An old unwritten travelogue
Riders: Rafsal & Abu Zainab
Bikes: CBZ Xtreme & RE Bullet 350
Camera: Canon 600D
On July 2014, four of my friends (Manu, Fawas, Angels and Inshad) along with me decided to set out an Independence Day ride for the oncoming August 12 to 15. After lots of planning and discussions, we decided to move in a triangular route that passes through Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
As the day got closer to the ride, one by one, my friends started backing off. Finally leaving me, Fawas and Angel. Angel got pissed off at them and left the plan to ride. Even Fawas was in a dilemma. I was determined to set out and dialed my cousin Rafsal, extending an invitation to him. He was more than happy because, all of us, except I, were Bulleteers. (If something goes wrong on the way, you have to have some helping hand).
As the day got closer to the ride, one by one, my friends started backing off. Finally leaving me, Fawas and Angel. Angel got pissed off at them and left the plan to ride. Even Fawas was in a dilemma. I was determined to set out and dialed my cousin Rafsal, extending an invitation to him. He was more than happy because, all of us, except I, were Bulleteers. (If something goes wrong on the way, you have to have some helping hand).
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| The route planned |
I got up by 4:00 am on the Saturday of 12th August and dialed Fawas, who didn’t wake up until 5:30 am and informed me that he can not come with us. Now it just left Rafsal and me in the cavalcade. But he also got reluctant because no Bulleteers were coming along for the ride. After much persuasion he agreed to come along, but for a shorter route. By then my watch showed it was 7:30 am. We decided to meet up at the petrol bunk, Atholi.
After offering “Salat ul Safar” (The prayer before you set out on a journey), I headed towards the petrol bunk, where he was waiting for me on his Bull. (And I had my touring partner CBZ Xtreme). After filling up the tanks, we proceeded towards Wayanad. We had our breakfast at Adivaram and continued to climb the famous “Thamarassery Churam” (Thamarassery Ghat Road). We had a few breaks on the way up and clicked some snaps and had a Sulaimani (Black tea).
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| Thamarassery Churam |
Discussing the route over a cup of sulaimani, we decided to proceed towards Gundlupet through Muthanga, and choose to continue our journey from there. “So, let’s get rolling now”.
Our next stop was somewhere at the entrance of Muthanga wildlife sanctuary. We had a sulaimani from there and proceeded towards Gundlupet.
Our next stop was somewhere at the entrance of Muthanga wildlife sanctuary. We had a sulaimani from there and proceeded towards Gundlupet.
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| Somewhere in Muthanga |
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| Near Gundlupet |
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| Flower farms @ Gundlupet |
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| Another flower farm |
By 2:00 pm we reached Gundlupet. I noticed a strange expression on my partner's face. And I came to know his stomach was troubling him. Maybe the morning food was a bit troublesome. I recommended moving towards Cafe Coffee Day. So we took a diversion towards Mysore side. As we reached CCD, it was around 2:30 pm. We ordered some coffee and sandwiches. Rafsal fulfilled the task for what he was here. Now the question arose, Ooty or Mysore? After fussing over a cup of coffee, we decided to move towards Ooty.
“A lot can happen over a cup of coffee.........”.
“A lot can happen over a cup of coffee.........”.
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| Relieved.......... |
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| A lot can happen over a coffee |
After the coffee, we proceeded towards Bandipur tiger reserve. A few km’s later we found an off road track leading to a valley where some cows were grazing. Without a doubt, we followed the road for some snaps.
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| The off road trail |
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| Curious....... |
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| Overlooking the valley |
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| They rule here..... |
After few quick snaps, we returned to the main road and proceeded towards Bandipur. On the way, we saw a board that pointed towards Himaval Gopalaswamy Betta. Confused, we stopped our bikes there. But time didn’t allow us to go there because Mudhumalai tiger reserve was about to close. So without giving much thought, we proceeded onwards to Mudhumalai. It was the lush greenery, on both sides of the road, that welcomed us to Mudhumalai. And we had a family of Langurs at the entrance welcoming us.
After bidding adieu to the Langurs, we proceeded towards Theppekkadu, where the forest department provides an in forest home stay for the tourists. Waiting for us on the way to Theppekkadu, was the most spectacular sight of our trip. A herd of Elephants crossing the road, not once but twice. But the forest guard came running and chased us away denying us a perfect chance to take a marvelous snap. “Don’t worry, we’ll stay in the woods tonight and have fun, Let’s move,” said Rafsal throttling his Royal Enfield.
We rushed towards Theppekkadu and made it by 5:00 pm. Bad luck!!! Rooms were full. We exchanged a pitying gaze and said “SASI!!!!”. What now? “No other option, Let’s proceed to Ooty,” I said. “Through Masinagudi.” The wheels started Rolling towards Masinagudi. We encountered lots of deer and peacocks en-route.
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| A lot were found en-route |
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| Deer.. lots of them... |
By the time we reached Masinagudi, it was 5:30 pm. We rushed towards Masjid to offer the prayers (Zuhr & Asr). After the prayers, we moved towards Ooty. On the way was a ‘Baji’ Shop that sold fried snacks. We stopped there and gulped dozens of Bajis. Oh man!! That was delicious. Then we had a cup of tea over that and proceeded towards Ooty by 6:00 pm.
We had hardly passed five kilometers when a taxi came zooming from the opposite direction. The driver was shouting at the top of his voice. “Wild Elephant!!!!! Don’t go there”. We were in a dilemma, going back was impractical as we didn’t know whether rooms were available at Masinagudi. Left with no other option, we decided to brave the road.
Afraid of the Wild Elephant we were riding very cautiously. After one or two km’s without any incident and sighting, we suddenly heard a loud trumpet from the left-hand side of our road. It took us a few seconds to realize that it was the trumpet of the very same Wild Elephant we were trying to avoid. It was there staying right beside our ride.Trembling and dumbstruck, we kept on riding in a half frozen mind for a few minutes. Only after a few minutes did we realize that Allah the Almighty saved us from such a big disaster. “We have been saved from the attack of a Wild Elephant.”
We had hardly passed five kilometers when a taxi came zooming from the opposite direction. The driver was shouting at the top of his voice. “Wild Elephant!!!!! Don’t go there”. We were in a dilemma, going back was impractical as we didn’t know whether rooms were available at Masinagudi. Left with no other option, we decided to brave the road.
Afraid of the Wild Elephant we were riding very cautiously. After one or two km’s without any incident and sighting, we suddenly heard a loud trumpet from the left-hand side of our road. It took us a few seconds to realize that it was the trumpet of the very same Wild Elephant we were trying to avoid. It was there staying right beside our ride.Trembling and dumbstruck, we kept on riding in a half frozen mind for a few minutes. Only after a few minutes did we realize that Allah the Almighty saved us from such a big disaster. “We have been saved from the attack of a Wild Elephant.”
After escaping from the elephant, we kept going towards Ooty without any stops as the sun has almost set and we were in a rush to climb all the 36 hairpin bends before the sunset. But we failed to do so. By the time we passed the 33rd hairpin bend, it was 7:00 pm already.
At some point in the ride, the bullet started misbehaving, and it turned off. It refused to start even though we tried very hard. We decided to give the bull some rest so that the engine could cool down. After waiting for 30 minutes or the bull was ready and we continued towards Ooty.
We rented a room near HPF (Hindustan Photo Films) @ 600 bucks and a decent parking for the bikes. Unloaded our luggage, rushed out to the city for food and collapsed on our bed as early as possible with no plans for the next day.
At some point in the ride, the bullet started misbehaving, and it turned off. It refused to start even though we tried very hard. We decided to give the bull some rest so that the engine could cool down. After waiting for 30 minutes or the bull was ready and we continued towards Ooty.
We rented a room near HPF (Hindustan Photo Films) @ 600 bucks and a decent parking for the bikes. Unloaded our luggage, rushed out to the city for food and collapsed on our bed as early as possible with no plans for the next day.
Day2
I got up early in the morning and set out to click some snaps before Rafsal got up. I rode around 10 km to get some snaps.
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| Masjid in Ooty |
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| A lonely Horse in the valley |
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| Roadside Flowers |
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| That's my partner |
After the photo session, I returned to my room. By the time Rafsal was ready and we proceeded to Manjoor via Lovedale. Day 2 was all about photo sessions. We clicked some pictures before Lovedale.
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| Lovedale |
The route from Ooty to Manjoor was mind blowing. Cruising through the road with serene green carpets laid on both sides. We got lost in the scenic beauty.We set off after having a light breakfast somewhere between Ooty and Manjoor. By the time we reached Manjoor, it was time for afternoon prayer. We stopped the bike in front of a masjid. I went to offer my prayers first, while Rafsal was busy guarding the bikes. Later he went to offer the prayers, and I spent the time clicking some photos.
After passing Kundha Dam we took a diversion to Manjoor Mulli road. On the road was a warning sign stating that we have 43 hairpin bends to pass. The 30 km ride from Manjoor to Mulli appeared to be the longest and the most time-consuming stretch in our whole trip. With no vehicles on either direction, we traveled with extreme caution. The temperature kept on climbing as we were nearing Coimbatore. On the way was Geddi dam and we met with a group of Fiat Drivers (12 cars) there.
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| 10/43 |
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| The four wheels |
We reached Mulli check-post by 2:30 pm and we were glad to be informed that there was a shortcut to Agali through some forest trails. Without a second thought, we took the route and reached Agali by 3:30 pm. We had beef and poratta from there and headed back Home. Without much stops, but regular breaks for a sulaimani, we arrived home safely by 9:00 pm.
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| Routes taken....... |
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