Highwavys - Megamalai Travel Guide

Highwavys - Megamalai Travel Guide
                                                                    by pkgaran

               

          I had decided long back from now to visit the “Nature Own District” Theni to have a break from city life.  Always Friends makes very good companions when we make tours,   My friends were busy on their own scheduled but one of my friends Mr.Sakthi from Dharmapuri has interested to join with me.  We both were decided to meet at dindigul and then continue the travel together. I have drafted the tour plan such a way that Surli Falls, Thekady and Hiwavyes(Megamalai), to start from 25 ~ 27th December 2009. 

24th December 2009, I have started from the house, Pondicherry at 10:20pm, Prior to this I know that one bus is going to Palani via Dindigul from Cuddalore at 11.15pm. Mr.sakthi started from his house at 10:00pm. I have reached cuddalore at 10:45pm and got the 2 row window seat at a middle.  The Bus was fully loaded since the Government holidays came 4 days in a row and,  it has started at 11:20pm. The bus goes via Neyveli-Virudachalam-Ariyalur-Trichy-Dindigul-Plani.  Even so, while going from Pondicherry, the shorter travel distance and comfort road travel will be Pondy-Villupuram-Trichy-Dindigul

25th December 2009 : As usual, the driver has stopped the bus at the garbage hotel for 15Minuts at 01:30hrs for a break, The Bus has reached Trichy at 3.30am in the morning, the bus terminal was fully crowed and passengers were running away to catch the bus since the Christmas Day comes with additional holidays. I tried to communicate to Mr.Sakthi but I failed, sent a SMS to him that I’m crossing Trichy and may reach the Dindigul at 5:30hrs.  Finally, the bus has arrived at the Dindigul bus terminal at 5:15hrs; While stepping out of the bus, got a call from Mr.Sakthi that he is waiting at Aavin Milk Booth.  He has reached the bus terminal at 4:30hrs before me. We both had taken little refreshment and ahead of the further plan as scheduled.  Immediately, 5:50am we got a bus to Kumily coming from Madurai, Via Dindigul- Theni - Cumbam—koodalur– Kumily.  We had a plan to stay at Cumbam from where we decided to go and see the places. I reached Cumbam at 8:45 and booked two bedroom in a decent lodge—Rs.250/Day at the center place.  

Surli Falls 

We took the 3 hours break from our long journey.  12:30hrs we got ready to go to surli Falls which is 8km from Cumbam. We left to lodge 12:30 and took good meals at  the vegetarian hotel.   We got a local Mini Bus from Gandhi Statue where the mini buses play from Cumbam to Surli Theertham (surli Falls).  We paid Rs.5, reached the Surli Theertham at 13:30, witnessed a lot of grapes farms and greenery all the way.  I decided  while coming back, we should walk.  We need to walk less than a kilometer to reach the falls.  While walking we went through  the shops which sell boiled root/oil foods and Paniyaram.  We both took an hour long bath together and enjoyed the nature'screation with the maximum level.   Water flow course was in between Medium to high levels.

Lot of Monkeys was witnessed to pull the traveler'sbelongings/foods. When you are visiting to be careful to safeguard your belongings. We left the falls at 16:00hrs and by walk, Many Grapes farms with greenery had witnessed all the way. We had a chit chat with Grape's farmer, came knew that this grape's farm will have the life of 20 years and found natural fertilizer usage. We brought the grapes directly from the farm.  We reached the lodge, Cumbam by 17:35hrs.

Next day 

Thekkady 

26th December 2009

We both started from Cumbam to Kumily at 7:15am in the morning. Kumily is the boarder between Tamilnadu and Kerala.  We went to thekkady pay paying Rs.50 to Auto from Kumily bus Terminal. Kerala Government is collecting Rs.25/- per head for the entrance fee to enter Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Thekkady.  We have known that boating was not permitted due to recent major accident and safety issues.  We came to know that trekking – cloud walk start from 10.00am at Entrance of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, We were not allowed due to we were wearing the chapel, Shoe is the must to make the trekking. So we were decided to go to elephant safari, which is near to entrance.  We paid Rs.300/- per head and made a worth safari with Santhakumari ( Elephant Name), Female, 35years old. We took some snap shot with her. We were experienced thrilled travel with elephant, but we were happy to take such a experience in our life. 

    

We were decided to go to thekkady boat house by walk, since we have more time, started to walk with our own time. On the way to Thekkady boat house we went to Museum, we saw the huge collections of physical and photo input of  Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.  Really amazing to see the museum, but worst part is no one is going to enter the museum since it was not published much to the public.  It has the huge collections of animals, which are living in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.  It has a library too.   We had a nice walk comfortably, up and down.  We reached by 17:00hrs to Kumily bus terminal and returned to Cumbam.  Mr.Sakthi has left to his native for his urgent work. I thanked to  Mr. Sakthi for his wonderful support and company.  I stayed back at Cumbam to see the Nature's beauty Megamalai and Highwavys.

Highwavys & Megamalai

27th December 2009   I have signed out the lodge at 5:45hrs reached the Cumbam bus stand by 5:55hrs and put up my luggage at clock room (Rs.10/24hrs).    I boarded the bus at 6:00am headed to chinnamanoor (between theni to Cumbam), reached the destination in 30minitus travel.  The winter session has been making it’s peak level; very cold but I enjoyed a lot.  Chinnamanoor Bus Terminal has got a reservationcounter for Megamalai, which is cost Rs.3 (But Counter man collecting Rs.5, collecting Rs.2 unofficially). It was tested my patience and then finally counter has opened at 8:45hrs, got my reservation ticket Seat No: 8 Window.  I’ve been informed that bus will reach at 9:30hrs. During this time, I had finished my little break fast and got friendship with co-passenger Mr.Muthukumaran from Madurai, He came for his official work at highwaves.  We both had a chit-chat for a while, Finally the bus has reached to bus terminal at 9:45hrs. Mini bus from Govt—Madurai Division IV  which as the rear single entry way and no door.  The Bus has started from the terminal, boarded more passengers at Gandhi statue where the bus has stopped more than 15 Minutes,   10:15am the Bus has started journey slowly forwarded to Manalar, Venniyar and Iravangalaru, via Tourist spot Megamalai and Highwavys.  

The Driver and conductor were so friendly to the passengers.  They are the messengers for essential needs to reach hills.  After 20minuts travel it has reached the starting point of the hill. Forest Check post officials has noted down the entry of the vehicles. The Roads are witnessed completely damaged, came to know that roads were laid by private concerns from the Tea estate.   18 Hair Pin Bends are leads to the Megamalai and found no safety pillars and brigades.  The driver should have very careful attention while driving the vehicles. This hill has a range from 800meters to 1,500 Meters above the sea-level on Pachaikoomachi Hill,  The hill station has large prairies, vast slops of tea plantations, deep valleys and high mountains.  The complete green valley of tea, coffee plantations and dam makes us our spirits goes through one step ahead of high level.  The bus has reached the highwayves at 12:30hrs while get down we were surrounded by thick mists.

Mr.Muthukumaran has met with Mr. R Murugan, doing a local business shop center at Highwavys for his business needs. Mr.Murugan and family were so friendly and helpful with us. Mr.Muruagan has directed to his children’s to show the natural scenery exclusively for us. The two children are namely Master.Ajit and Master.Pravin took us to the new world of greenery.  It has several unpopular but unpolluted tourists attractions including lakes and rivers and dense forests would be opened to tourist from all over the country soon.  We were informed that the Highwavys town panchayat has a number of attraction like Manalar, Venniyar and Iravangalaru Dams, Echo Points, Megamalai estate and Maharahamettu where the tourist would be able to view vast catchments of the Thekkadi and the originating point of Suruli Falls.  South Palani Murugan temple bird’s eye view of Kadamalgaiundu, Goodalur, Cumbum and Mayilardumparai are other star attractions.

We were surrounded by thick mists and could not able to view within a meter at 13:30hrs. A beautiful lake has added more attraction to the tourists and natural lovers.  The two children's were taken to us to the proxy falls. We had a nice bath for 30 Minutes.  Even though the water intensity is low, we have enjoyed and chillness of the water would be around 18 Degrees.  Just I sip the water while taking a bath, found very good tasty like mineral water—sorry it’s a natures mineral water. I drunk this nature water as much I needed. Water flow is good between August and January in Iravangalaru fals near the dam.  Once can witness wild animals near venniyar and Iravangalaru dam site.

We back to Mr.Murugan business center which is next to the Highwavys town panchayat cottage, A single day accommodation cost Rs.500 with the neat environment in a new building.  Those who needed to stay at the cottage can be contacted to Mr.Murugan.  We have taken good home made food from Murugan Business centre with great hospitality and thanked his family.

We walked together 2km to explore the new nature world. The climate is changing just like that between a minute, It was a most memorable for me to explore this experience. It’s a first tourist spot never seen a beggar, polluted tourist spot/vehicles


Bus Timings:

For UP Hill                                                                                                                                                        

3:30am-From Theni 4:00am-From Chinnamannor                                                                                4:30am-From Theni   5:00am-From Chinnamannor                                                                      9:30am-From Chinnamannor

For Down Hill                                                                                                                                           3:00, 8:00, 9:00, 15:00,17:00, 18:00hrs                                                                                                  Bus timings are subject to change, due to very bad Road condition.

Megamalai, Manalar, Upper Manalar, Venniyaru, Maharaja Mettu and Iravangalaru are the villages on the hill. Tea, Coffee, Cardamom and pepper are major corps of the area.  BSNL has telephone exchange cum mobile tower, So you can be communicated through BSNL mobile.

For Room Booking at Government Cottage:

                Mr.R Murugan

                04554-232389

     Finally time was up; 14:50hrs The bus has come and boarded against our mind set. We were requested to the conductor that we wish to travel across top of the bus, we knew that this bus goes to fully pack by passengers without air.  With a little concern caution, We were allowed to travel to top of the bus. Mr.Muthukumaran climbed the ladder of the bus then I followed.   A big wheel has kept top of the bus as a spare; We both sat top of that and felt travel with top of the elephants,  The bus was moving with highly damaged main road. We could not able to get balance and decided to a sat bus top floor instead of the wheel.  We felt good balance over that, keeping safety as a prime concern.

      A beautiful and fantastic natures creation….There is no limitation and word to express my views,  We both carefully clamps and looking forward to upcoming hazards;  noticed electrical wires have been insulated and placed considerable height of the bus.  The passengers those who are boarding the bus also not opposed since they know that limited bus more passengers.  We came to know that most of the days the villagers will travel only on top of the bus because of insufficient bus and day to day urgency of the work.

Routes:

Bangalore-salem-Dindigul-Theni-Chinnamannor-Magamalai-Highwavys

Chennai - Trichy –Dindigul –Theni –Chinnamanoor -Megamalai-Highwavys

Chinnamanoor is located in between Theni and Cumbam

Distance from:

Madurai-185KM       Dindigul-165KM       

Chinnamanoor to Highwavys, Magamalai –45KM –3 Hours travel .


Tourist information:
District Officer, District Forest OfficeTheni Forest Division, K R R Nagar, Theni
Phone: (04546) 252552

     Tree branches have fallen down top of the bus, some may come to hit our heads and body; we knew that this type of dangers will come,  already prepared to bend our body and head against hitting the tree branches. It was a good memorable movement to explore the difficulty of the top sitting commuters.  By 16:15hrs the thick dense fog has closed the visibility of the road completely,  visibility ranges between 2~3meters.  I could not be able to see down everywhere dense mists….I felt that I was in the top of the clouds/sky.  The highly experienced driver has made safety sound driving.   I would  have kept in my mind to give heart felt appreciation for his wonderful service end of the journey.  The climate was very cold, and we have not been wearing any cloth to protect the cold, but our blood circulation keeps our body hot,since we felt the high danger and adventures.    17:00hrs, We could see the roads, but drizzling has started from low to high, We stopped the bus and got down, Since the crowd is high we made foot board travel.  We finally reached Chinamanoor Gandhi statue by 18:10hrs.  I took an opportunity to appreciate the bus driver wished him for his wonderful service with  New Year greetings.

     Mr.Muthukumaran and I had a small refreshment at the coffee shop, before the journey start we have both never known but at the end of the day our frequency where the same.  We both have same friendship wave length. He has quoted in the morning “Every Travel Makes a New Good Friends ”, at the end of the day.  I would take this opportunity to thank him for friendship.  We both had nice time and excellent place and friendship and greeted each other. He got his Madurai bus via theni.  I got the cumbum bus at 18:30hrs, reached and took my dinner, cleared my luggage from clock room.  I found no seat availability for Chennai Buses, decided to make break journey instead of waiting and waiting the time.  

I’ve boarded The Theni bus at 19:30hrs, in theni got Dindigul Bus, Reached dindigul at 22:40hrs. I have got straight bus to cuddalore at 23:00hrs.  I’ve reached Cuddalore at 6:15am, 28th December 2009. Finally reached my house at 7:05hrs at pondicherry.  With a glorious note I signed off my journey, to enter into the day today normal city life.

At the end of the journey, I have recollected everything and thankful to everyone those who have helped directly and indirectly to success my travel.  A special thanks to Mr.Prasanna, Bangalore.   

I wish him to all for a great and happy new year 2010.

Thanks,

P Karunagaran

pkgaran@gmail.com

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