Nelliyampathy

REM Riders Club organized its second ride to this breathtaking and second longest ride to Nelliyampathy.

Route we decided was Cochin - Angamaly - Chalakudy - Mannuthy - Vadakanchery (NH 47) - Nemmara - Nilliyampathy and back through same route.

Delayed from scheduled time, left Cochin around 0815 Hrs along with my pillion rider Yadhu  reached Angamaly around 0900 Hrs where three more Bulls were waiting with Riders Haris ikka, Dr. Jefzil and Sreekalesh. Stopped over for break and few photo clicks. 

Vadakanchery was meeting place for 6 more bulls (Mushfar, Hashir, Anas, Shine CM, Ali Mon & Mashood) to join and for breakfast, then moved to our destination through a small town called Nemmara and it was around 1145 Hrs.  

Nemmara

This place is famous for its paddy filed and festival called Nemmara Vela (wish to be there next year with my father in law as he hardly misses this festival) which happens in the month of April where in paddy field turn the place for this festival after the harvest. It is famous for its display of fireworks  (heard is similar to Thrissur Pooram fire works which is also famous) and caparisoned elephants.

This is the Festival of Colours, Art forms, Firework, Elephants. Panchavadyam and Pandi melam are the cultural arts forms of Kerala which performed here with its best players of the state. 

Reached Pothundy Dam

Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam near Pothundi village on the way. Constructed in the 19th century, it is considered one of the oldest dams in India. 

We crossed this places around 1300 Hrs and very late than planned, even though stopped over lot to click some snaps.

10 Bulls were roaring through 10 Hair pin bends and very narrow roads. There were so many water falls on the way.

Small video to show you all how we ride.

Finally we reached Nelliyampathy around 1430 Hrs and only few had quick lunch from Thattukada (Small eatery outlet on the roads). Most of my co riders were fasting of Ramazan hence we had to return immediately. 

Nelliyampathy also spelled Nelliampathi is a hill station 55 kilometres from Palakkad, state of Kerala, India. A viewpoint called Seethargund is situated 8 km away from Nelliyampathy. Seethargund, according to beliefs is the place where Lord Rama, Laxmana and Seetha rested during their exile. Another attraction of Nelliyampathy is Kesavan Para viewpoint. 

One of the famous hill stations of South India and a breathtaking city for nature lovers, Nelliyampathy is a perfect holiday spot for visitors in Kerala. The place is bounded by tea and coffee plantations and offers a very pleasant environment. Nelliyampathy can also be reached from Nemmara which is located at a distance of 25 Kms.

Nelliyampathy hills are exclusively famous for their exquisite fauna and green dense forests with many wild animals like Monkey, Deer, and Elephants. Nelliyampathy comprises of mountain ranges from 500 Mtrs to 1600 Mtrs giving enormous opportunities for trekkers. 

We returned around 1630 Hrs after spending few time viewing the suicide point as my co riders had to break the fasting of Ramazan. We followed the same route reached Cochin back at 2130 Hrs  after riding 310 Km.

Distance from Cochin is around 140 Km and from airport would be 120 Km.

Distance from Palakkad is 55 Km and Coimbatore Airport is 106 Km.

Suggestion: -

Must carry food and water as only road side eateries are available on the way. Good for a day drive and back.

Google down for staying options.

Must drive around 0700 Hrs and stop over less till Pothundy Dam this will help to stop over in the hills near waterfalls.

Return around sunset time. 

May god give chance to be here back with my family for a night to capture more...!

As always my Bull rocks and SLR helped me to click through these ride.

Until Next Blog!!!

7th Ride on 7th Dec to 7th Heaven - Valparai

This terrific, longest ride / drive ever I did in a day, took 407 Km to reach back home and covered two states (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), 4 districts, 6 tourist destinations, 8 Bulls, 16 Hrs.

As I mentioned in my last Blog, REM (Royal Enfield mania) decided to go to Valparai - 7^th ride on 7^th Dec 2014. There was lot of confusion and conflict and on the verge of cancelling this ride, I spoke to Nithin Roy, when he mentioned it is going to be a long ride more than 360 Km, I thought to drop my plan but he said will go if I am joining, then we kept the plan ON and decided to go even if no one join, fortunately 6 of them made it.

The route we followed was Cochin (NH 47) – Chalakudy – Athirappilly (View my second blog) – Peringalkuthu Dam – Sholayar Dam – Malakkapara – Valparai and back to Cochin through – Pollachi (Tamil Nadu) – Nenmara - Vadakanchery – Thrissur – Cochin.

We, two bulls left at 5 am from Cochin International stadium (our usual starting point) and one joined from Aluva. Since we had to wait for our Ponnani REM crew for very long time, stopped over for photography, breakfast and couple police check for the bike records wasted our time and couldn't able to leave from Athirappilly waterfall on right time.

We left Athirappilly and Vazhachal (see my second blog for detail) around 12 PM (than planned at 8 AM to spot some animals on the way especially Elephants) and crossed Peringalkuthu Dam around 1 PM. 8 Bulls were roaring through narrow roads of western Ghats very carefully. Even we were late, felt lot of presence of recent movement of elephants. There is a small waterfall on the way from Vazhachal to Peringalkuthu is shown below.

Peringalkuthu dam 

It is the first hydro electric power project to built on the Chalakudy River. During October to May, boating can be done at the dam. With the time shortage we haven't been but I have visited once just after my marriage.

The nearest railway station is 44 KM to the west in Chalakudy Railway Station and the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport is about 67 KM, If you are driving from Thrissur it is 77 KM. 

We reached Sholayar dam around 2 PM after crossing 115 Km and 21 Km from Peringalkuthu and few breaks for photo shoot.

Sholayar Dam

Sholayar Hydro Electric Power Project of Kerala State Electricity Board who owns the dam. The dam has two reservoirs. One is called Upper Sholayar Dam which can be accessed by tourist and other is deep in the forests.

We reached Malakkapara around 3 PM covering another 35 Km. Stopped here for a break before proceeding to final destination. Road to Malakkapara and to Valparai was slightly damaged and repair work was in progress.

Malakkapara is a small village mainly consists of Tea estate.

We started to our final destination after stalking some mineral water and some biscuits because missed the lunch and couldn't get anything. Few pics and a small video to show you all how we ride and the type of road we enjoyed. Photos and Video courtesy to Nithin Roy and his Pillion Rider Ijo Xavi. 

We reached our final destination of Valparai around 3.30 PM after crossing 25 KM from Malakkapara. Ride through the tea estate and Dam during afternoon was pleasant and wonderful.

Valparai

This pollution free heaven is 175 Km from Cochin. It is a Taluk and hill station in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats. Distance from Cochin International airport is about 140 Km.

Distance from Coimbatore is 100 Km and 65 km from Pollachi. 

Since we have been here only for Tea, no much recommendation for stay for overnight. But believe me, you will get amazing south Indian style tea and coffee here.

Had three tea and some hot snacks as we only had late breakfast and we will have to wait for few more hours for dinner. Since we had to cover 225 Km to reach back home, we decided to ride back quickly through Pollachi as the route which we came will be closed by 6 PM due to animal movement.

There are 40 hairpin bends on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar. While major portions of the land is owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds.

Pollachi is a town and a Taluk headquarter located about 40 km to the south of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. It is the second largest town in the district after Coimbatore. Pollachi is a very popular Marketplace, with supposedly large markets for jaggery and vegetables. 

There was no patience left to click for more photos. We stopped for dinner around 7.30 PM and we ride through by asking direction for short cuts and stopped for few breaks. Speedometer was showing high speed for all as we had to reach by midnight and road was clear. We touched Cochin at 12.30 AM and I must say it was such a wonderful morning, afternoon and evening, breathing some fresh air and being with people who don't talk about hotel at all.

Big Thank you to Nithin Roy, Anjush, Mushfar and other Ponnani crew, because without them this blog would never be possible. 

Above pic is the Valaprai crew and Below pic is map from Cochin to Valparai

Valparai to Cochin through Pollachi

Suggestion: - 
Carry plenty of water and some packed food as no much restaurants on the way.
Need to keep all records of vehicle as you have to drive interstate and multiple checks will be there.
Preferred time to drive through is 0800 Hrs to 1200 Hrs or 1500 Hrs to 1700 Hrs.
Fill the fuel to full tank.

As always my SLR rocked and Bull carried me through out for this Blog.

I really wanted to drive again through the same roads in my car with family in very near future.

Until Next Blog.....!!!