8 days, 1400 kilometers, 4 hotels, one burst tire – had a great trip to wayanad and ooty. Wayanad was on our list for so long and it didn’t disappoint at all. We visited Tirunelli temple, Banasura Sagar Dam, Pookode Lake, drove to the base of Chembra peak, Soochipara waterfalls and stayed at Vythiri resort for one day. Drives were great – way to Lakkidi, Tirunelli temple, drive through Meppadi to Ooty, way to Chembra peak. Wayanad roads were pretty bad at stretches. It must be in one of those ditches, my tire was torn, not punctured. I found that I didn’t have the wrench, but luckily found help – there were multiple tire repair shops in that town. It was like déjà vu – I had seen a comedy clip from a movie a week back, it was about three people who called themselves “Puncture Brothers”. They would put some nails on the road, someone will wait around for a car to go over them and then they will be around for help. This town was just like that – with such roads around, they must be getting good business. Anyways went through even worse roads after that which should be taken in a Jeep preferably, but didn’t have any more problems. I guess it has become a common knowledge that as soon as you enter Tamil Nadu, roads will become better – even the way to Ooty from Wayanad (through Meppadi) was pretty good.
Vythiri Resort needs a special mention – it is worth a visit even if it is expensive. Couple of weeks back I read a novel “the Beach” on which a movie is also made – which is based on a pristine Thai island with heaven like setting, beautiful untouched waterfall etc. This might be a miniature version of it. Permanently wet from continuous rain, a private waterfall, mountain stream running through the resort and a natural rain forest. Food there was also exceptional.
A friend told us that Ooty will be disappointing after Wayanad. It was not completely true. We didn’t stick to Ooty proper as such. Went out to Paikara lake, Kotagiri/Kodanad (views were like places from Lord of the Rings – there was one peak which even looked like the castle from LOTR), Avalanche/Emerald lake and dam, Lamb’s rock, Dolphin’s nose. Drive back through Coonoor-Mettupalayam road was also good.
So far found hotel reviews (trip advisor mainly) to be good and Google maps (supplemented with wikimapia for a few) haven’t cheated (with a generous amount of confirmations on the way – people are very helpful). Maps in Kerala have been pretty accurate so far, but those in Tamil Nadu still to earn that trust – there are often no names for roads and no landmarks to confirm with – often it is like go 4 kms, then turn right, go 6 kms further, turn left etc.
Vythiri Resort needs a special mention – it is worth a visit even if it is expensive. Couple of weeks back I read a novel “the Beach” on which a movie is also made – which is based on a pristine Thai island with heaven like setting, beautiful untouched waterfall etc. This might be a miniature version of it. Permanently wet from continuous rain, a private waterfall, mountain stream running through the resort and a natural rain forest. Food there was also exceptional.
A friend told us that Ooty will be disappointing after Wayanad. It was not completely true. We didn’t stick to Ooty proper as such. Went out to Paikara lake, Kotagiri/Kodanad (views were like places from Lord of the Rings – there was one peak which even looked like the castle from LOTR), Avalanche/Emerald lake and dam, Lamb’s rock, Dolphin’s nose. Drive back through Coonoor-Mettupalayam road was also good.
So far found hotel reviews (trip advisor mainly) to be good and Google maps (supplemented with wikimapia for a few) haven’t cheated (with a generous amount of confirmations on the way – people are very helpful). Maps in Kerala have been pretty accurate so far, but those in Tamil Nadu still to earn that trust – there are often no names for roads and no landmarks to confirm with – often it is like go 4 kms, then turn right, go 6 kms further, turn left etc.
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