Trichy - an all night trip

Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmurapuri - Salem - Namakkal - Trichy - Tanjore - Pattukkottai

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bangalore,+Karnataka,+India/Pattukkottai,+Tamil+Nadu,+India/@11.6986543,78.454028,8z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x3bae1670c9b44e6d:0xf8dfc3e8517e4fe0!1m2!1m1!1s0x3b000093eb3cbfc9:0xe8d7c5789de8fb3d!3e0

A quick plan to visit my native, Pattukkottai. As we had been missing a long drive for past few weeks and were not sure about our future weeks, we chose to go on the Iron Bull. We started  at 7.45 pm in the evening by having fuel in reserve. I wanted to fill fuel in Hosur as price of petrol is cheaper in Tamil Nadu.

Unless you are just mad at riding, this trip will be awful.

Took Electronic City flyover to bypass the Hosur road traffic. Rs.20 for a single way. Nothing much to see as it was night. Filled fuel at a Reliance petrol pump in Hosur. I added fuel for Rs.700, still half of the tank was empty.

We had our first pit stop by 9 Pm at HP Junction , Shoolagiri. She took cash from ATM, and we had a plate of Parotta and Poori, as usual i ate most part of it. Bill was 120 rupees and 10 was tip. Also a cigarette as tip to parking security when I was smoking there. Continued our travel an hour later.

Next pit stop was at 11 o clock after crossing Dharmapuri. Had a break for half an hour by having coffee at a road side tea-stall. We were their last customer for the night. Kadhalan Tamil movie had just started in Sun TV Channel.

Third one was at Namakkal. It was mid night 1 o clock. No shops were open. I parked the bike inside Namakkal bus stand and had tea. Mukkala song was running in Sun TV. I ordered a coffee for myself and tea for her. But I ended up with tea and she had my coffee.

Trichy was 85 Km from Namakkal. Till Namakkal the road was very good.

Two way 6 lane highway having multiple tolls. But no toll will charge for a bike. We were about to be stopped by cops at three places. But after seeing me in close they wave for me to move on. May be because I was with a girl or I put on proper gears. From Namakkal till trichy the road will not be that good. The regular Musiri - Thottiyam route will be a pain but little safer than the Thuraiyur-Manachanallur route. Even though the thuraiyur route has better road, buses take Musiri-Thottiyam road only. We took the regular route to be on safer side.

Around 3.30 Am in the morning we reached Trichy. I dropped her in Trichy Main Bus stand. Her bus to Coimbatore started at 4.30. I should write a separate book to explain my feeling when her bus started moving.

I'll be writing it one day. I made the title for this trip as Trichy because my ride ended at Trichy itself. From there I was just carried to Pattukkottai.

While starting from trichy i made a call to Arun (childhood friend), so that he can get ready.

As I was alone in the Trichy-Tanjore highway, I couldn't control sleep. I knew I was sleeping but I didn't worry. I kept my eyes open and slept on the bike. My sub-conscious triggered me twice when I was dangerously near to a truck from behind and while I was about to hit a divider. Had coffee in the morning in a tea stall located just opposite to Karthi's (My brother's) college. Even after I couldn't help me from sleeping. Some how I reached Pattukkottai at 6.30 in the morning alive! Arun waited for me in bus stand. We had tea at Anaikadu. Then he dropped me at home and kept the bike with him.

Hogenakkal

Bangalore - Hosur - Denkanikkottai - Anchetti - Hogenakkal

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/dir/Krishnarajapura,+Bengaluru,+Karnataka,+India/Anchetty,+Tamil+Nadu+635102,+India/Denkanikottai,+Tamil+Nadu,+India/Natrampalayam,+Tamil+Nadu,+India/Hoganakkal,+Tamil+Nadu,+India/@12.5660426,77.67916,10z/am=t/data=!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x3bae11abc8ffe3e7:0xd8368746c98e53bf!2m2!1d77.6877765!2d13.0040167!1m5!1m1!1s0x3bae8fda54022257:0xfd6e2d8b98ebd373!2m2!1d77.7211792!2d12.3542475!1m5!1m1!1s0x3bae7d7fe1f5a4b1:0x1252e8cbfbed0b1e!2m2!1d77.7893078!2d12.528637!1m5!1m1!1s0x3bae9a01f0121d9d:0x38bd8282b5a87540!2m2!1d77.7394856!2d12.2583719!1m5!1m1!1s0x3baea2e79f110f11:0xf9fcc8ca3dc277df!2m2!1d77.7781069!2d12.1183374!3e0?hl=en

Date: June-6 2015, Saturday

We have planned to start 6 AM in the morning to feel the chill in Air. But unfortunately due to some hustle at last we started at 10 AM from Tin Factory, Bangalore. Silk board and took the Electronic City over bridge. At the Toll we paid Rs.20. After we regret not buying return which is just Rs.25. As the bridge had less traffic I revved to 110 Km/hr. I felt the power of Iron Bull only after 80 Km/hr. And it was awesome. We lost our water bottle in over speeding which was kept in side pouch of our bag. The view is worth parking in the bay area and spend for 10 mins. But we dint as already we were running out of time.

From Electronics city to reach Hosur, a 20 Km stretch was there in highway. You could slip into NH35 from Attibele which will connect you to Hosur-Denkanikkottai road. But as we have not planned well before, we had reached Hosur and from there took the Denkanikkottai road. From Hosur inner ring road we slid into Hosur railway station road, which will connect Denkanikkottai main road after the station. But that road was being repaired near the railway station. So we took the country road believing that will join the other side. But eventually in 20 minutes we were somewhere in mid of a dry land. Luckily google maps helped us to back to the main road. We came back on Hosur inner ring road and took Denkanikkottai main road. It caused waste of 40 minutes time and fuel for around 10 Km.

Once we enter the Denkanikkottai road, just in time the country side starts. Both sides were green. Usually on side will be hillock and the other side some farm land. Even the view was wonderful we couldn't enjoy it as it was a very hot and we were scorched by Sun. The air was bit cool which saved us little. The road was very good with no pits and less speed breakers.

You would kill enough number of moths and butterflies on the way. I removed visor from helmet for better visibility and avoid disturbance from wind. I was riding around 70 Kmph.  Suddenly a butterfly hit my sunglasses and went into pulp. One side of my vision got blurred. Then we stopped and washed it. It became our first pit stop by itself. Had some biscuits. After 10 minutes we moved on.

A single straight road to Denkanikkottai and continued on the same road for Anchetti. We required no stops in between. After Anchetti there would no shops and hotels till you reach Hogenakkal. And like every other tourist spot food an other things in Hogenakkal will also be bit costly for its worth. So I have a habit of having or collecting food from the last town before the spot. So we stopped in Anchetti for having lunch.

Anchetti was a very small town, just it was around 1 PM. There were two non-veg hotels next to each other. One was ____ (sorry i forgot the name) hotel and the other was Murugan hotel. The first one (Murugan Hotel) looked very dark so we went to the later one and asked for available items. They only had eggs. And we inquired for near by hotels that will have some good non-veg food. The hotel owner said that there would be no non-veg as it was Saturday. He looked cunning and wanted us to have food at their place. But we were so hungry and wanted to have some chicken at least. Not believing him we went to the Murugan hotel and asked for biriyani. They had Chicken Gravy (Kozhambu). Even though it was dark inside the food was very tasty. We had two parottas, one plate of rice, one Chicken Gravy and an omlette which costed Rs 120.  I have marked the hotel for future visits of Hogenakkal.

After Anchetti you hardly see houses. It will be little more dense of trees on both sides of the road. More monkeys will be on the roads. Some 5 kilometers before Hogenakkal, the river Cauvery will join you along your right side. You can park your bike on road side and go for taking a view of the river. The trees on the bank will give a cool breeze and that will make you forget the hot experience you had till reaching this place. Mostly in weekends the river bank will be occupied by group of people having their lunch there. Good place to spend time with your family. But safety is definitely a concern.

Then Hogenakkal. A small water falls equipped with steel fence for safety. Mostly men will take bath there. There is a separate place for women to change cloths and an enclosed place with a kind of artificial falls for women. Everything is free. It is a very good plan having a separate place for women where they can enjoy without bothering who would watch them.

And a small hanging bridge across the falls is there. From there you can enjoy the view of river falling both sides of the cliff. You can have oil massage, boat ride, good bath in the river or in the falls. Enough hotels are there around and good parking facilities available. Hogenakkal is a not a much attractive place. There was a small road which is full of lodges. There will be people standing and calling every couple on bike offering them good stay. But I'm unaware of the amenities and safety.

Ensure that there is enough rain around Bangalore. According to me June and July is the best time to visit Hogenakkal, Because you will be allowed to take bath in falls as the water level of the river will be Moderate. After August the water level will be more and mostly there will be a temporary ban for taking bath in falls or river.

There were monkeys near the falls. They were used to humans and not afraid of us. Next to me one lady was standing with her small daughter. A monkey came behind her and flicked her drink from her hand without making a noise. I think the poor girl cried for losing her drink than getting scared by the monkey.

Boat ride is famous in Hogenakkal. Five people can rent a boat which will cost Rs.950 and for Couples they are charging Rs.700, you will be given a separate boat . As a Part of 90 minutes ride, you can see many falls on both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka hence it is a border. You are allowed to take bath in any of the falls and waiting charge will be calculated. Its good to bargain over them.Life Jacket is must as safety is our main concern :) .

As the falls was crowded, we had a small bath on the river while coming back. We started back to bangalore around 5 PM. There was little chillness in the breeze. Hogenakkal to Anchetti road will be mostly surrounded by forest. In a quick left turn we were supposed to rode over a snake which is at least 6 feet long shining in black color trying to cross the road. I was fast enough to run over it and I aimed its head to avoid any bites. But luckily the snake pulled its head and I avoided it in safe distance. The panic got me for some minutes.

The village names between Anchetti and Denkanikkotai will be interesting. It will be good topic for you to discuss while riding ;). Especially I want to mention here there are villages Seshurajapuram, Sivalingapuram, Ramar Kovil, Islampur located next to each other. It showed the different culture of people and their tolerance towards religion.

We stopped at Denkanikkottai for coffee. We had Samosas and Bondas with coffee. From there straight to Attibele and Bangalore. We reached home back at 8.30 PM and the Bull's Trip Meter showed 301 Km.