Trip members: Karthik, Sathish Raja, Balaji
Trip date: 2 and 3 Sept 2017
Road Trip Plan : Chennai - Pollachi - Monkey falls - Parambikulam - Top Slip - Coimbatore - Chennai
Planned for a weekend trip as we were visiting Coimbatore for a marriage of a close friend.
Day-1
We reached Pollachi by 7 AM through Hindusthan travels - almost an hour delay. We had booked cab through Kanishka cabs - Mr.Saravanan for the weekend at Pollachi. The plan was to primarily complete Parambikulam in our travel hitlist.
After quick refresh and breakfast at Hotel Amutha Surabi in Pollachi - serving yummy south Indian food - idlies, pongal and pooris, we started our trip. The service was also quite good and a clean restaurant. We first planned to go to Monkey falls. Monkey falls is around 28 kms from Pollachi and takes 30-40 minutes drive through the beautiful road stretch from Pollachi towards Valparai. There is a toll before the falls - Rs.30 per person as we enter into the reserve forest area. The falls was having good amount of water. We were advised by Forest service that the water is quite more and to be aware of water flow. There was very less crowd and we spent around 30 minutes in the falls. Wow experience had! As the crowd was very less, we had a very relaxed time in the Monkey falls. Beware of lots of monkeys - do not have any eatables visible.
We were quite hungry and decided to have another round of breakfast around 09:45. We stopped by Arun Mess - next to Aaliyar dam - enroute to Kottur - Top Slip. This small hut like mess served simple homely idlies and dosas. Their sambhar was in Kongu type with tomatoes and gravy sort of flavour. We, then, started towards Topslip - Parambikulam through the Kottur-Anamalai route.
One needs to buy entrance tickets for the vehicle and members for entering the Top Slip area. Though one may be destined to Parambikulam, we are expected to take all these tickets inclusive of Guide fees for Rs.150/. This is ridiculous but you are left with no other option. From there, its a bumpy ride of 10 kms taking around 30-40 minutes to reach Top Slip. The roads give a scenic view however, the roads are quite pathetic and one cannot go more than second gear in a car.
Our plan was to stay in Parambikulam - we had pre-booked our package - Honeycomb that includes a lunch, dinner and a breakfast, safari (own vehicle), 6 kms trek, a guide accompanying you all through your trip and bamboo rafting in Parambikulam dam. We paid around 8k for 3 members in 1 room in the Honeycomb package. There are other options - Tent, tree house and Island house in varying costlier options. Island package is in mid of the Parambikulam dam - 5 members can stay here - its a 1 km of boating one had to do to reach. Wild life sighting is guaranteed in this place. Parambikulam Honeycomb is located 20 kms from Topslip - a well laid road with dense forests and dams all along the route. The lucky gets to site wildlife enroute.
We checked in by 1 PM in the Honeycomb room - very clean and near linen and room with extra mattress and air condition fitted. The restrooms are also quite clean, spacious and fitted with geyser. Overall, a very comfortable stay place. The food served for all 3 serves were very good - high quality - veg and non-veg, hot food and right mix of flavours. The service is excellent - people all round serving you with smile like a family and asking you whether the food is good.
By 3:30 we were ready for safari in our vehicle - with the guide. We had hired Innova - so we can move around in ghat roads comfortably - small/sedan cars would be difficult and slow to traverse on. The safari takes you all along the route you came through - Dam view point, Valley view point and Thunakadavu Dam. When we go for check-in we did not stop in any of these places. Enroute for the safari in the evening, they places gave a great view - especially after 1 hour of heavy rain.
Valley view point - offers a great grand view of the whole Parambikulam valley. The valley is full of thick green cover and offers a great sight to enjoy the nature. Breathtaking view!
Dam view point - we get a great view of the beautiful Thunakadavu Dam. The whole valley is green and a patch of water is what you see - nature at its best. Great view point.
We then take a left after the Thunakadavu Dam and drive towards Kannimara Teak tree. This is a 7 kms ride through beautiful landscape of thick forest and grasslands - idle to sight wild life. All we sighted were wild boars, lots of spotted deer, sambhar deer and some peacocks enroute Kannimara teak.
Kannimara Teak - this tree is the biggest living tree at a height of 47.5 m. There seems to be another tree of same size, which had been cut by British decades back. This tree is also worshipped by the Tribals of the local area. This is a famous spot for photographs and end of the safari route. We then have to return back. On the return journey, we sighted few Indian gaurs.
Around 6:15 PM, we returned back to the stay and were served hot tea. Around 19:00, there was a 15-min dance programme by the tribal of Parambikulam. Dinner was thrown open at 20:30, nice chapathis, gravies - veg and non-veg with vegetable pulao. Pleasant night sleep was waiting and we just took it happily after the dinner.
Day-2
Started the day-2 by 05:30 - a brisk walk followed by tea at 06:30. Our guide came and took us for a 6 km trek. What we witnessed was a nice forest experience with an amazing sunrise in the thick forests. We only sighted couple of monkeys, peacocks and birds. However, the walk in the oxygen rich route was enthralling and a good refresh for mind and body. We were back to the room by 7:45.
Yummy hot breakfast followed after we refreshed. We checked out by 10 AM and final item to complete in the list was Parambikulam dam visit and boating. Bamboo rafting - a small boat - built for 8 people was built by the locals for an experience in the dam. The tourists started loving this and it a to-do on the list for people who stay in Parambikulam. The rafting is around 15-20 minutes offering amazing views and rafting experience.
We then visited the Parambikulam dam and journey started back. In hour time, we reached Topslip. We took some photos and left the area and super memories.
Enroute, we had food near Sungam. We had veg meals at Hotel Arul Jothi near Sungam junction. The food was very average and service was just ok. One does not have too many options to have food in this area. Non-veg meals with fish is very popular in Chola mess at this place. People throng this place for this fish meals enroute.
We reached Coimbatore around 4 PM and relaxed in Hotel Aishvarya Residency at Goldwins. The non-AC rooms were quite basic and just ok. We refreshed for couple of hours and left for the marriage reception of our friend at a place nearby - 1 km of walk. We returned back to Chennai overnight by train.
Trip date: 2 and 3 Sept 2017
Road Trip Plan : Chennai - Pollachi - Monkey falls - Parambikulam - Top Slip - Coimbatore - Chennai
Planned for a weekend trip as we were visiting Coimbatore for a marriage of a close friend.
Day-1
We reached Pollachi by 7 AM through Hindusthan travels - almost an hour delay. We had booked cab through Kanishka cabs - Mr.Saravanan for the weekend at Pollachi. The plan was to primarily complete Parambikulam in our travel hitlist.
After quick refresh and breakfast at Hotel Amutha Surabi in Pollachi - serving yummy south Indian food - idlies, pongal and pooris, we started our trip. The service was also quite good and a clean restaurant. We first planned to go to Monkey falls. Monkey falls is around 28 kms from Pollachi and takes 30-40 minutes drive through the beautiful road stretch from Pollachi towards Valparai. There is a toll before the falls - Rs.30 per person as we enter into the reserve forest area. The falls was having good amount of water. We were advised by Forest service that the water is quite more and to be aware of water flow. There was very less crowd and we spent around 30 minutes in the falls. Wow experience had! As the crowd was very less, we had a very relaxed time in the Monkey falls. Beware of lots of monkeys - do not have any eatables visible.
We were quite hungry and decided to have another round of breakfast around 09:45. We stopped by Arun Mess - next to Aaliyar dam - enroute to Kottur - Top Slip. This small hut like mess served simple homely idlies and dosas. Their sambhar was in Kongu type with tomatoes and gravy sort of flavour. We, then, started towards Topslip - Parambikulam through the Kottur-Anamalai route.
One needs to buy entrance tickets for the vehicle and members for entering the Top Slip area. Though one may be destined to Parambikulam, we are expected to take all these tickets inclusive of Guide fees for Rs.150/. This is ridiculous but you are left with no other option. From there, its a bumpy ride of 10 kms taking around 30-40 minutes to reach Top Slip. The roads give a scenic view however, the roads are quite pathetic and one cannot go more than second gear in a car.
Our plan was to stay in Parambikulam - we had pre-booked our package - Honeycomb that includes a lunch, dinner and a breakfast, safari (own vehicle), 6 kms trek, a guide accompanying you all through your trip and bamboo rafting in Parambikulam dam. We paid around 8k for 3 members in 1 room in the Honeycomb package. There are other options - Tent, tree house and Island house in varying costlier options. Island package is in mid of the Parambikulam dam - 5 members can stay here - its a 1 km of boating one had to do to reach. Wild life sighting is guaranteed in this place. Parambikulam Honeycomb is located 20 kms from Topslip - a well laid road with dense forests and dams all along the route. The lucky gets to site wildlife enroute.
We checked in by 1 PM in the Honeycomb room - very clean and near linen and room with extra mattress and air condition fitted. The restrooms are also quite clean, spacious and fitted with geyser. Overall, a very comfortable stay place. The food served for all 3 serves were very good - high quality - veg and non-veg, hot food and right mix of flavours. The service is excellent - people all round serving you with smile like a family and asking you whether the food is good.
By 3:30 we were ready for safari in our vehicle - with the guide. We had hired Innova - so we can move around in ghat roads comfortably - small/sedan cars would be difficult and slow to traverse on. The safari takes you all along the route you came through - Dam view point, Valley view point and Thunakadavu Dam. When we go for check-in we did not stop in any of these places. Enroute for the safari in the evening, they places gave a great view - especially after 1 hour of heavy rain.
Valley view point - offers a great grand view of the whole Parambikulam valley. The valley is full of thick green cover and offers a great sight to enjoy the nature. Breathtaking view!
Dam view point - we get a great view of the beautiful Thunakadavu Dam. The whole valley is green and a patch of water is what you see - nature at its best. Great view point.
We then take a left after the Thunakadavu Dam and drive towards Kannimara Teak tree. This is a 7 kms ride through beautiful landscape of thick forest and grasslands - idle to sight wild life. All we sighted were wild boars, lots of spotted deer, sambhar deer and some peacocks enroute Kannimara teak.
Kannimara Teak - this tree is the biggest living tree at a height of 47.5 m. There seems to be another tree of same size, which had been cut by British decades back. This tree is also worshipped by the Tribals of the local area. This is a famous spot for photographs and end of the safari route. We then have to return back. On the return journey, we sighted few Indian gaurs.
Around 6:15 PM, we returned back to the stay and were served hot tea. Around 19:00, there was a 15-min dance programme by the tribal of Parambikulam. Dinner was thrown open at 20:30, nice chapathis, gravies - veg and non-veg with vegetable pulao. Pleasant night sleep was waiting and we just took it happily after the dinner.
Day-2
Started the day-2 by 05:30 - a brisk walk followed by tea at 06:30. Our guide came and took us for a 6 km trek. What we witnessed was a nice forest experience with an amazing sunrise in the thick forests. We only sighted couple of monkeys, peacocks and birds. However, the walk in the oxygen rich route was enthralling and a good refresh for mind and body. We were back to the room by 7:45.
Yummy hot breakfast followed after we refreshed. We checked out by 10 AM and final item to complete in the list was Parambikulam dam visit and boating. Bamboo rafting - a small boat - built for 8 people was built by the locals for an experience in the dam. The tourists started loving this and it a to-do on the list for people who stay in Parambikulam. The rafting is around 15-20 minutes offering amazing views and rafting experience.
We then visited the Parambikulam dam and journey started back. In hour time, we reached Topslip. We took some photos and left the area and super memories.
Enroute, we had food near Sungam. We had veg meals at Hotel Arul Jothi near Sungam junction. The food was very average and service was just ok. One does not have too many options to have food in this area. Non-veg meals with fish is very popular in Chola mess at this place. People throng this place for this fish meals enroute.
We reached Coimbatore around 4 PM and relaxed in Hotel Aishvarya Residency at Goldwins. The non-AC rooms were quite basic and just ok. We refreshed for couple of hours and left for the marriage reception of our friend at a place nearby - 1 km of walk. We returned back to Chennai overnight by train.
Likee it. Very well covered and lots of info for others to take
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