Nilgiris Trekking - 2008 - Day 4 - Trek To Murugamalai

Please go thru the previous posts in this seris

Nilgiris Trek 2008 - Day 1

Nilgiris Trek 2008 - Day 2

Nilgiris Trek 2008 - Day 3

Nilgiris Trek - Day 4- Trek To Murugamalai.

Murugamalai is a mountain in Pandiar and can be treated as a individual trek in itself. While all others had went to this place the previous day evening, I didnot go at that time and today morning again a group of five of us climbed to the top. It was the first time for me and the second time for the rest.

The Place in all its grandeur

The place looks just cool with grass evenly spread across the whole of the mountain with very less trees giving it a distinct look that invited everyone who saw it.




The steps:

The way to this mountain is just a series of steps carved out of the sand.



On the way :



The Murugan Temple ;

At the top of the mountain is a Murugan Temple with a minimalistic structure. No wonder since at this height it would be difficult to carry all the stone needed to construct a temple.




From the top of the mountain all we get is a sheer spread of mountains below you and you can enjoy all that to the max possible.












How to reach this place :

From Ooty Bus Stand take the bus that goes to Ooty Terrace Estate and get down at the last bus stop.

Nilgiris Trekking - 2008 - Day 3

Please go thru the previous posts for Day 1 and Day2

Nilgiris Trek 2008 - Day 1

Nilgiris Trek 2008 - Day 2

We are into the third day of the trek and todays agenda was Starting from Mukuruthi Dam and reaching Pandiar Camp.

Start of the trek:

We had a group photo with the campleader before we started the trek.





Trekking amidst the clouds



Resting place :

This was a cool looking oasis amidst the hills and we had a nice rest here.






Edwin :

Edwin is one of the guys we met during the trek and he joined with us often since there were 5 of us more or less of the same age group and we all were speaking tamil. Every day after the trek is over when we had time to talk and discuss , edwin would tell us about all the movies he had seen and describe them in so good detail that you will want to see them. A



Lunch :

We came across a stream and we had our lunch here.




Pandiar Village:

Evening we reached the pandiar village and had nice tea here.




Pandiar Basecamp :



We reached the Pandiar basecamp around 4.30 and after having tea, others went for another trek to a nearby hill,Murugamalai while me and Sethu stayed behind to get some rest.

Now I notice that I have taken very less number of photos in this day, must be due to the reason that I felt tired and did not have the mindset to take many photos.

Nilgiris Trekking - 2008 - Day 2

Nilgris Trek - 2008 - Second Day -

Please have a look at the previous post in this series

Nilgiris Trek 2008 - Day 1

Since the previous night was the first night in the trek, everyone didnt know everyone and the sleep was ok.
The second day was spent like this.

1. Morning trek before breakfast
2. Trek to a nearby stream before lunch
3. The Main trek for the day - ParsonsValley to Mukuruthi dam.
4. Evening sight seeing or trek near Mukuruthi dam.

Morning Trek :

We went roaming around the basecamp Parsons Valley and enjoyed the morning views the place offered.
There was a small settlement near the basecamp with a shop where we bought snacks for the coming days.

Village:



After roaming around the settlement we had the chance to go to a nearby stream.





Actual Trek :

We started the Main trek after lunch and we were the last ones to finish the lunch.
After lunch we started off on the main trek to the Mukuruthi dam.

Skull of a Bull;





We came across little stream on the way and many had a bath in this stream itself.



Diversion weir:
We came across a diversion weir where there was a small waterfalls also.






After trekking for nearly four hours, we reached the base camp at Mukuruthi Dam at evening 5.00

Evening Trek:

After taking tea in the Mukuruthi camp, we went to the Mukuruthi dam to have a bath.

Mukuruthi Dam:







Cheers
Megarajan

Nilgiris Trekking - 2008 - Day 1

Place : Nilgris Hills
People : Mega, Srini, Saravanan and many others
Date : 27th Mar - 2 May 2008

After years of gathering information to find interesting places to visit, for a change I wanted to let someone else do the hardwork and just join the party at the

last minute. Hence when I came to know of YHAI organising a 5 day trek in Nilgris, I thought it would be a good opportunity to try them.

I had restricted myself to mostly 1 day or 1 place affairs due to various reasons and was hesitant about this 5 day trek. Since this was my first time with YHAI,

I was believing till the last minute that my bag would be carried by a vehicle to the trekking shed each day. But they destroyed my hope and I was left carrying

my bag for the whole trek :-). It was tough in the beginning but later it got adjusted.

Plan of the trek :

ROUTE SCHEDULE

Day 1: Reporting at base camp Parsans Valley at 2.30 P.M
Day 2: Parsans valley to Mukurthi Dam (10km)
Day 3: Mukurthi Dam to Pandiar Hills(12km)
Day 4: Pandiar Hills to Pykara falls(16km)
Day 5: Pykara falls to Mudumalai(12km)
Day 6: Disperse after break fast

Map:

This is the map of our trek.





First Day :

Me and Saravanan were the first to report for the trek and we did so exactly at 2.30 P.M as mentioned.

YHAI Welcome :





Parsons Valley Trekking shed :

we stayed at the Parsons Valley Trekking shed for the first day.









Group at Parsons Valley Trekking shed :

A group photo before the start of the trek.





The first day of the trek consisted of a visit to the Parsans Valley Dam.

Parsons Valley Forest cover Details :

The details of the Parsons Valley forest range.






Parsons Valley Dam :

View from the Dam:





I came to know that Parsons Valley dam is the place where the climax of Roja was shot. So I give you photographic evidences for that :-)

Arvindswamy in the climax of the movie Roja:





Photo of the real place :





Madhubala in the climax of the movie Roja:






Photo of the same steps





Hence hereby its clearly understood and proved without doubt that the climax scene of Roja was shot in Parsons Valley dam. :-)
If the YHAI ever conducts a Quiz, they can include this as one of the questions. "Where was the climax scene of Roja shot ?".

P.S :

The Photos from the other days would be posted soon..

Rediscovering Ilayaraja -2

Rediscovering Ilayaraja -2 :

Have a look at the previous ones at

Vizhiyile Mani Vizhiyile

Sangathil Paadathe from Auto Raja :




Thumbe Vaa from Olangal :



Aakasam Yenaatidho from Neerikshana :




Ilayaraja humming the tune in Concert :



I find the first version, the Tamil one to be the best.

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner




The Kite Runner is about 2 friends in Afghanistan and it proved to be quite a interesting read over the weekend. I was able to finish it within 2 days flat.

I dont remember the last book that I read continously like this one. Its a good book and I will recommend it to anyone.

Temples in Chennai - 5 - Thiruneermalai

Date : 23/3/2008
People : Mega,Arivoli and Srini

This is the Fifth post in the series Temples in Chennai. Have a look at the previous posts at

Temples in chennai

Thiruneermalai is one of the 108 Divya Desams and is near Tambaram in chennai.
There are two temples in thiruneermalai , Ranganathar Temple and the Neervanna perumal temple.

View of the hill from the Road



The theppakulam



Temple Entrance



The Temple Gopuram



Gopuram amidst the clouds







View of the Temple Tank from the hill



View of the hill along with the Temple tank




How to Go:

On the way from Guindy Kathipara junction to Tambaram, take the right opposite Lakshmi Theater after Pallavaram Bus stand and go straight.

Temples in Chennai - 4 - Kundrathoor Murugan Kovil

Place : Kundrathoor Murugan Kovil
Date : 12/1/2008
People: Mega & Senthilbabu

Kundrathoor Murugan Kovil is one of the old and popular temples in TN and my longtime wish to visit it materialised finally.

The Temple



View of the temple steps. I hear that these steps have been featured in many of the Tamil films.



The temple gopuram



View of the nearby hill from the temple. Ofcourse, After seeing a hill,even though there is nothing on top of it, we cannot not climb it.



We had a nice view of the Kovil from the nearby hill.



How To Go:

From Porur Junction, take the Kundrathoor road and you will reach this temple.

Hindi Pop Song -1 - Made In India - Alisha