The guide took many photos. But I am uploading a few only as clarity is not that much due to darkness inside the caves. Anyway, I can e-mail you the scariest photo where I look as a real Cave man ( my colleagues freaked by seeing the album).

10. In narrow tunnels

11. After spending nearly two hours in the caves, I came upside.

12. Kids playing.The ice-cream & snacks parlour in the back.

13. I climbed up the small hill where the white rocks placed to form the words 'Belum caves' both in english & telugu languages. The big statue is also visible down the hill. And also at the left, the long stretch of the road.

14. The L&T cement factory on the top of small hill on the way to Belum.

15. Travelling in the bus.

Varanasi & Saranath

2007-11-06T02:28:00.000-08:00

I attended a training programme at our Staff college,Lucknow from 6 to 18,June 2005. During the training, everybody planned to visit a tourist place 'Khajuraho', famous for temples with erotic sculptures. However, that was cancelled in the last minute as it is too far & hectic time schedule. Then I decided to visit Varanasi (holy city for Hindus) & Saranath (Budhist piligrimage centre) which are 270 KM from Lucknow. Sufficient time was there to start on Saturday afternoon and return back on Monday morning , so that I could spend entire sunday at Varanasi. I went alone as some of my collegues already visited that place & some worried about the high summer temperature & some unable to recover from disappoinment as missing 'Khajuraho' trip (disappointed for missing to view erotic art?)

I took a bus from Charbagh Depot. It took around eight hours to reach Varanasi & I spent the night in a hotel. The next day early morning, the receiptionist arranged a guide to visit the important places around. We started at 7 AM and reached banks of river Ganges. There are so many ghats and all were crowded and appeared a bit dirty with flowers, leaves, garlands etc. The guide bargained with a boat owner so that we could reach other side of the river to take bath ( holy dip in water?). After the bath, the boat fellow rowed along the banks explaining about historical importance of each ghat. I was a bit scared by looking at one ghat where creamations take place. I also saw some beautiful ghats with submerged temples, where kids are diving into water from the top.

After getting down from the boat, we took breakfast and later went to the famous Golden temple of Viswanath. As I am not a much religious person, I saw the temple from outside only. Then I did shopping to buy some silk sarees.

We hired an autorikshaw to visit Saranath and other important places. Saranath is around 20 KM from Varanasi. The summer temperature was high, hot winds blowing and the road was not so good. After reaching Saranath, first we went to the museum. It was excellent and I could see the famous Ashoka pillar there. Then we went to deer park & excavation sites.

Then we went to BHU (Banarus Hindu university campus), saw all administrative buildings, and some temples and returned back to the hotel at 4PM.

I left Varanasi at 10 PM by catching the last train to Lucknow.The train was so crowded & I travelled most of the journey by sitting down only. But I enjoyed the time by talking to different people, taking Tea & snacks. Finally ,I reached Lucknow in the early morning.

At the end,I was a happy person to visit almost all the places in Varanasi in the shortest possible time, otherwise not possible when coming with a group of people. I am already thinking about the place going to visit next..?

1. people say that there are around 365 ghats,each one built by a seperate King.

2. Travelled to other side of the river. Less crowds were there & I could take bath and spend some time leisurly.

3.Travelling on the boat.

4. The temple known as 'Birla Temple' in the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

5.The buiding in the background is Saranath museum. Famous for Ashoka Pillar with 4 Lions appearing on Indian currency. Touch screens are provided for the visitors to view the details in different languages viz. English, French, Germany, Hindi,..

6. Deer park,which contains the tree under which Bodhisatv got enlightenment to become Lord Budha.

7.Excavated structures of Saranath

8. Saranath Pillar

9. Near the entrance of Saranath

Tada water falls - Ubbalamadugu vagu

2007-10-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

These waterfalls are better known as Tada falls but actual place is in Ubbalamadugu in Chittore district, Andhra pradesh, India. Tada is a place in Nellore district.

These falls are approximately around 80 KMs distance by road from Chennai, where I live .

I visited this place on 08 Dec 2004. Normally I travel alone. But when I woke up on that day at 4 AM, I thought a bit whether to start the journey alone or visit that place on a later date with colleagues. May be ... I was scared a bit by a friend on the previous day. But I know that I can't wait to see the place.

I packed all required items: Camera,Blanket, Towel, Mosquito repellant, Pain releif spray, Cotton, Dettol, two water bottles, biscuits and a pack of 'atukulu'.

After reaching the Bus station complex,I bought a Transistor radio as I need somebody talking to me during trekking.I boarded the bus No.114 - 'Chennai to Kalahasthi'. The bus is full of pilgrim families to Kalahasthi. Next to me a little girl dressed as Santa Claus doing lot of mischief. The bus travelled 60 kilometres on National Highway no.5. After reaching the village 'Tada', it took left turn to catch the road to Kalahasthi. After 10 KM travel, I got down at a village called 'Varadayya palem'.

After taking the breakfast in a small hotel, I took an auto to reach the forest gate. The forest gate is approximately 7 KMs from Varadayya palem. During this time, the auto driver kept on telling me not to go alone inside the forest as people visit rarely this place as the route is difficult. I reached the forest gate at 9.30 AM.

I got down at the gate and started walking inside while listening to the radio. The path is very narrow with lot of rubble and rocks. Few motorcycles and jeeps passed by. Few looked curiously at me but moved on. I was sure that I can meet them near the falls.

After trekking the hilly area, I reached a small Siva temple, 3 KM distance from the forest gate. Next to the temple I saw the stream and found few guys who decided to stop there only.

I crossed the stream. From there , I started climbing the hill. Somebody told me the falls are around 2 KM from there. The way is very rocky and steep. I had to cross the stream again and again. Lot of boulders are submerged in the water and I crossed the stream over them. In between I saw a beautiful mini waterfall. it is excellent. while crossing over that,I fell down in water. It took almost 15 minutes find out how to step from one big rock on to other.

After climbing over the rocks of mini falls, I trekked further. Finally I could spot the main waterfalls, seperated by a mini lake. Carefully I stepped on a submerged wooden log and reached the main water falls. The waterfall is very exciting. I spent an hour there and took lunch .

I wanted to findout from where the water is coming to the falls. Is it a lake above the falls or a stream coming from some other place? I found a steep 20 Ft. high rocky walls. One can reach the top of water falls after climbing that only. I felt disappointed as I cannot climb that height. I got a bag with me and already my left hand was paining ( as earlier I slipped down into the stream from the rocks). Then I saw a batch of boys arrived that place by climbing down. They appeared to be well trained trekkers with ropes, wooden sticks with them.

Then I decided I have to visit this place again with a group. But don't know when ? Anyway, I am very lucky to reach the waterfalls alone, without losing the path.

I started coming down. This time along with me four boys were there. One of them requested me to take their photograph and post to them. I took few photos of them. Later we reached the stream near Siva Temple. There I found more people. I decided to spend some time near the stream. The four boys gave their postal address to receive the photo, thanked me and left.

I stepped into the stream. The water is very clear and cool. I spent almost an hour taking the bath in the stream. Then I put on my clothes and started walking. By 5 PM, I was at the forest gate. As there was no transport available, I decided to walk 7 KMs upto the village - Varadaiah palem. Few vehicles passed by. They were already packed with people. Otherwise , somebody might have offered me lift. After walking for 2 KM, one car stopped and I was offered lift.

I reached the village , took some snacks and waited for the Chennai bus. I reached Chennai by 9.30 PM and was at home by 10:30. Then I made phone calls to my family at my native place and friends to tell them that I am safe & returned safely.

1. Near Forest gate

2. Starting Point

3. Stream-1

4. Stream-2

5. Narrow path-1

6. Siva Temple-1

7. Siva Temple-2

8. Resting place near the pond

9. Relaxing in cool water

10. Water coming from the stream into the pond

11. way ahead after the pond

12. Small water falls

13. I slipped down at this small waterfalls

14. before reaching the main water falls

15. Main waterfalls , lucky to reach atlast

16. Near the falls-1

17. Near the falls-2

18. School Children

19. Rockywall near the falls

20. Returning back

21. pleaseant and lonely evening .

22. Looking back

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Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

2007-10-31T00:06:00.000-07:00

When I was transferred to Chennai in 2004, I decided to visit as many places as possible during weekends. This place is the first one I visited ( during November 2004). It is well connected by road and rail.

Nelappattu Bird Sanctuary is near Pulicat lake at Sullurpet at the border of Andhra Pradesh & Tamilnadu states. It is one of the largest pelican habitats in Southeast Asia. It provides fine breeding ground for rare and endangered species like Spoted Billed Pelican, Open-Billed Stork, Painted Stork, Little Cormorant, Spoon-Bill, White-Ibis and Night Heron.

Nelapattu has an environmental education centre, museum, library and an auditorium with audio-visual equipment. During Sundays & hoildays many people visit this place.

1. Map at the entrance

2. Forest Office

3. Lake view

4. Right Side of the Lake

5. Lake View-2

6. The path alomg the lake

7. Watch tower for viewing the birds

8. School Kids

9. School Kids -2

10. Submerged trees

11. Lake View - 3