Magical Journey through Ooty - Masinagudi - Mudumalai

The original plan was to visit Mudumalai and Bandipur Tiger reserves. Travel through Masinagudi ghat road via Ooty from Coimbatore, stay in a Masinagudi resort and visit Mudumalai and Bandipur Tiger reserves. Masinagudi is a green valley at the foot of Nilgris, surrounded by beautiful hills of Nilgris and is adjacent to both reserves. This stretch is the best place to see wildlife and experience best of Flora and Fauna of Western Ghats.

Preparing to leave Coimbatore

16th Aug:

  we planned to visit during the third week of     August. Being one of the busiest periods due to Independence day holiday, booking took  some time and through a local contact, we booked a resort at Masinagudi.

17th Aug, 7.30A.M:

 We hired a Chevrolet Tavera from Coimbatore. Myself, wife, two daughters and two of my wife's charming friends left Coimbatore and had breakfast at Anatha's, Periyanaickenpalayam.

On the way to Ooty, we were totally flabbergasted by the beauty of nature. It is just after a heavy monsoon, mountain streams pass through spectacular rocks and boulders covered with dense undergrowth, mountain breeze roll through thick cloud of trees, amazing. 




On the way to Ooty

 
After an over-night rain, entire forest stretch to Ooty was swarmed by flying-termites ('eesal' in Tamil).  it was tough to drive among monkeys making acrobatic sorties snapping them up.



Monkeys occupy the Ooty road in large numbers

 12.30 P.M

We didn’t stop at Ooty. We drove down hill through Sigur Ghat road part of Ooty-Masinagudi route, which is about 14km with 36 hair pin bends. This route is very narrow, through thick jungles and at some places you have to get off to the edge to let opposite traffic pass. Drive through this road is itself a thrilling experience. The driver told us that he used to see lot of wildlife in the 15km stretch of plains (forest on the both sides) just after this ghat road towards Masinagudi. It was noon and we didn’t see any animal activity.



Narrow Ooty - Masinagudi road



Masinagudi plains

Reached Masinagudi village and just before the main village  street had to leave the main road, go via a mud road with few river crossings for about two kilometers to reach the resort. There was a thrilling experience on this road in evening which I would share later in the blog.   

01.00 P.M

 Reached the resort. The resort is a new one with basic facilities.  Had lunch at the resort overlooking the majestic hills covered with lush green forest. It was Chapathi, veg kurma, tomato rice and curd rice. Followed by a short nap, we were ready for an exciting safari trip to Maravakandy and Moyar dams. 

Resort entrance

 05.00 P.M

It was late evening and absolutely little traffic on Maravakandy and Moyar dam road. This road is an important part of an elephant corridor and a frequently used one too. Perfect chance to sight wildlife. Till Maravakandy dam the road pass through tiny villages and not much of wildlife. Past Marvakandy dam, both sides of the road are covered with scrubby trees and bushes and is an extension of Mudumalai tiger reserve. We drove slowed looking for any wildlife. Just a kilometer on the road, the driver whispered “Bison”. A lone wild bison was gracing very close to the road.

 

06.00 P.M

Reached Moyar Forebay Dam. Down stream of this point Moyar hydro-electric power house of TNEB is situated. After a brief photo shoot, we returned in the same route to go to Singara Power Station.  



Moyar Dam

07.00 P.M

When we finally reached the Pykara Power station, Singara (one of oldest power station in Tamil Nadu) it was getting dark. In this route too, the chances of sighting of wild animals like Elephants, leopards are high.




late evening is very risky time of the day to encounter them. Insects are very active when it is getting dark, wild animals come near to the road to avoid the bites. We noticed a group of 2 wild elephants standing very near to the road while returning from the power station.

 As I wrote before, we were lucky to escape a charging elephant. On our return to the resort, just after the Masinagudi village we turned to a dirt road away from the main road. We just crossed a small water stream and there was bushy bamboo on the ride side of the road. Suddenly we heard a huge noise. Oh! it unmistakably loud  elephant trumpet. Single elephant was standing a few feet away from the road. We didn't notice it. Driver and my daughter sitting on the right could see it trying to attack the vehicle. so scary. Don't under estimate the wild elephant risk at Masinagudi. While I was writing this blog, a British man was killed near this place. This Link has that story. The resort guys told us that leopards are regularly seen on that spot.

 08.00 P.M

Retuned to the resort. Finished our supper, a nice end to a great day out.

  18th Aug (Day 2): 

06.30A.M

We left the resort very early to visit Mudumalai Tiger reserve. It is about 9km drive and our mesmerizing journey thro raw nature one again? 

 07.00A.M

Initially we drove through the Mudumalai - Bandipur road and witnessed plenty of wild life just after Mudumalai reception center,  also called Theppakadu. 

 



A lone Elephant crossing the Mudumalai - Bandipur road

 

Spotted Deer at Mudumalai - Bandipur road

 



the lone tusker after road crossing

07.30A.M

After a drive for a few kilometers,we decided to take the bus safari arranged by Mudumalai Tiger reserve. Our driver was discouraging us to take the ride. well, he was right. The buses make such a horrible noise that it will drive away any animals nearby.  



Government bus safari

Nonetheless, the trip inside the reserve forest offers a beautiful view of the Flora and breathtaking view of a water fall especially in the middle of a thick jungle. 



Government safari trip inside reserve forest

 

Water Fall inside the reserve forest

luckily we saw a pair of elephants in the safari and bigger one made a mock charge. The safari bus driver put out his hand and it stopped right there! 

09.00A.M

  we had our breakfast at Tamilnadu Tourism hotels at Thepakadu.  



Lion Tailed Monkeys at Thepakadu in front of Tamilnadu Tourism hotels

 09.30A.M  

 Not satisfied with bus safari, we decided to  drive down up to Bandipur check post. This stretch looks to be more frequented by animals. While we continued on our way towards the Bandipur, a herd of the three elephants with a calf was standing few meters away from the road. We drove slowly and suddenly a female trying to be belligerent made a mock charge. 

A female elephant of a herd mocking us

We left the place immediately and while we return from the Bandipur check point, the herd crossed the road and was seen moving away. 

  11.30A.M  

Returned to the resort. Followed by short rest, we made small trek behind the resort in to the plains of near by mountain and witnessed lot of flora and fauna.

12.15 P.M

 

 Vacated the resort and proceeded to Pykara water falls on the way to Ooty. This time it was uphill thro Masinagudi Ghat road, as thrilling as down hill.

 

 02.00 P.M

 

Reached the Pykara falls. The best way to get amazing views of the waterfall is to walk down till the end. Now they charge a small entrance fee and access to the river is restricted. Be careful of the monkeys on the way though and also the support barriers put up at the edges are not strong.

  03.30 P.M

 

We reached Ooty town for lunch on the way to Coimbatore. There are plenty of options as far as restaurants are concerned, but Ooty is not the best place to get good food? Any way we had our lunch at a decent restaurant and bit expensive it seems to me. Soon we headed to Mettupalayam.

 

05.30 P.M

 

 Finally we reached the foot hills of Nilgiris mountains and quickly passed through Bhavani river bank to reach Mettupalayam. Had a wonderful Kumbakonam coffee at a high way coffee shop at Karamadai.

 

06.30 P.M

 

After dropping friends and we reached the home at 06.45 P.M. It was lovely and memorable two day travel through  evergreen western Ghats.

 

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine