Sunday, January 18, 2015

Glenmorgan -kallatty ghat -Ooty

This is a recent trip, we just thought of having some fun not concentrated on any place.
But for a change we deviated from Thalikundha after Kallatty ghat to Glenmoragan. There are many place in Nilgiris which we usually don't prefer but they are worth watching.

At 25 km North west of Ooty is situated Glenmorgan which was then very famous for the Tea estate. The Glenmorgan tea estate is one of the oldest estate of the place and it was there even before the Pykara Hydro Electricity scheme was taken up for execution. The beautiful lake at the foot of this estate constitutes the fore bay for the Pykara power house which is above 3 km down the hill at Singara. The Pykara power plant is the highest plant so far installed in the whole of Asia and is situated at a height of 938.78 meters. There is a haulage way (Mechanical Rope Way) leading to the power house and it takes nearly one hour to go by the trolley from the Glenmorgan head works to the power house at Singara. Glenmorgan and Singara are of great importance to the tourist as delightful picnic spots. The view from the point above the rest house at Glenmorgan is panoramic.

Route Map From Ooty:
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Sigur Ghat-Kalhatti Ghat (State Highway 67)
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This is also known as Kalhatti Ghat (or simply 'Steep Ghat'). There is a short-cut branch off the Gudalur ghat at Theppakadu in Mudumalai. This route saves approx. 30 km on the standard Gudalur route, though it is by far the steeper route and is generally limited to short wheel-base vehicles. It has 36 hairpin bends.

If you are a passionate driver you love this route, its really challenging for an expert driver, Novice drivers don't opt this route, you will definitly end up with an accident.

Note: This route is closed overnight and most of the time this is one way, Mostly closed from Thalakundha to Masinagudi.










































Saturday, January 17, 2015

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta:

    Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, is a hill (betta in Kannada) located in the Chamarajanagar district of the state of Karnataka,at a height of 1450m India and is extensively wooded. It is also the highest peak in the Bandipur National Park. It lies in the core area of the Bandipur National Park and is frequented by wild life including elephants.

Temple:

This temple was built by the Hoysala King Ballala during AD 1315. Later the Wodeyars Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore who were ardent devotees of Lord Venugopala displayed keen interest in maintaining the hill temple.[3] The temple is dedicated to Gopalaswamy, which is one of the names of the Hindu God Krishna.

It is approximately 220 km from Bangalore and 75 km from Mysore on the Mysore Ooty road -10 km away from Gundlupete, which is 60 km away from Mysore. There is a motor able road all the way to the top of the hill.

Tips:

Entry fee is collected at the forest department check post at foot of the hill. Materials used for pooja (prayers) alone such as flowers, fruits, Incense sticks etc. are permitted. Other food items are not permitted to be carried in. All these materials should be carried in non-plastic bags.

Visitors are allowed from around 8:30am till 4pm. Overnight stay on top is not allowed.

In Jan 2015, road is in real bad condition, better take a vehicle with Good ground clearance.

Route Map: