Ooty Ride Day -1

This is situated in the Western Ghats zone at an elevation of 2240 mtrs. It is the central station of the Nilgiri District, where the two mountain ranges meet. Udhagamandalam , prevalently called as OOTY by the vacationer, is the Queen of Hill Stations. Hundreds of years prior this was likewise called as Oththai-Kal (single stone)Mandu (Mund is a name of Toda Village). The British began calling it as Ootacamund.Summer temperature is most extreme of 25 C and at least 10 C . Amid the Winter it is least 5 C and a greatest of 21 C when it is marginally hotter. This region was repressed by the tribals called TODA much sooner than anyone could wander into this district. Inquisitively enough, this cut of heaven stayed obscure notwithstanding amid the times of the immense Southern Dynasties. the territory went under the tenet of the East India Company toward the end of the eighteenth century.The town is associated by the Nilgiri ghat streets and Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Its normal excellence pulls in visitors and it is a prominent summer destination.

The name importance blue mountains in Kannada.Because of the delightful mountains and green valleys, Ooty got to be known as the Queen of Hill Stations.Udhagamandalam railroad station is associated with Mettupalayam by NMR meter gage service.The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was worked by the Madras Railway until 31 December 1907 for the benefit of the Government.

In January 1908, the railroad line was given over to South Indian Railway.The closest air terminal is Coimbatore (96 kilometers (60 mi)). Ooty has three helipads, one at Theettukal and two at Kodanad. The Theettukal helipad was affirmed via Airports Authority of India for guard and VIP services.Ooty is arranged in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. A large number of the forested territories and water bodies are beyond reach to most guests to secure this delicate biological community. A few zones of the Biosphere Reserve have been reserved for tourism advancement, and steps are being embraced to open these zones to guests whilst monitoring the range.

It is arranged at an elevation of 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above ocean level.Boarding schools have been an element of Ooty since the times of the British Raj. They offer a critical commitment to the nearby economy. The offices and principles of training are considered amongst the most noteworthy in India,and so these schools are famous amongst the tip top of India and a portion of the neighboring nations. Ooty has numerous spots, in view of one's advantage and time can be secured likewise. Recorded the spots which we visited for 2 days.

How to reach :  Bangalore -- Mysore -- Nanjangudu -- Bandipur Forest -- Masinagudi -- Ooty

Places of interest around Ooty:

Day -1 :

Doddabetta
Tea factories
Niligiri Mountain Railway
Botanical Garden

Day 2:

Coonor
Dolphin Nose
Sims Park
Lamb's Park
Shooting Point
Pykara Waterfall

Doddabetta Peak:

Doddabetta is the most elevated top (2,623 m) in the Nilgiris, around 10 km from Ooty. It lies at the intersection of the Western and Eastern Ghats encompassed by thick Sholas. Pine woodlands arranged amongst Ooty and Thalakunda is a little downhill locale where pine trees are organized in an efficient manner. Wenlock Downs is a meadow range run of the mill of the first bioscape of the Nilgiris with tenderly undulating slopes.


Niligiri Mountain Railway:

Udhagamandalam railroad station is associated with Mettupalayam by NMR meter gage service. In 1882, a Swiss specialist named Arthur Riggenbach went to the Nilgiri Hills on a welcome from Government of India and he presented an evaluation for a line costing GB£132,000. The Nilgiri Railway Company was shaped in 1885 and arranging work started in 1886. The work on hold initiated in August 1891 and the Mettupalayam-Coonoor segment of the track was opened for activity on 15 June 1899. In January 1903, the Indian Government bought the line, and assumed control over the development of the expansion from Coonoor to Ooty.

Ooty Ride Day -2

Pykara Falls

Pykara is a stream found 19 km from Ooty. The Pykara is viewed as extremely sacrosanct by the Todas. The Pykara stream ascends at Mukurthi top and goes through bumpy tract, by and large keeping to North and swings to West in the wake of achieving the Plateau's edge. The stream courses through a progression of falls; and the last two falls of 55 meters and 61 meters are known as Pykara falls.

Coonor:

Situated at a altitude of 200 ft over the seal level and 17 Km froms Udhagamandalam, is the first of the well known Hill Stations. Coonoor is a residential area with a fair atmosphere that has made it prevalent as a slope resort in its own privilege. The primary fascination is the Sim's Park, a little all around kept up Botanical Garden that houses a few assortments of plants discovered missing in the other Hill Stations.

Sims Park : This garden was laid out in 1874 by Mr.J.D.Sim, the then Secretary to Government and Major Murray, acting Superintendent of the Nilgiris woods. Thus the garden was name after J.D.Sim. At first it was pointed as a delight resort for the inhabitants and guests. Later, the park  has been changed into a fascinating Garden Park . The Park is spread more than 12 hectares of undulated land and has various normal points of interest at a height of around 1798 meters . The park cum plant Garden contains numerous types of trees and bushes not found in Ooty. Yearly Fruit and Vegetables show is held each year in the month of May. It draws in sightseers in huge numbers.The Pomological research station that is situated close to Sim's park conducts research on Horticulture and POMOLOGY. The Pasteur Institute, that produces against rabi antibody, DTP, DY and IT, is likewise found, just over Sim's Park.

Dolphins Nose : Ideally visited in the morning, this perspective point is just around 12 Kms from Coonoor close Tiger Hill. This is situated in the midst of thick Sholas, befuddled by winding street. You can get a lovely perspective of the Catherene Falls from here.


Lambs Rock View

At 5000 ft above seal level, is a perspective point that is situated inside a store woods around 8 km from the Coonoor transport stand. The stone is a bluff that drops down couple of hundred feet into the rich green wilderness underneath. An extraordinary stretch of backwoods the distance to the Coimbatore fields can be seen from here. The Trees turn out to be amazingly brilliant and lovely amongst January and March. A Unique eco-framework and great Trekking Terrain into the wild lets you totally present your self into the arms of nature. This is the home for Endemic species like the uncommon Nilgiris Marten [dog like arboreal animal] Nilgiris Black Buck, Mouse Deer, Nilgiris. Feathered creatures like the Nilgiris Pippet are a treat to look for Bird significant others. The National park is shut between Mid-January to Mid-April. Aside from the above period, the national park can be gone by whenever amid the year.

Ride to Dandiganahalli Dam

Dandiganahalli dam is one of unexplored places around Bangalore. Situated 100 kms from CV Raman Nagar towards Chikkaballapur. After Chikkaballapur take a left, and keep going around 35 km to reach Dandiganahalli dam. On the way you find many small villages where you can ask the way also google maps can help you. There was no restriction and we were freely allowed to walk on the dam, May be because reservoir was not full but had decent amount of water. Dam is covered with mountains and at the end of dam gate you find a village too. One more new weekend gateway away from hustle bustle Bangalore life. Better to spend weekend with nature instead with concrete forest!! overall it was very good weather and ride. There are 2 hills which can be trekked. There is no trekking to be done to the dam.The dam is the main source of water to nearby villages.There are 2 home-stays around the dam. Which offers few day and night packages. The dam can be reached by both 2 Wheeler's and 4 Wheeler's.

Nearest Places to explore: Varlakonda fort, Devanahalli Fort,Chikkajala Fort, Kundana Fort

Distance from Bangalore : 90Kms

Time to reach from Bangalore: 2- 3 Hrs

Parking : Can be done in-front of Dam Entrance itself.

Food : Not available near dam.(Get your own food)

Activities: Bird Watching, Photography, Trekking to the nearby hills.

Permission: Not Required

Swimming: Its not Allowed , As the sign board says that crocodiles exists.

Fee: Not Applicable
          
How to reach : Hebbal -- Chikkaballapura -- Bommenahalli-- Dandiganahalli dam

Road Condition: Good --- HighWay till Chikkaballapur after that village road.

PC: Kevin D'mello & Lozil Noronha

Book Review of Six Degrees - Game of Blogs

Right around a year or so back, 300+ bloggers took part in a blogging event called Game of Blogs. Five character portrayals and a couple of different subtle elements were shared. The bloggers were put into groups of 8-10, and every group must think of a story. 10 days to think of 10 scenes. The best groups push ahead to the following round. After 3 rounds, 3 groups rose as victorious and those stories were distributed into a book.

This book is a pleasant accumulation of community oriented soul of imaginative personalities to form same thought into various heading into very much weaved, all around created, all around grew, elegantly composed, all around altered, all around introduced fictions. Dialect is simple English with couple of local terms from Mumbai and Delhi. Stories has great and relentless pace with required acting and anticipation.Every book, every part is remarkable as they were made by various people. When I first experienced about this challenge, I was a little skeptical.Some stories may begin as dramatization and end as thriller. A few stories may begin as thriller and closures joyfully.

The book revolved around 5 characters.

Cyrus Daruwala - A law student staying in Delhi.

Shekhar dutta – Freelancer writer who stays in mumbai.

Tara Dutta – Media professional and wife of shekhar dutta.

Roohi Dutta – Daughter of Tara and Shekhar.

Jennifer Joseph – A photographer who stays in Kochi.

Three stories by 3 teams

The Awakening, Entangled Lived and Missing- A Journey Within. The teams were given the same characters and were asked to build a fictional plot around them.

The Awakening:
I like the enlivening for its splendid utilization of characters. All the characters get equivalent footage. The characters are very much scratched. The association between the characters is settled. With regards to usage of the characters gave, this story emerges. The suspense develops right from the main section. The story keeps you snared. However towards the end it lands into Dan Brown's region and turns into somewhat lifeless.

Entangled Lives:
This is the most engrossing story out of the three with a homicide included! Cyrus and Jennifer are gotten in the tangle as suspected guilty parties. has one of them killed? On the other hand they are blameless? The character of the assessor allocated to the case is extremely intriguing. He is degenerate however in the meantime has a character which is agreeable. The story understands the homicide secret toward the end with the lives of the characters unraveled after an examination loaded with amazements.

Missing:
This is a story that I loved most. It was a significant very much described story. As the title recommends, it's around a missing individual or to be exact a missing truth. Tara and Shekhar are yet another couple, only that their little girl is absent. Stories like these need intense portrayal, and the creators didn't neglect to make one.

I would like to recommend book lovers not to miss this book at any cost.

6 Degrees is India's first book published through collaborative blogging, written completely by bloggers for the Game of Blogs activity at BlogAdda. Know more about Game of Blogs here. You can buy 6 Degrees: Game of Blogs if you liked the review. :)

Rating: 4/5

Title: Six Degrees – Game Of Blogs:

Genre: Fiction

Price: Rs. 349

Pages:422

Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd

Where to buy : Flipkart , Amazon

I am reviewing Six Degrees by Blogadda as a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books

A Ride To Heaven

As it is said the journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. My experience from the past 4 years of biking, traveling, trekking and camping has been amazing for me. Those  breathtaking views, adventurous nights, sleeping under the stars, trekking alongside waterfalls, walking on the clouds and listening to birds chirping has changed the way of living. These moments cannot be lived again and again. But the memories are cherished. The destination is decided but the journey to reach it, is thrilling. I usually prefer to go on bike because it gives me that adrenalin rush. I like the feel of wind blowing against my body.

I am penning down one of such experiences that came to me instantly. It was a two day trip in which we wanted to cover approximately 600 kms with a pillion. The major destination was Kolli hills which is 260 kms from Bangalore. The journey and the destination is spellbinding, from every age group and whether you are a lover of wildlife or a lover of photography or a religious person, it’s a complete package for all. We wanted to cover Yercaud too, which is famous for its mesmerizing view points.

It was the month of October and winter just started. As usual we all friends with 4 bikes and 1 car gathered at one place, silk board Bangalore. It is one of the busiest area in the peak hours. Since we started very early 4.30AM, before the traffic lights started functioning, the road was clear. After the morning cup of tea, we started our bikes. More than the destination, the journey towards it is important. I was happy that I had just replaced the tyres of my bike with CEAT tyres. My friend had recently suggested for them and I decided that it was worth giving it a shot.

The plan was to reach Kollimalai a.k.a Kolli Hills before 1PM. The mesmerizing beauty of hills which was covered with lush green vegetation and hairpin bends added more value to the beauty. Kolli hills have 70 sharp hair pin curves which teaches patience and tolerance! I was satisfied that my Ceat tyres went beautifully with them. They had a strong grip on the road and not once I lost my balance. There is a lot of use of brakes while riding Ghat roads and a good tyres will make balancing easier.

The beauty of Kolli hills that it is less visited by tourists although I am not sure of the reason. It has a very dense forest and a myriad flora and fauna with many waterfalls in and around. It is said to have many medicinal herbs also .it has been featured in the literature of Tamil and has religious importance as well. The places to see are Akaashaganga Waterfalls, Masila Falls, Arapaleeswarar Temple, Botanical Gardens, and Sikku Parai View point.After staying overnight at Kolli hills, we went to our next destination Yercaud. It is a hill station in Salem District, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats; and is known as the “Jewel of South”.

Kolli hills  and Yeracaud should be in the bucket list of every biker in south India.The region did have pleasant and soothing landscapes with many waterfalls cascading along the roads. The hair pin bends seemed dangerous but the CEAT tyres made them look easy.After finishing our journey and back to Bangalore, I could help but smile at the memories I had just created.

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of bike ride"

‘I’m chronicling my road trip adventure for CEAT Tyres in association with BlogAdda.