This is actually the second part of Ambasamudram. Last time, we covered Irwin’s betrothal at the end of our tour. This time, we kept our itinerrary to attend his marriage first and New year trip as the second.
Madurai is becoming one of the most visited place after my home town these days. This place being the hometown for most of my friends, I suspect at times that I have their accent. We dedicated 29th Dec 2011 for Irwin’s marriage at Madurai and kept following 3 days for New year.
on 27th evening Vinoth hosted a dinner party at his home. We hoped everyone including those who gonna miss the trip might join the dinner and they did. Following day
On 29th, the “core team” reached Madurai and we had nice time as usual. Made sure to escape periodically to the mess ( small restaurants – but they price their items near 4 star hotel restaurants). As usual we made it to Irwin’s marriage just in time (or just-missed-sorta). We compensated by staying late there.;-)
30th Dec 2011
Actual trip had started around 7ish. Kubhi’s brother helped us changing the vehicle at the last moment as we were not in need of a tempo traveller. This is not the first time he helped us. Hadnt we changed it to Qualis we could have ran in to big troubles. You will know them why below. 😀
We had our breakfast in one of the highway restaurants and reached Ambasamudram by 11ish. Our guide/friend gave us the letters for the stay in Mundanthurai and Kudiraivetti. Our actual plan was to stay both days in Manjolai. Singampatti zameen palace wasnt making our final list as the charge per head sounded more of a higher end. We later decided to go with Kudiravetti and had our reservations. However, some political guy wanted to have a day on our first day and promptly got that done. So we had to settle with Mundanthurai (papanasam) govt guest house on day one and the Kudiravetti for the following night cap.
We got our lunchs packed (which took ages) and went straight to the Guest house. This time, we wanted to bunglows and had them. Just then we realized we hadnt taken our bath for the day. So we decided to find a place where we can take a dip and eat. Agasthiyar falls seemed to be over crowded for our standards. We need the waterfalls all just for us. 😛 Later we drove towards Servalar dam and found a decent place to sit where monkey poulation seemed to be out of control. Good that human being civilized from our ancestors.
It was a nice long big rock which ended at the river. We opened our biriyani packs hoping monkey wont look for non-veg stuff. Just that day we realized they eat non-veg and eat very neat. gosh, then what! we had extra and served periodically to keep them fighting or eating or both.
Little later we were warned to get out of water as the dam was to be opened for that day. That raised our curiosity to watch the controlled flood. We walked a while to get to a open bridge thats built to see the dam from the distance. While I sat there and looking for peacocks that fly high, our guys joined later. After a while, we started sensing the water level was raising and in reality the water flows relatively slow and you can see ‘that’ actually happening. Only disappointment was the dam gates were not opened but the overflow gate which is not visible.
Later, we settled in our bunglow and waited for dinner. Post dinner, we went out night safari, however we couldnt find anything other than deer, nila and a large scorpion. Anyhow the fun and thrill driving in a forest at that night was great. We specifically requested to shut the lights of the car juts to see the stars. Words wont be enough to express them and I would need some extreme end DSLRs to get those shots.
Next day it was drizzling when we wokeup. We had our breakfast and went to Manimutharu Dam. This time we had to park or vehicles and had to take the govt vehicles. By the time we reached there, it was still morning and couldnt believe the way the place looked. This time, water level was pretty high and the places we walked last was nowhere visible. We got into the boat and started looking for crocodiles as we saw one last time. Waterfalls was guzzling and very noisy. We were nicely showered by the water mist couple of times before we said okay to return to the jetty.
Our next stop was at Manjolai and the weather was at its best. We started feeling the chillness in the air. We stopped for tea at Manjolai and continued our journey to reach the kudiravetti. But by the time we reached Naalmukku (the place where you get food but not any further in this road) it bit dark. We quickly got something and continued our way to Kudiraivetti. We requested them to prepare food at the restaurant and had the plan to pick late.
Kudiraivetti.
This is one of the place none of our guys gonna forget. The road is the worst of its kind and almost it would looklike haunted after the sunset. Mist gave us enough troubles. However, our driver had the patience and drove carefully. Everyone of us were looking pale due to the road and the dense of the forest. It was eerie and the feeling that we were in the middle of the forest was making us really uneasy. Few expressed and few acted that they didnt worry. Finally we reached a place where the faint light of a bulb came into picture. We realized thats the guest house. Luckily the guards were still there and expecting us.
Kudiraivetti guest house.
Tastefully built at a very nice place with nice view. Perfect veranda to park a bus and cozy 3~4 rooms. Couldnt ask for better place. Now the bigger question came, who is gonna go back to Naalmukku to pickup dinner for us. somehow we convinced our guide to pick it for us as we had to get into our yearly camp-fire talk minus the camp-fire this time. This time, we went a step ahead and wrote the goals for 2012 and the best/worst part of it, its in a time-capsule kind of place which will be opened in 2013 new year trip.
Little later our dinner came and even more with pale faces. Driver said many of the animals came and blocking their way and stuff. While we missed, for sure, we didnt had any interest to see them there. It was that kind of environment!.
01-Jan-12.
In the morning place looked bit friendly and the valley looked beautiful. At distance, a watching tower was there. After like ages, we were ready and went to the watch tower for our photo sessions. Clouds had little intention to show the rest of the dam from that place which could have been really beautiful.
Later, it was our plan to visit the Kodayar dam the last place on our way before we could return back to base. This place looks haunted even during day time. Hardly couple of buildings which are in the TNEB control. I have never even heard of a sub-dam fills the main dam so that the hydro power we get from the main dam is more. Well – that system exists and works here. Its place to sit and watch when the sun sets. Am sure that I would kill for – really. I should start working out a detailed plan for retiring in the next 20 years. Lets see where am gonna be.
Later that day, we reached madurai and caught our train. Should we even say another memorable trip it was? 😉
2 Comments
Jithin · February 18, 2015 at 12:04 am
How did you manage to get the accommodation at Kudiravetti?? Whom to contact??
Stephen · May 7, 2013 at 6:14 am
i went all alone in these places in my manza. superb place… wil b goin once again in my jeep next month