Ooty

2 Dudes. 2 Bikes.. Destination.. Well.. Unknown.. A getting-to-know-the-bikes ride, turned out to be quiet a trip.

We had agreed to ride from Bangalore to Mysore and decide later. The bikes were all set and we started at sharp 4(surprisingly!!). The morning ride was smooth and it made me wish(as always) if Bangalore-Mysore highway could do away with those awful speed breakers which break the flow. We were in Mysore by 7, famished. We found a restaurant open and had a light breakfast. The morning ride had satiated us for a longer ride. Ooty we thought. Lets Ride!!

En-route to Ooty, lies Bandipur. It made sense to take that route. Riding through a National Park is a different experience. Certain calm creeps in and you realise that this is not your territory. Animals rule this place and you got to be careful.

We crossed into Mudhumalai. Take a left as soon as you cross the border, it might save you a lot of kilometres. This route goes through Masinagudi. The road is narrow, but good and straight until you get to the ghat road leading up the hill to Ooty. As soon as we hit the first hair pin bend there was a visible drop in temperature. A welcome relief from the high 30 degrees of Bangalore. 36 Hair pin bends later(Achievement Unlocked wali feeling) we were in Ooty. With the temperature hovering just above 20 degrees, we road to the bus stand took a lodge overlooking the Race course. We found a suitable place for lunch. A full stomach and a 7 hour journey was making us sleepy. We thought a short nap was in order. The nap turned out to be longer than we expected and left us time only to cover a spot nearby. We chose the lake. It is right behind the bus stand and the railway station. Its has a lot of stuff to offer.  

A boat ride is definitely on the cards when you visit the Ooty lake. A long queue, a calorie burning

lake ride, photoshoot on water we are back to hogging calories. We tried the Spring Potato and it was good, a bit oily though. We got onto our bikes and took a ride around the lake taking in the sights. Light was dwindling fast and we were out of places to go. So we decided to walk it out. Bikes were parked back at the lodge and off we went into the night. We had no idea how much we walked, we just kept going. By 9(we had started walking at 6:30), we had no idea where we were. Thankfully our sense of direction was good and we were able to retrace our steps. Back in the lodge, lights out.. zzzzz..

We started early the next day as we had lots to cover. Coonoor would have been a nice trip, but we were short on time, so we left it for next time. First destination was Doddabetta peak. The ride to the peak was lined with trees on both sides and it felt we were riding under a canopy. The roads, though, left much to be desired. Thankfully we started early and we were able to beat the crowd. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. We left as soon as the crowd started coming in. Next was the Pine forest, also known as the 6^th Mile. It’s a forest on a slope with a beautiful lake at the end. As there was not much crowd, we spent some time here relaxing. We found a log at the edge of the lake, the temperature was in the mid 20s and a cool breeze was blowing, which made it seem like a different world. Next was 9^th Mile, which is a view point. A lot of Bollywood movies are shot here. The view was good, but as the heat was rising and we were running out of time, we didn’t spend much time there. Next was Pykara.

Pykara was half a kilometre from the main road. As we trudged in, we started hearing the sound of water flowing. When we finally got to the source of the sound, we were mesmerised. Pykara is a series of small waterfalls, which feels more like a rapid than a waterfall. The sound was music and the fall captivating, the reward for a 19km trip from Ooty. It just made the trip worth it. Soon we realised we are running out of time and dragged ourselves away from the fall. A quick lunch and we were soon tracing our way back to Bangalore.

We had to cross Mysore on our way back. And from a distance we could see that the famed Mysore Palace was decorated with lights. We just could not leave without seeing it and diverted course to the Palace. We parked our bikes, got through the main gate, were taking in the sights and talking amongst ourselves how we were lucky to be on time, bham, lights out. Suddenly I realised why the guy in the parking lot was saying 10 minutes, 10 minutes. We hung around for a while, admiring the palace and then started on our way back. We were back in Bangalore, without incident, by 10. A trip well worth the effort.

Route:

Tip: Take the Masinagudi Route. It will save you around 50kilometers than the Mudumalai route.

Stay: Divi Lodge, Near the bus stand.

Eat: Take a walk. There are a lot of places.  

Try: Try the Spring Potato by the lake (Warning: Oily)

Checklist for next time: Visit Coonor. Visit a tea plantation. 

Chai: Well again, lot of places. You are at a place where Tea is grown.