Dec 04, 2006 04:10 PM
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The trip started off by catching the train at 6.30. It was Lalbagh express (2607/2608) going towards Chennai. We 10 of us working in 8 different companies was the team. The way towards Jolarpet (where we are suppose to get down) was awsome with nature's inundated beauty. A big rocky mountain is worth mentioning at this point. We observed a lot of agriculture on the way. We had our breakfast from the train itself to save some time. The
train reached there by 9.30 AM.
We enquired the bus timings and came to know that there is a bus at 9.45. But we just missed that and we came to know that next bus is only at 11.15 AM. Then we caught the next bus which is going to some other place and got down at Ponneri (hardly 4-5 kms from Jolarpet). Luckly we got that 9.45 bus from there. From Ponneri, the journey is going towards the top of a hill. The roads are too good and there are 14 hairpin curves on the way. Each curve is named after some famous poets in Tamil. From each curve we will get a bird's eye view of the valley and that view becomes beautiful each time a curve is covered. Suppose the valley view is on left side first, then it will be on the right side after the first curve. So people sitting on both sides can enjoy. On the way, there is a small temple surrounded by lots of monkeys. Then started a huge amount of Eucalypts trees with big beehives on it.
We reached Yelagiri by 11 O'clock. There we enquired somebody the direction to swamimalai. Then we started walking downwards. there was a small village with some
shops. But there are plenty of resorts for the visitors. On the way, we can see a panoramic view of the hills. On the way one of us, tried to make fun a goat and it
started attacking him. We spent almost 15 minutes to get rid of that goat. After walking around 4 kms, we reached the bottom of the hills where we met some local people. He introduced himself as the postmaster of that place and he told that some kids who were playing there will guide us for trekking. Thre were a couple of huts which were very small. We all sit there for some time and then started the most interesting part - trekking. According those tiny kids, they used to climb up the hill on all
weekends and weekdays they will go to school.
We saw some beautiful gingely gardens with yellow flowers on the way. After that we started seeing steps. the kids who accompanied us told that there are around 1000 steps
to reach the hill top. After around 0.5 km, we entered the forest area and then we took a deviation from the normal way. That was really challenging. The path is very narrow. Then we need to climb up a big rock which was very difficult to climb for some of us. Over there we saw an amla tree and got some amlas. Then we again started walking towards the top. Again we were required to climb up a huge rock and on the top of that there was a tiny water container, which accorfding to our guides, will be full of water thoughout the year. That water reservior is called as "Periya Chonai". Then we climbed up and reached
the hill top. There was a raised concreate platform from there we can see a wonderfull view. Lots of villages on one side, packed mountains covered with clouds on another
side and scenic natural beauty on all the sides.
We spent some time there and we all took a different route for the downward journey. (That was the actual route with steps in between). There was a small temple on the top of the hill and the local people goes there regularly. According to our tiny guides, the water required for the temple is taken from the "Periya Chonai". Then the return journey was very nice with fewer breaks in between. We all reached back the bottom by 3.45
PM and took cold water from a well there. Our bus was at 4 O'clock and we reached back Jolarpet by 5.30 PM. We took some food from there and caught the same train (Lalbagh express) at 6.45 PM. We reached back Bangalore by 9.30 PM.
It was a trip mixed with fun and adventure, and it was really a mind relaxing day for all
of us.
Some useful information
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Distance from Bangalore: 178 kms
Lalbagh express from Bangalore leaves at 6.30 and reaches there by 9'O clock. Catch the transport bus at 9.45 or take a cab.
Train food is better than food available in Jolarpet.
Go for the trekking with some local people.
Catch the bus at 4 O'clock and then the train Lalbagh express at 6.45 from Jolarpet. The train will reach Bangalore at 9.30 PM.
Expense (Very low around Rs 200-300).
Jalagamparai Waterfalls is a near by place, but is a steep downhill trek for 5 hours. It is a tough down trek. There is also an artificial lake where you can go for boating.
Carry water and snacks as the food availability is very rare.
