After a long gap I took my back pack for Meghamalai trip. Public transport is the last word to experience the essence of a destination and life style of it's people. Chinnamanur is the nearest town whether you travel by bus or your own car..Chinnamanur to Eravilangar (last point of Meghamalai) is 52kms. First bus starts from here to Meghamalai by 4.a.m, second one at 10.a.m, then at 12.15.p.m and 2.15.p.m last one is at 8.p.m. There are facilities to get token to reserve your seats in the bus (only for two trips).
If you are particular about food, better buy some food and drinks from Chinnamanur.. Hardly 2 or 3 small restaurants and shops you can see in all over Meghamalai.
Several wine yards will welcome you as you near the ghat road. There is a forest check post at the bottom, you need to enter your details there. Approach road reminded me Yelagiri access. New road is laid recently till High Wavys.
There is a small shop selling 2 or three types of snacks,water and few local drinks after climbing few kilometers .No tea or coffee available. When I bought 2 snacks for ten rupees, shop owner , an aged lady offered me one vada as compliment, though I denied to accept it , finally i had to honour her by accepting the vada due to her compulsion. But that hot vada was one of the best vadas i had in my life. While having a chat with her further, she offered me the second Vada as a compliment, This time she had to honour me..There are human beings around us like this lady , we forgot to see them and learn from them..Still we think that we are the best man/women on the earth great principles..
Shola and evergreen forest patches started appearing as we near Meghamalai.
When we reach Meghamalai, further 20 plus kilometers to be travelled to reach the last spot of Generally called Meghamalai.
Meghamalai - High Wavys - Manalar - Vennilar - Eravilangar.
This is Meghamalai. We will come across few home stays before reaching Meghamalai. Climbing is almost over once we reach Meghamalai.
Next we reach High Wavys (often called as highways). There is an accommodation facility provided by Town Panchayath.
One small hotel is there called Senthil with an ambiance of a tea stall built in a most beautiful location. They can provide you food with limited items but tasty.
Newly built road ends approximate 2kms after High Wavys .Saloon cars cannot go beyond this. Sumos are waiting for you to be hired at 2200/- per trip. They will take you till Eravilangar.
Even if you have a SUV , better hire a Sumo as the road is extremely bad and you can't enjoy the nature as to keep looking at road every seconds . Bad road extends 15kms. Bus took one hour 10 minutes to cover 15kms.
Manalar comes next. Upper manalar is most beautiful. But you need permission to enter.
But public buses goes there..Once you start travelling from Meghamalai to Eravilangar (20kms stretch) you stop at any point it will be certainly a picnic spot. The beauty can not be described in words..
You will have to stop at Maharaja mettu after Venniar. average 30 minutes climb to top of the hill. Which offers mesmerizing views of plains . Gudalur, cumbum and other small villages. We will get a view of Periyar (Thekkady) lake on the other side.
If we walk around the Maharaja mettu, it will be a treat for your eyes.. Be careful.. places are elephant movements are there...
Keep one thing in your mind. This is a place with no activities like boating , horse riding, children's park, gardens etc..But if you want to experience the nature , there is no such clean, serene places in south India other than Meghamalai. As it is an emerging destination, this is the right time to visit before it is getting crowded with tourists and heaped with plastics.
Most of the areas are tea plantations and they are maintained aesthetically..Big salute to Wood briar group (They own lion part of the Meghamalai tea estates)
Tips :-
1. Book accommodation in advance.
2. Carry some food stuff with you..
3. I felt that, it is the cleanest place in Tamilnadu. So please don't litter..
4. Bring warm clothing except in March , April and May (It is only 1500+metres MSL)
5. High Wavys to Eravilangar drive is not so good , Aged people must avoid it. They have started the preliminary road works, hope situation will get changed probably after 6 months.
6. Only BSNL sim has got signal, not everywhere, but better..
7. Be prepared for leeches during rainy days
8. Carry a mat and sheet to sit for hours wherever you like, as Meghamalai is not to be seen it is to be experienced.
9. Bisons and elephants are very common in Meghamalai. So don't invite the danger by going to isolated places..
10.Bring a pair of walking shoes..
If you are particular about food, better buy some food and drinks from Chinnamanur.. Hardly 2 or 3 small restaurants and shops you can see in all over Meghamalai.
Several wine yards will welcome you as you near the ghat road. There is a forest check post at the bottom, you need to enter your details there. Approach road reminded me Yelagiri access. New road is laid recently till High Wavys.
There is a small shop selling 2 or three types of snacks,water and few local drinks after climbing few kilometers .No tea or coffee available. When I bought 2 snacks for ten rupees, shop owner , an aged lady offered me one vada as compliment, though I denied to accept it , finally i had to honour her by accepting the vada due to her compulsion. But that hot vada was one of the best vadas i had in my life. While having a chat with her further, she offered me the second Vada as a compliment, This time she had to honour me..There are human beings around us like this lady , we forgot to see them and learn from them..Still we think that we are the best man/women on the earth great principles..
Shola and evergreen forest patches started appearing as we near Meghamalai.
When we reach Meghamalai, further 20 plus kilometers to be travelled to reach the last spot of Generally called Meghamalai.
Meghamalai - High Wavys - Manalar - Vennilar - Eravilangar.
Next we reach High Wavys (often called as highways). There is an accommodation facility provided by Town Panchayath.
One small hotel is there called Senthil with an ambiance of a tea stall built in a most beautiful location. They can provide you food with limited items but tasty.
But public buses goes there..Once you start travelling from Meghamalai to Eravilangar (20kms stretch) you stop at any point it will be certainly a picnic spot. The beauty can not be described in words..
You will have to stop at Maharaja mettu after Venniar. average 30 minutes climb to top of the hill. Which offers mesmerizing views of plains . Gudalur, cumbum and other small villages. We will get a view of Periyar (Thekkady) lake on the other side.
Keep one thing in your mind. This is a place with no activities like boating , horse riding, children's park, gardens etc..But if you want to experience the nature , there is no such clean, serene places in south India other than Meghamalai. As it is an emerging destination, this is the right time to visit before it is getting crowded with tourists and heaped with plastics.
Most of the areas are tea plantations and they are maintained aesthetically..Big salute to Wood briar group (They own lion part of the Meghamalai tea estates)
Tips :-
1. Book accommodation in advance.
2. Carry some food stuff with you..
3. I felt that, it is the cleanest place in Tamilnadu. So please don't litter..
4. Bring warm clothing except in March , April and May (It is only 1500+metres MSL)
5. High Wavys to Eravilangar drive is not so good , Aged people must avoid it. They have started the preliminary road works, hope situation will get changed probably after 6 months.
6. Only BSNL sim has got signal, not everywhere, but better..
7. Be prepared for leeches during rainy days
8. Carry a mat and sheet to sit for hours wherever you like, as Meghamalai is not to be seen it is to be experienced.
9. Bisons and elephants are very common in Meghamalai. So don't invite the danger by going to isolated places..
10.Bring a pair of walking shoes..
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