Chennai - Mysore - Wayanad

Chennai - Mysore – Wayanad (Fun…Friends..Road Trip...)


“No One cannot say themselves a traveler without travelling 10 Lakh Miles.” – A.K.Chettiar

Hi Friends,

It’s been a quite a long time I shared my travel infos. This time it’s not a trek, it’s not an adventurous trip but we planned for a life time memorable vacation with our Kid Aditi. Always my heart says to travel alone or with the sweet ones. God gifted me Paa and Nirai to accompany the trip.

Plan as below:

1. Day 1: Start from Chennai, Reach Mysore. Local shopping, some sightseeing. Stay at Mysore. Booked Accommodation at KSTDC

2. Day 2: Mysore to Wayanad via Gundulpet. Booked Accommodation at Varnam Home stay.

3. Day 3: Wayanad local sightseeing. Stay at Wayanad.

4. Day 4: Return to Mysore. Stay

5. Day 5: Return to Chennai.

Travel Dates: Dec 3rd to 7th.

Day 1: Started at Chennai at a brisk pace around 5:30am in the morning. Nirai and Paa joined with us on 2nd Dec itself. The only thing strike in my mind when planning and execution is about my Kid Aditi. She is just 8 months. Everything we planned considering her in the first cause and took enough pre-cautionary measures.

Priya, my wife prepared breakfast for the trip and packed snacks. Nirai bought nice Cakes and cookies with some chocolates. Their family is completely fond of sweets. So there is no question of her bag filled with Sweets for us. Though Nirai and Paa look alike friends, they are the ideal brother and Sis..

I am the one drove the vehicle throughout the trip, and the unfortunate thing is no one knows driving. Driven the vehicle at an average of 70 Kmph. The pace is little slow for the highways, but there is no emergency for us to reach any destination within targets.

“Our whole life pace becomes fast and we become tired and bored very soon because of exploring of things much easier than before. So we don’t know the real price of the thing which we got and we the society of youngsters today don’t have any in-depth knowledge about anything, even for happiness”

Had breakfast in a tree shadow after Ambur, and proceeded towards Bangalore in the same pace. Reached Hosur in the afternoon around 1 and had lunch. It was quite decent. Throughout the travel I and Paa discussed about our common interests and he tried exploring his new Nikon SLR. Took the Bypass without entering Bangalore and from there it takes around 3 hrs to reach Mysore. Mysore to Bangalore road is quite packed with traffic but the countryside view engaged us thoroughly.

                                                         

Reached Mysore in the evening around 6pm and the real show started. Where ever we asked the address for KSTDC hotel, the local walas use to guide us in a perfect wrong manner. They use to guide us the place using circle, it took around 45 min to an hour to find that place. Even though KSTDC located very close to Palace it took us 45 mins to found that place. KSTDC property was there in JLB road.The KSTDC property is an old British Bungalow and it’s quite decent for the price. Settled in the room, in the due course travel time Nirai and Aditi become very closer and Nirai made Priya’s role easier throughout the trip. I found an intimacy between Nirai and Aditi, and I am sure it’s from the heart and not for any formality.

Went to Palace, but its closed and went for local shopping around the Palace. Paa bought few ornamental stuffs (kind of Jewel Box etc..). Final negotiation results with us paying around 700/- for two jewel boxes. And we came to know we really got cheated. Be careful guys!

For Dinner we chose Hotel Metro pole, a four star heritage hotel in Mysore. Ambience is awesome; price tag is equivalent to Price in Chennai ordinary restaurants! The only drawback is the service, but it’s quite tolerable. Food taste is awesome especially Lamb Leg piece grilled and served with Mint, Mayonnaise sausage. The whole place is like heaven and we ordered few cocktails for celebrating the night.


The one with the name of Pinnacolde (with the combination of pineapple, coconut water and white rum) is horrible, other tails are yummy.

One thing to remember at this moment.. We want to take printouts for our reservations for KSTDC. The time is around 11pm and we are sure we cannot go out and take print out at a browsing center at that time in an unknown place. So we asked the Hotel management, they have the facility of Internet and they charged us simply Rs.180/- for an hour. Paa and I really got shocked by the price but it thought us a lesson.

“If you are not conscious of doing the things on time, you have to pay unimaginable price for the same ordinary thing”

Aditi adjusted to the environment soothingly and she made wonders with her tolerance. For her age (8 months) she is quite down to earth.

Day 2: It was our third wedding anniversary (Dec 4th, 2012) and Priya flooded me with gifts (T-Shirt, Wrist Watch, Coffee Mug, Greeting Card and loads of Love. Sorry if I miss anything in the list). Started early in the morning and Proceeded towards Ooty road. Travel was quite amazing and enjoyed thoroughly the country side looks and took best photographs of nature, Nirai and Aditi . It’s not quite complex, unsafe ghat section and you will have a feel of safeness and extreme pleasure. Through Gundulpet we entered Wayanad, actually we took a bit lengthy route to reach Varnam Home stay. It took us around 5 hrs to reach Varnam. The shortest route is Mysore – Nagarhole Reserve Forest – Wayanad. Its only 130 km and it took around 3 and half hours to reach Varnam.

Reached Varnam home stay in the afternoon and the place is simply amazing as well as authentic. Don’t miss the home stay if you have a chance to visit Wayanad. We had a nice lunch and the couple (Mr. Varghese and his wife) who running this home stay are lovely. Roamed around the home stay, and chatted for long hours.

“If you are in a vacation, don’t rush to see the things. Being idle, chatting with your dear ones, absorbing the place is the best way of spending the vacation”


Day 3: Next morning started lazily around 6:30 am and we planned to visit Kuruva Island (which is very close to the home stay, around 6km), Thirunelly temple, Irupu falls. All the places are good; especially Irupu falls is just picture perfect. Paa and I had a wonderful dip in the freezing waters. Thirunelly temple is close to heaven and don’t miss it. The route traversing to Thirunelly is the heaven for Elephants and animal crossing, and we heard lot of sounds by Elephants but didn’t see anything. Day is just excellent and had nice dinner in the home stay.

Day 4: Started towards Mysore. Our initial plan was to return to Chennai on the same day. But due to vacation mood and everyone is free in our group except Paa. We convinced him, and he accepts to stay because of few reasons:

1. To see Mysore Palace.

2. To escape from the current living trend.

3. Aditi & Nirai

But his fate plays in a different way. We decided to stay in Mysore and again boarded in the same KSTDC Hoyasla Hotel. And went to Palace, its closed because of Moharam (govt holiday), Silk factory is also closed because of the Holiday. He felt really cheated and we had a laugh riot for the next 1 hour. Without knowing where to go we just drive inside the city we lot of laughers, and sense less chats. Finally the disappointment changed in to fun and happiness and as I said before, spending ideal time with your dear ones is the best way of spending a vacation.



Unexpected thing is we went to Wax factory which is been constructed and maintained by a single person. Hats off to him and his creativity. Don’t miss this museum if you have a chance to go to Mysore.

After that we had a nice drive to Chamundi Hills. From there you can get nice aerial view of Mysore. Don’t miss it.

That day Dinner we had it on Kings Kourt just Opposite to Hotel Metropole. It’s also quite decent.


On the return trip to Chennai we visited Chennapatna, a small town of Toys. It’s situated on the highway of Mysore – Bangalore. I am sure you cannot get those quality Toys anywhere in India. We bought Toys for around Rs.3000/- that includes a little Horse for Aditi.


The whole trip is full of Fun and happiness. I don’t want to explain those on words, since it has to be felt nor taught.

Whenever the trip is over, the biggest question will come to my mind “What’s next bravo??”



Crisp Factors:

1. Wayanad is not a hill station to enjoy. It’s quite situated inside the forest, and its completely country side. You have to be in aright mood to enjoy Wayanad.


2. Kerala Food.


3. Don’t miss evenings in Mysore. It’s quite engaging.


4. KSTDC hotel charged us 950 Rs/- for two with Air Conditioned. Worth a stay.


5. Varnam Charged per person 1200/- per day that includes everything..Food, snacks, beverages and their lovable hospitality. Quite a nice deal right!


6. For diesel total cost is 3500/- up and down. Total kilometers 1450. And for maintenance I collected 800/- per head.


7. Total trip costs around 5000/- per head for five days. 

Cheers!!

Aravindhan


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