Bandipur - Wayanad

My wife Prachi, our 1yr & 10months old son Adhit and I loaded ‘more than normally required luggage’ in our Hyundai Santro’s dickey and set off on 19 Nov 2010. This was a very different trip, unlike the earlier ones for various reasons – this is our first trip along with Adhit, this was the first trip for Prachi with my office colleagues and their families, this was our first fun trip in Santro. This was an official trip to celebrate the launch of Prysm’s first LPD video wall. After lot of planning and confusion to choose Ooty and Pondicherry as the location, the final unanimous decision was made to spend 2 days at Wayanad in God’s own country, Kerala with all employees and their family. We are 22 people in my office. Out of which some people opted to stay out of the trip and some preferred to come alone without family. So, with family we were about 30 people. The plan was to start from Bangalore on 19^th November night in bus, travel till Gundalpet where the forest road will be closed from 9 PM to 6 AM, wait in bus and continue the journey further and reach Wayanad on 20^th morning. Adhit and Prachi were not comfortable with this travel itinerary. We have not travelled in bus, previously with Adhit. Our earlier experiences in train and in car were disastrous. Also he was just learning to sleep without cradle. With these facts, I could prefer to go alone or to travel individually in car. We chose the second option. I was not alone. Sunay and Karthik also preferred to travel individually. Just the week before the travel, I had severe back ache, which I attributed to the relocation of the cot that I did during Diwali when my parents visited us. Hence I wished that someone joins me in car, so that the driving can be shared. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Prachi was very much worried as I had to drive 600Km on my own, when I was just recovering. She even thought of alternatives like hiring a driver. As I did not accept any alternative that she suggested, she had to comply with my proposal. The individual travel plan for 3 of our families was a little deviated from the original.

Getting into the groove

According to the plan, Karthik's family would join Sunay’s in their car from Mekri circle and join us near Vijaynagar Tollgate. Karthik’s family comprised of Karthik, his wife Padmasree and their 1-year old son Pradhyumn. Sunay’s family comprised of Sunay, his wife Vrushali, their 7 & 4 year old daughters Mihika and Ridhima. As planned, all of us got together near Veerabadra Theatre on Magadi Road at 10:15 AM and took the Nagarbhavi route to get to the Bangalore – Mysore highway near Bangalore University. Sunay’s Swift Desire was packed with 4 adults and 3 children. Till Nagarbhavi, Sunay followed me and from there till Mysore, we followed Sunay. In about an hour, after departing from Bangalore, Adhit slept on Prachi’s lap. It was surprising for us, but we were happy. Just before Ramanagaram, Karthik’s family shifted to our car. We were a little worried because Adhit might wake up, as the car’s rhythm was broken and due to noise. Handling him when he is cranky is too difficult and this crankiness in kids is infectious. But he was kind to us, by not waking up. After the shifting break, Sunay vroomed away, while we followed him slowly. Prachi now, got a companion to gossip. Our next break was after Maddur, when Padma wanted to change Pradhyum’s diaper. It turned out to be a good village-side stop over. Adhit and Pradhyum enjoyed the sight of some birds, paddy fields and cow, while I enjoyed the face wash from the little water drain for the paddy field and the fresh air. We took some photos. We people from the city, don’t get to see such green fields in our day to day life. Hence these fields, which looked not extraordinary, which looked very ordinary when compared to the ones, I had seen before 20 years, watered by Cauvery in Tiruchy and Tanjavur districts, had become photogenic. Oh, yeah! But there is a definitive change in the thought process. As a school boy when I saw those vast stretches of green paddy fields, my thought process gets ignited involuntarily to imagine as if they are big cushion beds, where we can jump and roll. It takes some conscious effort to convince the mind that for various different reasons that was not possible. And now, due to years of this suppressive training the mind has stopped such imaginative process and stays within the boundary laid out for its movement. This, I think, can be extended to various things in life, where we train our mind by introducing fear and restricting it to operate with a specific boundary. I am put to think in these lines because I am closely watching, our son ‘Adhit’ and the way he thinks or rather what I think as he thinks.

On the way to Mysore

Mysore

Sunay reached near Columbia Asia hospital, Mysore half an hour earlier than us. When we reached there, Sunay and Vrushali had pushed their seats back for a small nap.

Let me go back in time for a while. After we decided to travel alone and visit some other place in addition, we started to plan for the whole week. Major plan revolved around, where to stay. We searched for various home stays and hotels in Wayanad. KarthikBandipur, which seemed to be a good break point, close to Wayanad. Our search revealed that we should book the guest house in advance at The Forest department in Mysore. We called them before a week to understand the availability and whether we can book from Bangalore. We were informed that some minister is visiting on 19^th though it was not confirmed. They requested us to call again on 18^th. In between we made alternative arrangements by talking to some home stays at Wayanad. On 18^th we came to know that the minister’s visit is cancelled and the guest house is available. Also we got to see some pictures from websites which showed the guest house with different names. It didn’t look the way we had imagined. But one of our colleagues, Sujith said he had stayed there earlier and confirmed that they are decent, if not luxurious. Later we were informed that we can’t book from Bangalore. We need to visit their Mysore office in person. Karthik had a solution, and confirmed the booking was done. He had a friend of his in Mysore, who booked on behalf of us, with some trouble of visiting the office, unable to book initially and with Karthik talking to the officer through phone while on the way to Mysore, helped him book.

So, when we reached Columbia Asia hospital and Sunays had taken a nap. We decided to visit L&T, where Karthik’s friend was working. I was surprised to know that, because one of our friend who worked with me and Prachi, was also in L&T. As Karthik’s friend was not reachable through phone for a while, I called my friend Rama Raju and got to know the directions to reach. It was in an industrial area little far off from the city, nor on our way to Bandipur. With some struggle to find the route and wasting some precious time we reached L & T gates. The time was precious because there are forest safaris in Bandipur which start around 3:00PM and close by 5:00 PM, before which we had to reach. We met with Rama Raju for a short time, while he informed about his marriage on 20^th of February. Raju guided us about the route to take to reach Bandipur through the ring road and said there are no good restaurants in that route, when asked about food. In the meanwhile Karthik had collected the receipts from the forest department.

Bottleneck lunch at Mysore

While we were just leaving the industrial area, we saw to restaurants which looked decent and seemed to be the only source of food for those in that area who opted to eat out of the companies. Our decision to eat there turned out to be a real bottle neck for our plans. We ordered very simple phulka, rotis and some sabjis. This was served in installments. Serving rotis in installments can be acceptable, but they provided plates and spoons in installments. Along with food, one hour of our time was consumed, too. It was 3:30, when we departed after additional rest room break for ladies, diaper break for toddlers, refreshing beverage break for the kids and none for us. It was nearly impossible to reach Bandipur before 5:00 PM.

Towards Bandipur

Sunay with a hope to reach asap, pressed the accelerator, with me following him. On the outskirts of Mysore, there was a four road junction where Sunay a right turn, while everyone in my car was drowsy, while Adhit and Pradhyum had already slept. Just after few meters on that road, I suspected the route, as I saw kept seeing boards about resorts and directions to Nagerhole. Karthik called Sunay, when I told him my suspicion. Later, on enquiring a traffic constable who was nearby, we came to know we took the wrong diversion at the four roads. We again came back to the junction and corrected ourselves. Just when I was thinking that now we are all set and pressed the accelerator to the full throttle, I had a feeling of travelling in a running bullock cart on a metal road in the villages. That’s when Karthik told me that our joy ride on the highways is over and the road till Najangud, about 25 km is really bad, full of potholes with road here and there. It was a terrible ride, with maximum speed of not more than 25 km/hr. With kids sleeping in the car, I really had to go slow and take enough care not to bump too much. It brought in me the memory of Takeshi’s castle which is broadcasted in Pogo kid’s channel, in which the players have to cross a water body, with small stones placed in disorderly, some of which are unstable. The players have to take enough care to jump over these stone properly and avoid those unstable stones which will topple on stepping over them. Being the driver, I was doing the same job. Adding to this pain was the speed breakers along the route around Najangud. Not one or two, ten of them consecutively, every few meters were not speed breakers, but car breakers. We, rather I breathed a sigh of relief when we crossed Najangud, as everyone was asleep. From here the road was good, traffic-less and weather was turning pleasant as we were nearing the forest. We crossed Gundulpet and small town from where the road bifurcates. One to Wayanad and Calicut. Other to Bandipur, Mudumalai and Ooty. We took the Ooty route. We crossed the junction, not very noticeable, from where the road climbs up to Gopalswamybetta.  In a short while, Bamboo shoots rising from both sides of the road and touching each other on top of the road indicated that we had entered the forest. After climbing a few bends, we were in the parking lot of Bandipur National Park, welcomed by lot of monkeys and some pigs. It was 6:00 PM and the sun was already out of sight, though not yet dark.

Bandipur

WoW!!! What a surprise. There were no shops selling eatables and tea which is a common sight in any place in India, visited by a few hundred people every day. The forest administration has been strict which is good in a way. On the left side of the national highway passing through the national park connecting Mysore to Ooty, is the forest department office. There is a parking lot and some paid rest rooms, opposite the office building. Behind the office are some cottages. On enquiry at the office, we were told that there are no animals sighted that day and the trips are not run. But that office clerk gave an option to run another trip for us, if we were more than 20 people. We together with another group from Kerala, who were also interested, made up more than 20 people and the trip was fixed. Ticket cost per person was Rs.95.

Bandipur cottage information

Bandipur Safari

The trip is run with a mini-van. After everyone boarded the van, it entered the forest check-post opposite the office on the other side of the national highway. I always equate forest to the ever-green sholas. But this was not one of those kinds. It was dry deciduous forest and the only tree which comes to the notice effortlessly is bamboo. However deep we go, it is bamboo all around. It was not eery too. The only thing which I related to forest, before we could spot some animals, was the terrain on which the van was running. It was really bumpy. It was enhanced due to the condition of that van’s shock absorbers. In some time, we saw a lone deer with its cub, very deep in the dark. Then we saw some wild boars, herd of spotted deer. I was disappointed as we could not spot any elephants. It was already dark when we were dropped at the office.


Gaur during safari @ Bandipur





Spotted deer during jungle safari @ Bandipur





We approached the office for our stay. We did all the formality at the office and we were escorted by a peon to our cottage. It was located inside the forest area itself in a little open space, populated only with eucalyptus trees. There are some 20 of them scattered across that area. Each cottage is divided into two separate rooms with individual toilet & baths and a common verandah. We enquired the peon regarding food and milk for children. It was a necessity. But now it was very important because, if there are no means we need to travel to the nearby village which was Gundulpet and should return before 9:00PM, because the road towards Bandipur on Ooty route and the Wayanad route are closed for the safety of animals. Peon showed a building in that dim light and mentioned that food is served there for the inmates of these cottages. We wanted to have a look at it. So, leaving our cars we walked along with the peon to the canteen. There was no lighting, except in the cottages. The only light outside the building was near the canteen. While walking down we saw some deer grazing around that area. The people there in the office and others should have been harmless in the past, wiping out the fear in those creatures. We had a look at the canteen were food was being prepared for that night, ordered for some coffees. Ridhima and Mihika too were very happy to see some rabbits in the canteen, which later turned out to be a point of attraction for Adhit too.

Govt. Cottage @ Bandipur

View of western ghats (Nilgiris) from the cottage

After coffee we went to cottage, unloaded the luggage and refreshed ourselves for a little while before dinner. The room was not luxurious and old, built in the 60’s. Having the first look I was worried about bed bugs and the toilet, from my earlier experiences in such places. To my surprise, the toilet was very neat with western commode. Though the whole night went by sleepless for a different reason, there were no bed bugs. After we dumped our entire luggage inside the room, I felt like my headache and neck pain had really increased in severity. I have noticed it happening always. That’s when you feel that this mind and body are so well netted together. Till a logical break point is reached the mind keeps control over the body pain and then its body over the mind. I was prepared for such occurrence of headache. I applied the axe oil which I had carried anticipating the pain and started spreading the fragrance all around me. I wanted to lie down for a while, when Prachi was in a hurry to feed Adhit and put him to sleep, as today was way too deviating from his food and sleep routine. He had just had few biscuits after his noon meal. Otherwise our man has milk, some fruits like apple or banana in addition to the biscuits. I agreed with Prachi so that he does not grow cranky.

Dinner and close of Day1

Everyone was ready when we came out of the cottage. It was a buffet, arranged in a big hall surrounded by windows through we just took the pleasure of seeing nothing in the dark. The children were the happiest. All four of them were running around in their own world. While one was busy with the tap, other was busy with the holes in the wall, the other with the rabbits. In the meanwhile, Prachi managed to get some chapatti for Adhit before the food was served for others. In some time, the table was populated with food comprising Chapatti, green gram sabji, rice, sambar, rasam, curd and papad. It was a very nice in that weather. Rain which started during dinner enhanced the ambiance with its poppy noise on the roof and chill wind. After dinner, we had to wait for a while for the rain to stop. Deciding that rain will not completely stop Prachi, I and Karthik along with Adhit and Pradhyum paced towards the cottage in the drizzle.

I entered the room thinking of having a nice sleep which will relax my neck pain and headache. I could not predict the nightmare that was awaiting us. It started just after we closed the door. Adhit was not ready to accept the place. So far he should he imagined it as a temporary location. The moment we closed the door, he started to become cranky and insisted to open the door and go in the car. We thought when we settle down in the room, he will understand and be OK. That worked in the reverse. When we got on to the bed and took him for changing his dress, he started crying. He kept crying and asking us to open the door and take him to the car. It increased exponentially as he felt drowsy too. Before a few days he was used to sleep in cradle. Now we were in the process of telling stories and singing lullabies to make him asleep. Now he was not ready come on to the bed. Earlier one day, when we were making him unlearn the habit of cradle, after weeping for lot of time, he slept on my shoulder. Though I was not in mood to handle him due to my pain, I had to put him to sleep, if we had to sleep. So, I tried the same tactic. I lifted him, made him lean over my shoulder and strolled across the room, with no hint of luck. After some time, Prachi took turn in doing the same, while I slept. I was so fast asleep in a few moment, while Prachi continued it. Though he was put on bed after a long time of this exercise, Prachi had to repeat the same exercise repeatedly all through the night. I did not wake up till midnight to help her. From mid night, I joined in taking turns. Around 11:45 I heard the sound of an elephant’s trumpet, while doing the strolling exercise. I wanted to run out to the verandah and peep through the mesh to see if I can spot it. After 2’o clock Adhit and Prachi had slept well, though he kept waking up and sleeping to the tune of the lullaby. My headache became severe by 3:30 AM. I could not sleep anymore. I required the axe oil and a paracetamol. But I restricted myself to avoid making noise. At one point when it was unbearable, I searched my way to the torch first, then to the medicine box. After taking a paracetamol and applying axe oil, I went out to the verandah to get some fresh air, from where I never returned to bed till the next morning. I strolled for some time. Then sat down in the sofa there and started enjoying the chill of the night breeze and the stars which I could never spot more than a handful in Bangalore’s night sky. Though I kept hearing some animal noise, I could not spot anything around. By 5 AM, the power went off, immediately waking Adhit up. He, as if is fully awake was asking where is the light. While Prachi was trying to console him, I switched my torch light on and started showing it through the glass pane above the door. While doing so, I also managed to light up a candle. Thanks to the forest department - Each room was given some candles, a mosquito coil and a match box. Seeing light he slept again. By 5:30 it was dawning at the distant sky, while some officer starting jogging. I misinterpreted his footsteps to be some animal’s and was afraid for a very short while, before I saw him in the road close to the cottage. That’s how obsessed was I with the idea of being in the midst of a jungle. At 6, Sunay gave a call to Karthik and me, to wake us up. We were planning to leave by 6:30. Prachi and Adhit were sleeping well after the whole night’s drama (trauma), while Karthik & co was out with camera taking pictures of the mountains around; Sunay & co was taking pictures as well as listening to some music from their car stereo. Some person who was on the way to the canteen warned them in the name of that officer who was jogging and asked to turn of the music. It seemed that our family would be the reason for the delay, as Adhit was still sleeping, Prachi just woke up and we had so many luggage to dump into the car again. While Prachi was brushing, I packed all the things and started dumping. With all this sound, Adhit was undisturbed. So, Prachi was reluctant to take him to the car while he was asleep. She was afraid that he might wake up. While Prachi was packing Adhit’s bed sheet and others, due to my compulsion, I poured some water to clean the windscreen of the car. It was clogged with moisture due to chill weather and mist in the morning. Even when it was time to start Adhit was still not awake. Karthik’s family got in with Sunay and signaled the start. Now Prachi had no other go than to take Adhit. We informed the peon and said bye to the forest that hosted us for a night. Adhit woke up very fresh while on the way to Gundulpet.

Towards Wayanad

Our next stop was Gundulpet for tea. The forest was beautiful to look at in the morning. I would have loved not to drive and engulf the sight as much as possible. I was feeling good and relieved from headache. At Gundulpet, the town was just waking up, while we stopped by a tea shop, where few other tea shops were crowded with Sabarimala tourists. We had tea / coffee or milk, filled the children’s bottle with milk for the way forward, distributed some biscuits among kids. I started having the hint of neck pain again. So I gulped another paracetamol, while I came to know from Sunay that he has moov (a pain balm). I think all drivers have such problems and remedies. Thanks to Sunay – I applied it all around my neck.

The journey started again. Our next stop was Wayanad. The road was entirely traffic-free and we could zoom past the initial stretch very quickly till we entered the forest. After that though the traffic was less, the road was intermittently bad and unpredictable. This forest was the continuation of Bandipur on the other side. After some distance through the forest, we could see that on the left was bamboo tress, well differentiated from the valley on the right with evergreen trees and a stream down the valley. On the way Prachi noticed some peacocks on the roadside, where we stopped to get down and show Adhit. It is actually not allowed to stop the vehicles inside the forest roads. After a while we stopped for a while to show Adhit, some monkeys. On the way, after seeing some animals, Prachi was telling me that she was really afraid with the way Adhit was crying last night. She feared some animals might come hearing his sound. Bollywood has had lot of impact.

Wayanad

Enjoying the beautiful roadside, trees, valleys and stream, we reached Sultan Bathery very quickly. We did not stop anywhere, until we reached Kalpetta. Oh yeah! Most people think Wayanad is a place, like I used to think before this trip. Wayanad is not a place. It is a district, comprising of many places, interesting for those who live in the concrete forests. To visit each place mentioned interesting in the website, you should travel a sizable distance like 25 to 40Km. Sultan Bathery is one such place which is the entry point to Wayanad in Gundulpet route. Next is Kalpetta. We stopped at Kalpetta, which seemed bigger than Sultan Bathery, to get some idlis for the kids. It was just a quick break. We continued further to Vythiri were we would join with other colleagues from our office. Vythiri is another place in Wayanad. Adhit just had a few pieces of idli, which did look good too. We fed him with some more biscuits, after which he informed us that nature was calling. Prachi asked him to wait for a while. I was surprised that he could control himself. He did not tell again. On the way further, Sunay stopped his car as Padmashree had nausea and vomiting, a common sight in the hill routes. We called them from our car to inquire if she requires medicine for nausea, which we had. As they said no, we continued further and reached Vythiri. We were to stay at a resort called Vythiri Village. It was inside a small lane on the national highway number 212, easily noticeable with the sign board. It was 9 AM when we reached.

Vythiri Village Reception

Reception at Vythiri Village

View of the room @ Vythiri Village

As we entered, Raju and Prashanth who were already ready for the day received us. This is not the same Raju, I mentioned earlier whom we met at Mysore. This is Varadha Raju, Vice President of Indian operations. After some and pleasantries, Raju informed us that the program starts at 10, which meant we should get ready and finish the breakfast before that. Prachi was not happy with the plan and felt there is no time at all and everything was in hurry. She was already unhappy that we rushed today morning, not allowing Adhit to sleep. I consoled her that when we are in a group it’s better to stick to the plan and not affect others. The rooms allotted to us was a little far from the reception. Resort people transported our luggage and took us in a separate cab. Adhit who was very cheerful all the way, started his last night protest again as soon as we entered the room. He did not even come inside. He stood near the closed door and kept asking us to take him to the car. We kept diverting his attention with different things. While I opened the window there was a pleasant surprise. There was a thicket of trees just adjacent to the window, separated only by a narrow stream. He was engrossed into this new sight of dark green thick forest. We had been telling him for the last whole week that we are going to Wayanad, which is a jungle. So, when I said it was a jungle he was absorbing everything around him. In the meanwhile, Prachi had prepared his potty seat and called him. He had another protest waiting for us, after finishing his nature calls. He was not ready to bath in a new place and there were no buckets and tumblers with which he used to play while bathing at home. We engaged him with talks and the new shower and got him bathed. It was getting late for achieving Raju’s target time. But we both rushed and managed to get on time for the breakfast. 

A portion of Vythiri Village seen from top

Breakfast and OBL

When we entered the breakfast hall, all my colleagues with their families were there. We introduced each other family when we met. People were happy to see Adhit, whom they had just conceived in their thought with what I explain of him. Same was the case with me, when I looked to other’s family. Initially, Prachi fed Adhit, while I talked to friends and continued to eat. The breakfast was awesome. It had a lot of variety – fruits, cereals, toast, egg, idli, dosa, poori, puttu with their respective side dishes, milk etc..,. When Prachi had done with feeding and started to have, Raju came to our table and informed that we will start the program in a few minutes. I know it was not going great for Prachi. Though she was upset, she managed. After she quickly finished her breakfast, we went along with others to the first floor where the program was to start. Everyone was just sitting and gossiping, as some of our other colleagues were to join us, which irritated Prachi who kept rushing up the whole morning. Later when everyone was present, Raju initiated the program. We are going to spend the whole day as Outward Bound Learning, conducted by trainer from outside organization, which is very famous in Bangalore. I guessed it was not going to be any special, which was proven right when the trainer said ‘Good Morning’ and kept repeating it, till the crowd could bark at him saying ‘Good Morning’. I don’t know whether this ritual needs to be performed before any such program like time management, presentation skills, team building and other soft skills. Let me not go in detail about this program and my critic about it in this travelogue. The program lasted till afternoon, within which Adhit had slept on Prachi’s lap, when we were doing some task outside the hall. When it was time for lunch, I offered to take care of Adhit and asked Prachi to have the privilege of eating first, due to the breakfast disaster. She agreed, as I took him on my shoulder and roamed around the garden. When she was half way through, our little master woke up and we joined her. It was my turn now to feed him.

Tea estates on the way

Banasura Sagar Dam

Way to Banasura sagar dam

After lunch, it was time for outing. Our plan was to visit Banasura sagar dam and Pookot Lake. We reached Banasura dam after a drive of 45mins. The drive was beautiful amongst tea gardens and water embankments. A time was set to return back before entering the dam. This is one of the India’s largest earthen dams.



Information board @ Banasura sagar dam



View of the catchment area

Few people decided to stay back in the bus, while some of us entered the dam after purchasing the ticket. Later, when we realized it was quite a long walk and climb of about a kilometer that we would reach the top of the embankment, it was about to rain heavily. Venky decided to get back from halfway and was convincing some of us. We are one among the few convinced as we did not have rain protection and Adhit was with us. When we were on the way back, it started pouring. I made Adhit sit on my shoulders and started running towards the ticket counter where some stalls were put up. We took shelter in one of those until the rain stopped and returned to the bus and waited for the rest to return. When others returned it was decided to be late and we had to attend another session of the OBL program in the evening. So the lake visit was cancelled and return journey started to the resort. On the way back Prachi took lot of efforts to make him sleep by telling Ramayana. It did not work until we were just before the resort. As he was sleeping when we reached, Prachi made him lie down in the back seat of our car which was parked in front of the reception. Other people went to their rooms for a short refreshing break and attended another session of the program before we dispersed for the dinner and for the day. We had a sumptuous dinner, while Raju discussed with us about how the program was arranged and other things. Some people went to the Spa, while others went to the indoor games area. After dinner, we also visited the play area where I played a game of table tennis, while Prachi tried her hands in some weight reduction equipment and Adhit was running around trying his hand in carom board.

Close of Day2

Around 9 PM we returned to the room, while people were still continuing to play, booze or gossip. Our nightmare was about to start in a few minutes when we will enter the room. Adhit started crying again and didn’t want to be in that room. But we were blessed with a TV and more than that it was Big Boss that was broadcasted that time. Adhit was familiar with this word Big Boss. So he was getting pulled by that. Yet he was not ready come on to the bed. He kept standing for a long time watching TV. Prachi acted as if she is sleeping and actually slept. Then I pulled him over and gave the remote control to play with. He kept changing the channels and watching TV and naturally slept without much effort. I just had to move him around to the right position. But it was already midnight, when this happened.

Fun time @ resort

Next morning, some people went for a trek, while we preferred to get up late. I had got an appointment at the Spa and Prachi wanted to go for the gym. I and Venky went to the Spa for a massage. The massage was a good experience. I was massaged by a person named Pradeesh. He looked young, but he was about 8 year experienced. He had done diploma in this at Calicut, and worked for different hotels and resorts in different places in India like Mumbai and Gandhinagar. The massage was very relaxing and lasted for an hour. I wished it went on for more time. I was asked to wait for an hour for the oil to be absorbed into the body. I used this waiting time for completing my breakfast. Prachi and Adhit had got ready, completed their breakfast and were playing in the garden. Adhit was very attracted towards the small bridge in front of the reception and kept crossing it. We all went back to room; I took bath and went for swimming.

Swimming pool @ Vythiri Village

Karthik, Sunay, Vrushali, Ridhima and Mihika were in the pool supported by Padmashree and Pradhyum from outside. I went into the pool and planning to take Adhit inside. Prachi was also tempted seeing others in the pool. As I took Adhit inside, she also joined me with no separate swim wear. Water was very chill. Adhit was crying initially very much out of fear and as I took him around a few times and Mihika played with him, he was getting consoled. Prachi showed that she was unhappy with what I am doing, as she kept instructing me that Adhit is drinking water, the water is chill and others. After sometime as Adhit was shivering very much, I wrapped him around with a towel and asked Prachi to take him back to room, while I continued for some more time. After the pool we went to the gym where Prachi did some work out or rather tried to work out while I was playing table tennis with Anand Budni. In some time as Prashanth told it was time to pack up, we went back to the room packed our luggage handed it over to the resort guys to be transported to the reception. When some people went in cab to the reception, Venkat, his son Pranav, Anand, Mahesh and I preferred to walk back. On the way back we noticed the tree houses carefully to know that they were not real tree houses. They were concrete pillars, designed and painted like trees. Those tree houses in the pictures of the resort’s website are also not true. For those who prefer tree house, please choose the right ones, when you end up paying more for those.

Illusive tree house @ Vythiri Village

Bye to Wayanad

After lunch as everyone boarded the bus, we said bye to them and said bye to the resort as our car moved in the direction of Bangalore. On the way back, just where the lane touches the highway, there was a handicraft shop, where all women spent some time. Prachi purchased some different flavored tea leaves which turned out real bad when we used it. I filled my tank with petrol which was cheaper compared to Bangalore, before getting out of Wayanad. Adhit had slept well as soon as we left the resort. After coming out of the forest, we took a break reaching the plains, having some tea. It was a typical village evening, when all animal herds were returning back to their house after grazing – cows, sheeps, goats etc..,. Children had fun watching them. From there Karthik’s family shifted to our car, from Sunay’s. Our next stop was at Mysore for a short while, when Karthik got some bananas for Pradhyum and Adhit. The highway between Mysore and Bangalore was like Brigade road, as it was Sunday evening. Added to the traffic were the unpredictable speed breakers with no markers. We had to be careful not to jam on the car in the front when he breaks suddenly and should indicate our sudden braking to the car behind us. It was a difficult drive. We stopped at Kamat Lokruchi just before Ramnagaram town for dinner. We had north Karnataka style full meals. From there we separated. Sunay agreed to drop Karthik and left soon, while we spend some time at the wooden toy shop. We explained Adhit that we would like to give him some toy as he had been very cooperative all through the trip. Seemed to have understood, he was happy choosing the toy. He was not able to funnel down to one. So, we purchased a train made of wood and started our last leg of the trip. This was the most difficult stretch as it happens to be in any race, walk, pilgrimage etc. Here it was a different difficulty. Adhit and Prachi and slept, while tried to keep myself awake. I was very drowsy and was driving slowly. We reached home at 11PM, while Sunay was just about to reach Karthik’s place to drop him. 

It turned out to be a good break for us, after about 3 years. Our last trip was to Madurai, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari in 2007, before Prachi was carrying this little guy around whom or because of whom this entire trip had to be tweaked and made flexible. Though we did not see more than one place in Wayanad, it was a very happy trip, due to our stay in the jungle of Bandipur and a good resort with the thicket of forest cover with good amenities. The only disappointment of the trip was that I could not see at least one elephant in the jungle, let alone tigers.

Places to Stay:

Bandipur:

1. Government guest house – Need prior booking to be done at Mysore at,

    The Chief Conservator of Forests (Project Tiger),

    Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram,

    Mysore – 570008

    Phone: 0821-2480902

2. Jungle lodges and Resorts Ltd
     http://www.junglelodges.com/index.php/resorts/bandipur.html

Wayanad:

1. Vythiri Village - http://www.vythirivillage.com/
     NH-212, Near Vythiri Town, Vythiri P.O
     Wayanad – 673 576, Kerala
     PH: +91 4936 256 716 / 717 / 718 /719
     Fax: +91 4936 256 720

2. Home stay - http://thefourseasonswayanad.com/index.html
    Mahathma Nagar, Market Road
    Kalpetta - 673121
    Wayanad, Kerala
    Telephone : + 91 4936 203654
    Mobile : +91 9961757331

3. Apart from this there are lot of resorts and home stays and so many web pages referring those. One of them is - http://wayanadhomestays.com/index.htm

Distances:

Bangalore to Mysore – 140 Km

Mysore to Nanjangud – 23 Km

Nanjangud to Gundulpet – 35 Km

Gundulpet to Sulthan Bathery – 55 Km

Sulthan Bathery to Kalpetta – 25 Km

Kalpetta to Vythiri – 15 Km

Gundulpet to Bandipur – 30 Km

Some notes:

1.       1. There are no good restaurants between Mysore and Wayanad / Bandipur.

2.       2. The last fuel station is at Gundulpet before entering the forest. The next is at Wayanad only, roughly after 60 Km.

3.       3. If you happen to cross Gundulpet – Wayanad route in the evening, there are some good roadside shops selling fresh, farm grown vegetables at cheap price.

4.       4. Forest safari timings at Bandipur – 6:30 to 9:00 AM & 4:00 to 6:00 PM

5.       5. Forest check posts are closed at 9:00 PM after Gundulpet towards Ooty and Wayanad.

6.       6. Please keep anticipating speed breakers on the very nice highway between Bangalore and Mysore.

7.       7. In the same way, please anticipate potholes in the hairpin bends.

And that's dessert!!!

P.S: Thanks to my colleagues for sharing the photos.