Masinagudi :
Day 1(1/10/16) :
We thought we had set an alarm for 4:00 AM, but it wasn't the case. But the excitement of the trip woke us up at 4:45 AM. So we had a delayed start than what we had planned for. We left home at 5:50 AM. Kaveri water issue was not settled yet and we were expecting some agitation in Mandya area, so we decided not go via Mandya instead we took the route of Bangalore - Kanakpura - Nanjangudu - Bandipur - Masinagudi instead.
Road was in bad shape towards exit to Kanakpura because of Metro construction. But we were on Kanakpura road crossing the city by 7:00 AM. Road quality from here is excellent and also very few vehicles, so were munching up miles fast. We stopped for breakfast in a small hotel on the road side called Shanthi Hotel around 8 :00 AM. He had just opened the hotel and still setting things up for the day and the Thatte idlis were still being cooked. ( We had been here for breakfast in our previous trips on this route) . We waited for them to be cooked and filled ourselves to the brim. Delayed start, waiting for breakfast had slowed us down, but we were in no hurry as there was nothing planned as such for the day, so we took things as they come and went along.
We again stopped for some photo shoots on the way multiple times, but the highlight was the marigold flower fields on the way. They were in full bloom and beautiful to look at.
Our next pit stop was at CCD Nanjangudu for quick refresher. We entered Bandipur at 12:10 PM after multiple stops. We started driving slowly following the laws of the jungle and respecting the nature and nature thanked us back by proving sighting of umpteen number of deer herds and elephant and calf.
We reached Karnataka border around 12:45 PM and we had a rude shock waiting for us. At the border we were asked to turn back and return as the vehicles from KA and TN were not allowed to cross respective borders and enter other states to avoid any confrontations till the water issue is resolved. We were not aware of such situation and even the resort people had not informed about this possibility in advance. Clueless about what the solution could be, we ringed the resort owner and explained the situation. He asked us to wait and made few phone calls and called us back with an arrangement. So we had to drive back to Bandipur, pickup a fried of resort owner who is staying in Bandipur, return to the border with him in our car. Once we came to the border, resort owner came with his jeep which we boarded and his friend took our car back to Bandipur. And as per the plan same sequence of events be followed in reverse order when we come back. We reached resort at Masinagudi at 2:00PM leaving behind our car with resort owner's friend at Bandipur. We had lunch at around 3:00 PM and rested for a while. In the evening we went for a walk around the resort premises and clicked few pictures of birds.
Had dinner at around 9:00 PM, sat out side the room listening to the sounds of jungle till our eyes started to shut and went to sleep.
Day 2(2/10/16) :
Our original plan for the day was to have a quick drive to Ooty and finish some shopping, but with car left behind in Bandipur, that was out of question.
We woke up around 6:00 AM and the surroundings were very foggy. But once the sun came out around 8:30 AM or so, fog disappeared and even the temperature rose and soon enough it felt like summer.
We had breakfast and lazed around a bit. We were still unhappy about not able to go to Ooty. Eventually we decided not to bother about what can not be done, got ready, went out for a walk to Masinagudi town. Its about 15 minutes walk from resort to town and have to take a shortcut that passes through a stream, foot ball field and narrow by-lanes in front of houses. We looked for home made chocolates, didnt find any good quality, so decided not to buy them. We walked back to resort just before lunch.
After lunch, found an Indian jujube tree ( ಬುಗುರಿ) and found a couple of ripe fruits as well. Ate few to bring the memory back of my childhood. My wife had never tried this fruit before and she didnt like the taste as it tastes a bit sour. You really need to eat couple of fruits before you get used to the sourness and start enjoying the fruit.
Evening was again spent clicking some photos of birds around the resort campus.
Masinagudi is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in Nilgiri District. It is a part of the Mudumalai National Park and is a wonderful tourist spot. Masinagudi is one of the five ranges of Madhumalai Nationanl Park (Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota). With so much of vegetation and wildlife to see here, the place offers incredible natural beauty. It is located at a distance of about 120 km from Coimbatore, 20 km from Mudumalai National Park and only 29 km from Ooty.
Day 1(1/10/16) :
We thought we had set an alarm for 4:00 AM, but it wasn't the case. But the excitement of the trip woke us up at 4:45 AM. So we had a delayed start than what we had planned for. We left home at 5:50 AM. Kaveri water issue was not settled yet and we were expecting some agitation in Mandya area, so we decided not go via Mandya instead we took the route of Bangalore - Kanakpura - Nanjangudu - Bandipur - Masinagudi instead.
Road was in bad shape towards exit to Kanakpura because of Metro construction. But we were on Kanakpura road crossing the city by 7:00 AM. Road quality from here is excellent and also very few vehicles, so were munching up miles fast. We stopped for breakfast in a small hotel on the road side called Shanthi Hotel around 8 :00 AM. He had just opened the hotel and still setting things up for the day and the Thatte idlis were still being cooked. ( We had been here for breakfast in our previous trips on this route) . We waited for them to be cooked and filled ourselves to the brim. Delayed start, waiting for breakfast had slowed us down, but we were in no hurry as there was nothing planned as such for the day, so we took things as they come and went along.
We again stopped for some photo shoots on the way multiple times, but the highlight was the marigold flower fields on the way. They were in full bloom and beautiful to look at.
Our next pit stop was at CCD Nanjangudu for quick refresher. We entered Bandipur at 12:10 PM after multiple stops. We started driving slowly following the laws of the jungle and respecting the nature and nature thanked us back by proving sighting of umpteen number of deer herds and elephant and calf.
We reached Karnataka border around 12:45 PM and we had a rude shock waiting for us. At the border we were asked to turn back and return as the vehicles from KA and TN were not allowed to cross respective borders and enter other states to avoid any confrontations till the water issue is resolved. We were not aware of such situation and even the resort people had not informed about this possibility in advance. Clueless about what the solution could be, we ringed the resort owner and explained the situation. He asked us to wait and made few phone calls and called us back with an arrangement. So we had to drive back to Bandipur, pickup a fried of resort owner who is staying in Bandipur, return to the border with him in our car. Once we came to the border, resort owner came with his jeep which we boarded and his friend took our car back to Bandipur. And as per the plan same sequence of events be followed in reverse order when we come back. We reached resort at Masinagudi at 2:00PM leaving behind our car with resort owner's friend at Bandipur. We had lunch at around 3:00 PM and rested for a while. In the evening we went for a walk around the resort premises and clicked few pictures of birds.
A curious visitor at Bandipur
Red Vented bulbul
Brahminy Starling
Had dinner at around 9:00 PM, sat out side the room listening to the sounds of jungle till our eyes started to shut and went to sleep.
Day 2(2/10/16) :
Our original plan for the day was to have a quick drive to Ooty and finish some shopping, but with car left behind in Bandipur, that was out of question.
We woke up around 6:00 AM and the surroundings were very foggy. But once the sun came out around 8:30 AM or so, fog disappeared and even the temperature rose and soon enough it felt like summer.
We had breakfast and lazed around a bit. We were still unhappy about not able to go to Ooty. Eventually we decided not to bother about what can not be done, got ready, went out for a walk to Masinagudi town. Its about 15 minutes walk from resort to town and have to take a shortcut that passes through a stream, foot ball field and narrow by-lanes in front of houses. We looked for home made chocolates, didnt find any good quality, so decided not to buy them. We walked back to resort just before lunch.
After lunch, found an Indian jujube tree ( ಬುಗುರಿ) and found a couple of ripe fruits as well. Ate few to bring the memory back of my childhood. My wife had never tried this fruit before and she didnt like the taste as it tastes a bit sour. You really need to eat couple of fruits before you get used to the sourness and start enjoying the fruit.
Green Bee-eater
Golden Fronted Leafbird
Small Minivet
White Browed Fantail
Just before dinner we had a surprise, resort owner's friend who was caretaker of our car came to the room and handed over the car key to me. He had used his connections in the border, altered the number plate of the car using black insulin tape and converted KA to KL and drove past the border in the night. Though it was a relief to see our car safe in resort the next question in front of me was what about next day when I have to return. After dinner, i slept thinking about next morning's border cross.
Day 3(3/10/16) :
Woke up around 6:30 AM still unsure about what should I do with crossing of TN border. It was much clearer day with no signs of fog. This made me wonder how 2 consecutive days could have so difference in terms of weather. I again examined the alteration made to the number plate, it was very poorly made, but worked in the night. Resort people suggested us to drive back with modified number plate and remove the tapes once I cross TN border. I didnt want to risk it and didnt want to be caught for forgery in the state border. More over TN police didnt want KA vehicles in their state for safety reason, so they would have been happier seeing KA vehicle leaving their state. Eventually everyone agreed that this is the best way to deal with situation and I removed the insulation tapes from the number plate.
After breakfast we settled our dues and left by 8:30 AM. We saw peacocks, deer herds and wild boar in Madumalai forest. Border crossing was as smooth as a hot knife cutting through cheese. We were not even stopped to question how did we enter the state, a big relief. We saw some more deer, peacocks and a family of Indian Gaur in Badipur. We also saw a big herd of elephants crossing the road; half the herd crossed and rest half waited on other side. This herd had more than 15 elephants. Didnt want to stop for photos and risk being sandwiched with close to 10 elephants each on either side and few calf with them as well.
Our first pit stop was CCD at Nanjangudu. After this we missed the bypass because of the road repair work happening and entered the Mysore city. However there was not much traffic so didnt waste much time there. We stopped in few places on the way to pickup some fresh vegetables and fruits and followed the same route which we took while going. Entered Bangalore at 2:00 PM and stopped for lunch. After lunch at Adigas we reached home by 4:00 PM negotiating thickening evening traffic. All in all 2 well spent quite days close to nature.
Review about Resort :
After breakfast we settled our dues and left by 8:30 AM. We saw peacocks, deer herds and wild boar in Madumalai forest. Border crossing was as smooth as a hot knife cutting through cheese. We were not even stopped to question how did we enter the state, a big relief. We saw some more deer, peacocks and a family of Indian Gaur in Badipur. We also saw a big herd of elephants crossing the road; half the herd crossed and rest half waited on other side. This herd had more than 15 elephants. Didnt want to stop for photos and risk being sandwiched with close to 10 elephants each on either side and few calf with them as well.
Our first pit stop was CCD at Nanjangudu. After this we missed the bypass because of the road repair work happening and entered the Mysore city. However there was not much traffic so didnt waste much time there. We stopped in few places on the way to pickup some fresh vegetables and fruits and followed the same route which we took while going. Entered Bangalore at 2:00 PM and stopped for lunch. After lunch at Adigas we reached home by 4:00 PM negotiating thickening evening traffic. All in all 2 well spent quite days close to nature.
Review about Resort :
We stayed in a place called Secret Ivory Guest House in Madumalai. Few of my friends are regular visitors here and speak very highly of this place. And they were pretty much right. A perfect place to get away and literally do nothing and live in peace. This place is reasonably priced. Though the name suggests that this is a guest house, it is much more than that though not comparable with luxury resorts. Rooms are clean and surroundings are well maintained. Owner and staff are very friendly and polite. Everyone working here has respect for nature and it shows when you interact with them. Food is of decent quality and not expensive at all. Once you take deviation from main road, last 1- 1.5 Km drive towards the resort needs cautious driving as road is very bad and narrow here.
All in all I would rate this place 4 out of 5.
