Pod cast of Kadal Pura written by Sandilyan
Kadal Pura - Chapter 4
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Vacation to Masinagudi
We had a long weekend due to Vinayagar Chathurthi and we planned for a trip to Masinagudi, near Mudumalai from Bangalore. Our plan was to start on a Friday morning and return back on Sunday. But, due to my huband's schedule in Mumbai, we had to return back on Saturday. But, still we continued with the plan!
Since both the families travelling had small kids we had to get ready with them and their food etc, we were able to leave Bangalore only at 8.30 am on Friday. We filled in fuel and by the time we reached Mysore highway, it was 9.45 am. The road to Mysore was a four lane road and the cars were speeding. The only obstacle was the speed breakers. The speed breakers were Wheel breakers and the speed was controlled by them! When we crossed Mysore it was 12.00 noon. After taking up the Nanjangud road, we took a break for about half an for feeding the kids. By 12. 30, we started our journey and the road was not up to the mark. Lot of bumps and cuts in the road till Gundalpet. From Gundalpet, we had to take road to Begur and though the road was a two track road, it was in good condition. This is the SH 17. Then we entered the Bandipur reserve forest at about 1.15pm. We drove silently and slowly in a spirit to see wild animals. But, there were few vehicles who were showing their full power of the vehicle and using their horns instead of caution boards. With those vehicles around, it was a disappointment for us and the kids that we didn't see any animals.
We crossed Bandipur and entered Tamilnadu with a check in the checkpost. We crossed the dense jungle of Mudumalai and reached Masinagudi. The resort 'Wild Havens' where we have booked our stay is 7 kms from Masinagudi on the Ooty road. There were signboards for the Wild Havens and when we parked our cars in the resort, it was 2.30 pm. The rooms were good and the lunch was ready. The room rents were nominal - 2250 INR inclusive of taxes; the food was quite costly - 1600 INR per couple (3 meals - lunch, dinner & breakfast). The children were not charged for food. The food was very simple with no desserts or juice. We refreshed ourselves and went to the dining hall and finished the lunch at about 3.30 pm. The manager in-charge told us about the night safari in a open jeep and we were excited. We rested till 5.30 pm and got ready with the cameras and jumped into the jeep with the thrill of seeing the animals. The first one we saw was the peacocks and peahens. We stopped at the Elephant training camp to see the elephants and again to our disappointments, all the elephants have gone out for the bath and their dinner. We continued the safari and it was dark by now. We saw one or two Bisons and one Sambar deer and that is all. The drivers of the other vehicles (mostly KL registrations) especially all youths who were chilling out their 3 day vacation were speeding up their vehicles and they were using their horns. These youths were also shouting, screaming and with musics aloud enjoying their holidays by destroying the peace of the wild animals. I feel that the forest guards should have some more strict punishments through which they can bring down the silence level of the travellers. Most of the vehicles had drunken youths. I have a doubt, if they were all checked by the forest guards.
Due to the darkness also we were not able to identify any animals except for one Bison. This jungle safari which costed us 1500 INR was a waste. The jeep driver gave some information like the land price in 1960's were 400 INR per acre and now each acre cost about 30 lakh INR. He also said that we can spot lot of deers in and around the resort early morning. Some times Elephants also used to come that side. We returned to the resort at 8.30 pm with a great disappointment. We decided that next day morning at 7.00 am we will drive in our cars in expectation to spot some animals. The dinner was ready and we had our dinner at 9.30 pm. Had a chat till 11.30 pm. It started raining and the climate was becoming cooler and cooler. It was a good experience to sit in the midst of the jungle with a very less lighting and rain. It was a enjoyable rain neither a heavy one nor a drizzling.
We started the next morning at 6.45 am and as per the words of the jeep driver, there were herds of deers near the resort. The kids were excited. We drove into the mudumalai forest and the Kerela youths were making the drive horrible with their rash driving and the noises. But, on the way we were able to spot herds of deers and few peacocks and nothing else.
We came back after a refreshing drive at about the 8.30 am. That was a good place for bird watching. Lot of species of birds of smaller sizes were found. Had a good breakfast of Idli, Sambar, Chutney, Bread and Omlette. Again we spotted a herd of deer around the resort and we clicked lot of photographs. The kids were enjoying themselves with the balls and the toys. They were out of their city life and no restrictions for them to behave decently. They were picking up stones, sticks, plucking flowers and leaves, chasing the dogs and playing with them. They were out of their world.
We, the grown ups were playing Uno Cards. We relaxed and out of the family tension and the office tension. We took bath and refreshed and started our journey to the city at 12.30 pm. We vacated the rooms with a total cost of paying 9200INR for 1 day for 2 couples. Again we had to cross Mudumalai and Bandipur and now, we were lucky to spot few elephants and lion tailed Macaques . Near Gundalpet, we bought some watermelons which were so cheap and tasty. We reached Nanjagud and were closer to Mysore. We saw a signboard to Bangalore 166km and took a diversion there. Later we realised that was a bye pass road to Bangalore without entering Mysore. We took a break in the bye pass road at a restaurant and finished our lunch at 4.00 pm. This road joined us in the Mysore - Bangalore highway, just 8 kms before Srirangapatna. The drive from Mysore to Bangalore was peaceful except for few wheel breakers. We entered the Garden City expecting lot of traffic. But, due to our surprise, the traffic was much less and even the traffic signals were all in orange light. Either due to Vinayagar Chathurthi or due to the middle day of the long weekend, the traffic was so less. The drive from Mysore Road to Nagawara near Hebbal was a peaceful drive which we have never felt during the past 4 years.
A relaxing, exciting, a little disappointing trip to Masinagudi came to an end at 6.30 pm on Saturday. We were back to the fast moving city life. Though it was only two days, it gave a good relaxation to mind and body to help us work for the next one month till October 15th, the Pooja Holidays.
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