tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64816222024-03-07T12:53:58.389+05:30CAPE 2 JATTwo roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-61436080885725531102010-04-24T22:46:00.334+05:302010-09-21T00:52:50.093+05:30Valparai and Neliyampathy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b>VALPARAI</b></span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">When I said I was going to Valparai, not many people registered it. A detailed search on the internet revealed that this place is a one horse town with little or no infrastructure. Few people who had been there claimed it was much more breathtaking than Ooty and its surroundings. That clinched the deal. I had no idea what Ooty or its surroundings look like now but if Valparai is better than someplace and less known, I got to see it. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Valparai is one of the vertices of the tour triangle within Indira Gandhi Wildelife Sanctuary- Parambikulam Wildife santcuary combined reserve forest. The other two are Top Slip and Sethumadai. Of these, Valparai is the least wild and most abused in the name of plantations. Being surrounded by two other reserves (Evarikulam and Chinnar), it was the natural spot to start or end a wildlife tour. When I reached here late afternoon, I found a town that lived up to its 'singular' image...one street, one bank, one ATM, one hotel, one restaurant, one school, one church, one bus station, one police station, one medical store....everything in Valparai is a unique sample....except tea.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Valparai was the tiny and laidback town I expected. It was not exactly a pretty place but was spared of all tourist invasion. It had however completely surrendered to the invasion of tea. The numerous tea estates have but totally put the land under the world's favourite brew shrubs. Some of these estates (one is even named Waterfall Estate although I could not find the eponymous feature anywhere near it) have vast tracts going up and down hill after hill. They make you wonder who the hell would walk all those winding paths? Well there are people to do that; men and women (in their unusual khaki contraptions) who tend to the tea plants, nurture them, prune them, harvest them and basically do everything for your daily cuppa chai. Valparai is for them, a town of tea people.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Overall, Valparai turned out to be an unsure place. It was beautiful, maybe more than Ooty. It was green and fresh, unspoilt by tourist taxis or touts. For serendipity, it had more green bee-eaters and red whiskered bulbuls than crows. But every time I looked at the rows and rows of young tea shrubs that carpeted hill after hill in delightful, different shades of green, I could not help thinking how will the hills look once the shrubs are all gone. Tea replaced pristine woods and drove elephants out. What will replace tea? </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now for the pics:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I was never quite able to find out the name of this species but what you see are not flowers (or, are they?). What look like leaves are looking like flowers but are actually leaves. I could never figure them out but they are all over Valparai and possibly all over the south side of the Palghat gap. They provided me an apt welcome to Valparai that confused me as much as this plant.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Those flowery leaves were not the first ones that welcomed me. In fact thew welcome was not all auspicious. As I negotiated the 42 odd hairpins on my climb to Valparai, I came across these huge clumps of bamboo in gregarious flowering. It is quite natural for each bamboo plant of the same cluster to flower at the same time as the others. Entire length of bamboo divert all their efforts into flowering which is followed by fruiting. Bamboo dies after fruiting. The collective blooming of bamboo in an orgiastic explosion seems like one last hurrah before the end. Rodent population increases drastically thanks to the over supply of bamboo fruit. As bamboo dies, building material becomes scarce. Harvested grain is targeted by the increased population of rodents. Disease, famine and desolation follows. Bamboo is the most sought after weed but becomes the bane of mankind when it goes. Thank you wikipedia! So much for good omens! Nevertheless this glorious golden hue presented a nice photo op.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Valparai had few interesting detours. One of them was the Nirar dam. In fact there are 4 deep dams in the immediate vicinity of Valparai. Nirar perhaps offers the best view of the surroundings. My objects of interest are the tall peaks in the background. If my sense of geography and Eicher maps are correct, one of those peaks is the Anaimudi - the tallest peak in India south of Himalayas </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUe-iycp9CielZxhUsFIrBe-jUuIUtHf8GEZrSL7ilRYAxqFQ0PHxH4-SLQoyvvC2NGF1VqXvfLQIsgXL5hiaa1z243a6Mbx8yi4M0Zl_IVuG7Q0MjRaUfMerpb0vipxyKpFb/s1600/DSC_0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUe-iycp9CielZxhUsFIrBe-jUuIUtHf8GEZrSL7ilRYAxqFQ0PHxH4-SLQoyvvC2NGF1VqXvfLQIsgXL5hiaa1z243a6Mbx8yi4M0Zl_IVuG7Q0MjRaUfMerpb0vipxyKpFb/s400/DSC_0137.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Most of the 'attractions' around Valparai can be finished off in a day. They do not offer any more than what you expect from a place about which no tourism brochure exists. But there was an interesting detour from Valparai that I was primarily interested in. Having seen some stunning pictures of Athirampally waterfalls in a chain mail, I was tempted to see it for real. The only problem was the 80km drive into Kerala from Valparai. This road which connects Pollachi and Chalakudi was not exactly a favoured route for many. The only fuel station in this region was in Valparai. There is absolutely no civilization after crossing the Kerala check post and a terrible excuse for a road. The forest ranger at Kerala check post spoke swift Tamil-Malayalam without favouring either language or accent. I could catch only three words in English and they were enough to agitate the mickeys in me :"5'o clock, dangerous, elephants"! There is certain romanticism about watching a tiger or leopard in the wild. There is none with elephants. They move in herds and have scant regard for traffic rules. Heaven hath no fury as a male elephant in must. But there were some bonuses. 40 km into the forest, we chanced upon the Paringalkuthu reservoir held back by yet another dam high up in the hills. The scene more than made up for the bone jarring drive:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgBn5dKuSM6_QhvrF1g82WlHLRE5M_7JeFLbUmHlx8v479NmeLfVplNe7gGfRrHL8VbhPcy4xqgQTWYEK8Gm1dLDnSxF9qYM0-AO5Vvjz6fKvgJZtdSRJ3MuokyQOnFIzAzDp/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgBn5dKuSM6_QhvrF1g82WlHLRE5M_7JeFLbUmHlx8v479NmeLfVplNe7gGfRrHL8VbhPcy4xqgQTWYEK8Gm1dLDnSxF9qYM0-AO5Vvjz6fKvgJZtdSRJ3MuokyQOnFIzAzDp/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">There are times I am suckered into believing chain mails. I was stupid enough to fall for a chain mail with pix of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguaz%C3%BA_Falls">Iguazu falls</a> (Argentina) claiming to be Athirampally Falls in Kerala. The pics were so good that I planned the whole Valparai thing just to see the falls. The falls were not so bad and would have been even more spectacular right after monsoon. The real dampener was not those barren rocks but the realization that I was suckered into driving 80 km on horrible jungle roads for 6 hours through elephant territory to see something less spectacular. To add insult to injury, this place was embellished with all the tourist trappings and hordes of travellers that I specifically chose to avoid in this trip. I did not even bother to walk down the pathways leading to the falls. A brief stopover and a photo for memories and we were off to Chalakudy. There was no way we were going back the way we came. Rather we chose to do a long roundabout via Thrissur, Palakkad and Pollachi back to our hotel in Valparai.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTbDQLTMg5mo6D1jZVzibmhKtxK2L_bQKYjO71oGle_yEGalzSDfW-9V_7qcz-NK2w1Tx2qLKJGBiSNRmsjMycf_s1tp92ruuzNKchG2LrxG0FNonB9V1gAsJwoyqOK3wNnmV/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTbDQLTMg5mo6D1jZVzibmhKtxK2L_bQKYjO71oGle_yEGalzSDfW-9V_7qcz-NK2w1Tx2qLKJGBiSNRmsjMycf_s1tp92ruuzNKchG2LrxG0FNonB9V1gAsJwoyqOK3wNnmV/s400/DSC_0081.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The road to Athirampally did not disappoint us completely. There were brief stretches of wonderful asphalt and picture postcard perfect scenes. We stopped at this lovely spot by an old bridge. There were lot of empty beer bottles in spite of which, we found peace here. A perfect watering hole for the youngsters of Kerala to spend an lazy afternoon with beer and buddies, there were none of them that Tuesday afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqzAkafPqQFmwpULmH50erGhQCv6Fz-h57vtuf5wR7N1dM-xPAY6cIdpG5IWANgvR7sU5SlF5l1mHZJIy0XQ8wKgAenkLH2HneYL2uH5_0X1fPqr1IfpnOptrRHtlHvtxt-FZ/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqzAkafPqQFmwpULmH50erGhQCv6Fz-h57vtuf5wR7N1dM-xPAY6cIdpG5IWANgvR7sU5SlF5l1mHZJIy0XQ8wKgAenkLH2HneYL2uH5_0X1fPqr1IfpnOptrRHtlHvtxt-FZ/s400/DSC_0068.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The only disappointment was that we were late for our date with Athirampally and eager to get off the jungles before 5PM. We spent just the amount of time to enable me a nice snap for memories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN07krTaEGrEDkMsHzyKs8Tencq1GzXKasXHoZZIQx3rbPA2XcIG8AfkrqWkxRpqbniIwu6ZOYwfAAd-TPwSp59X3FTETi5JwoQ6c_nLe-TajCiZSt-1Qot7otcAVWR2OmnzQ/s1600/DSC_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN07krTaEGrEDkMsHzyKs8Tencq1GzXKasXHoZZIQx3rbPA2XcIG8AfkrqWkxRpqbniIwu6ZOYwfAAd-TPwSp59X3FTETi5JwoQ6c_nLe-TajCiZSt-1Qot7otcAVWR2OmnzQ/s400/DSC_0060.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Back to Valparai. It was time to wind up things here with all that tea. The plantations were not all that drab. They provided some interesting patterns.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc7-WsyyTfNyXLVk8L6HKiq2Ao3z0yzOmXLvnb48JcRYXKc58QkPl_wTd6oPDGPtK93K0QMyqurrm33VqvJmMSwSOQsWRl0SXd_VqIBtw49Q5kWo0deNJE7afoNPRwrhzdCya/s1600/DSC_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline ! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc7-WsyyTfNyXLVk8L6HKiq2Ao3z0yzOmXLvnb48JcRYXKc58QkPl_wTd6oPDGPtK93K0QMyqurrm33VqvJmMSwSOQsWRl0SXd_VqIBtw49Q5kWo0deNJE7afoNPRwrhzdCya/s400/DSC_0101.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Early morning sun bouncing off the young shoots was a treat to the eyes. For a moment, I did not bother with doomsday imagery of Valparai.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU36z8m36lUbGuIF-NGwdOj5OccULGPqz75xfmk7JwAW03E-xhQi2SCE8x0lrh-zEi-hVdcPCNsoXu5iPkd3Avzt7Y9qfAbZU9Llm0Qha48oXUbmJmu4iBh2F_aV59vrtdFEZj/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU36z8m36lUbGuIF-NGwdOj5OccULGPqz75xfmk7JwAW03E-xhQi2SCE8x0lrh-zEi-hVdcPCNsoXu5iPkd3Avzt7Y9qfAbZU9Llm0Qha48oXUbmJmu4iBh2F_aV59vrtdFEZj/s400/DSC_0111.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tea plants are a pretty sight I must admit. They made me hungry each time I went close. They resembled a platter of garden fresh salad greens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut9dAFhi1hxM2YjoJWQdeGo6xtY6iGAJ1qXwRsH4z9fW_ji2UIZdgzdA9mkrp03r_V8b-4YwFP7hmAwTmauIybvv3YISMjeLO-rjEbUh2wu5mivlVyjR6jM7dJzy7nJM-QVlq/s1600/DSC_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut9dAFhi1hxM2YjoJWQdeGo6xtY6iGAJ1qXwRsH4z9fW_ji2UIZdgzdA9mkrp03r_V8b-4YwFP7hmAwTmauIybvv3YISMjeLO-rjEbUh2wu5mivlVyjR6jM7dJzy7nJM-QVlq/s400/DSC_0195.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had no idea what was the scale for. Probably a ready reckoner for harvesting. By the look of it, tea plants have a limited height. No wonder the hills resembled billiards table tops. I would have loved tall pines and oaks. But the carpet-like foliage of tea was not bad either. If only someone saw sense in conservation and balancing commercial interests with natural habitation.</div><div style="border: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgEITGxG1QlGk1bhfDfivHnoWLGRUsFX6LNzPqCT7cxr97-je5vk8wUgW_wVJ6Gc9QEM80ieJaeAbuUtlhBKVOANz_fjQx1A6WOxyO1ekWzDUnBecrCLnVpq6nf1XliuhvB3K/s1600/DSC_0206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgEITGxG1QlGk1bhfDfivHnoWLGRUsFX6LNzPqCT7cxr97-je5vk8wUgW_wVJ6Gc9QEM80ieJaeAbuUtlhBKVOANz_fjQx1A6WOxyO1ekWzDUnBecrCLnVpq6nf1XliuhvB3K/s400/DSC_0206.jpg" tt="true" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was probably blabbering. We left Valparai with mixed feelings. My wife liked the tea gardens. So did I but I can never cease to wonder the irony of this beauty in the backdrop of all the natural forestry that was replaced. We still had four lazy days to spend and had not planned anything beyond Valparai. A useful travel guidebook helped us find another "unspoilt" hill town not far off. With no advance bookings or prior enquiries, we decided to try it out. We reached Neliyampathy the same evening we left Valparai.</div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>NELIYAMPATHY</b></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If Valparai is a one horse town, Neliyampathy needs a new ephitet. There is hardly a town or a main arterial. Just a collection of huts and vague buildings here and there.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><ol style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>There were two main differences from Valparai. Coffee replaced tea as the flavour of planters, though there were enough tea plantations in Neliyampathy to recreate that Valparai feeling. </li>
<li>The rain forest was mercifully spared with some better planning of resources.</li>
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Neliyampathy is in Palakkad district high up in the hills, as high as Valparai. In fact Neliyampathy, Valparai, Parambikulam and TopSlip all fall in the same biosphere. As the crow flies, Neliyampathy, at the northern fringe of Parambukulam is 80 km from Valparai that falls between Parambikulam and Evarikulam. So both places share the same forestry although Valparai is almost bereft of forest. There were some tourist brochures for Neliyampathy even though it was smaller and almost unknown in comparision to Valparai. For some reason it featured oranges on the cover page. I read that Neliyampathy was famous for its oranges. I did not find any orange tree. Worse, the locals gave me a weird look when I mentioned oranges. The coffee plantations had sprinklers that were timed to act at an appointed hour. I was fortunately close to one crop as the rain dance commenced. It was no less interesting than a musical fountain.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">There were three resorts up the hills and one of them was outrageously beyond my budget. The one in the mid range offered the best value. Despite being isolated in a remote part of Neliyampathy that was frequented by gaurs and wild boars, the place offered all the jungle experience we looked forward to. It was actually a mixed plantation of coffee, pepper and other cash crops amidst unspoilt jungle. The nearest civilization was 4 km away by a torturous road. </div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Within the resort premises, I found my prized catch. A Malabar Giant Squirrel. I found it on my walk around the estate. I would have missed it had the big fella kept quiet about his business of wooing his lady. Instead he made a big racket that echoed all over. I found him on a tree about 100 metres from my cottage.</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5KYjsjnpOeNzwAxDVeoksglQ57O68c56lJZXvIcQ2vBs56qR6veNpbNfQO5lcRKZaQd3BTYNTJFR1-uks_kuV9o6PEsRF2Kr9Uo23MAdkxPVkjOm4S07NKJXAOtn9GPfL_0U/s1600/DSC_0308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5KYjsjnpOeNzwAxDVeoksglQ57O68c56lJZXvIcQ2vBs56qR6veNpbNfQO5lcRKZaQd3BTYNTJFR1-uks_kuV9o6PEsRF2Kr9Uo23MAdkxPVkjOm4S07NKJXAOtn9GPfL_0U/s400/DSC_0308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The search for the squirrel turned into bird watching. What looked like a hoopoe is some kind of woodpecker that revealed itself with the loud hammering noise it made pecking on the trunks of trees. I am not sure if it is a woodpecker but it did not shy sway from the photo.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I thought I found an Oriole that belonged to this region but the little bird turned out to be a Scarlet Minivet. Only it was not scarlet in shade. It is the male that sports scarlet feathers, This one is the female of the species. Unfortunately the male's photo is not good enough to make it to this collection. This pic summed up the pleasant experience I had at Neliyampathy. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVL4WmHnUPgkGdQzaEq74iMr2ohuI2hVZsXADh8RBx4Yn6-phQxMjMlA5fNaX5QGA2nwxe525GeT9zhsHpxthV-tHxPg9c1lEn_EdGC5-sK4oWFX0gNIICXED5935a5nTSsWt/s1600/v9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVL4WmHnUPgkGdQzaEq74iMr2ohuI2hVZsXADh8RBx4Yn6-phQxMjMlA5fNaX5QGA2nwxe525GeT9zhsHpxthV-tHxPg9c1lEn_EdGC5-sK4oWFX0gNIICXED5935a5nTSsWt/s400/v9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Neliyampathy was a serendipitous discovery. Despite the fact that the main attractions were closed thanks to the ongoing tiger census, the resort was provided us all the thrills. Not only were they happy to accommodate us on short notice but the estate proved to be a lovely hunting ground for bird photography.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One day, I might post another update to Neliyampathy with better pictures and more ground covered. Till then, I keep dreaming.</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-5693634942772311142009-11-08T19:35:00.018+05:302009-11-13T03:12:51.595+05:30Gingee ஆங்கிலம்<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ctGx-amWdndWaPMS8-3R3Tu5tmexr-KVIhI2opPBO4yTVTRzrZefGuZhnOYZbRi0qPeaVmAcNWJgGnMWSASdfh8Gr7Vj5PPEe95h7eE9X2bzAXIqTB7wfXoFB-bXY6TCNMow/s1600-h/gingee+017.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401804723221331314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ctGx-amWdndWaPMS8-3R3Tu5tmexr-KVIhI2opPBO4yTVTRzrZefGuZhnOYZbRi0qPeaVmAcNWJgGnMWSASdfh8Gr7Vj5PPEe95h7eE9X2bzAXIqTB7wfXoFB-bXY6TCNMow/s320/gingee+017.jpg" style="height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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I am not crazy about forts although I always wanted to visit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Daulatabad</span>. But guess I will end up enjoying <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Daulatabad</span> thanks to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gingee</span>. This fort takes the cake for defining the word impregnable<br />
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Well it is very accessible...just off the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tindivanam</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tiruvannamalai</span> road some 160 km from Chennai. Easily reachable within 3 hours from Chennai.<br />
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The impregnable for the long gone warriors of yore whose physical fitness was far better than us urban cowboys. At least that is what the history of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gingee</span> says.<br />
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Its history is rich contrary to its popularity within tourist circuits. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Cholas</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hoysalas</span> (Krishna Deva <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Raya</span>), the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Carnatic</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">nawabs</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Marathas</span> led by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Shivaji</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Hyder</span> Ali and then <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Tipu</span> Sultan, the French, the British and finally, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Archaeological</span> Survey of India...the ownership and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">care taking</span> of the fort passed many hands.<br />
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The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Gingee</span> Fort complex is spread across three hills with each hill hosting a separate fort. The first hill is the biggest one called <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Rajagiri</span>. As the name suggests, it was the Capital and most impregnable partly because it extends 300 metres high. The structure rests over and around a large rock. the citadel of the fort is isolated by a deep chasm that can only be crossed by a wooden draw bridge. The draw bridge of yore is now replaced by a permanent wooden bridge.<br />
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The other two hills are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Krishnagiri</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Chakkilya</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Giri</span>. I could not visit them. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Rajagiri</span>, the biggest and grandest of the three took all my time and attention.<br />
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This fort culminates Hindu, Muslim and European influences with ample space for each.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOkR2J6g7WXX4hIeAPz1-4JkWRpPq5slRSOmpmx178COIm1MIdLXdm7-eTAz7Pl5USmCXJQlqMYL0XONA_AkHGt0hztH-PYYmjXUKpJ1nIPVF6yDPjIcDUBXOzXHT-UdwdTi1/s1600-h/gingee+493.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401800944470752258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOkR2J6g7WXX4hIeAPz1-4JkWRpPq5slRSOmpmx178COIm1MIdLXdm7-eTAz7Pl5USmCXJQlqMYL0XONA_AkHGt0hztH-PYYmjXUKpJ1nIPVF6yDPjIcDUBXOzXHT-UdwdTi1/s320/gingee+493.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 221px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIThQ5fIeSAkFeYljFjk00qIiVbWLDiIkXqvzQstyWFSu4AcLGolJ8jZlF1ObCdNC74DwCOhmAnvQN66_gQHlzPkUp7XmqfvG5ZO6wX_P7wxPe-zeIfoNyFy_vEHpTEh1IOwv/s1600-h/gingee+001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401797673235114658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIThQ5fIeSAkFeYljFjk00qIiVbWLDiIkXqvzQstyWFSu4AcLGolJ8jZlF1ObCdNC74DwCOhmAnvQN66_gQHlzPkUp7XmqfvG5ZO6wX_P7wxPe-zeIfoNyFy_vEHpTEh1IOwv/s320/gingee+001.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP8xJ5Dl14ZH7Q6J5DlxbEYPUeXjSBoZf2y4458G_4nxiQnDhemPdsrtchEemtR_McUexweVUSzogFYW4Fh5lV_G-XHLA7GbgPOOlucEcIYxLwbjvB6BSnFy5joSDrpq_DQam/s1600-h/gingee+274.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401796724033249826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP8xJ5Dl14ZH7Q6J5DlxbEYPUeXjSBoZf2y4458G_4nxiQnDhemPdsrtchEemtR_McUexweVUSzogFYW4Fh5lV_G-XHLA7GbgPOOlucEcIYxLwbjvB6BSnFy5joSDrpq_DQam/s320/gingee+274.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 188px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRGyYYyzDLzBWMYhOXoXq-jA6ESdFjNNCgLKKRrCOXAo-jqcJbkp5GCSs-CM1UTSBdaDEysxd1P9O0QwU5bcsn45KnfTiVjWjJScaGWtzz7Rjt5fGKgSOpnFzQpxeGjKH10B7/s1600-h/gingee+063.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401794656671787218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRGyYYyzDLzBWMYhOXoXq-jA6ESdFjNNCgLKKRrCOXAo-jqcJbkp5GCSs-CM1UTSBdaDEysxd1P9O0QwU5bcsn45KnfTiVjWjJScaGWtzz7Rjt5fGKgSOpnFzQpxeGjKH10B7/s320/gingee+063.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXih663Zo73O5p-2nLpgI3y4zazANzNSEmYGQl0LVTiuwb87mmpNlgmlvZg7_Mfy0hYtY06bMNDvmsUmJE82hwIAQ5qerHCfHMZRbYh26oFmt23PMtMxxc8E34r1IUUF0n-r8/s1600-h/gingee+123.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401788804382900002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXih663Zo73O5p-2nLpgI3y4zazANzNSEmYGQl0LVTiuwb87mmpNlgmlvZg7_Mfy0hYtY06bMNDvmsUmJE82hwIAQ5qerHCfHMZRbYh26oFmt23PMtMxxc8E34r1IUUF0n-r8/s320/gingee+123.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 186px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOaGFVmZ31Oi9Z1bCWySlCI_bbx_EVMamOm7DQCJHVUAUIdRaaMy4AvBT6fH1M0CfThds9zBEAaHBkVyHo0gWWrvMiTC6aYRi-2j7r4y9GDxzFmXNcaYgbhstC4Yjr9SqigiC/s1600-h/gingee+103.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401784662096832770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOaGFVmZ31Oi9Z1bCWySlCI_bbx_EVMamOm7DQCJHVUAUIdRaaMy4AvBT6fH1M0CfThds9zBEAaHBkVyHo0gWWrvMiTC6aYRi-2j7r4y9GDxzFmXNcaYgbhstC4Yjr9SqigiC/s320/gingee+103.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JUjqE0CJQ0J6jBAZPy7Jn1p7DWmRQucsqPeHqHGBMBSdY5cLI-vK_Ta01Rn38WoLm-Yd89LR2ILMBo4F6TbNX4-wUg_-k6ktPwQrijafouMHf3RG9Y3ZPSdDt4ErpcLmnsMT/s1600-h/gingee+267.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401777891799755666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JUjqE0CJQ0J6jBAZPy7Jn1p7DWmRQucsqPeHqHGBMBSdY5cLI-vK_Ta01Rn38WoLm-Yd89LR2ILMBo4F6TbNX4-wUg_-k6ktPwQrijafouMHf3RG9Y3ZPSdDt4ErpcLmnsMT/s320/gingee+267.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 208px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXYSrNH19Xkc_lppdgn6MOlO3NBX5nmHSRdjRklzZpfs_5IDTWMm5QGbKFNnL0B3S0DyDwasBcqp626Pl7zSNOVqTGAn1L8h4DiX6Dxpxczof5fXDPKekraoCRNmpkWkVooRK/s1600-h/ranga481.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401776880009658802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXYSrNH19Xkc_lppdgn6MOlO3NBX5nmHSRdjRklzZpfs_5IDTWMm5QGbKFNnL0B3S0DyDwasBcqp626Pl7zSNOVqTGAn1L8h4DiX6Dxpxczof5fXDPKekraoCRNmpkWkVooRK/s320/ranga481.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn_Ul3iZ7Dr4gbc0VlDI-eNlWWuJeFf_JJBLNV1GysnHwM4qZzn7RoDJL80X7cy5rxQF40cOCUxmMQOpvBhI18MLUHXviPriMfAc1yoGHBrGyMS518a-0e4aLrZCMsni-tVm4/s1600-h/Ranga449.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401740144352703586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn_Ul3iZ7Dr4gbc0VlDI-eNlWWuJeFf_JJBLNV1GysnHwM4qZzn7RoDJL80X7cy5rxQF40cOCUxmMQOpvBhI18MLUHXviPriMfAc1yoGHBrGyMS518a-0e4aLrZCMsni-tVm4/s320/Ranga449.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 206px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtaLbnLaPDuYik5FWITX1iHox7C_1-9ngSVvUDyRYdJmS93MlZ00SCf_CCzjrve-jVZyTetsh76bo4gz_17vHxdMbzCivANOULvbR1rzHkPsa9urQBs8tiIi61uTTEslcDgcC/s1600-h/Ranga501.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401736358247383074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtaLbnLaPDuYik5FWITX1iHox7C_1-9ngSVvUDyRYdJmS93MlZ00SCf_CCzjrve-jVZyTetsh76bo4gz_17vHxdMbzCivANOULvbR1rzHkPsa9urQBs8tiIi61uTTEslcDgcC/s320/Ranga501.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3SgwZKwcMhoLMBjxUKqh5pxmZRpYiKGzA_nRRe1pbCHtyu_1QdqIz3vwlBxCvO6X-Fe9-puenZxxzulv9M_OleV8i6_HcAHOA4MkbLAxI7ZQTRvyUOhd17rb_ePOKQvH0i-h/s1600-h/gingee+511.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401735465932032002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3SgwZKwcMhoLMBjxUKqh5pxmZRpYiKGzA_nRRe1pbCHtyu_1QdqIz3vwlBxCvO6X-Fe9-puenZxxzulv9M_OleV8i6_HcAHOA4MkbLAxI7ZQTRvyUOhd17rb_ePOKQvH0i-h/s320/gingee+511.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 195px; width: 320px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-6916950908811036752009-11-01T01:03:00.017+05:302009-11-07T13:22:58.033+05:30Lodi GardensIt is ironical that the most peaceful place in Delhi is the garden that houses the tombs of the least prolific dynasty that ruled the land. Probably this was their claim to fame. They gave Delhi the <a href="http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/boa/boa_soul_new_delhi.html">best urban oasis in Asia</a>.<br /><br /><br />The Lodis were not known much for their rule as much for losing their domain to pave way to the Mughals in India. But they did build some fine gardens that happened to be my object of interest in Delhi.<br /><br />The Lodi gardens is a vast sprawling complex of tombs set amidst a pleasant garden such that the tombs become a part of the park rather than the park serving as a landscape beautification to the tombs.<br /><br />My three day visit to Delhi culminated with a walk through the park.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04sIkPRmfHJPUo5KVX52bEueHTcajGPmJt_MsTZY6lcQTpB3aO-CUlvdoJxT9v_4K_v_OD5kH_m81fJLX4sJPldI0sLXKxtWMcsH1BhmtR2XD8fEJEgbdzciS4fJ2pLsgdx2b/s1600-h/lodhi+214.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04sIkPRmfHJPUo5KVX52bEueHTcajGPmJt_MsTZY6lcQTpB3aO-CUlvdoJxT9v_4K_v_OD5kH_m81fJLX4sJPldI0sLXKxtWMcsH1BhmtR2XD8fEJEgbdzciS4fJ2pLsgdx2b/s320/lodhi+214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398861042041554722" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX60YcFyz5v7BOUNQ4vw9EPdBQF28Jbh1ucN217ELcACXW2LEpQEZWBSZ7X5BUWxlAgBP6_2DEl6VARLwNUDX0dm_MYkIlCQtKhRvm_yUmYPQ6p0rXtUVgZLscw-LzHG37v9Mr/s1600-h/lodhi+200.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX60YcFyz5v7BOUNQ4vw9EPdBQF28Jbh1ucN217ELcACXW2LEpQEZWBSZ7X5BUWxlAgBP6_2DEl6VARLwNUDX0dm_MYkIlCQtKhRvm_yUmYPQ6p0rXtUVgZLscw-LzHG37v9Mr/s320/lodhi+200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398858845868244386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40eZ69WQTLr4mwXa7lYtHaBMOJsaddy5YveXHLHtUZcOf8orNjBbV3GoOzfAX7TjCK869Z6E2_7YTu5_eua3WuCwZ6g359ax6Qj3NqSoMBR7tElHP4f2X3i5md36jb3yyotMt/s1600-h/lodhi+143.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40eZ69WQTLr4mwXa7lYtHaBMOJsaddy5YveXHLHtUZcOf8orNjBbV3GoOzfAX7TjCK869Z6E2_7YTu5_eua3WuCwZ6g359ax6Qj3NqSoMBR7tElHP4f2X3i5md36jb3yyotMt/s320/lodhi+143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398858002976018882" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uczMUEr2thyUgCgxrRMb4NjXWXIE_AgcBPE8uyV5lI6pJT2Uld3GXw5VZDORP-Fa7af3QIKvsxKVU8-rur-pCgXUabPi5B3sq8FuHs6qswQOIutEANaOJvSwEtkEnrnuSl5T/s1600-h/lodhi+030.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uczMUEr2thyUgCgxrRMb4NjXWXIE_AgcBPE8uyV5lI6pJT2Uld3GXw5VZDORP-Fa7af3QIKvsxKVU8-rur-pCgXUabPi5B3sq8FuHs6qswQOIutEANaOJvSwEtkEnrnuSl5T/s320/lodhi+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398852367863568322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DPCSs1jHhkgyEh-0z3vdI3IrcguK-Mk9ILpNgq_sDSlRCf5YpQpfM-9DT1oESnjqQIjhdW8LzmOrntU3tcbT1vLJciwnIRwre0IulqoDmEG8WYFjY2S5TxbzA6C_uQG66Uk_/s1600-h/lodhi+126.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DPCSs1jHhkgyEh-0z3vdI3IrcguK-Mk9ILpNgq_sDSlRCf5YpQpfM-9DT1oESnjqQIjhdW8LzmOrntU3tcbT1vLJciwnIRwre0IulqoDmEG8WYFjY2S5TxbzA6C_uQG66Uk_/s320/lodhi+126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398856210941550274" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24QXMcirxf9X3L-9GhprhK58R7uge4nsZFc3S3dfeQ7UJPSXK4w6BTtDXjAlqYpKQaA4cg37y_WdHgA9107ZeebuzJb9kJBA2q9BToxGpuYcaSjJA4OjUt5NuzcJ7UaD8MWpb/s1600-h/lodhi+087.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24QXMcirxf9X3L-9GhprhK58R7uge4nsZFc3S3dfeQ7UJPSXK4w6BTtDXjAlqYpKQaA4cg37y_WdHgA9107ZeebuzJb9kJBA2q9BToxGpuYcaSjJA4OjUt5NuzcJ7UaD8MWpb/s320/lodhi+087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398853207188931154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTaCiMPXqUV_akTFB844RcTiIROhLGYV7mMsK1kw1X3nBryOIR61WPX7AuKd32aqyIeXv2Wkn0oco-QaXfWZPoJbINfF53vKm6C8_9tGuc2kVOeqti_F5Js-_yb1OfEdeSuCb/s1600-h/lodhi+153.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTaCiMPXqUV_akTFB844RcTiIROhLGYV7mMsK1kw1X3nBryOIR61WPX7AuKd32aqyIeXv2Wkn0oco-QaXfWZPoJbINfF53vKm6C8_9tGuc2kVOeqti_F5Js-_yb1OfEdeSuCb/s320/lodhi+153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398863026427407698" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5o4Mojphpxrtuqkg-AijOG1etD3G77u04tiAAh1gE-2K-rASsldIKgAV7oikJXUlAVqx3Hm4rHjqy8n8uuhHpFkWYQHw-aMu0YM9XrNCmdl64pB7p-QwXPmffXSr-rcGcWal/s1600-h/lodhi+090.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5o4Mojphpxrtuqkg-AijOG1etD3G77u04tiAAh1gE-2K-rASsldIKgAV7oikJXUlAVqx3Hm4rHjqy8n8uuhHpFkWYQHw-aMu0YM9XrNCmdl64pB7p-QwXPmffXSr-rcGcWal/s320/lodhi+090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398870715162733570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqtN2kV5MDLVWdvm74Yn8AiIhC3U5PqvrIR6ELVDcqaPIW3WSPezha-HadvJZZ7_T7raXkZ3uRL1oEp12E1WjfpIiwzch5oSc65uJWRF2vH24N4mj7f6JNRbEi9tePmsP4jKt/s1600-h/lodhi+023.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqtN2kV5MDLVWdvm74Yn8AiIhC3U5PqvrIR6ELVDcqaPIW3WSPezha-HadvJZZ7_T7raXkZ3uRL1oEp12E1WjfpIiwzch5oSc65uJWRF2vH24N4mj7f6JNRbEi9tePmsP4jKt/s320/lodhi+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398868154045265682" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kWj_U7z3cPXpStJFxEuDSWXvYKG3KRTg1-6XZISvGmReSrxn045v6sSHOOTyhD1nfpO7pIaYm4uDWcXOnMV7pWBJIkFSBcaWqPgGlV1DTOciJNjADkxRQMsLuiUQNBWEHXgv/s1600-h/lodhi+099.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kWj_U7z3cPXpStJFxEuDSWXvYKG3KRTg1-6XZISvGmReSrxn045v6sSHOOTyhD1nfpO7pIaYm4uDWcXOnMV7pWBJIkFSBcaWqPgGlV1DTOciJNjADkxRQMsLuiUQNBWEHXgv/s320/lodhi+099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398865849164281586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kWj_U7z3cPXpStJFxEuDSWXvYKG3KRTg1-6XZISvGmReSrxn045v6sSHOOTyhD1nfpO7pIaYm4uDWcXOnMV7pWBJIkFSBcaWqPgGlV1DTOciJNjADkxRQMsLuiUQNBWEHXgv/s1600-h/lodhi+099.jpg"> </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnYLHbZI3fgt1xGw68LE3E-NS99vidy9b4Ph-vZargegKGUMtC56omsnosTFTJDhLpOy5FmGM-c9gXyby0E6MWKoIydv2AMGsCJ_eZLeg9t5_InnmSIAVHGMrF-3UMqi58YjI/s1600-h/lodhi+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnYLHbZI3fgt1xGw68LE3E-NS99vidy9b4Ph-vZargegKGUMtC56omsnosTFTJDhLpOy5FmGM-c9gXyby0E6MWKoIydv2AMGsCJ_eZLeg9t5_InnmSIAVHGMrF-3UMqi58YjI/s320/lodhi+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398851013188987394" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-77202154982134109702009-10-28T23:50:00.011+05:302009-11-01T00:59:16.762+05:30Appikonda అప్పికొండI lived not more than 6 km from this place for 10 years but never visited it.<br /><br />Pity! I missed a great place to call my own.<br /><br />Lone hill and clear sands...<br /><br />...not to mention an ancient temple that froze time in itself.<br /><br />2009 would have been a bad year for travel with me.<br /><br /><br />...but for a few good places to take my camera along.<br /><br />One of them is Appikonda, some 25 km from Vizag.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vOB3WfcQNli6dbtw09PI05_mGBa0SHQUWmS9kjytcVwKJ9X6BEGxtEyMY7Y7b1ugfk8F-U3iIX4rcZaMpT277crYF5noj7rQHm4sRBEtANWTQHWqHlC9cXhbQWo5N5d4N97s/s1600-h/someswara.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vOB3WfcQNli6dbtw09PI05_mGBa0SHQUWmS9kjytcVwKJ9X6BEGxtEyMY7Y7b1ugfk8F-U3iIX4rcZaMpT277crYF5noj7rQHm4sRBEtANWTQHWqHlC9cXhbQWo5N5d4N97s/s320/someswara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397720065690589410" border="0" /></a><br />Someswara temple on the sea shore at Appikonda. Believed to be around since the 12th century AD. Looks like the ASI never found it. The temple seemed as if it was never renovated in all these 700 years.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZHztM_ZcoD8ohqmwIbZH9FqmwZUA8l12l6ww8DZtS75zaiB83wi24a_53uguHO3GQA88_JlcrIsO5TWlAdFZU_fShyphenhyphenxBglipIlETvN-2ro7l98WmurnzedbfBo-P2v4GyEzh/s1600-h/vizag+261.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZHztM_ZcoD8ohqmwIbZH9FqmwZUA8l12l6ww8DZtS75zaiB83wi24a_53uguHO3GQA88_JlcrIsO5TWlAdFZU_fShyphenhyphenxBglipIlETvN-2ro7l98WmurnzedbfBo-P2v4GyEzh/s320/vizag+261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397724361431953842" border="0" /></a><br />A lazy morning for the boats.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKlsgfux8GjP8SNtX0X5uYuBxsmv6gVKI57hdrWXdzubVssgS_YZ5FAYi72k8X7qJqA_IVq14kTfKJhtXpcRoLC2Jz6s153MZxGbJ7Kbma35TKLNaMcH62eo0mRN15vgMc7Wj/s1600-h/appikonda3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKlsgfux8GjP8SNtX0X5uYuBxsmv6gVKI57hdrWXdzubVssgS_YZ5FAYi72k8X7qJqA_IVq14kTfKJhtXpcRoLC2Jz6s153MZxGbJ7Kbma35TKLNaMcH62eo0mRN15vgMc7Wj/s320/appikonda3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397727352213740338" border="0" /></a><br />Wide beach and clean sands and shallow waters. The lone hill on the shore is the highlight.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq4B67MVajUY8GQPsfbtpCE25bSjSKBXaxP-faeudimTOGsLPXWo_ZKgGHfg7148cG-y5kApM0ojbvt8RiRWQ2iz07YK3ATXcmf3PIsabukApBjV9lmNOUqPPwap1Vmxjycc2/s1600-h/vizag+272+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq4B67MVajUY8GQPsfbtpCE25bSjSKBXaxP-faeudimTOGsLPXWo_ZKgGHfg7148cG-y5kApM0ojbvt8RiRWQ2iz07YK3ATXcmf3PIsabukApBjV9lmNOUqPPwap1Vmxjycc2/s320/vizag+272+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397737827365353938" border="0" /></a><br />A few metres away, the sea is rough<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6je-C8GnbdLOpFVquFFXp99lEoseegQhJV8CTPRKD8TuS6JvhuyU13__XllF_uMRRiWKobP6QG71QRm13ottu5g5XJxA13nUkkUwzW9kvbML4P-ldACVPFtvaC7OhmeUw9Re/s1600-h/vizag+309.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6je-C8GnbdLOpFVquFFXp99lEoseegQhJV8CTPRKD8TuS6JvhuyU13__XllF_uMRRiWKobP6QG71QRm13ottu5g5XJxA13nUkkUwzW9kvbML4P-ldACVPFtvaC7OhmeUw9Re/s320/vizag+309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398097177272041490" border="0" /></a><br />Local fisherman<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfrouto6Ni3Zluy1OSpI0U_glzN5BdMFjA9xy7gPicR1g6XQJMt74cYJVcw03kbR7bgoLxNG8yEoWgjN5nKntru3CcPadwkDzR8QtgzISXC8N7xZlVq4JCfre6SsNY9Wqmv9T/s1600-h/vizag+293.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfrouto6Ni3Zluy1OSpI0U_glzN5BdMFjA9xy7gPicR1g6XQJMt74cYJVcw03kbR7bgoLxNG8yEoWgjN5nKntru3CcPadwkDzR8QtgzISXC8N7xZlVq4JCfre6SsNY9Wqmv9T/s320/vizag+293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398847252998378034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A serene hidden beachUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-37170935543417125842008-08-21T12:26:00.084+05:302009-03-10T08:07:18.830+05:30A Monsoon Ride to the Heart of India<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Quite a few people asked my why was I picking this season to go there. Looks like nobody likes to travel during monsoon, especially to the heart of India! Why me? Because monsoon is like a car wash to India. Grime and dust gets cleaned off the landscape that gets covered in a wild splash of greenery. So why Central India? Because it is there...right there in the middle of everything!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Raghu</span> messaged me one day asking me to plan a trip. I considered a few routes and discussed it with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Raghu</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rajaram</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Karthik</span>. Finally, we chose the central India trip....because it was far away from home (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Raghu</span>- Hyderabad, the rest - Chennai). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Raghu</span> prepared his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mahindra</span> Scorpio for the trip and the rest of us flew to Hyderabad with our back packs and cameras to join <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Raghu</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From there it was a drive for 5 days to Nagpur, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Jabalpur</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Chhindwara</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Adilabad</span> before returning to Hyderabad. The route map for the main circuit is given below:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71yLZSnqkJHHSBruxByRHQq0QZgYVw8Ca2924w75BeVpBZPqsn-inReFUDc_DwvxPa1eIN6F9kAo3vHzSYzSOg0tQcWrFq69_uHMbAkiKo5Br4s2xzoH5jWfKh-Dd17Jh3isd/s1600-h/Route+map.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237087766716240178" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71yLZSnqkJHHSBruxByRHQq0QZgYVw8Ca2924w75BeVpBZPqsn-inReFUDc_DwvxPa1eIN6F9kAo3vHzSYzSOg0tQcWrFq69_uHMbAkiKo5Br4s2xzoH5jWfKh-Dd17Jh3isd/s320/Route+map.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Day 1: Hyderabad to Nagpur- National Highway 7</span></span><br />We started off early at 4.30 AM but lost way within Hyderabad delaying us by an hour.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast: </span> Surprise!! Kamareddi had a superb original <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Udipi</span> restaurant complete with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Kannadiga</span> waiters, crispy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">vadas</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">idlis</span> and sweet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">sambhar</span>.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FuPV2v7vTO4rELxIp7EJ4qKIPnmOi_883CTR3CfxF7JqN82DHO4lONbsJFKVFX3qMq0kWUiIyjncqwgHOnZkRdFPKK9gO-QXYYAapvCfECuPAS3P3lAY2w_eQy5FP-Mk62Kk/s1600-h/DSC_0157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237075902046215394" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FuPV2v7vTO4rELxIp7EJ4qKIPnmOi_883CTR3CfxF7JqN82DHO4lONbsJFKVFX3qMq0kWUiIyjncqwgHOnZkRdFPKK9gO-QXYYAapvCfECuPAS3P3lAY2w_eQy5FP-Mk62Kk/s320/DSC_0157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />NH7 was a mixed bag all the way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Jabalpur</span> from Hyderabad, with the four-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">laning</span> in progress. Parts of the road were ready but most of it was under repair.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFC4oxpuB2j9aNvAf5ReZ0i9mAfPqsjAaQ1VvwjiuuEUDFlLa9FFQ-SduVj0OvEMM_Q4gjN4lxSs5vT7OUcYVun_albIiRqOW5i6KDOpecsj4WU-2MQNPLRnL-GPrlJ5l95F5/s1600-h/DSC_0162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237073816943190498" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFC4oxpuB2j9aNvAf5ReZ0i9mAfPqsjAaQ1VvwjiuuEUDFlLa9FFQ-SduVj0OvEMM_Q4gjN4lxSs5vT7OUcYVun_albIiRqOW5i6KDOpecsj4WU-2MQNPLRnL-GPrlJ5l95F5/s320/DSC_0162.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Sriram</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Sagar</span> dam near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Pochampad</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">seenf</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">rom</span> NH7 over the river <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Godavari</span>. The river here forms a border between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Nizamabad</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Adilabad</span> districts.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfPq-aH8ZkbptO3WPRGQAyyaImhJ8v91MmXTgGLMmgZTPDnoNx_6jo8GDtfqKB2rdF8GF_aTWtCFRm-WEQX8rEbzTSPaptGn2zo_kxPp096__6Vm6R1ph3bTj1p3cW-jFtqI2/s1600-h/DSC_0180.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237074504936074050" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfPq-aH8ZkbptO3WPRGQAyyaImhJ8v91MmXTgGLMmgZTPDnoNx_6jo8GDtfqKB2rdF8GF_aTWtCFRm-WEQX8rEbzTSPaptGn2zo_kxPp096__6Vm6R1ph3bTj1p3cW-jFtqI2/s320/DSC_0180.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Bad roads and ghat sections after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Nirmal</span> took their toll on trucks.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvazeSokaJMOUlXd7JzFD6nEFc4_w_pCojOrTyg9BaFkKrqAY0LMhtvLLMYoD6mv-odhsaV6VrE_mzRaRhNghVhj2g_N2SI2w86lcTGVcPHftnueThoFNZE5Sd5WZxc2vDn_o/s1600-h/DSC_0176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237073038076036034" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvazeSokaJMOUlXd7JzFD6nEFc4_w_pCojOrTyg9BaFkKrqAY0LMhtvLLMYoD6mv-odhsaV6VrE_mzRaRhNghVhj2g_N2SI2w86lcTGVcPHftnueThoFNZE5Sd5WZxc2vDn_o/s320/DSC_0176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Post <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Nirmal</span> we hit a wonderful ghat section with forestry(fringes of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Kinwat</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Kawal</span> Sanctuaries) that lasted all the way till the border of AP and Maharashtra.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnD_VzWLcldpNvo6MwXsIApDj0_erotxbNJ22r2DoJUDeu9DNY7cKvdG7mrn-TB3F-KBx9UUWGFDMU9el_FMrO4VZiYNV6iWOWPKWuom0DKIlNOqF0whx5d6Py-g6rd3Aw08jW/s1600-h/DSC_0188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237072569716760770" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnD_VzWLcldpNvo6MwXsIApDj0_erotxbNJ22r2DoJUDeu9DNY7cKvdG7mrn-TB3F-KBx9UUWGFDMU9el_FMrO4VZiYNV6iWOWPKWuom0DKIlNOqF0whx5d6Py-g6rd3Aw08jW/s320/DSC_0188.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Stretches of good roads, ghats and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">relaible</span> vehicle made the drive a pleasure.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_L8DHlzr8F5caAR0vFCtezs6-cuC0kJIG1PDb13PhizfH-NbSdcOFXbPRVtJRJiOOaxVj2Uk3BVtP5MG1NByo_NXZ4YUXApLzwBUYJ_bN77ULlBipmueUmqfaS4-3bwPuOeL/s1600-h/DSC_0190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237071609377270130" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_L8DHlzr8F5caAR0vFCtezs6-cuC0kJIG1PDb13PhizfH-NbSdcOFXbPRVtJRJiOOaxVj2Uk3BVtP5MG1NByo_NXZ4YUXApLzwBUYJ_bN77ULlBipmueUmqfaS4-3bwPuOeL/s320/DSC_0190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A peasant and his wife till the land using a pair of bullocks somewhere between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Nirmal</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Adilabad</span> (close to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Neredikonda</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Adilabad</span> district grows a lot of cotton and maize and the people are mostly poor farmers.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0ZDntWfda02RD0GislS228ve-_5NJfZszu0BC2poviPfFXMda2P1mdJgr-AYhHCQPnmwMHFEb0FN2y-lxPbR2bcn3yVfbPTSapWwJP6naDl6Pe-TrS3R6DAO7cyYWTTP08ox/s1600-h/DSC_0197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237070208062247938" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0ZDntWfda02RD0GislS228ve-_5NJfZszu0BC2poviPfFXMda2P1mdJgr-AYhHCQPnmwMHFEb0FN2y-lxPbR2bcn3yVfbPTSapWwJP6naDl6Pe-TrS3R6DAO7cyYWTTP08ox/s320/DSC_0197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Rains caused catchments to overflow with water that spilled into rivulets.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYHNnSDayWx4YZW0a89S3mxuj4JapV10gAgZNLY_d9fd2EaAUxwlnQh7SnpVwW9GiI1Gh3N6dltyFQhOPRZe-s-6hRSMnFZJM6xG_P9aRFuNYwETDxULbBN74qr62CHtLeRGz/s1600-h/DSC_0206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237069342915630082" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYHNnSDayWx4YZW0a89S3mxuj4JapV10gAgZNLY_d9fd2EaAUxwlnQh7SnpVwW9GiI1Gh3N6dltyFQhOPRZe-s-6hRSMnFZJM6xG_P9aRFuNYwETDxULbBN74qr62CHtLeRGz/s320/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lot of monkeys all along National Highway 7.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Pochera</span> Falls, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Adilabad</span> District, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Andhra</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Pradesh</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tch1uJLnF-0k_VZBHAnRB1kuQOpMjlg-n3krBujJXy1ifLQwOnOnrb7Sdt1lxoa5iC5Bl1WQjEp_jsCyr-4cn95vGjrP5i2qADjkYpQTs6K5TdQ6-TVrs0TJpQ441NhkXc0d/s1600-h/DSC_0294.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237069022302163778" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tch1uJLnF-0k_VZBHAnRB1kuQOpMjlg-n3krBujJXy1ifLQwOnOnrb7Sdt1lxoa5iC5Bl1WQjEp_jsCyr-4cn95vGjrP5i2qADjkYpQTs6K5TdQ6-TVrs0TJpQ441NhkXc0d/s320/DSC_0294.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Pochera</span> Falls was not on our agenda. This place is literally off every tourist map and a totally hidden monsoon jewel. Fortunately, AP Tourism put up enough signposts along the NH7 to attract our attention. The detour from the highway was short enough to digress from our ride for a brief while. The detour comes at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Neredikonda</span> between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Nirmal</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Adilabad</span> towards left side en route Nagpur. The signpost says winter is the best time but mark my words, make it here just after monsoon!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v_nTjJNV5wZJzd8i-6gFFC5RQFyk-YZL_8EYmJlaeuqlTNDjoDfrSl2wAlMPcMUFxrRjsvc0hBbZ8cM41rbKwEvO0xBDSIDkj2qOfvtKThZLiztIWfzKESh993jJtMUXJ4-T/s1600-h/DSC_0229.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237068411833155682" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v_nTjJNV5wZJzd8i-6gFFC5RQFyk-YZL_8EYmJlaeuqlTNDjoDfrSl2wAlMPcMUFxrRjsvc0hBbZ8cM41rbKwEvO0xBDSIDkj2qOfvtKThZLiztIWfzKESh993jJtMUXJ4-T/s320/DSC_0229.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Now you know why I insisted on monsoon? The sky was not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Photoshopped</span>!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbGFnyeFRIrL1YcFBL6LD-s0ZwHn-MvA2rvOl1XBFvTiwV0PqaB8aE1xb-ra9F6I0P4vu376ISVEXxqQ8C8woi_JJug-keE1IUVVYibdbd1eYtINyzFafQLh7g7wtMXLO6tWd/s1600-h/DSC_0281.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237068050419236850" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbGFnyeFRIrL1YcFBL6LD-s0ZwHn-MvA2rvOl1XBFvTiwV0PqaB8aE1xb-ra9F6I0P4vu376ISVEXxqQ8C8woi_JJug-keE1IUVVYibdbd1eYtINyzFafQLh7g7wtMXLO6tWd/s320/DSC_0281.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A nice grand stand to view the falls. I was surprised to see the neat landscaping by the tourism folks at such an obscure place. Of course they do rob the aesthetics. One more thing. I have absolutely no idea which river is it. Someone at the venue told me it is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Godavari</span>. But we crossed it way before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Nirmal</span>. This might be one of those monsoon rivulets that go dry in any other season.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6g_XG-9cWYUz7flQcTYPARaDXALWfKInJXHoHSlAg4WcsNINNthHlEj8HFBIXF3NIvx5NCh2p6YMUSU_5W62qEmI1UvhqJolqh3a_WiOpbtdSlYKEKu7fdLH9-0AUprLpt4q/s1600-h/DSC_0266.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237067599202644370" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6g_XG-9cWYUz7flQcTYPARaDXALWfKInJXHoHSlAg4WcsNINNthHlEj8HFBIXF3NIvx5NCh2p6YMUSU_5W62qEmI1UvhqJolqh3a_WiOpbtdSlYKEKu7fdLH9-0AUprLpt4q/s320/DSC_0266.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A total surprise package for us. A good addition to my growing list of waterfalls trips.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVXR3a9jb-FixtS6i0PZoep41rfl3WpzLNtF0Qj-Zbe8pQR8AWB_weQtL3Fd45DPjThfFwEK5CXsEMuLaNYRZHuNkTCH75DLsE5-uTTOLr1bWj1qXtiFyHrywXuFXcdvc_Cz_/s1600-h/DSC_0314.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237067190414158770" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVXR3a9jb-FixtS6i0PZoep41rfl3WpzLNtF0Qj-Zbe8pQR8AWB_weQtL3Fd45DPjThfFwEK5CXsEMuLaNYRZHuNkTCH75DLsE5-uTTOLr1bWj1qXtiFyHrywXuFXcdvc_Cz_/s320/DSC_0314.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Dusk - Somewhere between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Hinganghat</span> and Nagpur. We had plenty of tea all along. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Dhabas</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Vidharba</span> specialise in good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">masala</span> tea!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3JbOvO6vlztapgXS1T-jiJwBKN9iG3qzX74uaMx-ODCwzSEFAa2C7xQBJ-aHYzKOcsrd1ZoJ55dvOtCCmbh4ZbxkZMG3vyCH4S1t4V8wNfwSxW2DIzocusyGpMaW0-XU0UVV/s1600-h/DSC_0323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237066674994996882" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3JbOvO6vlztapgXS1T-jiJwBKN9iG3qzX74uaMx-ODCwzSEFAa2C7xQBJ-aHYzKOcsrd1ZoJ55dvOtCCmbh4ZbxkZMG3vyCH4S1t4V8wNfwSxW2DIzocusyGpMaW0-XU0UVV/s320/DSC_0323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Big cities</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">big woes</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">A nasty traffic pile up broke our run just outside Nagpur. It took us two hours to clear it amidst pouring rain and rapidly failing light.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Night Halt:</span><br />Hotel Gokul, Hanuman Lane Sitabuldi, Nagpur<br />Phone: 0712-2548587, 2541182<br />Rs 1000/- per night for a A/C double bedroom<br />Pretty decent and good service. Front desk was very helpful.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner:</span> Haldiram's close to the hotel. A snazzy two floor affair with multicuisine pure vegetarian fare.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Day 2: </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >Nagpur to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Jabalpur</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" > NH7</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast: </span>Our first tryst with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Kanda</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">Poha</span> at a <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">thela</span></span> right outside Hotel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">Gokul</span>. We polished off two plates each.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Lunch</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Hot Samosas and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">Mava</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">Jalebi</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">Seoni</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">Chappara</span> and plenty of tea en route</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwGKGW_8e3mWcWkXpAxYL_rl-i90G6z8xaCq_ajrDqPp3jJBOsAnX5-Z8lMupd8m1FkFcUrwj1fAEbs3xGps-Sqbco-L4Bn-yj-1FJLoY1bsV7-nPPKoJN41G7zNn_ZISsFs1/s1600-h/DSC_0002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237065806232989250" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwGKGW_8e3mWcWkXpAxYL_rl-i90G6z8xaCq_ajrDqPp3jJBOsAnX5-Z8lMupd8m1FkFcUrwj1fAEbs3xGps-Sqbco-L4Bn-yj-1FJLoY1bsV7-nPPKoJN41G7zNn_ZISsFs1/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We followed the Ring Road right <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">upto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Kamptee</span> and continued further. After <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">Mansar</span>, the fun began with this rather unusual natural gateway to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">Pench</span> National Park lands.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6DcyAISinh1hLkN6QzJGA0HjKCCM5s2Q2s3xqE5p988M6CysNfsJlkGkk51EwwJII2ZXuLSwftWzRqCnHPlcpPHppdwTSy0tk66w9DJefyJ4TzDKaR2srUq1OnrTEYKVpfCx/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237065447792925314" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6DcyAISinh1hLkN6QzJGA0HjKCCM5s2Q2s3xqE5p988M6CysNfsJlkGkk51EwwJII2ZXuLSwftWzRqCnHPlcpPHppdwTSy0tk66w9DJefyJ4TzDKaR2srUq1OnrTEYKVpfCx/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jungle engulfed us. We were on our way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">Seoni</span> in MP.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh0WNqtbINrQJ1TJOHEdj9OxfcTsD6r_J3zv4kyeIKpSNa7ZLcRLd_QDC9Vyc36zRdCAMAGtmRuhG_T-uhjcz_BwxMFG9z3CPsC-pUyi2ST3XJo_I2S8CnTnndJAp86pCfPyA/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSC_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237064821862202626" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh0WNqtbINrQJ1TJOHEdj9OxfcTsD6r_J3zv4kyeIKpSNa7ZLcRLd_QDC9Vyc36zRdCAMAGtmRuhG_T-uhjcz_BwxMFG9z3CPsC-pUyi2ST3XJo_I2S8CnTnndJAp86pCfPyA/s320/Copy+of+DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Road improved suddenly even as we were still in Maharashtra. The teak jungle thickened. We were doing 140 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">kmph</span>! Our attempts to enter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">Pench</span> park proved futile as the park was closed for monsoon and a big swing arm gate blocked us. The detour to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">Pench</span> is at a place called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">Deolaphar</span>. One has to go via <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">Sillari</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">Totaladoh</span> from here. A tourism office is situated at the entrance for any queries.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdSF9urbF2CyE6hyphenhyphenYehn-BvVkGM9kWMoHYM1WySesB3RkeT00J0YKGHI_aAhGpbA-1mFwy1jYVWh83EphMCZR-IV_fOAlX0JrBiurdqxYuhcU0Td6EyJjKXRw8NkIQ3wiQpmC/s1600-h/DSC_0013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237064346729316546" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdSF9urbF2CyE6hyphenhyphenYehn-BvVkGM9kWMoHYM1WySesB3RkeT00J0YKGHI_aAhGpbA-1mFwy1jYVWh83EphMCZR-IV_fOAlX0JrBiurdqxYuhcU0Td6EyJjKXRw8NkIQ3wiQpmC/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Someone told us to head to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">Mogarkasa</span><em></em> and its lake on the opposite side of the highway. So we headed in that direction forgetting the name every now and then and somehow retrieving it along with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">tthe</span> route from the locals. The jungle kept getting denser as we went deep into it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-ubAWRSgjBgZcGECkFXQh89r2mOHsI3y5PS07ParoD7m_h_pga7H0-nT-eeabCzZjafonwO6YCGKSW2DqFFUdXq35fIdJC4ZHsAfm-bO6AU8jNOMqaBqt90RxJxGhXrODsu2/s1600-h/DSC_0025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237061447764929298" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-ubAWRSgjBgZcGECkFXQh89r2mOHsI3y5PS07ParoD7m_h_pga7H0-nT-eeabCzZjafonwO6YCGKSW2DqFFUdXq35fIdJC4ZHsAfm-bO6AU8jNOMqaBqt90RxJxGhXrODsu2/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We found the lake deep in the forest far away from the nearest sign of civilization. It was uncannily silent and eerie. Adding to our anxieties were these signs posted on all the trees !<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7EZf4tmAduiEwGDBeh24bGPyt_NF74uBRNDlcw3vlN2h8E3Cg9cMfRcsONztn8zP_gmFqXyqq58zOb2c-kwKOBnIkSOjU8kbUrTAof3NbVzIY4MdZ7pxa2E7wUgdIgr38Fad/s1600-h/DSC_0028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237060717314422658" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7EZf4tmAduiEwGDBeh24bGPyt_NF74uBRNDlcw3vlN2h8E3Cg9cMfRcsONztn8zP_gmFqXyqq58zOb2c-kwKOBnIkSOjU8kbUrTAof3NbVzIY4MdZ7pxa2E7wUgdIgr38Fad/s320/DSC_0028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We found a hut and an abandoned bungalow (Goldilocks?) beside the lake. It turned out that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">Mogarkasa</span> is actually a small wildlife sanctuary around it. The lake itself was covered with hyacinth and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">lilly</span> pads. P.S.: It stank! Nevertheless the place was very beautiful. If only those Beware of Bears signs were not posted....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZgP06f24uyaJnVgCwrovz2ioG5IhbBoWMbVaKfOscW1aLavQWAHZ9aBzCWrYCmn0eu3wJtb39wkt8YcT19bmoZx_5mophZMzecPRoV50xrEfOEhuEoRsgonUTyw2BCOZ6pBC/s1600-h/DSC_0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237060298101995074" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZgP06f24uyaJnVgCwrovz2ioG5IhbBoWMbVaKfOscW1aLavQWAHZ9aBzCWrYCmn0eu3wJtb39wkt8YcT19bmoZx_5mophZMzecPRoV50xrEfOEhuEoRsgonUTyw2BCOZ6pBC/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />For all those bear signs, the only life we found in these jungle were these <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">langurs</span></span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNP_BInVDvm-e2Y_l-M9DP9fun2HsgS_wPflZzrZU7L9gzgnEnQfmlrxs3x7aSqq77hD7USrzdRcobSV4raoX5pS1tjKeaG3osw1ql7DxcQOp2z-TaSe_Fb6N3BYbOCkgE71v4/s1600-h/DSC_0047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237059413056339266" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNP_BInVDvm-e2Y_l-M9DP9fun2HsgS_wPflZzrZU7L9gzgnEnQfmlrxs3x7aSqq77hD7USrzdRcobSV4raoX5pS1tjKeaG3osw1ql7DxcQOp2z-TaSe_Fb6N3BYbOCkgE71v4/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Somewhere between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">Khawasa</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">Seoni</span>, we came across some really cool sights like this one.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCstuS3vqjmNmpxhaUbwsVcV6l7HDNpBKd5H_ngnaDNG_aSbd-hdmZ-bElscKA9m66Mx0nJV79iaEl01VEvU_no_X_F-4Ef3GPg1lJcPNSY-es8QHMbaiYYhLosVxHHbu4pgs/s1600-h/DSC_0078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237058983963015490" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCstuS3vqjmNmpxhaUbwsVcV6l7HDNpBKd5H_ngnaDNG_aSbd-hdmZ-bElscKA9m66Mx0nJV79iaEl01VEvU_no_X_F-4Ef3GPg1lJcPNSY-es8QHMbaiYYhLosVxHHbu4pgs/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">Seoni</span>...what looked like a mosque was actually a temple.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm6GaJeGYC0YCtv2c72pXyc03SPg6H6kRkUTbRVMR_4D7dDW3Oy9cH25yp6bPmWHjHfBldRov35KhsFUryx1r5N0mIdUDp-GpCUdcDhPRGocSccdX-xJ066ZfZYu1qbgOcgD-/s1600-h/DSC_0063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237058255171432338" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm6GaJeGYC0YCtv2c72pXyc03SPg6H6kRkUTbRVMR_4D7dDW3Oy9cH25yp6bPmWHjHfBldRov35KhsFUryx1r5N0mIdUDp-GpCUdcDhPRGocSccdX-xJ066ZfZYu1qbgOcgD-/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />3 most common things on NH7 : Pot holes, dead dogs and trailers loaded with new tractors!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-zePvYD5Jp0ZDE_2385KXGzyvCu3ptDanZ667iDCp6vGQRwQ_cDzkvVkmH32MiRcQ6IrLOAfSXpPmmbGMfEqos83pcHUmQSyfSbnQ5xlIgw7YHnKW-zH5VqANTM5GHc6z04R/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237055475244307666" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-zePvYD5Jp0ZDE_2385KXGzyvCu3ptDanZ667iDCp6vGQRwQ_cDzkvVkmH32MiRcQ6IrLOAfSXpPmmbGMfEqos83pcHUmQSyfSbnQ5xlIgw7YHnKW-zH5VqANTM5GHc6z04R/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Post <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">Seoni</span> we were blessed with such table tops!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QHm_6lWu2IDm3U7QhrLj0hjmrzDr4TbdKEQYehhnQXVnWPgTOUU-5ApVP3sfJew282rCceX21MaTY8MEN1c5NmCefsRLms4R27qVeW-5Q_FH3CCkIYdxBi6uYSccoNdNePnb/s1600-h/DSC_0088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237051341550705138" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QHm_6lWu2IDm3U7QhrLj0hjmrzDr4TbdKEQYehhnQXVnWPgTOUU-5ApVP3sfJew282rCceX21MaTY8MEN1c5NmCefsRLms4R27qVeW-5Q_FH3CCkIYdxBi6uYSccoNdNePnb/s320/DSC_0088.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After Chappara we chanced upon this terrific scene by the banks of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">Wainganga</span>. A Monsoon Moment!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQBNzISabGuLac7qOLkuXcNytQZcX10ASpMQ9nQDpFgs90bxSV1FjiFUrz5xvHOiuc2fbpU4bf404LPrjCWR5udWjAwhZsigUYkDuVaL_6ZXazU3SHJrrSDVFtfdNmzuP5PFd/s1600-h/DSC_0108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237050598452242722" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQBNzISabGuLac7qOLkuXcNytQZcX10ASpMQ9nQDpFgs90bxSV1FjiFUrz5xvHOiuc2fbpU4bf404LPrjCWR5udWjAwhZsigUYkDuVaL_6ZXazU3SHJrrSDVFtfdNmzuP5PFd/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />More scenes followed....Lone Mango Tree<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOYHng3mJhVuR9rNlijjZOZk3q4X60V8veHK7Aa4vKl8X84GePG5lYHqiRyNGpDxTxIl2rOJ7g8bVvtEdutv7rGoDiyddOInU7X1xYayGw3SOY273spU12BuRU6Enyym0ZLOa/s1600-h/DSC_0134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237041753011004194" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOYHng3mJhVuR9rNlijjZOZk3q4X60V8veHK7Aa4vKl8X84GePG5lYHqiRyNGpDxTxIl2rOJ7g8bVvtEdutv7rGoDiyddOInU7X1xYayGw3SOY273spU12BuRU6Enyym0ZLOa/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We were awfully late....thanks to the scenes that played each kilometer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNxp-n0LbrfnPNy8xurFK5vKqsKGSUhId4lkqk1lvjUYi-Kr-b0mVPy3xVl6bcufpmdfBjzkglz993Axe6yX8_G1Wknk0KEFBs1kX1aPcYRi56wvmFFPdoPEXehVyiEAMMlhyphenhyphen/s1600-h/DSC_0099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237401511172606450" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNxp-n0LbrfnPNy8xurFK5vKqsKGSUhId4lkqk1lvjUYi-Kr-b0mVPy3xVl6bcufpmdfBjzkglz993Axe6yX8_G1Wknk0KEFBs1kX1aPcYRi56wvmFFPdoPEXehVyiEAMMlhyphenhyphen/s320/DSC_0099.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Need I say anymore? That is still NH7 somewhere close to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">Lakhnadon</span>, by the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkdDlWzUKXCawODDoUfaVKV_LNlPlpPxzJLlS-_4JtKOlW8HMox7IzNHa-ca8w2cD8ePyzuazTZNMRDVzF0yJeYgVgeeVTAfZfWkXwSkGVrSBZ4lJCt-dOoHlVIl_-Pu-04Qu/s1600-h/DSC_0136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237040235549526306" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkdDlWzUKXCawODDoUfaVKV_LNlPlpPxzJLlS-_4JtKOlW8HMox7IzNHa-ca8w2cD8ePyzuazTZNMRDVzF0yJeYgVgeeVTAfZfWkXwSkGVrSBZ4lJCt-dOoHlVIl_-Pu-04Qu/s320/DSC_0136.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">Lakhnadon</span>, the shops reminded me of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">Raksha</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">Bandhan</span> two days later<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmfMW4kdxk-UBqZOyQmB_EgVdnAnYqbYaqB-ci55LBLONAK9ndPMP0mhoPEW5wMCBaSLD5QfNAnPoYFjbdnr9MPGwWmj3DdHM1bKWjQ7zAITFHrHqcGT9f4i0-hbNRVcoTnhB/s1600-h/DSC_0154.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237039214080354386" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmfMW4kdxk-UBqZOyQmB_EgVdnAnYqbYaqB-ci55LBLONAK9ndPMP0mhoPEW5wMCBaSLD5QfNAnPoYFjbdnr9MPGwWmj3DdHM1bKWjQ7zAITFHrHqcGT9f4i0-hbNRVcoTnhB/s320/DSC_0154.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Somewhere between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">Sukri</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">Mangela</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">Bargi</span> we had a tryst with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">NG</span> Railway too. The same one I had <a href="http://cape2jat.blogspot.com/2007/03/little-narrow-gauge-of-central-india.html">covered here.</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU6dXzobl4Rv0vpLMMLsm2NzZDaZEMfvGdzMZ44t0NlYGQFVWMQZMWLNGwr_ikZ7XoBLI8L1LhiSme2fnyNYN5_e-PE8AjTBMc50dfhp1qaTkkPwDkGamFJEMn6kFVbNode7y/s1600-h/DSC_0156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237035401666123634" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU6dXzobl4Rv0vpLMMLsm2NzZDaZEMfvGdzMZ44t0NlYGQFVWMQZMWLNGwr_ikZ7XoBLI8L1LhiSme2fnyNYN5_e-PE8AjTBMc50dfhp1qaTkkPwDkGamFJEMn6kFVbNode7y/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Bye bye little train...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:100%;" >Bhedaghat-Dhuadhar Falls-Marble Rocks</span></span><br />Bhedaghat is 20 km from Jabalpur on the banks of river Narmada. Here the river through a beautiful gorge of marble for about 3 km. Dhuadhar Falls is also situated here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u4_qZl89fRhWJOR59v4r59XAddF_cxBJ3rBEoklEiSt1IfZEmZsDFxlTc1Tgf7xpo5dFq7Ermr8FffeMvQzhZrl6W38LNNyoO9joMt3Unua_U4I8TAIveTxg6SmrMo75msbe/s1600-h/DSC_0171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237030554764028066" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u4_qZl89fRhWJOR59v4r59XAddF_cxBJ3rBEoklEiSt1IfZEmZsDFxlTc1Tgf7xpo5dFq7Ermr8FffeMvQzhZrl6W38LNNyoO9joMt3Unua_U4I8TAIveTxg6SmrMo75msbe/s320/DSC_0171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The Narmada flowing towards Marble Rocks<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ySBnR288GPSy99riMltUZja_4bKn5_JYBO7ug45KWubVnjKmruajJyAlV7vhn4zprUWdyEpk9wBje0rvnRUr-7qJrdcXISQyMHVttsob8tTsn0zuAn0to341FHOWMQlaXD1P/s1600-h/DSC_0167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237028745071233714" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ySBnR288GPSy99riMltUZja_4bKn5_JYBO7ug45KWubVnjKmruajJyAlV7vhn4zprUWdyEpk9wBje0rvnRUr-7qJrdcXISQyMHVttsob8tTsn0zuAn0to341FHOWMQlaXD1P/s320/DSC_0167.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Dhuadhar Falls as seen from the cable car<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharpDHzkRkpP_wpqeLHcmboNZRELBDnf1GcHXgOBukFCgnwPDTc-cFg7JWRzpJzZrq5hLrRpUOLdUq4z3hCcS43dxNDROmDhfEBfIwMznqbSH_yg50ywJdjYQ03yjpRwiWe9BV/s1600-h/DSC_0186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237027898478441986" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharpDHzkRkpP_wpqeLHcmboNZRELBDnf1GcHXgOBukFCgnwPDTc-cFg7JWRzpJzZrq5hLrRpUOLdUq4z3hCcS43dxNDROmDhfEBfIwMznqbSH_yg50ywJdjYQ03yjpRwiWe9BV/s320/DSC_0186.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Monsoon again proved to be the right season to check out the '<span style="font-style: italic;">dhuan' </span>at Dhuadhar.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASKRkXCGRhiO4GWTrL2FmoXI1FssJ9vgPolXuc-vlTqsRlbARSAruinEQO54rA7qWWQMeJtPxn557bJTFgAZ1LHaknQdjIf7Cabt8t5sEuLywkegXmOTq86ow1VQGLYC9atjA/s1600-h/DSC_0234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237026885468746002" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASKRkXCGRhiO4GWTrL2FmoXI1FssJ9vgPolXuc-vlTqsRlbARSAruinEQO54rA7qWWQMeJtPxn557bJTFgAZ1LHaknQdjIf7Cabt8t5sEuLywkegXmOTq86ow1VQGLYC9atjA/s320/DSC_0234.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Could not make out what this was. Looked more like the ramparts of a watchtower or view point<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LX7aFPMLQ_fFCyqufewigGS5fbHW71wt6evStocJSkA6OPDLKJL036XH1bjNUBhOjJLF0NawYppEGH0-Kd-txcVGbW5SQKHOg45jziRQgXlzEFhC0dPgWqwyhcjfR5JbqLJ6/s1600-h/DSC_0239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237026116726807282" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LX7aFPMLQ_fFCyqufewigGS5fbHW71wt6evStocJSkA6OPDLKJL036XH1bjNUBhOjJLF0NawYppEGH0-Kd-txcVGbW5SQKHOg45jziRQgXlzEFhC0dPgWqwyhcjfR5JbqLJ6/s320/DSC_0239.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Narmada gushing through the canyons of marble<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sowqzy5wOPYdMAeBhiqd6fda2ZVUpa1SdEI5-5HjpPkIlZTNIR8xjH2JGcq6_sUfNrCTTq73XSHpFr6aBWoMCc_fEivNu3elBvs_0MwmrmNzJHofR2DfifneAeuQdzw-2lm3/s1600-h/DSC_0242.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237025718267834210" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sowqzy5wOPYdMAeBhiqd6fda2ZVUpa1SdEI5-5HjpPkIlZTNIR8xjH2JGcq6_sUfNrCTTq73XSHpFr6aBWoMCc_fEivNu3elBvs_0MwmrmNzJHofR2DfifneAeuQdzw-2lm3/s320/DSC_0242.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Failing light at dusk made it somewhat difficult to shoot.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KMfM5066-cI740ud8hJ5InjRV3R-BEhn9s0Ny0TmYt8kPIIEsUsAlz4yFoqKigpQ_5XfZJ8TpNYG6a_onFDEw9RNg5MYXsz3Oy2Q8_M3iuXYNCLEPcd_4pKVJA9pHaD8eyC0/s1600-h/DSC_0247.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237025314338345138" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KMfM5066-cI740ud8hJ5InjRV3R-BEhn9s0Ny0TmYt8kPIIEsUsAlz4yFoqKigpQ_5XfZJ8TpNYG6a_onFDEw9RNg5MYXsz3Oy2Q8_M3iuXYNCLEPcd_4pKVJA9pHaD8eyC0/s320/DSC_0247.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I still prefer Chitrakote Falls :-)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzgNPYEQF3W3FTgSz5rBX5kkvt7FMv3t2NmW3F54IWr0KvqL53R_V2Itw_adJSXUMGfwMcw0o6UlBKyxSs9k31DzCItCCBb3OA-79G-qkIEntltX95Yt1ZBV89f5biBo8mD4U/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237023612693142466" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzgNPYEQF3W3FTgSz5rBX5kkvt7FMv3t2NmW3F54IWr0KvqL53R_V2Itw_adJSXUMGfwMcw0o6UlBKyxSs9k31DzCItCCBb3OA-79G-qkIEntltX95Yt1ZBV89f5biBo8mD4U/s320/DSC_0245.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Ah! Yes!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The cable car runs right over the falls </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Night Halt</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >:</span><span style="font-size:85%;">Hotel Arihant Palace, </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Russel Chowk, Jabalpur<br />Ph: 0761-327311<br />Tariff: Rs 975 for a double A/C room per day<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Again a decent and well maintained hotel with friendly front office and a good restaurant<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast:</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> Plates and plates of poha with rassa , jilebis, samosas and plenty of tea at Narmada Devi Dhaba , Kareli</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Day 3: Jabalpur - Chhindwara NH12, NH26 & MP state road</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">s</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Surprisingly, the state roads of Madhya Pradesh were in good shape. The Congress state government somehow woke up to the realities and Uma Bharati's campaigns and turned around the condition of the roads. We were skceptical of paying the toll everywhere expecting the roads to worsen but they turned out to be neat.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">However the dampeners turned out to be </span><span style="font-size:100%;">NH12 and 26 </span>which we took to get out of Jabalpur and from Kareli to Barhman respectively. Full marks to MP govt. None to NHAI!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barhman Ghat</span><br />This was not merely a Hindustan ka Dil trip but also a Narmada Darshan. So we wanted to see the Narmada not just as a rapid on rocks state but asa staid river goddess at a holy bank. Hence Barhman Ghat which was about 12 km from Kareli.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6nzYKkpHMHgj5wNClpCxtyGIr2Navy1oTYGRW5b8FXO0sT1xkirKsuqdgB8SpVJd-bcE5bmRKuBBgLXqn-6hakA-rpNPHH9AyvY1DowNTd0320la4ry_6N7eCtRTH5Xa-4M0/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237022903852648818" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6nzYKkpHMHgj5wNClpCxtyGIr2Navy1oTYGRW5b8FXO0sT1xkirKsuqdgB8SpVJd-bcE5bmRKuBBgLXqn-6hakA-rpNPHH9AyvY1DowNTd0320la4ry_6N7eCtRTH5Xa-4M0/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We crossed the river to reach the major Barhman ghat. The chota Barhman ghat lay across the bigger ghat but was not as easily accessible as the major one. The monsoon scene played out fully here with heavily overcast skies and a muddy rough river in spate.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxWpH4FAokBhaFzmmUSpiuDIxjg8dXop4ugQ5h4nVrcQDUydVqcBAGknjYDJWQv61_j3pDRNko5SK0mUfBTV9YbMbnkLsIRQ0idJBG5py0PaE2Y2jDAUyBg0tfe6JTKCCbiLC/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237022649758633826" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxWpH4FAokBhaFzmmUSpiuDIxjg8dXop4ugQ5h4nVrcQDUydVqcBAGknjYDJWQv61_j3pDRNko5SK0mUfBTV9YbMbnkLsIRQ0idJBG5py0PaE2Y2jDAUyBg0tfe6JTKCCbiLC/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The river splits into two streams and rejoins again forming an island in the middle. A Shiva temple stands on the island. Boats ply from both banks to the island. In oter seasons, there are almost seven streams in between.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYGvmIHMOwUaPtvIoxgvFb1G7MFMFvUnoT3qTyr1ZQYk5e1NaGz9qCgMKAO29dudq5L0bE6NTU2MpZKLyFbOjWmLsNMYTNRMQLKK6dS9malvj4McUVmaKyx_aS0NRCzGz4gJE/s1600-h/DSC_0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237021957952974498" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYGvmIHMOwUaPtvIoxgvFb1G7MFMFvUnoT3qTyr1ZQYk5e1NaGz9qCgMKAO29dudq5L0bE6NTU2MpZKLyFbOjWmLsNMYTNRMQLKK6dS9malvj4McUVmaKyx_aS0NRCzGz4gJE/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The copious amounts of inflows indundated the ghats greatly. Almost submerged is a marble Shivalingam and Nandi that stands on the ghats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmx-4iyTckqVwxY7CJ345bNl6XINMW1VnAlSZChUdbtfinAYOU4aSy3o5BACDHc2LjVU5iDrQEkBp_C_evonHy88Wx8MIqu3YwE1D-rNAO8zJrsiOAUbuh8tIBmx4BpY8ToHr1/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237021351605090258" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmx-4iyTckqVwxY7CJ345bNl6XINMW1VnAlSZChUdbtfinAYOU4aSy3o5BACDHc2LjVU5iDrQEkBp_C_evonHy88Wx8MIqu3YwE1D-rNAO8zJrsiOAUbuh8tIBmx4BpY8ToHr1/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Small man made islands of faith form every monsoon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrHQxkFfF70YbwZyurb3VbZtuiuDMhz8RNpB8KIi1qW_kJ6yC8JDEoneEHDGeUZdL7Y9OsXVMtKCh-6s0uP9c85_vSd0YmPjxolvSkqWtXyHRGS-hlWfMtUOVT9s4qyFvj1p2/s1600-h/DSC_0037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237021180398577826" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrHQxkFfF70YbwZyurb3VbZtuiuDMhz8RNpB8KIi1qW_kJ6yC8JDEoneEHDGeUZdL7Y9OsXVMtKCh-6s0uP9c85_vSd0YmPjxolvSkqWtXyHRGS-hlWfMtUOVT9s4qyFvj1p2/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The boat that plies the faithful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tamia and Patalkot</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpzhwVPE05m4mWOzNPkWmyDlwGhupxscpkwut-KotHog70Uc93fSZBFVP7d3VrCFRwfvN5qN5CkBWTaJy-cltn71kFgaIyH334S0HbD5d0V_sP3fkvThyphenhyphenlidiakMn09KJaXtc/s1600-h/DSC_0045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237016096683832178" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpzhwVPE05m4mWOzNPkWmyDlwGhupxscpkwut-KotHog70Uc93fSZBFVP7d3VrCFRwfvN5qN5CkBWTaJy-cltn71kFgaIyH334S0HbD5d0V_sP3fkvThyphenhyphenlidiakMn09KJaXtc/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We returned back from Barhman to Kareli and resumed our journey to Chhindwara via Pipariya and Matkuli. Seen here is the wonderful road that winds all the way to Pachmarhi. We avoided Pachmarhi conspicuously as it would need at least two days. The good road lasted only till Matkuli. From there it was a torture all the way till Chhindwara.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1dD20cjLKQ1LVfielOgHFVC-rmxpJaLkSEiJvhjGo4pmcv1b81WB04CfrYQt_roRhmU17CwIcR4dZJt2LoumVEtTKbjgcry-py2qZMtPUQuZ2ktmjAIuOevN-g077n363bey/s1600-h/DSC_0063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236875630898141330" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1dD20cjLKQ1LVfielOgHFVC-rmxpJaLkSEiJvhjGo4pmcv1b81WB04CfrYQt_roRhmU17CwIcR4dZJt2LoumVEtTKbjgcry-py2qZMtPUQuZ2ktmjAIuOevN-g077n363bey/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We went through a wonderful forest as the road climbed almost 900 metres above sea level to Tamiya. A short detour off the Chhndwara road from here took us to a place that proved to be a wonderful alternative to Pachmarhi - Patalkot. Little Tamiya village has a 'foreign liquor shop' it seems :-)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHiWsoRCfkpXluOd8aEUBpZoaKXKy8wcPTQKdCMRdDOa4wfx5iLO9z-4Of8rDfkyYdyaZHKZjCy745xnTdyjL_8AE2LB8onxqFA837EzEQBPxz4h-B_oRyVA_7hcj3bx8Hmf8/s1600-h/DSC_0108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236874453491142354" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHiWsoRCfkpXluOd8aEUBpZoaKXKy8wcPTQKdCMRdDOa4wfx5iLO9z-4Of8rDfkyYdyaZHKZjCy745xnTdyjL_8AE2LB8onxqFA837EzEQBPxz4h-B_oRyVA_7hcj3bx8Hmf8/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The road to Patalkot promised a lot!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ys2JNBpSGMJYUT8OWfYH2cP8mEpolq_WZ06ogAyF24HMLqbQ_8GNpHCsWzKtqa7Gx8MisVvBB7bR6gWdpcTuU4TCOPRz6u6jvP_hQUZgkSQ8iU1y8bVk1dAbD2JOfmSPHrew/s1600-h/DSC_0110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236873543018253106" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ys2JNBpSGMJYUT8OWfYH2cP8mEpolq_WZ06ogAyF24HMLqbQ_8GNpHCsWzKtqa7Gx8MisVvBB7bR6gWdpcTuU4TCOPRz6u6jvP_hQUZgkSQ8iU1y8bVk1dAbD2JOfmSPHrew/s320/DSC_0110.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We had to keep stopping every now and then in the 20 minute detour as the vistas were too good to ignore.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR04C_Kf_eBETgvrvOcY0I0bHXDALNiTj6NRdpKPu79JSbljSMnCzZXYxlif8QWCP-RV6mnLVWxcc7V6ad9UuYV4XhaR9K8DgN91iRBJk0l5c0bDfDjAk-cmG6hsFU_theDLhk/s1600-h/DSC_0133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236873120391023922" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR04C_Kf_eBETgvrvOcY0I0bHXDALNiTj6NRdpKPu79JSbljSMnCzZXYxlif8QWCP-RV6mnLVWxcc7V6ad9UuYV4XhaR9K8DgN91iRBJk0l5c0bDfDjAk-cmG6hsFU_theDLhk/s320/DSC_0133.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, Patalkot was more beautiful than what we anticipated. Nestled in a 1200 feet deep horse shoe shaped valley it had a cluster of villages some of whose tribal inmates remained cut off from civilaiztion for many years. Seen in the picture above is another valley even deeper at the bottom of Patalkot that is home to the almost pehistoric Bharia tribe. We were at the top of the hill where we met Dr. Deepak Acharya. He started a venture named Abhumka Herbal (Ahmedabad) that develops herbal remedies from the hitherto unknown and rare tribal herbal medicinal system of this region which in turn supports the tribals enabling them to continue living and cultivating the land here. Dr Acharya is on a mission to protect and preserve the herbal medicine system, the forestry and the quality of life of the tribals here. It is was a culmination of sorts for me in meeting and chatting with Dr. Acharya by chance at Patalkot as I was inspired to visit this place after checking out his website <a href="http://www.patalkot.com/">http://www.patalkot.com</a>. Read the website to know more about Dr Acharya's initiatives and do provide him the moral support to his noble mission.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuesdogjlBh491EsOdxa9L5eyIlijoegC6rt1D33I3Q5v9m5ggYZuIfxdaiwcE0ZnTaKV9nzrEdl7A9SOrgOW4ldjcuCDxLNUbbaqmX0QXo-_kDKvSUgX2LWFED_2mLA2zzw2/s1600-h/DSC_0156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236872499490998994" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuesdogjlBh491EsOdxa9L5eyIlijoegC6rt1D33I3Q5v9m5ggYZuIfxdaiwcE0ZnTaKV9nzrEdl7A9SOrgOW4ldjcuCDxLNUbbaqmX0QXo-_kDKvSUgX2LWFED_2mLA2zzw2/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The highest point at Patalkot where the road ends. Monsoon is the best time to visit Patalkot. Dr Acharya tells me that the state government plans to build a golf course and a resort here and he is trying to prevent that. It will be a disaster to the lives of the tribals who are already tasting modern civilization and abandoning their usual way of life for small handouts. Already forest mafias made inroads into the valley. They have negotiated rather cheaply with the unsuspecting tribals and robbing them of the green cover and the rare herbal medicines. Some tribals already stopped cultivating grains in Patalkot thanks to the populisitc 2 rupee a kilo rice scheme. Patalkot falls within the constituency of Chhindwara, a long time traditional stronghold of Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce. I wonder if he knows anything about these tribals and their way of life and the immense herbal wealth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl5FJTIIA_vh9gwBSEljA3iy35CK_IlTfeQMCgqr5M7ydnU3dtJ5tqy3mMuSOT-BU4TmHB46vwVKcaUG_V7087MBHtlvxihxOTILTvJxkDI_GZhuImevBsGjzPjPvdFXfXb5M/s1600-h/DSC_0080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237672170557887458" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl5FJTIIA_vh9gwBSEljA3iy35CK_IlTfeQMCgqr5M7ydnU3dtJ5tqy3mMuSOT-BU4TmHB46vwVKcaUG_V7087MBHtlvxihxOTILTvJxkDI_GZhuImevBsGjzPjPvdFXfXb5M/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfdyk3K_UAoAzcm9s8LB11NlWKItpQon635y6AUJWptevOnO4bkhqYCTIAjfB4YQFHRiDdsqng4Z-RK4sDT2X8SyFzhD-ttsw0jbEVvy2UEzgfRQP8de4CGxNWd2Td-Vk2SyK/s1600-h/DSC_0178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237675659966297010" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfdyk3K_UAoAzcm9s8LB11NlWKItpQon635y6AUJWptevOnO4bkhqYCTIAjfB4YQFHRiDdsqng4Z-RK4sDT2X8SyFzhD-ttsw0jbEVvy2UEzgfRQP8de4CGxNWd2Td-Vk2SyK/s320/DSC_0178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A legend says that Meghnath, son of Ravana entered <em>Patal Lok</em> from here and hence the place is called Patalkot. The Gond tribals here settled during Shivaji's rule and it is believed that there is a subterrenean tunnel somewhere in the nether regions of this valley that goes all the way to Pachmarhi<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqjRRD3uhPj26AuqPWSUeW0W7hPTLj_GdVu_W9S6GV26dpfsJgF5M2uqPF2SN1T8E8T5EfvycaoV645lKlfwYz8Bjyy541XC-bwzLRmcF7UT-4c8fNBIXOxw0UKxPa78h5brm/s1600-h/DSC_0161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236871521997271906" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqjRRD3uhPj26AuqPWSUeW0W7hPTLj_GdVu_W9S6GV26dpfsJgF5M2uqPF2SN1T8E8T5EfvycaoV645lKlfwYz8Bjyy541XC-bwzLRmcF7UT-4c8fNBIXOxw0UKxPa78h5brm/s320/DSC_0161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It was 6.30 PM at the top of the valley. Finally, we 4 were the only people around and were rendered speechless for quite sometime thanks to the sheer beauty of the place.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInU9BfsmIHyxRH-6NqTMmeqEKLZ5cnZuk_fmaRhh0KKnTc5N5uKMDRAEzFtJ6wLnzIwUmBURLviCB4TFKWQcyDUNTxPLojLdU55Lfz2gN-Bd3meElK8pW8_h71eVvaOhX7M8A/s1600-h/DSC_0192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236867591676096898" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInU9BfsmIHyxRH-6NqTMmeqEKLZ5cnZuk_fmaRhh0KKnTc5N5uKMDRAEzFtJ6wLnzIwUmBURLviCB4TFKWQcyDUNTxPLojLdU55Lfz2gN-Bd3meElK8pW8_h71eVvaOhX7M8A/s320/DSC_0192.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I would love to come back here the next year around the same time. This time I would also like to meet the tribals and learn about them.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Night Halt: </span>Hotel Puja. Nothing great to write about. Totally avoidable. But then it is the best you can get in Chhindwara<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast:</span> Poha poha and poha at Sri Harihar Tea Stall opposite our hotel</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Day 4 & 5: Chhindwara - Adilabad - </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >Hyderabad - NH7</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:0;"><br /><br /></span></span>We had a last hurrah as we returned back to Hyderabad. Close to the spot where we took a detour to Pochera falls three days ago, we found another short detour towards the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary. A few km from NH7 took us to a thick forest with yet another wonderful waterfall.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kuntaala Falls</span><br />Kuntaala is popular amongst the locals at Adilabad who came in droves on the cool Sunday morning for picnics. The place is not maintaned by AP Tourism like Pochera. Since it falls within the fringes of the reserve forest of Kawal Sanctuary, the Forests Department maintains the infrastructure as a part of their Eco Tourism.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnejRvGwxPrsyIr0SU1NF3xyx5gNp8KSC67OJWINRMCzO1Lo0U5cvVCV8nPlEcxoDozhoCBIfJvtvxkgL-UTtnxQQs-Gv68k7550BPGdtB_CEWUWJfPwj-XIsTRcjAbKTwK4h/s1600-h/DSC_0017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236864235443455538" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnejRvGwxPrsyIr0SU1NF3xyx5gNp8KSC67OJWINRMCzO1Lo0U5cvVCV8nPlEcxoDozhoCBIfJvtvxkgL-UTtnxQQs-Gv68k7550BPGdtB_CEWUWJfPwj-XIsTRcjAbKTwK4h/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The falls is bigger and more spaced out than Pochera. There is a shallow slide first (seen above) followed by a quick and frothy rapid and finally big fall. Again I could not figure out which river is it. Someone again told me it is thw Godavari. There cannot be three Godavari rivers within 20 km of each other can they?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDN26UEaA1PZDwIWg2vFRenbFf7RJg8G2faZMFrkrPAn3lfwmxhURwJXPbRMFsGN5HK4MH_UP9Gf0tHRPCA7Lhlo-0HZR7e4tofGU6cDTIRuwXNKVJ4BG1VscdqJJeSN2lv9m/s1600-h/DSC_0052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237686254099780802" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDN26UEaA1PZDwIWg2vFRenbFf7RJg8G2faZMFrkrPAn3lfwmxhURwJXPbRMFsGN5HK4MH_UP9Gf0tHRPCA7Lhlo-0HZR7e4tofGU6cDTIRuwXNKVJ4BG1VscdqJJeSN2lv9m/s320/DSC_0052.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The roar was more pronounced than even Dhuandhar Falls!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7v5SJt7BXs4mNl2R8cUKyPEGhqJ5j7kmW2_FgxtSrkUAEjfwvcPsaVENHrvN2MXGO0prWrKGGgZZ7OEDwP5nc-QGBcQ5hN-mrhFCrQi8n92s50fAL0dfdPBp_kokyCWDhdqX/s1600-h/DSC_0066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236863510080335714" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7v5SJt7BXs4mNl2R8cUKyPEGhqJ5j7kmW2_FgxtSrkUAEjfwvcPsaVENHrvN2MXGO0prWrKGGgZZ7OEDwP5nc-QGBcQ5hN-mrhFCrQi8n92s50fAL0dfdPBp_kokyCWDhdqX/s320/DSC_0066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kuntaala had some nice rock formations<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYQA6s6N8LdcIF8OgmJic1Sv5PaP98ylZquNuZW8re-LuqIwcxZWnAgFetf25bro3FwOWSYBZJ_PpOj43u2MVUge6PX0bM5No-bxfHML3AKRH9T0Hd2FkVODnpz0E_OSfkAb3/s1600-h/DSC_0086.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236862529956531522" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYQA6s6N8LdcIF8OgmJic1Sv5PaP98ylZquNuZW8re-LuqIwcxZWnAgFetf25bro3FwOWSYBZJ_PpOj43u2MVUge6PX0bM5No-bxfHML3AKRH9T0Hd2FkVODnpz0E_OSfkAb3/s320/DSC_0086.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful forest downstream for treks and picnics<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K-qzAqgOD9lI6C_QDyF2IlBQM6zT0rEM3oPCMaYWoYA5anVO8Udnx2IQ08bguy94yu7noIjS3jXqc1NLX9XlWIk8Gq0l9vA2QojzitnD4WJNW8VGbwf8F91fTY8VpCwFlxww/s1600-h/DSC_0090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236861964042098738" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K-qzAqgOD9lI6C_QDyF2IlBQM6zT0rEM3oPCMaYWoYA5anVO8Udnx2IQ08bguy94yu7noIjS3jXqc1NLX9XlWIk8Gq0l9vA2QojzitnD4WJNW8VGbwf8F91fTY8VpCwFlxww/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />That culminates our week-long drive. Another day, probably another road...less travelled I hope.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBpjqYr82L01TC273rkgL8Zg4oiFH3OHFwIiYzrZR6K6fvlKNSxDpeOyFxyVOXrdp84ygkXxoXH2jv_xsbpQ9c2dImm2LlCwHWo3tSiC9pc4hA8zjTDhenHgBNnnAiJTm_H-m/s1600-h/DSC_0041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237691244543279682" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBpjqYr82L01TC273rkgL8Zg4oiFH3OHFwIiYzrZR6K6fvlKNSxDpeOyFxyVOXrdp84ygkXxoXH2jv_xsbpQ9c2dImm2LlCwHWo3tSiC9pc4hA8zjTDhenHgBNnnAiJTm_H-m/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The travellers: Scorpio, Me, Raghu, Karthik, RajaramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-12134031551110533452008-08-20T23:08:00.009+05:302008-08-20T23:40:41.531+05:30Destiny's ChildThey call it the City of Destiny. I spent a good 15 years there before heading out to less greener pastures. Vizag however retained its beauty through all these years. This year too, I came to Vizag to visit my parents but became a tourist for a brief while. Just check out what I saw:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTTtGOHS5GlhGr8xJtagsa1lYMocH51vR-CVDLXGb0WnhTkOn5rmRQLvCVWeJDM9x6n-mCHkVPvoqvOFwOhNkC_dwZHx4wQmE_xlViZrhf807C0iNMWxxCs1tey_fu-feGQ7w/s1600-h/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTTtGOHS5GlhGr8xJtagsa1lYMocH51vR-CVDLXGb0WnhTkOn5rmRQLvCVWeJDM9x6n-mCHkVPvoqvOFwOhNkC_dwZHx4wQmE_xlViZrhf807C0iNMWxxCs1tey_fu-feGQ7w/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236661496915573362" border="0" /></a><br />Unnamed beach along the coastal road to Bhimli<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6he8pxOrEphvd8LNWSP7yLRpe4iQ4At7eVT_m-p8p8ZAOcySs-eAG1av2LqCyXj3tWXfmBv8OJeWIC7u1EcSM48-Ci4kAW9DYCWoReONsKmtp_HSVpjWHCJ7gLY3U_IHQbqu6/s1600-h/DSC_0087.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6he8pxOrEphvd8LNWSP7yLRpe4iQ4At7eVT_m-p8p8ZAOcySs-eAG1av2LqCyXj3tWXfmBv8OJeWIC7u1EcSM48-Ci4kAW9DYCWoReONsKmtp_HSVpjWHCJ7gLY3U_IHQbqu6/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236660442814008370" border="0" /></a><br />Toy vendors at RK Beach<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2U7GrZ-Vb2beLVHSk50EBaSVxEhotYU9pETnHHXErM9IW7czaly9IZosutGt4cops7RTvZ1Y2ACVJWjX4bTA7Lr5kQyiPj2olVMLhCSm1FTR7mguqQh2I8_Rll3UJqUY4hab/s1600-h/DSC_0117.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2U7GrZ-Vb2beLVHSk50EBaSVxEhotYU9pETnHHXErM9IW7czaly9IZosutGt4cops7RTvZ1Y2ACVJWjX4bTA7Lr5kQyiPj2olVMLhCSm1FTR7mguqQh2I8_Rll3UJqUY4hab/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236659743534570386" border="0" /></a><br />A Snake God keeps vigil over the choppy waters of the Bay of Bengal at Rushikonda<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5XONn4UJISPcN2vjWGEumYLwJDyiehYIm3rES19R81qGucH8BnlF6a9PrjTepLru5MwpAOITmworRHqrcRRzfiM7UdXn4XAA3AtorlYdp7JXgxcX52H-qRfBMYFxxZ9BTFZT/s1600-h/DSC_0114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5XONn4UJISPcN2vjWGEumYLwJDyiehYIm3rES19R81qGucH8BnlF6a9PrjTepLru5MwpAOITmworRHqrcRRzfiM7UdXn4XAA3AtorlYdp7JXgxcX52H-qRfBMYFxxZ9BTFZT/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236658563316262322" border="0" /></a><br />A little girl watches the waves at Rushikonda<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FJfHJ0mchK5KEsoKWoJZhHMVS6Ccoh0ClIaNgtsvOYyib04AOXwQEobHpTtAvMMT9jrQ72Z4L6WnaKRLvQccjeYtzyPMum1XP801jZmxUNsSaFTp3JponYoNmwdU1Hl508bJ/s1600-h/DSC_0095.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FJfHJ0mchK5KEsoKWoJZhHMVS6Ccoh0ClIaNgtsvOYyib04AOXwQEobHpTtAvMMT9jrQ72Z4L6WnaKRLvQccjeYtzyPMum1XP801jZmxUNsSaFTp3JponYoNmwdU1Hl508bJ/s320/DSC_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236657883473399554" border="0" /></a><br />Bay of Bengal as seen from the Tenneti Park<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJSbEcsQyPvTOIwYa9_kujKVVaLwZQxM9ksWZR3cnGCdM05Pl4PWSZ7t8E6mwMG71IaqQzAeB_tdao-gC_iOoToCaPeFDOtXMWk85OEJJIrdIQ6qwtIABIWWxDj6SV-wJDssh/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJSbEcsQyPvTOIwYa9_kujKVVaLwZQxM9ksWZR3cnGCdM05Pl4PWSZ7t8E6mwMG71IaqQzAeB_tdao-gC_iOoToCaPeFDOtXMWk85OEJJIrdIQ6qwtIABIWWxDj6SV-wJDssh/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236657445223532354" border="0" /></a><br />Dolphin's Nose<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5virARk2hjn-vIovehaIkyNqkE67tNNAua3OLLbFLGEfSs3gPLaDHWAOJUYMnOEknCV71HxYJgSCMrMk0Dt-hHP-yZOutn58S5onw7mIAPxCx5Wgoe_cNoDcZ6Cn4DWVfoXae/s1600-h/DSC_0090.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5virARk2hjn-vIovehaIkyNqkE67tNNAua3OLLbFLGEfSs3gPLaDHWAOJUYMnOEknCV71HxYJgSCMrMk0Dt-hHP-yZOutn58S5onw7mIAPxCx5Wgoe_cNoDcZ6Cn4DWVfoXae/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236656924799361778" border="0" /></a><br />Monolith at RK Beach<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrMkg02DmG46SaJw7uPBQ5FGVXvmoz3AFooL_3wgGcuYrmcEpbfzZRJcbOGqrPLc1gi6LcTBCZAwm2hrnL149Mc2qKzUKAgxUM9w5cT39g4arMgqKuBPsG8zgbjgIkXB7cv5m/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrMkg02DmG46SaJw7uPBQ5FGVXvmoz3AFooL_3wgGcuYrmcEpbfzZRJcbOGqrPLc1gi6LcTBCZAwm2hrnL149Mc2qKzUKAgxUM9w5cT39g4arMgqKuBPsG8zgbjgIkXB7cv5m/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236656733260014786" border="0" /></a><br />RK Beach<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVbC5Q-uPxw1bfZygVk8ZUEqAQzkx09WrwF8YtnzBEnPuPQU8uoS78PTQt1hC_38QvgZH5y51JSq6Mamv9uW5BwbftzFgTGbEmOyF_PaPlXJ0aXXGUXOUdzFTvWqIc2vSgoQU/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVbC5Q-uPxw1bfZygVk8ZUEqAQzkx09WrwF8YtnzBEnPuPQU8uoS78PTQt1hC_38QvgZH5y51JSq6Mamv9uW5BwbftzFgTGbEmOyF_PaPlXJ0aXXGUXOUdzFTvWqIc2vSgoQU/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236656236532074834" border="0" /></a><br />Beach Road and RK Beach, VizagUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-54583122055371012682008-05-05T12:15:00.035+05:302008-05-11T13:28:42.995+05:30West Coast Wonders<div>On May 2, 2008, Sridhar Joshi and I boarded the Mangalore Mail at Chennai Central. We intended to travel on the Mangalore -Yeshwanthpur Express the next evening. This train uses the newly converted line that passes through the wonderful Shirali - Subrahmanya ghats dead at night. Unfortunately there was no day train through this wonderful section that climbs high into the mountains and lush green forests before descending to Sakleshpur and thence to Hassan. But a night journey through this section is equally interesting. We could have travelled the route in reverse direction (Bangalore City to Mangalore Central) but we also wanted to experience the wonderful North Kerala and Konkan Karnataka section too. So we first went to Mangalore. I could not take any pictures of the ghats in Subrahmanya due to the darkness but I have some wonderful memories of the West Coast that I reproduce here. With this trip, I have practically covered all the railway in Kerala except for a small spur line to Guruvayoor.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfydkWvs925aU4SwxyyKfPmbtPIM6hUTnr_A-glGDwq4s9HoqeFfg55ZyuHNyqnIDSVW8ytzw6H4Z39nw6svZ8wIOyLpk7lk5x106zT8nRVTnHNlq8X_kj3ESiIL3q0v15ekPH/s1600-h/IMG_0676.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197155515416527394" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfydkWvs925aU4SwxyyKfPmbtPIM6hUTnr_A-glGDwq4s9HoqeFfg55ZyuHNyqnIDSVW8ytzw6H4Z39nw6svZ8wIOyLpk7lk5x106zT8nRVTnHNlq8X_kj3ESiIL3q0v15ekPH/s320/IMG_0676.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>5:30 AM and we had already cleared Shoranur Jn and chugging towards Kozhikode. This is the first station where I woke up. A cheerful little town called Pattambi.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfER8AXV66WZYFNGJ04WCwzo_0iqX6aH28rduSHZLmm6vt0iFgBB7TCV1g8ZZO50GuMFqdL094R1vvNOa8oLRHpb07PKxMrMnqAAcTtBvLgGqrnBhrbKtK9qZeN6G4kaEQx2I/s1600-h/IMG_0677.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197148265511731730" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfER8AXV66WZYFNGJ04WCwzo_0iqX6aH28rduSHZLmm6vt0iFgBB7TCV1g8ZZO50GuMFqdL094R1vvNOa8oLRHpb07PKxMrMnqAAcTtBvLgGqrnBhrbKtK9qZeN6G4kaEQx2I/s320/IMG_0677.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kuttipuram station was on a wonderful curve.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzEVgbWmMAd6mtYhYSbpefN7Ho5z2hOJU2tWDpobDJxrWDtgjrA-eqQnRWkqTacxYVwNRxFPAqmVBtNbdAAylEwsGP3CNk-wldeMODiEuHoYzsmwdqhsHECgHy9h5lMAK8MoP/s1600-h/IMG_0690.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197147367863566850" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzEVgbWmMAd6mtYhYSbpefN7Ho5z2hOJU2tWDpobDJxrWDtgjrA-eqQnRWkqTacxYVwNRxFPAqmVBtNbdAAylEwsGP3CNk-wldeMODiEuHoYzsmwdqhsHECgHy9h5lMAK8MoP/s320/IMG_0690.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />No idea which river is this but the scene of such serene waters dotted by palms early in the morning made my day.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDINc8P3bqvVpOmL5Un4Gs1hpp4ywLAB2V4axBpDPL5dLyhwZeSNO_hf5Lwzed4BM75qQZLMPm4z-1-Sy4zm-DUNGGjDM7OuTl_h7Xdh3uybZf10Gl9Z5j-9cl35lsxR8jY31/s1600-h/IMG_0691.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197146878237295090" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDINc8P3bqvVpOmL5Un4Gs1hpp4ywLAB2V4axBpDPL5dLyhwZeSNO_hf5Lwzed4BM75qQZLMPm4z-1-Sy4zm-DUNGGjDM7OuTl_h7Xdh3uybZf10Gl9Z5j-9cl35lsxR8jY31/s320/IMG_0691.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Preparing for his catch. He and his boat are surely a good catch for my camera from the speeding and jerking train.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw7XHHJs2yFIk5J-ni9cs867hY2XUhyo9g6XvWusqBkKIbxEowUtqhEQI4EFSzP6o5zi5OYowov2Lqzjm67gL_3W8Vu1Xwq5HJtuKwdnCGYU3vhvOcMfx1upaQLri6GmiLDWo/s1600-h/IMG_0694.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197145559682335202" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw7XHHJs2yFIk5J-ni9cs867hY2XUhyo9g6XvWusqBkKIbxEowUtqhEQI4EFSzP6o5zi5OYowov2Lqzjm67gL_3W8Vu1Xwq5HJtuKwdnCGYU3vhvOcMfx1upaQLri6GmiLDWo/s320/IMG_0694.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Short of Kozhikode, our train came to a grinding halt after crossing the home signal of a small station ahead. The linesman by the tracks was waving a red flag to inform the driver of a rail fracture he had noticed. Soon a big curious crowd materialised by the locomotive wondering if there was an accident. The crowd was dangerously blocking the down line.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja43vYZl2kAMQeTL47MbJgtPXXkSL7CF7WnjspXhjzm1IUHp2UnrhfHAW177HPhkYsqxkwxHRdK5lQC_UZI7IGy2Dwhy_LFeTCuTl7iygjz_DBHurIPTw_ZKqSBgFaP-TDUQDg/s1600-h/IMG_0696.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197144159522996690" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja43vYZl2kAMQeTL47MbJgtPXXkSL7CF7WnjspXhjzm1IUHp2UnrhfHAW177HPhkYsqxkwxHRdK5lQC_UZI7IGy2Dwhy_LFeTCuTl7iygjz_DBHurIPTw_ZKqSBgFaP-TDUQDg/s320/IMG_0696.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It took a big and nasty honk from this diesel loco to scatter the onlookers. It was hauling a train of oil tankers in the opposite direction. Soon the section engineer arrived and cleared our train with a 5kmph speed restriction over the fractured portion of the tracks. The guard stayed behind until all the coaches safely cleared the portion, observing the troubled spot closely. A few trains are going to be delayed today before the fracture is repaired.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktTxwW4wxY0qyV4PLJRe2s5siCvl5Z7iJM_xuWV7MlTpGwkw9vRGoIR3QozJyzpchBj4OrLN0v-QrMniMqVF-e9vIBpwZmhST6H6COzF-j2oUv7H2OMoN8C34yCau9KEncl5U/s1600-h/IMG_0697.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197143227515093442" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktTxwW4wxY0qyV4PLJRe2s5siCvl5Z7iJM_xuWV7MlTpGwkw9vRGoIR3QozJyzpchBj4OrLN0v-QrMniMqVF-e9vIBpwZmhST6H6COzF-j2oUv7H2OMoN8C34yCau9KEncl5U/s320/IMG_0697.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kozhikode! We had a breakfast of bland dosas and blander sambhar here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF-jxWfkbW5UdxvtrJrjoltMbyZ1oOgT05iyGGW9mR_fP6OqUSao2TP46JgRRsXYLHPTdkhLyFpxaMXJZZkVEvgbjqd2lXml-SVYMPxxMxebNtP4s-k1p4cS_cCc8QsZHSdIp/s1600-h/IMG_0698.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197142767953592754" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF-jxWfkbW5UdxvtrJrjoltMbyZ1oOgT05iyGGW9mR_fP6OqUSao2TP46JgRRsXYLHPTdkhLyFpxaMXJZZkVEvgbjqd2lXml-SVYMPxxMxebNtP4s-k1p4cS_cCc8QsZHSdIp/s320/IMG_0698.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Post Kozhikode the scenery continued. But this is the scene before Kozhikode of the Kadalundi river. It was the same river into which four coaches of the same train I was travelling (Mangalore Mail towards Chennai) had derailed and fallen in 2001. The river is a beautiful one with all those palms and little boats.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0MT_2B8zlBuvK8pcaJqUrpLBXokJ2inQnxg8uyNZZbAbfuQvVYGLmf7KQEDKP_BmKhiRYdU__rGfMM3RAD8yzsrmDhjvKcybpZ5YUHfvOQGPZn3IDG1jxxuvviGC_w8IfVWe/s1600-h/IMG_0700.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197142398586405282" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0MT_2B8zlBuvK8pcaJqUrpLBXokJ2inQnxg8uyNZZbAbfuQvVYGLmf7KQEDKP_BmKhiRYdU__rGfMM3RAD8yzsrmDhjvKcybpZ5YUHfvOQGPZn3IDG1jxxuvviGC_w8IfVWe/s320/IMG_0700.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kerala is one heck of a ride by a train. It never fails to grab the continuous attention of anyone throughout its length.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHBugJTXDglI7xIJsJVOP-vdhVdrgESfni7qvhY-Voe90_Eu9_i7TaDwJHAjzy6qiWPo2aa32bsheZz5ByCTHKcP1iwbxcgqBLUkhoYnnbQQ9ZyG7-tWCkzH0jbBThBx7MNBc/s1600-h/IMG_0727.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197141934729937298" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHBugJTXDglI7xIJsJVOP-vdhVdrgESfni7qvhY-Voe90_Eu9_i7TaDwJHAjzy6qiWPo2aa32bsheZz5ByCTHKcP1iwbxcgqBLUkhoYnnbQQ9ZyG7-tWCkzH0jbBThBx7MNBc/s320/IMG_0727.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The sea!!! As we were approaching the borders of Kerala and Karnataka the lush coconut plantations on the left side suddenly gave way to these lagoons by the sea. I had never imagined that our train would run so close to the sea shore! West coast is truly amazing and I have just started to see it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbI-oKCIUUPocKqb9ulro-6UFCvMGM_IZ9536mLonnSopHtug6HQc6TntIjtaY549dS8SSq-1mEWiRE0QjsnHdkBanQGKikhx1WThqHergGSjZpvlR3iONa8P7PskPDcpbY0J/s1600-h/IMG_0712.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196986031712059778" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbI-oKCIUUPocKqb9ulro-6UFCvMGM_IZ9536mLonnSopHtug6HQc6TntIjtaY549dS8SSq-1mEWiRE0QjsnHdkBanQGKikhx1WThqHergGSjZpvlR3iONa8P7PskPDcpbY0J/s320/IMG_0712.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Bekal fort built more than 300 years ago juts out into the sea. Our train is closest to the sea here. The fort annexed by Tipu Sultan's father Hyder Ali in the 18th century has no palaces. This impressive fort was purely meant for defence. It was made famous with Manirathnam's 'Bombay' which contained a song picturised here. A small station also named Bekal serves as its rail head.</div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcrlcpL_aaARG39ypBaFHGgvz_GuMXmRXktEZjeUEn7jySyvyBIIb7EqPRxZcSzrA6z8xcFhYxQcMLU7m9qudpqYcYp_Eny39his-311RBBetHKqcMNVT5CjAhVzwswSkPh6o/s1600-h/IMG_0713.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196985134063894898" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcrlcpL_aaARG39ypBaFHGgvz_GuMXmRXktEZjeUEn7jySyvyBIIb7EqPRxZcSzrA6z8xcFhYxQcMLU7m9qudpqYcYp_Eny39his-311RBBetHKqcMNVT5CjAhVzwswSkPh6o/s320/IMG_0713.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Closer to Bekal we could hear the roar of the waves above the clatter of the train's wheels. Looks like someone is hell bent on killing the aesthetics of the fort with those resort huts. There are a couple of other resorts close to the railway here.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mVW8QlClAEPjTHRAdRGEkLwLZg-nX5AVJ6KAI8JOCjM-7ZaK60l7baeYzqIFpYpmNN03Pe7cGezr0Hf-KBmouk3OD9odoGL5PsXBGFpuH-R-F0xxZA9ZE0wJ6_u4RFXiUWVm/s1600-h/IMG_0717.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196984262185533794" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mVW8QlClAEPjTHRAdRGEkLwLZg-nX5AVJ6KAI8JOCjM-7ZaK60l7baeYzqIFpYpmNN03Pe7cGezr0Hf-KBmouk3OD9odoGL5PsXBGFpuH-R-F0xxZA9ZE0wJ6_u4RFXiUWVm/s320/IMG_0717.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>An esturarine river just before it met the sea.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAzgjjeyisNd4FkVpvUOa9YSvP_qHzUfJNaVMIVpTGCfOZEpYJlSgzxXx_SUTkziw557MU36C60wMEIiCOYVbCMaYJ4ENo9yXokXnGlOeh8oqEjGOSaCYC7DSC9nBgJ93j0bp/s1600-h/IMG_0719.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196983175558807890" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAzgjjeyisNd4FkVpvUOa9YSvP_qHzUfJNaVMIVpTGCfOZEpYJlSgzxXx_SUTkziw557MU36C60wMEIiCOYVbCMaYJ4ENo9yXokXnGlOeh8oqEjGOSaCYC7DSC9nBgJ93j0bp/s320/IMG_0719.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Kerala- Karnataka border (Kasargod) and we could barely miss the gay psychedelic coloured buses moving around.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8Bfrg31Q5zG2vMy_OdsNaB_Q9yAXpuOnJEKFo57m65PMGTj8IGJNNuoWC_hXLbqarTukX-exI7HXOqkfCkLx6hcl7RobgauwpP_jiZS5Yd4dnlP8KdB4-TnJ-uUi1f103xFa/s1600-h/IMG_0722.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196976402395382082" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8Bfrg31Q5zG2vMy_OdsNaB_Q9yAXpuOnJEKFo57m65PMGTj8IGJNNuoWC_hXLbqarTukX-exI7HXOqkfCkLx6hcl7RobgauwpP_jiZS5Yd4dnlP8KdB4-TnJ-uUi1f103xFa/s320/IMG_0722.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>The Arabian Sea gave us company all along till Mangalore. Backwaters like these were appearing along our way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszUgqbKy2Ne1hjLjz6CsgJVa3TZEPcTKAaToDAYWjIt5fMGej6ip0nrcPF0ZkKPgo9CugpegJnh98DKOvQS6Frzg7lheklK0spZ_oVxAUazEBm82l3rc3D4_0AhczQV_71NLZ/s1600-h/IMG_0724.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196972489680175410" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszUgqbKy2Ne1hjLjz6CsgJVa3TZEPcTKAaToDAYWjIt5fMGej6ip0nrcPF0ZkKPgo9CugpegJnh98DKOvQS6Frzg7lheklK0spZ_oVxAUazEBm82l3rc3D4_0AhczQV_71NLZ/s320/IMG_0724.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>We were again back into the backwater plus coconut lagoon territory every now and then.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQk499tUfr0OXs13DG6M4xWPlS-UJsA0xBqY8IPyJEip09B-aDjItZVlQ0KTerKiltIjnoA738tAaEXhJflGVsTPwPufUdmZph5IF0RjvSqqvLHtfLgLRYmIHcgXblkXLg5aH/s1600-h/IMG_0733.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196968765943529762" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQk499tUfr0OXs13DG6M4xWPlS-UJsA0xBqY8IPyJEip09B-aDjItZVlQ0KTerKiltIjnoA738tAaEXhJflGVsTPwPufUdmZph5IF0RjvSqqvLHtfLgLRYmIHcgXblkXLg5aH/s320/IMG_0733.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Scenes played out along the tracks including neat and tiled houses like this one. Every house along the tracks in Kerala seemed to have these mangalore tiles and each house was aesthetically designed like an independent cottage or bungalow with its own orchard. I was amazed at the respect for space and privacy in these parts after living in the ghettos of Chennai and Bangalore!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AAYtHgdJiV5MP2qSV1ojreXHvK796somdQHK4S_NekQpGD2Tkeq_C016ca1oZGXHladc__HAQsf9DY9p6xo91iqh8XdaI3crwx4pvUFN-xPeipumrU3uzMDmlJTtx8_5zuks/s1600-h/IMG_0736.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196966558330339602" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AAYtHgdJiV5MP2qSV1ojreXHvK796somdQHK4S_NekQpGD2Tkeq_C016ca1oZGXHladc__HAQsf9DY9p6xo91iqh8XdaI3crwx4pvUFN-xPeipumrU3uzMDmlJTtx8_5zuks/s320/IMG_0736.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Finally we are close to Mangalore. But before that we had a small treat of the Nethravati river across which lay a railway bridge that brought us into Mangalore.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6rqi7ETOMuUiq0cnhB2DttuyRAvamLdIaqCZc6KLB5BpzvwYNOyNsHmJycsdLotSZ7cKOkh-tr3kcsLtnh6cnSsuUQMOGiaNRAFooowND6wxnblut9jt4Jk3NoJeMOsBCMoY/s1600-h/IMG_0738.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196966270567530754" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6rqi7ETOMuUiq0cnhB2DttuyRAvamLdIaqCZc6KLB5BpzvwYNOyNsHmJycsdLotSZ7cKOkh-tr3kcsLtnh6cnSsuUQMOGiaNRAFooowND6wxnblut9jt4Jk3NoJeMOsBCMoY/s320/IMG_0738.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A motorised fishing boat in the Nethravati is busy catching the main course of lunch and dinner menu of these parts.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFkvDB0O4GXnCADmdq9fF4NSxqVDPGyd031GS1QgJD-Dh7khc-Z8zqhbaiZ2kuZXauIiUUxv8KcVvPhc4GKp-elIJGIwI6e_5WRBKlhcXjvqei_eXe_JpClNcT7m0SiOKLENo/s1600-h/IMG_0742.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196965884020474098" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFkvDB0O4GXnCADmdq9fF4NSxqVDPGyd031GS1QgJD-Dh7khc-Z8zqhbaiZ2kuZXauIiUUxv8KcVvPhc4GKp-elIJGIwI6e_5WRBKlhcXjvqei_eXe_JpClNcT7m0SiOKLENo/s320/IMG_0742.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Chimneys of the "Mangalore "tile factories of the old days.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGvTonP1NDmqMDPTLkO3x2SaCAsmPJVVZSQ_sni3LVG2Th8LmKsgWPDJKyu35pW_lJYNwy8Y9IdQ47LkAOzInOH0XrX7QgrHF8tnBkuQu_TXoeCiq0NCpTNT88YXketfu8Sro/s1600-h/IMG_0745.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196965454523744482" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGvTonP1NDmqMDPTLkO3x2SaCAsmPJVVZSQ_sni3LVG2Th8LmKsgWPDJKyu35pW_lJYNwy8Y9IdQ47LkAOzInOH0XrX7QgrHF8tnBkuQu_TXoeCiq0NCpTNT88YXketfu8Sro/s320/IMG_0745.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Mangalore is promising to be a beautiful city.<br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTwsGWOoshlU5RxAaIQm7eupaCXVfytqI8lZUMz8ZRs2R6HpQN9fos6lctXCS7CuisEkX6eRw8GNNWL_0QGWA6-XpFcMpJ33NQbf3gXRbA3JfaQa0eiYvZ81D6Q0M8h8M4s0z/s1600-h/IMG_0747.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196965162465968338" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTwsGWOoshlU5RxAaIQm7eupaCXVfytqI8lZUMz8ZRs2R6HpQN9fos6lctXCS7CuisEkX6eRw8GNNWL_0QGWA6-XpFcMpJ33NQbf3gXRbA3JfaQa0eiYvZ81D6Q0M8h8M4s0z/s320/IMG_0747.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>There could not be a better sight than this upon entering a city. The English styled building of the Commonwealth Tile Factory of Mangalore.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCmAkEELkeNM-zkQn1fpTsbekOr8kCjKH1F3zerpqR93VeB24m7bqfxwhqkJPBOMjKB5C3civw4m5lE0nmfdT5OsSTJJQBljfIVd76BqSbRqyIquUq7Kf4DGBFbh7BZNx8XV8/s1600-h/IMG_0748.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196964526810808514" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCmAkEELkeNM-zkQn1fpTsbekOr8kCjKH1F3zerpqR93VeB24m7bqfxwhqkJPBOMjKB5C3civw4m5lE0nmfdT5OsSTJJQBljfIVd76BqSbRqyIquUq7Kf4DGBFbh7BZNx8XV8/s320/IMG_0748.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>One last look at those wonderful chimneys.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxXuR6fSzrgAazc7EbJJz4mlEACq72kWtb1XAMGYrL03W1yLDiiwiDz4kyaSbmTpyq3exSfnj2Wl6doKLheFgfIrAccqbtTbTAqlZWQHhKdy6LJnrUYHZ3vLHdS_wSKMvSxyP/s1600-h/IMG_0750.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963732241858738" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxXuR6fSzrgAazc7EbJJz4mlEACq72kWtb1XAMGYrL03W1yLDiiwiDz4kyaSbmTpyq3exSfnj2Wl6doKLheFgfIrAccqbtTbTAqlZWQHhKdy6LJnrUYHZ3vLHdS_wSKMvSxyP/s320/IMG_0750.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Timber yard within the factory. Wonder what they do with this floating timber.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgkHZ9icTZgOlNB0jR2wZLeNq90nyuZO_ddCysjmA1LqGcVBTF2eHz2ac_S3yWPgh2vqnctXr791_yVla81maTvwP1YqeOWTnmLJAvkYMbdUEoNn9BzbXSS6ltYxQhCuuCtwp/s1600-h/IMG_0751.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963423004213410" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgkHZ9icTZgOlNB0jR2wZLeNq90nyuZO_ddCysjmA1LqGcVBTF2eHz2ac_S3yWPgh2vqnctXr791_yVla81maTvwP1YqeOWTnmLJAvkYMbdUEoNn9BzbXSS6ltYxQhCuuCtwp/s320/IMG_0751.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Mangalore at last!</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqcqUFfmyJLIDwit98wnOc1HN-_9LEKBiNgX-ybduuiGZ51Gkui2MD21BNZqp4yA9AAx5linw70cgNqSNzCRjHmkLm9MKqTnzOZY18AZ5KZtdAHHzCIB6PXUeqSeXEsqdzSkJ/s1600-h/IMG_0760.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196782587701182578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqcqUFfmyJLIDwit98wnOc1HN-_9LEKBiNgX-ybduuiGZ51Gkui2MD21BNZqp4yA9AAx5linw70cgNqSNzCRjHmkLm9MKqTnzOZY18AZ5KZtdAHHzCIB6PXUeqSeXEsqdzSkJ/s320/IMG_0760.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Early morning between Mysore and Bangalore. Our train halts at Hannakere for a crossing.The opposite way is already cleared for the incoming train Look at the undulating terrain., The tracks dip and rise so sharply.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XmJT6bRfdBRPunVXAM0nGT-vtNOTSU8VCnfZHdSnr7wUKugDBBWCZYmfjn4gnK7JLg92N4pmC15ykF-3iLpl67cDSZ1Y-4_KmZ-v45J-cs1yIDpYfHXbmhExJcnYp1FGqJ6J/s1600-h/IMG_0757.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196783648558104706" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XmJT6bRfdBRPunVXAM0nGT-vtNOTSU8VCnfZHdSnr7wUKugDBBWCZYmfjn4gnK7JLg92N4pmC15ykF-3iLpl67cDSZ1Y-4_KmZ-v45J-cs1yIDpYfHXbmhExJcnYp1FGqJ6J/s320/IMG_0757.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A patient vigil for the incoming train in the quiet early morning hour.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN0tKBpoUMZ0GXJMEx69aUkntsbDD1quhOin4AD_nLxL9m0rzfgDPf4nhOUKaOhtvL6GiXRg_SXf7KPa3BNurUnj_3Vhye4tZOKRsHs-OKiIIFnBIMXotd_eCYcEXlGYAXwXN/s1600-h/IMG_0764.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196961863931084946" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN0tKBpoUMZ0GXJMEx69aUkntsbDD1quhOin4AD_nLxL9m0rzfgDPf4nhOUKaOhtvL6GiXRg_SXf7KPa3BNurUnj_3Vhye4tZOKRsHs-OKiIIFnBIMXotd_eCYcEXlGYAXwXN/s320/IMG_0764.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Ajmer- Mysore express crossing us with great speed from the oppositer direction.The twin diesel locomotives are working furiously to maintain speed on this undulating set of tracks.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-89276091641632502162008-04-07T10:57:00.038+05:302008-05-24T11:38:26.734+05:30The Scorpio Diary<div style="text-align: justify;"><object height="80" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/jNutmlcycC"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="FlashVars" value="backColor=fff000&primaryColor=333333&secondaryColor=999933&linkColor=999900"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/jNutmlcycC" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" flashvars="backColor=fff000&primaryColor=333333&secondaryColor=999933&linkColor=999900" height="110" width="300"></embed><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.imeem.com/dragonz/music/m8ThqZak/yuvan_shankar_raja_happy_chal_chal_re/">Song on Hyderabad- our destination</a></span></object><br /></div><br /><br /><br />670 kilometres, 12 Diet Pepsis, 5 stoppages, 4 Music CDs, 3 guys, 2 national highways, One Mahindra Scorpio. That was the Chennai-Hyderabad drive we undertook one day. Raghu was moving to Hyderabad from Chennai. The first thing he preferred to transfer was his beloved maroon red Scorpio. He had never driven deep into AP before. So he invited me and a couple of others to ride with him. I do the job of navigator rather well despite all my misgivings about asking for directions. So I jumped in. The plan was to start early at Chennai and reach Hyderabad by evening and then take a cheap flight back home. One guy dropped off but Karthik was game and so Raghu, Karthik and I started off at 4.30 AM on a Sunday. Upon my insistence, we avoided the backwater roads from Ongole to Narkatpally via Nalgonda and instead drove all the way to Vijaywada to savour the superb 4-lane Golden Quadrilateral National highway No 5. From There it was another National Highway (No 9). The second leg was a bad mistake that ended up as a sumo wrestle for the narrow road between the Scorpio and trucks. The ride to Vijayawada (428 KM) took us 8 hours. The second leg cost us another 8 hours for just 248 km. Nevertheless, it was worth the drive. No more words. I prefer to say it with pictures:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIDfQ1hXrUJwlSdiTjiGxuCYqrTEHmDzXd44bvyCY6R_gauxZfjlhaYt-2gsTdM-fq6PzQvdrxdedJ1uwacHfBdFvRkQ72nGN9iokdWEi3V3X8O0yczOXThN-MPT9NlUThz2V/s1600-h/IMG_0418.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189176081846536482" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIDfQ1hXrUJwlSdiTjiGxuCYqrTEHmDzXd44bvyCY6R_gauxZfjlhaYt-2gsTdM-fq6PzQvdrxdedJ1uwacHfBdFvRkQ72nGN9iokdWEi3V3X8O0yczOXThN-MPT9NlUThz2V/s320/IMG_0418.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4:45PM and our first of the many toll gates that squeezed good money out of us. The Red Hills Toll outside Chennai. We were playing Annamacharya Keerthanas on the CD player inside. What a way to begin the day!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjLlCOikHqOKw4KSAzGRpuNgWhrfGONaFXD6RIxyU9ToazDZLZvgyl0FO0bpx2lctKvCmJ93ZXN5VtJeFTwS0btPlAl2GhcFulAAg8_RIOklaFnfF_P95WjUqsJAoO3XQVzIZ/s1600-h/IMG_0427.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189175858508237074" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjLlCOikHqOKw4KSAzGRpuNgWhrfGONaFXD6RIxyU9ToazDZLZvgyl0FO0bpx2lctKvCmJ93ZXN5VtJeFTwS0btPlAl2GhcFulAAg8_RIOklaFnfF_P95WjUqsJAoO3XQVzIZ/s320/IMG_0427.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Dawn breaks and we are already in Andhra Pradesh. Another 14 hours of drive within AP.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbcFcvFEdXar5a_s_J7qwTXRpw59xzODqi_Zyjkg1d2FFcJpd45CgYwm2_6LrFXra-BDEEfsLyZKEs2NKpaTNhwSumn5fZhDdNPEt_kaw2MhFIBVkSNaYmQyRE8ch_nENycFw/s1600-h/IMG_0425.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189174746111707394" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbcFcvFEdXar5a_s_J7qwTXRpw59xzODqi_Zyjkg1d2FFcJpd45CgYwm2_6LrFXra-BDEEfsLyZKEs2NKpaTNhwSumn5fZhDdNPEt_kaw2MhFIBVkSNaYmQyRE8ch_nENycFw/s320/IMG_0425.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Our first stop short of Gudur. We savour the balmy morning breeze while the Scorpio cools off the heat it generated by riding at 140 kmph!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImUHb0NNq1hCA93FMIfU89IsDScQHJlZHtexE-j9Jg9HSdCH0h_6iTMLc4MW0XKGrMzg3Gp4RY0e455oACch9BkPFlY0st7SZwMo1xuU8RMkMn_aiFQV0chSzBVawsYsY2kCP/s1600-h/IMG_0432.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189173895708182770" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImUHb0NNq1hCA93FMIfU89IsDScQHJlZHtexE-j9Jg9HSdCH0h_6iTMLc4MW0XKGrMzg3Gp4RY0e455oACch9BkPFlY0st7SZwMo1xuU8RMkMn_aiFQV0chSzBVawsYsY2kCP/s320/IMG_0432.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Thoughtful stuff. An emergency phone for drivers. Not sure if it works but looks great.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcDLwIRaZr6BNsB3v2NO2zVjQXSC-mCxifi4Ega4BxW_KxY9gfRoVo_jfImBzQt0QcGFxor4a9AyUuvx-vaKTxv5ZrpHAzBhtjpU7CByvjsd__mYMek41D6EA35GEo-jKEe1-/s1600-h/IMG_0434.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189170275050752226" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcDLwIRaZr6BNsB3v2NO2zVjQXSC-mCxifi4Ega4BxW_KxY9gfRoVo_jfImBzQt0QcGFxor4a9AyUuvx-vaKTxv5ZrpHAzBhtjpU7CByvjsd__mYMek41D6EA35GEo-jKEe1-/s320/IMG_0434.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We did toy with the idea...at least upto Vizag. But better sense prevailed well early morning. BTW that was our first Pepsi can.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKZGYDws3Ix98dSa96v9Z2NTWwM3c0QstlgCXJGLdDVvnrUQjfzEbNK1Th4QR2tc-ghd9idbifeyjPQfz5tuEiuN0VQ-ge42h1RQXwXxbJI2XX5V-swuUyX-H3nSACQn6aQ_V/s1600-h/IMG_0435.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189169647985526994" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKZGYDws3Ix98dSa96v9Z2NTWwM3c0QstlgCXJGLdDVvnrUQjfzEbNK1Th4QR2tc-ghd9idbifeyjPQfz5tuEiuN0VQ-ge42h1RQXwXxbJI2XX5V-swuUyX-H3nSACQn6aQ_V/s320/IMG_0435.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />About 25 km from Nellore, we encountered these tall plams right on the divider. Old Hindi songs on the CD.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwgDkvAVNrdUxxfImn_sYOL7GYx9lUYFsxgSQBTbFohp4LGF-19_9WM5QQj-s8quWAs7cw62zGcAH7oDiy76QX5YdTf3HC5SzHzdvp0elC7sBSyH_KPvxYWPmnn-pKpXPwKcY/s1600-h/IMG_0440.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189168445394684098" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwgDkvAVNrdUxxfImn_sYOL7GYx9lUYFsxgSQBTbFohp4LGF-19_9WM5QQj-s8quWAs7cw62zGcAH7oDiy76QX5YdTf3HC5SzHzdvp0elC7sBSyH_KPvxYWPmnn-pKpXPwKcY/s320/IMG_0440.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Nellore and that greasy tasty dosa! That tucked in we rolled on to some unusual sights. That is a grain load on a tractor trailer. How it balances itself beats us but note that the tractor is moving away from the centre.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28hEluwjwfLL6hnn9hupK3EEzhyphenhyphenGvVnzP2eUT6fnFIhy3YCHxUsyEiXaEBHXG2RNnpSPLbSZuSbX_xdiH_NvB6N_BmGZSmi1JeBc6NteCTdYl1G4mgsM00fRSwJI_k2IXyJws/s1600-h/IMG_0443.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189168226351351986" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28hEluwjwfLL6hnn9hupK3EEzhyphenhyphenGvVnzP2eUT6fnFIhy3YCHxUsyEiXaEBHXG2RNnpSPLbSZuSbX_xdiH_NvB6N_BmGZSmi1JeBc6NteCTdYl1G4mgsM00fRSwJI_k2IXyJws/s320/IMG_0443.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Close to Ongole. We are shuffling between Telugu and Tamil numbers. The agro wealth of AP shows up. Down season for paddy right now as the colour of the fields indicate.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXP_vhFpvASdLOraVkr3lbBDTNoHYm38tulqJvUU-QcW1ays1z_3TR5GMdYFGMWC-MddQuz5hvV1bKbgfq6Xviw7T_NeCI3lkLxK9HA9Z7MGpn4nxYZm8YLmXIFwqNpXgY3Nd/s1600-h/IMG_0450.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189167702365341858" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXP_vhFpvASdLOraVkr3lbBDTNoHYm38tulqJvUU-QcW1ays1z_3TR5GMdYFGMWC-MddQuz5hvV1bKbgfq6Xviw7T_NeCI3lkLxK9HA9Z7MGpn4nxYZm8YLmXIFwqNpXgY3Nd/s320/IMG_0450.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As soon as we entered AP, we found pretty flowers growing on divider all along the way till Vijayawada. Nice touch!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXRn1mG6Li5sX9eBAILhLdtN7uoyUyHcY5UEtokrTHEyYsc1dcjS4OipsQt2riZSQoSX4FMPEwrRKJNZsvOzonzweJAu-cQ8gqESqAsvg0fd8K1qvdx5-fOChBkYhcbq5e0HM/s1600-h/IMG_0452.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189165438917576850" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXRn1mG6Li5sX9eBAILhLdtN7uoyUyHcY5UEtokrTHEyYsc1dcjS4OipsQt2riZSQoSX4FMPEwrRKJNZsvOzonzweJAu-cQ8gqESqAsvg0fd8K1qvdx5-fOChBkYhcbq5e0HM/s320/IMG_0452.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Third halt and a well deserved rest for both Raghu and his Scorpio. He drove it all the way till Hyderabad. We are outside Chilakaluripeta and those rare trees came in handy for a much needed shade from the summer sun!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-kzgPFggOu9z7Yty8oExVN8cJUCBiuO0G2Eh96L6b7d3G1UY6GLIJTiiWKpnBYW54AEjDw2gGawk-rTzArRkk4F6s0mQgV9XAJDr_Z5rhIe2B0ezYIN3qI1QEogUrMrHfEhr/s1600-h/IMG_0457.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189163093865433218" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-kzgPFggOu9z7Yty8oExVN8cJUCBiuO0G2Eh96L6b7d3G1UY6GLIJTiiWKpnBYW54AEjDw2gGawk-rTzArRkk4F6s0mQgV9XAJDr_Z5rhIe2B0ezYIN3qI1QEogUrMrHfEhr/s320/IMG_0457.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Raghu (shorts) and Karthik . How Karthik managed the trip beats me but jeans and shoes are the last thing I would wear for such a trip.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQulvjk5T8H2rvnR6IdciCwMs7EZhl6KXaDSuomzydC6XT4c0QD5afI_92M44P-w7OFw3zbeCT1a7v0FAK1ohVMvFMZ4ZQrMD_CCLHDiCLugqnzFn12J-7oi-1Xte92QN1yeCM/s1600-h/IMG_0458.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189162595649226866" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQulvjk5T8H2rvnR6IdciCwMs7EZhl6KXaDSuomzydC6XT4c0QD5afI_92M44P-w7OFw3zbeCT1a7v0FAK1ohVMvFMZ4ZQrMD_CCLHDiCLugqnzFn12J-7oi-1Xte92QN1yeCM/s320/IMG_0458.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Chilakaluripeta. We are soaking on modern Hindi film music...you know...Gangster, Anwar and the likes. More Diet Pepsis down. We have turned on the AC for a short while. Otherwise, we managed it without air conditioning mostly!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwm9s8RYosQ37cXnSzc-nhaXFKjX4g9B3bQ7B5oCv7i6nYCIJ9TIBXJMt2oPQEF_a3gKJ7yGNHCKoiqMM-ckZSb3bYC6H3C_pTw3Rx51EgNOcHBSyITI33iVjLbxQLDO7Jm97/s1600-h/IMG_0460.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189160611374336098" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwm9s8RYosQ37cXnSzc-nhaXFKjX4g9B3bQ7B5oCv7i6nYCIJ9TIBXJMt2oPQEF_a3gKJ7yGNHCKoiqMM-ckZSb3bYC6H3C_pTw3Rx51EgNOcHBSyITI33iVjLbxQLDO7Jm97/s320/IMG_0460.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We did not expect hills until Vijayawada. But we found this one just after Chilakaluripeta.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZgbFr9LBpLiQ3fnVjhcYuXTHEzUz9QCJx8rYtMgIixmxxqqm0LQGnPtMrfpFVoQxjSj6dHVNvN9NMwt34lDZoKund9zgD-EWh-6XwgjCr-3Y8hZcFuzghFRsfqU4TksJhsEh/s1600-h/IMG_0462.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189159649301661778" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZgbFr9LBpLiQ3fnVjhcYuXTHEzUz9QCJx8rYtMgIixmxxqqm0LQGnPtMrfpFVoQxjSj6dHVNvN9NMwt34lDZoKund9zgD-EWh-6XwgjCr-3Y8hZcFuzghFRsfqU4TksJhsEh/s320/IMG_0462.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Looks like a curve on a race track- chicane and all...well Raghu almost treated the Scorpio like a forumla car here. The curve appears suddenly and confuses the driver.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErQVhR3A16nCfPgPc7x4aD65DXt7UvRobl39bPH8JaWc_OdIxhF1YaIEoLCBVTzY9vfkg45to06sdfvrwI_rORHQaZGzwfMuwGXchw_j7oprs366KTw4efmCR6gsKyjnsHLvg/s1600-h/IMG_0473.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189156020054296642" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErQVhR3A16nCfPgPc7x4aD65DXt7UvRobl39bPH8JaWc_OdIxhF1YaIEoLCBVTzY9vfkg45to06sdfvrwI_rORHQaZGzwfMuwGXchw_j7oprs366KTw4efmCR6gsKyjnsHLvg/s320/IMG_0473.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We passed all kinds of vehicles with all kinds of load. Looks dangerous? Well those sacks contain cotton. No wonder they are all stacked up that way.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCZXqjK-T-1S5GvIq2sMknOq8xAz40DIPAWZNWB46qrKe91smccHtj8wsvprNqpDx7Wj6w9oacHmI85XJpx2eITTjLBqr75vIc4opaYtZbojXnE7jx3XmJKXWUrvox9s5qgmJ/s1600-h/IMG_0475.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189155057981622322" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCZXqjK-T-1S5GvIq2sMknOq8xAz40DIPAWZNWB46qrKe91smccHtj8wsvprNqpDx7Wj6w9oacHmI85XJpx2eITTjLBqr75vIc4opaYtZbojXnE7jx3XmJKXWUrvox9s5qgmJ/s320/IMG_0475.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Near Guntur: Riding backwards with legs dangling...I would have gladly traded my place in the Scorpio for a seat amongst those people. The TATA RTV was full!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCDPUlp96QUdWRwm13owkf12OTAyqxjDMQszYLkLUuv6yjP5wS7-PNwW59bw2iIpTmSb0qCrlgRWujtpQvayc1tiobk8BYex-tXih3LfJtvcDBYS26rHZ4CcuSrZZIE_rFF9w/s1600-h/IMG_0485.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189154817463453730" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCDPUlp96QUdWRwm13owkf12OTAyqxjDMQszYLkLUuv6yjP5wS7-PNwW59bw2iIpTmSb0qCrlgRWujtpQvayc1tiobk8BYex-tXih3LfJtvcDBYS26rHZ4CcuSrZZIE_rFF9w/s320/IMG_0485.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Vijayawada! The railway bridge across River Krishna is visble here with the Kanaka Durga temple in the background along the hill.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOFaqkf35xEqQcFmhu_wl0ihg-YPfWbw6YZD-bnfkS6quN7WXZcx_b1XAMToM5Gkj_AbJFkOFozdqC8O_jtLd4IVhdpHxiUfJANZHKwUGmTd299Azg-1BF7hk-oIYSvrx4tfu/s1600-h/IMG_0489.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186601629943100946" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOFaqkf35xEqQcFmhu_wl0ihg-YPfWbw6YZD-bnfkS6quN7WXZcx_b1XAMToM5Gkj_AbJFkOFozdqC8O_jtLd4IVhdpHxiUfJANZHKwUGmTd299Azg-1BF7hk-oIYSvrx4tfu/s320/IMG_0489.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A lone wanderer on the drying riverbed. Wonder what is he doing there?<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqLfiqHp6ktUjifjWW1kMMeAntiQYm2JwVJO5Ap2TqgvZXGB-WuBEfysxqZMGPp6zLal9MKqI7SJY2JDghuuVOVcSUr4h9Q2NHijCHsbE5QxUur_XPeSuQ70IxPLQ4Yla62FJ/s1600-h/IMG_0498.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186601015762777602" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqLfiqHp6ktUjifjWW1kMMeAntiQYm2JwVJO5Ap2TqgvZXGB-WuBEfysxqZMGPp6zLal9MKqI7SJY2JDghuuVOVcSUr4h9Q2NHijCHsbE5QxUur_XPeSuQ70IxPLQ4Yla62FJ/s320/IMG_0498.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We had lunch at Vijayawada and resumed our journey. After negotiating narrow roads and unruly traffic, we ended up at the foot of a hill which had a tunnel to go through.<br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpoxcmtQxMUOGCGyqcbupZ0s9uhp8NHa11GEeIdetu4l3tBqbZxyX4RFABq5Vk9_X8QLTljpZwevdhF536skB-JOddj1_ItdYbqrT9tzY2FwEQSOm2HUOCw5yuuxF-pogLMhY/s1600-h/IMG_0499.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186377144887440882" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpoxcmtQxMUOGCGyqcbupZ0s9uhp8NHa11GEeIdetu4l3tBqbZxyX4RFABq5Vk9_X8QLTljpZwevdhF536skB-JOddj1_ItdYbqrT9tzY2FwEQSOm2HUOCw5yuuxF-pogLMhY/s320/IMG_0499.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Through the tunnel that lead us to the outskirts of Vijayawada.</div><div></div><div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7dRiVCbTtM_hXp5vZrn1yMX9QTI0VcRwaLosnm_lHrx3cBZI611nozPQ5BYJB8GnlbTQsbnaOaOgEFRS9cdsc1tfUbV__TCz7pEahVyrDudz_DUWsivUDC5y4rfr1K0qQ0kW/s1600-h/IMG_0503.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186376556476921314" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7dRiVCbTtM_hXp5vZrn1yMX9QTI0VcRwaLosnm_lHrx3cBZI611nozPQ5BYJB8GnlbTQsbnaOaOgEFRS9cdsc1tfUbV__TCz7pEahVyrDudz_DUWsivUDC5y4rfr1K0qQ0kW/s320/IMG_0503.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Soon we were passing by the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station</div><div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRLJHpGJWzorAt7jba3XkApFssTtKplrxyfX1znipLsUL4BOhZ3LGN3IIyz5aLRv4iyCSIUrfMuCZ8acmLGVLXgb7cuw2715fcmhMfCESwqB66b2LZw8_buB20iTQmtwwL19g/s1600-h/IMG_0506.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186376298778883538" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRLJHpGJWzorAt7jba3XkApFssTtKplrxyfX1znipLsUL4BOhZ3LGN3IIyz5aLRv4iyCSIUrfMuCZ8acmLGVLXgb7cuw2715fcmhMfCESwqB66b2LZw8_buB20iTQmtwwL19g/s320/IMG_0506.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Our quest for cheap diesel led us to this place. Time for a little rest for the Scorpio.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheKkQvCVyWh3GlRCGIq-9NXcNBfygMJHH7Qh_PiAG675l5OieIXFN-j9pRggEyfrJW4tlxFnmbH6X7a1hOd0J9EIM-pB25BcwOMBMXSfKGKapuhArcE1pbqkwVcQpckjqPUc0/s1600-h/IMG_0511.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186375495619999170" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheKkQvCVyWh3GlRCGIq-9NXcNBfygMJHH7Qh_PiAG675l5OieIXFN-j9pRggEyfrJW4tlxFnmbH6X7a1hOd0J9EIM-pB25BcwOMBMXSfKGKapuhArcE1pbqkwVcQpckjqPUc0/s320/IMG_0511.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Just off the tunnel, we chanced upon this humongous masonary Hanuman. This was certainly not the first one on our trip. Right from Tada at the AP TN border, we had encountered small, large, huge and gigantic statues of Hanuman. We might have seen at least 50 Hanuman statues (with temples). Methinks Hanuman is the patron saint of highway drivers. But this statue takes the cake. It is the biggest and grandest of all the Hanumans we had driven past. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6EievWE5yXMRxOo0_mGH15v9dhyphenhyphenmzTuwwRT35mwbDGQDqfViLiatbbSmZ_uSpZQ-zczsa25XYcfQ4jrO0JRbLZ3cA_6CpTZmLjhM0bAJtPUZvPtfnUrdPAKUBveJBxIRN_zz/s1600-h/IMG_0513.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186375109072942514" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6EievWE5yXMRxOo0_mGH15v9dhyphenhyphenmzTuwwRT35mwbDGQDqfViLiatbbSmZ_uSpZQ-zczsa25XYcfQ4jrO0JRbLZ3cA_6CpTZmLjhM0bAJtPUZvPtfnUrdPAKUBveJBxIRN_zz/s320/IMG_0513.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Just look at those crows to gauge the size of Hanuman.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Hr4FNn0AOyopjBeQdmugvQH2hYuG9x1wh1pBMqMxmCJwKT2mfFewWtwvsDYCU97J516mxf0NpfAXUQg-IDbGwx4WLQL_2u6XgJgKRhKA3JlzJv-Hl9LYHikJKimkWB1qeMv/s1600-h/IMG_0517.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186374812720199074" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Hr4FNn0AOyopjBeQdmugvQH2hYuG9x1wh1pBMqMxmCJwKT2mfFewWtwvsDYCU97J516mxf0NpfAXUQg-IDbGwx4WLQL_2u6XgJgKRhKA3JlzJv-Hl9LYHikJKimkWB1qeMv/s320/IMG_0517.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>There. Look how majestic it stands.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8ffBKFaI6q-cEeUlIfy-xLQxzUDpKlkwVBGzoTDFk7fei5jykbzGx5a0OCrsus9qtJN5rwLy-GfZKKb0kEoxAN7E8qD1UDawrbmxYWLznrsSx84PQwD0rKJxlj-_rqBOdDEr/s1600-h/IMG_0520.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186374477712749970" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8ffBKFaI6q-cEeUlIfy-xLQxzUDpKlkwVBGzoTDFk7fei5jykbzGx5a0OCrsus9qtJN5rwLy-GfZKKb0kEoxAN7E8qD1UDawrbmxYWLznrsSx84PQwD0rKJxlj-_rqBOdDEr/s320/IMG_0520.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Traffic seems light. The fun starts about 20 Km from here.</div><div> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWz0TFj7uE69HDP3hxeQG_XQpyOdWfWtTjmiUL6w7f76LEBBmF-OWP2SC3FPO14QHj3vvdh5hiQKO97R4dWqMrRndaDMo6mQhW186bps0kO0oUZB3rlLaST-dPxD6P3LkvWz-B/s1600-h/IMG_0532.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186373769043146114" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWz0TFj7uE69HDP3hxeQG_XQpyOdWfWtTjmiUL6w7f76LEBBmF-OWP2SC3FPO14QHj3vvdh5hiQKO97R4dWqMrRndaDMo6mQhW186bps0kO0oUZB3rlLaST-dPxD6P3LkvWz-B/s320/IMG_0532.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Yet another Hanuman. this one is interesting though. It is a statue of the Panchamukha Anjaneya or the five headed Hanuman. The canopy kind of robs the aesthetic value.<br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkkJ-gxqa_98L7Ym_txkNNgecuASUBhbchgkXATTQwIV6oqFiFE34NhCjNTrqYcXbjxHlwShlpXer7Nz7Hn-fqvzO2_RrAlESFit5cEUZ_RZYzolgnesDW8lev9Sj0yAF2ExZ/s1600-h/IMG_0533.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186373476985369970" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkkJ-gxqa_98L7Ym_txkNNgecuASUBhbchgkXATTQwIV6oqFiFE34NhCjNTrqYcXbjxHlwShlpXer7Nz7Hn-fqvzO2_RrAlESFit5cEUZ_RZYzolgnesDW8lev9Sj0yAF2ExZ/s320/IMG_0533.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We are close to hyderabad after a long duel with a bus and a truck. We rest here for some flavoured milk and ice cream. </div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdb3Y7iLq-Fk1ztZ6TlAwImJLUAjkkFBh-5CXFrppMTlxhyphenhyphenPcsnyhU-OJBGSFO-jzL_cbwcMR93RSGPv6-QL3A6-uzgadJ_0RcbTnZD8h44RWlclvQJwkdVvuQXLRov3f1E6cF/s1600-h/IMG_0546.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186371874962568546" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdb3Y7iLq-Fk1ztZ6TlAwImJLUAjkkFBh-5CXFrppMTlxhyphenhyphenPcsnyhU-OJBGSFO-jzL_cbwcMR93RSGPv6-QL3A6-uzgadJ_0RcbTnZD8h44RWlclvQJwkdVvuQXLRov3f1E6cF/s320/IMG_0546.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Outskirts of Hyderabad. We are awfully late. the sun is setting. It will take us two more hours to rech our destination. All thanks to traffic!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-29440009522244838552008-02-20T02:28:00.006+05:302008-02-20T13:42:11.474+05:30The Day Crows Didn’t FlyIt is just 3 kilometers from Chennai Central to Chennai Egmore as a crow flies. Of course, Chennai’s auto-rickshaw drivers do not believe crows when they quote their rates. So they charged Adwait and me Rs 40 for those three kilometers. We did not put up a fight for 13 rupees and 33 paise per kilometer. The time was 10:30 PM. Besides, we had ignored the crows as well for we had spent Rs 157 traveling from Egmore to Central on the same day. It would also be useful here to add that the journey took us 5 trains and 16 hours to complete. <div><div><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvEqWhuulfGTx2eNfAgADir7ypg-JVYIKNN2ARZPsqsxltRxCTNLodA3R3Drh-cZmGTNsZ2zA6vuaPMVuFAecBBztrIQYoNTOPynitGy3xiwZ2o1Fb25Qog2qlFmjDayq21Ru/s1600-h/IMG_0332.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168805063008532450" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvEqWhuulfGTx2eNfAgADir7ypg-JVYIKNN2ARZPsqsxltRxCTNLodA3R3Drh-cZmGTNsZ2zA6vuaPMVuFAecBBztrIQYoNTOPynitGy3xiwZ2o1Fb25Qog2qlFmjDayq21Ru/s200/IMG_0332.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>It was an unusually foggy and misty morning on Saturday, December 22, 2007. It would not have seemed out of place for Delhi but Chennai’s mist must have put off the crows. So we had no idea what it takes to reach Chennai Central when Sridhar, Adwait and I assembled at platform 2. The MS-Puducheri passenger was ready to depart. We took our seats in the first SLR after the loco but soon gave it up for the holiday crowd and positioned ourselves at the door. Sridhar Joshi immediately took charge of my new Garmin Etrex-H GPS receiver monitoring speeds, acceleration and braking. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WDhNLfcXCiLVw9FP4xihpiwsG2M2at1ouglbkU08K4fS60Iufeq8tADrRHjYhgtRunvfEbAILmWb94YZ8aTvXuLF-EzWVCMZt7NREC2eyU_3I1nwLdjzWoMpc9vh-jkaG-k9/s1600-h/IMG_0332.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzwdALfMk7hxt04Vh6qROY5Jq5vTbeYUjv6uYpkK_oFaxV19kKqGa_8a5mZbccNt0C07Xv18u0U8sOUenw927be8zBTb_4ctSWcO6t4a68GzLozjbSJK8_5A90n-RYFr80xRo/s1600-h/IMG_0336.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168806025081206770" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzwdALfMk7hxt04Vh6qROY5Jq5vTbeYUjv6uYpkK_oFaxV19kKqGa_8a5mZbccNt0C07Xv18u0U8sOUenw927be8zBTb_4ctSWcO6t4a68GzLozjbSJK8_5A90n-RYFr80xRo/s200/IMG_0336.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />The train started on time at 6.35 AM and ran well through the city into the suburbs stopping just at Mambalam, Guindy and Tambaram. At Vandalur, a call to Bharat Moro confirmed that he would not be able to join us at Chengalpattu. The passenger made customary halts at all stations after Tambaram. Adwait noted that he could not feel the pause of the locos transition (series-series to series-parallel) and borrowed the GPS to note the speeds. He was right. The transition did not pronounce itself in the 30 - 40 kmph band. But strangely, it was quite pronounced at around 52 kpmh. The loco’s turbo was screaming wonderfully and the pilot doing a great job of short braking and quick acceleration. We had a max speed of 84 kmph till Chengalpattu. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVkN342Ecm_71mWtu2LJ7FIqATcONy0S9-CZhKqFB4Lverjr_mLkXyo8ef-XupS0kjwpCPkaDvyQVyz7d98C3HR_uxb3E5n9benQ3o-v1z1EBzOmzhBEXZS-ueQBjwInYsMOF/s1600-h/IMG_0340.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168806519002445826" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVkN342Ecm_71mWtu2LJ7FIqATcONy0S9-CZhKqFB4Lverjr_mLkXyo8ef-XupS0kjwpCPkaDvyQVyz7d98C3HR_uxb3E5n9benQ3o-v1z1EBzOmzhBEXZS-ueQBjwInYsMOF/s200/IMG_0340.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>We reached Chengalpattu a bit late at 8:10 AM just as the Tirumalpur –Chennai Beach EMU glided along us from the Arakkonam line. The Tirumalpur passenger came to a halt on the same platform a few meters short of the WDM7. Sridhar Joshi and Adwait ran fast to collect our tickets to Arakkonam as the passenger was to depart at 8.15 AM. Meanwhile I scouted for something to eat and found some dosas. I settled in the front SLR as usual for the duo to return. A little later, they returned with the tickets. The GPS told me that they walked 6.97 kmph for the tickets. Ironically, the Tirumalpur train took its own time before leaving the tracks vacant for our departure. We polished off the indifferent dosas and some vadas from another vendor. Sridhar meanwhile wanted to attend the world’s oldest call but all the toilets of the train were locked up for some reason. We wondered what was the difference between a passenger and a MEMU without toilets. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bB_r6Y6Cv2skdMPNeGTUnxmMU75aOQ4fVKQhWL_vy3Zu_jgkXP8v0WrCHSLaMV-zkdoyEb6mdbqK6dBbRbNhTgshjYJiJo_jY242gMvLN7Hhf4z-k69LuWyJSF8wU51g8Hj9/s1600-h/IMG_0342.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168808649306224674" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bB_r6Y6Cv2skdMPNeGTUnxmMU75aOQ4fVKQhWL_vy3Zu_jgkXP8v0WrCHSLaMV-zkdoyEb6mdbqK6dBbRbNhTgshjYJiJo_jY242gMvLN7Hhf4z-k69LuWyJSF8wU51g8Hj9/s200/IMG_0342.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>The EMU delayed us by 15 minutes and we started at 8:30 AM. The train was partly filled. We had three seats for ourselves that we were soon going to abandon as usual. The train went on the mixed gauge tracks for a short distance and diverted itself onto the Arakkonam line. The MG tracks were still in place despite the services being stopped. As the train negotiated a cautioned zone with sandbagged embankments, Sridhar shot off the latest land prices in the area further demotivating me from the idea of owning a property in Chennai. Soon the train picked up speed, as we rolled along a pleasant and green countryside rich from the benefits of the recent rainfall. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYb8nhJgpGjyXVxXH4CIq0GKXC0_dOKNDmK_w1wNHXn_ROZIqNkg1Vl8qXycltGLpOjIXQq1cBjkdBWee3A9aNe01Q3myT3S7PUXgK67NaZh117cwXOPzXxcBx81tvnQ_4tMGD/s1600-h/IMG_0364.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168810320048502850" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYb8nhJgpGjyXVxXH4CIq0GKXC0_dOKNDmK_w1wNHXn_ROZIqNkg1Vl8qXycltGLpOjIXQq1cBjkdBWee3A9aNe01Q3myT3S7PUXgK67NaZh117cwXOPzXxcBx81tvnQ_4tMGD/s200/IMG_0364.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The WDM7’s flat drum beat kept us company. The loco did not seem to have any transition suggesting a complete series connected motors. Like the WDM3D driver, this one’s pilot was as adventurous with braking and accelerating. After Reddipalayam and Villiambakkam, we stopped at Palur made famous by the National Geographic video report on steam locomotion in India. Palur was not the same anymore as we saw it on the report. The transformation was complete with electric catenaries and modern high platforms and amenities. Once upon a time this was a backwater branch line but now the flurry of modern constructions along the line depicted a different picture now. Even the electric catenary masts spoke of modernization. Most of them consisted of pre-cast concrete poles rather than the regular steel ones.<br /><br />Post Palur, the scenic beauty remained with the addition of large water bodies enabled by the copious rainfall in the region recently. We had the only crossing at Walajahbad where the Tirupati – Puducheri passenger awaited us to clear the line. The entire route was a token less territory robbing us of the scene of token exchange. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUkpsrAwndtG4TxtOUK75yx45QN97rc_bJNLJEuhfSt3Sp2Yety0pYWDehH64xY4CAXdhLMST4yWk9SRtibxTUxaSDQ1yYTY2v5l0pNhW12_rLxfHKpwzae97fKZ3eYH5fjR7/s1600-h/IMG_0363.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168807352226101266" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUkpsrAwndtG4TxtOUK75yx45QN97rc_bJNLJEuhfSt3Sp2Yety0pYWDehH64xY4CAXdhLMST4yWk9SRtibxTUxaSDQ1yYTY2v5l0pNhW12_rLxfHKpwzae97fKZ3eYH5fjR7/s200/IMG_0363.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>A sudden appearance of modern buildings announced Kanchipuram. After Kanchipuram (Old), we entered the modern and clean Kanchipuram station with just one platform. The road connecting the town with the Bangalore highway was just next to the station and teemed of a large number of vehicles. The gopuram of Varadaraja Perumal temple loomed large in the background with the spires of two other temples close by. One of the wonderful aspects of this lovely line was the abundance of curves. </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCZ8_HiMwmMjcgAZ41UJ2sGpthyphenhyphen2KtxjAoK_ZhHtfF0t8vpeHYvZN3uaUzwFx31mbIQ67dJkeSEsSMje52b0oIEsQvpnOpQlOYRy2OBAz-dUgIqtBiDxdCAehC7VQtNqkf3XT/s1600-h/IMG_0373.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168810844034512978" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCZ8_HiMwmMjcgAZ41UJ2sGpthyphenhyphen2KtxjAoK_ZhHtfF0t8vpeHYvZN3uaUzwFx31mbIQ67dJkeSEsSMje52b0oIEsQvpnOpQlOYRy2OBAz-dUgIqtBiDxdCAehC7VQtNqkf3XT/s200/IMG_0373.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKvGRJ6IoXYXYqRg7KxYL4-o-OEtct-OFOrh7rqw65QqZ5pK4-y4EMX2IZyrYOf4LgPQ5BBmYea1Ov38Tq0kfD1a_kx-YWem8YyUmzVcNiXYWRBtYAZBckgK7cpSiAvhx0Y5W/s1600-h/IMG_0374.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKvGRJ6IoXYXYqRg7KxYL4-o-OEtct-OFOrh7rqw65QqZ5pK4-y4EMX2IZyrYOf4LgPQ5BBmYea1Ov38Tq0kfD1a_kx-YWem8YyUmzVcNiXYWRBtYAZBckgK7cpSiAvhx0Y5W/s200/IMG_0374.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168971561710729330" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><br /><br />Post Kanchipuram, the train forever seemed to hit one curve after the other. As a bonus, we were rewarded with the Arakkonam road, a neat and superb affair, extremely close to the tracks. The road ran along with us all the way to Arakkonam. Little towns and villages along the road came and went as we rolled. Tirumalpur was a bigger station with two platforms and other amenities. The Tirumalpur EMU terminated here but the electrification continued further up the line and stopped abruptly just outside Takkkolam. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcumj1d7z6PKM8ROcDHxtZC28DyNa9prqHaJqr3bLdKeM6GJcjdhct9YZ2o84IduDvugmS8ciZjSCLdKF4KKbHitwjFv5G8de0nGs4KDSco8GX3pCAYysMyoZOEbmtXVSE63Ge/s1600-h/IMG_0386.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcumj1d7z6PKM8ROcDHxtZC28DyNa9prqHaJqr3bLdKeM6GJcjdhct9YZ2o84IduDvugmS8ciZjSCLdKF4KKbHitwjFv5G8de0nGs4KDSco8GX3pCAYysMyoZOEbmtXVSE63Ge/s200/IMG_0386.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168970818681387106" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>INS Rajali loomed large along the line as we entered Arakkonam. I had hoped for a glimpse of the TU-154 “Bear” but could see any planes. There are two different platforms at Arakkonam for this line. The first one was just ahead of the mainline station and the train was almost perpendicular to the platforms there. It was just a platform without anything else and quite dirty. But most of the passengers chose to detrain here. The second platform (island) is beyond the mainline station in a corner and our train had to negotiate a steep curve to enter it. We had arrived on time at 9.50 AM despite a late start. The maximum permissible speed of the route was 90kmph and our GPS showed a max speed of 82 kmph. With no trains ahead of us and only one crossing, this train did not make any unscheduled halts enroute.<br /><br />We got off the train and trekked a long way to the ticket counter on the opposite side. We had to pass all the platforms of Arakkonam and two foot over bridges. There was a huge crowd on the second foot over bridge that took us to the ticketing office. This was the regular commuter crowd to Chennai that was not sure which platform would the next EMU from Tirutani would arrive. So like cats on the wall they hung about on the overbridge. At the ticket counter we quizzed the man on the rates to Renigunta and Gudur and finally bought an express ticket all the way to Gudur via Renigunta. The man was perplexed b our choice as he felt it was much better to reach Gudur via Chennai. We had to explain our motive to him before we went out for a refreshing cup of tea and smoke. We returned and settled down in the waiting hall of platform 2 and 3 and observed the traffic. Our next train to Renigunta, the 1041 Chennai- Mumbai Mail was at 12:40 PM. But as the clock struck 1.00 PM, we were still waiting for the train to arrive.<br /><br />Finally at 13:12 hrs, the 1041 came in 32 minutes late. The front SLR was for ladies though a few men oblivious to the fact were perched on the seats within. We took the next General coach by the door. We perched our bottoms on the doorway with Sridhar at the doorplate and enjoyed the fast and smooth run to Renigunta.<br /><br />This line was cleared for 110 kmph and we hit MPS quite quickly thanks to the excellent performance of the WAM4 ahead. It was one exhilarating run akin to a roller coaster as the train negotiated numerous curves without a hint of slowing down. At Tirutanni, I moved to the other doorway and perched on my backside dangling my legs out. The train was close to the MPS all the time and the wonderful scenery outside added to my excitement. Soon the tall peaks of the Eastern Ghats appeared with smaller hills pock marked with big boulders. The valleys below were swathed in green and the sun was just about the right temperature. At Ponpadi, the opposite line disappeared as we hit one huge S curve and rolled on. We had deviated widely from the other line and only joined it at Nagari within AP. Puttur came and went and once again the tracks played hide and seek with each other. A big pool of water parted us after Taduku to be rejoined again at the next station. I spotted a hill range with a huge peak of rock that resembled a WDM2 hauling a passenger rake. It was a treat of sorts all the while till now as the adventurous braking and accelerating continued on this train as well. The rake oscillated madly to the speeds. Later as the hide and seek of the up and down tracks continued, just before Pudi, I spotted the 1042 disappearing into the foliage far away as it negotiated a curve away from us. Had it not been for the red ailway mail service coach amongst the blue passenger coaches, I would still be guessing which train was it. We hit Renigunta at 14:20 hrs, 20 minutes ahead of time despite being 32 minutes late at AJJ. Slack time worked well here. The extra time will be useful in the loco change. Sridhar went up to the loco pilot and showed him the max speed on the GPS and commended him on the acceleration and braking.<br /><br />Hotel Ruchi promised us Maharastrian meals in pure Marathi just outside Renigunta station. But we went ahead to another restaurant that promised us north, south and Maharashtrian meals. We opted for the Maharastrian meals here and found out what Henry Ford meant when he said “It can be of any colour as long as it is black” referring to the Model-T. The meals were all South Indian except for a couple of rotis to differentiate it as Maharastrian. We finished off the insipid meal and returned back to the station to catch the Guntur passenger to Gudur.<br /><br />We were again rewarded with an excellent acceleration and braking. The line from Renigunta to Gudur was well maintained with fresh ballasting and minimum oscillations. The route had an MPS of 105 KMPH and we were steady in the 90-100 kpmh band. The Max Speed we hit was 101 kpmh, quite impressive for a passenger. The scenery outside was quite different from the usual Rayalaseema terrain with a lot of greenery and plenty of water bodies. All the stations had platforms at door level and modern amenities. We were on time at all stations but had to be held up just outside Gudur to let a mainline freight and another passenger towards Tirupati pass. We hit Gudur at 17:40 exactly as the loco pilot of the train had predicted…about 5 minutes late. Bidding a goodbye to yet another wonderful train, we stepped out for some coffee. We spied a dosa outlet where I gorged into some dosas before we had some muddy dark coffee. We returned to the station for our last leg. This time, we had a proper reservation in the D5 coach of none other than the BZA-MAS Jan Shatabdi Express. We had traveled on three passengers and an Express and now about to do a superfast. What a day! I was looking forward to the last leg of ultimate speed and acceleration. But the train was a good hour late according to the officials. We had to walk to the end of the platform to avoid the mulling crowd that was waiting for the Nellore – Chennai MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit). Since we had reserved tickets, we did not want to board the MEMU else we would have added another kind of train for out trip. In any case, the Chengalpattu-Arakkonam passenger with locked toilets earlier was akin to the Diesel Electric MU with matching acceleration and braking.<br /><br />GDR railway station is renowned for one thing. Mosquitoes of humongous size. We had spied an empty bench and sat on it and soon, I gave up the fight and chose to be mutilated by the mozzies. We were all tired and Sridhar and Adwait had decided to doze off on the JS.<br /><br />The MEMU came and went as I dozed off. A little later I woke up to the sound of a single tone horn and spied a WAP4 like beast in the darkness on the far away freight loops hauling a BCNA rake slowly. As the light fell on the loco we saw the number 31122! A green loco with a yellow band. It was my first ever sighting of a WAG 9 in a proper manner! The silent beast rolled lazily to the starter and waited there for a while before moving towards Renigunta. The WAG 9 hauled BCNA will ensure that the Express stays for a while at GDR.<br /><br />Sridhar finally spotted our train far away at 19:27 just as the Tirupati-Secundearbad Padmavathi Express arrived . 3 minutes later we found the JS on the first platform and to our dismay, found a Kazipet WAG 7 freight locomotive at its head. I was beginning to feel that the anticipated superfast experience was about to die there and then! We soon found ourselves in our seats in D5 as the train rolled. We settled down, had some samosas and some diluted tea and relaxed. I closed my eyes for a while. Sridhar meanwhile restarted the GPS to note the speeds. The train was not moving at a great speed and was restricted to the 80kmph band on a track suitable for 105 kpmh.<br /><br />Old habits die hard! Like Pavlov’s dog, Sridhar and Adwait soon felt the urge to doorplate and promptly broke their self imposed rule of rest and sleep and abandoned their reserved seats for the door. This was also probably prompted by the catering staff’s inability to produce Sridhar’s favourite omelettes. Since the two were firm on door plating, I had no other choice and joined them at the door to record one of the worst runs of JS in my memory! The WAG 7 was finding it difficult to accelerate! We were hardly touching 95 kmph and the series of caution orders ensured a quick deceleration followed by a slow acceleration that took forever. The GPS told me how painful the loco felt in the 50kmph and the 70kpmh bands as it struggled to move to the next band. The 80;s band was quick but the loco took its own time to reach 95 kmph from 90 kmph. At Elavur, we were thrown into the loop line at 15 kmph restriction thanks to a freight parked on the mainline. After the exhilarating Renigunta-Gudur run on a lowly passenger, we had to endure a shameful run on the Gudur - Chennai section on a super fast ! After Minjur, the train somehow redeemed itself with a max speed record of 100 kpmh, one short of the passenger earlier.<br /><br />After Ennore the train slowed down further and crawled for a while at 30 kmph before picking speed up to 60 kmph at Tondiarpet only to decelerate again at Korukkupet and thereafter crawl all the way to Platform 5 at 10:30 PM. For consolation, the train was not parked behind the Bangalore Shatabdi as usual, which would have meant we had to walk a long way to the exit. We walked out of the station to the auto stand. Sridhar was supposed to catch an EMU to Perambur while Adwait and I had to get back to Egmore, our starting point to collect our respective vehicles. That was where we encountered the auto fares of Rs 13 per kilometer and the start of this report!<br /><br />Consider this: It cost Rs 17 per head between MS and CGL. Rs 17 again between CGL and AJJ. Rs 48 between AJJ and GDR via RU and rs 75 between GDR and MAS.<br /><br />The numbers stack up as:<br /><br />1. MS- AJJ 118 km Rs 34 84 km max speed Scenic<br />2. AJJ-RU-GDR 158 km Rs 48 110kmph/101 kmph Speed and scenic<br />3. GDR-MAS 138 km Rs 75 100 kmph Late, slow, dark<br /><br />Ironically, we had the best part of our journey in terms of running experience and scenic value at 30 paisa per kilometer sitting by the door in a crowded coach ( AJJ-RU and RU-GDR); while the worst part of the journey was at 45 paisa per kilometer in cushioned chairs of a reserved coach of a super fast with catering service. At 29 paisa per kilometer the MS-AJJ run was the cheapest, slowest and most timely run.<br /><br />So it took us 16 hours and 414 km of travel on five trains through two railway zones and two states to reach Chennai Central from Chennai Egmore which lay 3 km from each other as a crow flies. But that day, the crows did not fly!</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-21326103406018159932007-09-05T12:33:00.000+05:302007-09-05T12:41:26.182+05:30BitraguntaBitragunta is located between Vijayawada and Chennai on the east coast trunk line of Indian Railwys. The town is in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Nearest major stations is Nellore to the south and Ongole to the north. A few express trains do halt at Bitragunta today.<br /><br />Bitragunta’s significance lies in the history of the Steam Era. The abundance of suitable water and availability of plain land enabled the construction of a unique Mechanical Loco Shed. The loco shed was first constructed in the year 1885. A roundhouse with turn-table facility was added in 1934. The roundhouse was known for its architectural value and joined the Mysore roundhouse as one of two spectacular loco sheds in the country. At that time, the loco shed handled 45 steam locomotives and later went on to become one of the biggest in the Indian Railways. Bitragunta was also provided with a major yard and also inter-changing depots for the drivers and guards.<br /><br /><div>The steam shed was logistically important to medium and long distance trains originating from Madras and the ones passing through Vijaywada down south. In those days, experiments were being made with the Pacific locomotives (WP) of the Grand Trunk Express to provide it more mileage in terms of water and coal consumption. The objective was to provide the GT with a non-stop run between Madras and Vijaywada. The WPs were fitted with water scoops, to enable them to take on water while on the run. A water trough was constructed at Bitragunta just for the purpose. The water scoops on the WPs worked well enough. Unfortunately, due to a deteriorated level of the quality of coal, the engine had to be changed at Bitragunta. The coal carried in the locomotive's tender could not sustain the 420 km long journey, due to the high ash content. Bitragunta had 22 WP locos in its shed then. Later, the shed, under South Central railways held 59 WG and 5 XD locomotives.<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106613822672904994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM8-W2eePXuhJN3zLAJUmcXlYcp9-t4by1h4cCSy4AdjxHV-d75DG-zlfKyqqlp5Ve0bRmGzeVNDXkYCxtrXl83agps24T1uxyTUUK3z7MH_lXp2cZc5sWpU2dFt3lGyTezIg/s400/BTR.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Along with the growth of Indian Railways, the marshalling activities at Bitragunta increased manifold. In 1968, a full-fledged marshalling yard with hump facility was established and a wagon-repair depot was added later. The marshalling activities included segregation of wagons and long-distance marshalling orders. The activities continued until 1998.<br /><br />Bitragunta was also a known “railway cantonment”. Predominantly occupied by Anglo Indians, it had 1000 spacious railway quarters built in European style. It also hosted a Western Culture Institute that is standing till today as the legend of those glorious days.<br /><br />The evolution in the mode of traction power from steam to diesel and diesel to electric caused the reduction of shed-activities and finally the steam shed at Bitragunta was closed. The closure of the marshalling yard brought a complete closure to the glory of the railway town. Consequent upon the closure of the steam loco shed in Bitragunta, the infrastructure, other equipment and land have not yet been utilized for any purpose. </div><br /><div><br />But Bitragunta still continues as a changing point for all up & down freight trains. Most of the express trains continue to halt here. An ART and MRV are still stationed at Bitragunta. The station still retains vestiges of the glorious past in form of its long platform and old buildings. The remains of the steam shed and the roundhouse can still be seen today.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-23458935331691800892007-09-02T03:14:00.000+05:302007-09-02T03:27:23.915+05:30Two days in Kerala<div><div><div><div>One of the first things that strikes you in Kerala is the abundance of vegetation. What struck me immediately (and literally) were the teak trees when I took the train from Palghat to Nilambur Rd. I had seen teak in AP, Karnataka, Orissa, Chatthisgarh and even Tamil Nadu. I had seen them in abundance on the <a href="http://cape2jat.blogspot.com/2007/03/little-narrow-gauge-of-central-india.html" modo="false">Nagpur - Chindwara narrow gauge </a>route<a title="SRR_NIL" href="http://heurisko.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/img_0025.jpg"></a> too. But none as abundant as on the Shoranur-Nilambur Road branch line.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5IUNQ3jiHf7LecZenGUz8Iw7y0eg18G8ubSUMB44u_8-RqfS7rYkFXIEkGmLI_nn2p0volsMY3Xrl5s1f9-tjlKAXY6joR3N98yYXdTy506BYZXDItNXgnkl2iwaZykC-0HG/s1600-h/IMG_0025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105355646363280098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5IUNQ3jiHf7LecZenGUz8Iw7y0eg18G8ubSUMB44u_8-RqfS7rYkFXIEkGmLI_nn2p0volsMY3Xrl5s1f9-tjlKAXY6joR3N98yYXdTy506BYZXDItNXgnkl2iwaZykC-0HG/s200/IMG_0025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />The trees grew right next to the tracks and their leaves literally slapped anyone daring a footboard travel; so close were they. There are plantations of jackfruit, banana, coconut palm, areca, cashew, pepper and of course, rubber.<br /><a title="SRR_NIL" href="http://heurisko.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/img_0025.jpg"></a></div><div><br />I was amazed by the green coverage but worried about forced plantation. Nature does not grow in patterns. Nor does it favour one species over the other. Despite the Darwin theory of survival of the fittest, nature is a great equalizer when it comes to vegetation. In any case, it is not the rubber or jackfruit I am worried about. The worrisome ones are eucalyptus and areca which require least maintenance and generate enough cash. The trouble with these is under their roots. Eucalyptus drains the water table. Areca with its shallow roots loosens the soil and causes erosion. Areca nuts were called Green Gold in Taiwan for their commercial value. But the roots of areca are shallow and grow laterally, preventing water to seep deeper and replenish the ground water table. In cyclone or heavy winds, areca cannot protect the soil from being washed away. This problem is specifically acute in hilly areas or slopes where the soil erosion is even more acute.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYnWMp6E8lokST0k8F1W4jet7d_0bG1wFXC-xxO4a9NrSajVGuAEGcQViOUYVd2D7lpcB8pq1KssmbO_0VAwjnib6NfDi_Bs4TydWfYlbqWVmcJiY8kia2EnW4xbgVqsHhFR0/s1600-h/IMG_0040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105356148874453746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYnWMp6E8lokST0k8F1W4jet7d_0bG1wFXC-xxO4a9NrSajVGuAEGcQViOUYVd2D7lpcB8pq1KssmbO_0VAwjnib6NfDi_Bs4TydWfYlbqWVmcJiY8kia2EnW4xbgVqsHhFR0/s200/IMG_0040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>The line from Ernakulam Jn to Kayamkulam Jn via Allappuzha was equally exciting as i travelled on it early in the morning. The abundance of water was evident with the greenery, the ponds and bckwaters. Thankfully, the villages dotted with little bunglows were not as predictable with their greenery. It was a pleasure to see a good variety of trees within the kitchen gardens of the houses. It was difficult to tell a town from a village thanks to the thick green cover and vast spaces between houses. Elsehwere, we would have been travelling through a concrete jungle bereft of any vegetation.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eO5p9BrlttydalqZI9-5454vXhskyCam-VSGHrAEKs3sqKva8k4FUBI83qVbcKtoiM0Gz8uGnlpRKP5HqY6CXjMA7uPQRfw0B3HL36Me7MWXdA4i6tBB4CU7rtMfRLEuoF0k/s1600-h/IMG_0067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105357377235100418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eO5p9BrlttydalqZI9-5454vXhskyCam-VSGHrAEKs3sqKva8k4FUBI83qVbcKtoiM0Gz8uGnlpRKP5HqY6CXjMA7uPQRfw0B3HL36Me7MWXdA4i6tBB4CU7rtMfRLEuoF0k/s200/IMG_0067.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Kollam to Tenkasi was another round through plantations, the same rubber, teak, jackfruit and banana types. This route however has steep gradients that enlivened the journey. The route passes through a break in the Western Ghats (specifically the cardomon hills) and captures a wonderful scenery within itself. The little stations are thickly lined with teak and jackfruit and resemble neighbourhood parks rather than drab stations! </div><div><br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV3c8rMZxBgcZHQKnEm1HEFchn0OPMQ2CdkUaHGu0wOWrWcOZ9JjxKcTi6yWoQSAO3LwY16DN6WSaeZUJ9WN6VrqhyphenhyphenqSuACEmhcEkvt83ZyAvaoxiSaANFyCMpNkuS-qgciYB/s1600-h/IMG_0128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105358000005358354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV3c8rMZxBgcZHQKnEm1HEFchn0OPMQ2CdkUaHGu0wOWrWcOZ9JjxKcTi6yWoQSAO3LwY16DN6WSaeZUJ9WN6VrqhyphenhyphenqSuACEmhcEkvt83ZyAvaoxiSaANFyCMpNkuS-qgciYB/s200/IMG_0128.jpg" border="0" /></a><a title="Ottakal" href="http://heurisko.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/img_0128.jpg"></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-17658233494023268902007-08-12T00:49:00.002+05:302008-04-28T00:56:23.581+05:30Bastar and Dantewada<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">On July 14, 2007, four of us (Roopesh Kohad, Pareekshit and Praveen) took a car right through the Maoist stronghold of Bastar. Our destination was the Chitrakote Falls in Chattisgarh. Here is a report on the trip:<br /></span><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnO-d2L-aWuYqZgDAVcUNnz6QwENQbNhjPlyIJeGBXHX29wZs_r5JxdeYlBoKj5tvKIN_peV4PrNnfEGdrlfF6R7dzKdl_rVBYNUvn9Ror-Zs61nWT7BmSFMzsZm1-9tntS0j/s1600-h/Picture+017.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105340987639898530" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnO-d2L-aWuYqZgDAVcUNnz6QwENQbNhjPlyIJeGBXHX29wZs_r5JxdeYlBoKj5tvKIN_peV4PrNnfEGdrlfF6R7dzKdl_rVBYNUvn9Ror-Zs61nWT7BmSFMzsZm1-9tntS0j/s200/Picture+017.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We started off on July 13, 2007 from Hyderabad in a Tata Indigo (diesel car) at 1530 hrs. We wanted to drive through the forests of Bastar to Jagdalpur and from there to Chitrakote. Our immediate destination was Bhadrachalam on the banks of river Godavari from where the highway to Jagdalpur started.<br /><br /><strong></strong></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8ZpLNLVP4W-6ASzyRH_8p88dp6jrPq82-yDNAt2lpGS-ttk6cggdMXrPAsXPT1q_bkXKzDwkBbWda2k_mpZR9O1dGcndfeGl5Mf32rrMWV98VcPG8livpseUMUASm6UMQlKG/s1600-h/IMG_0013.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105341326942314930" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8ZpLNLVP4W-6ASzyRH_8p88dp6jrPq82-yDNAt2lpGS-ttk6cggdMXrPAsXPT1q_bkXKzDwkBbWda2k_mpZR9O1dGcndfeGl5Mf32rrMWV98VcPG8livpseUMUASm6UMQlKG/s200/IMG_0013.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><br /><br />Listen to Bhakta Ramadas song on Bhadrachalam<br /><table bgcolor="#000000" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><embed quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000" src="http://www.esnips.com//escentral/images/widgets/flash/esnips_player.swf" flashvars="theTheme=blue&autoPlay=no&theFile=http://www.esnips.com//nsdoc/4c88470f-01af-4444-9b70-3d35c65f4264&theName=idigO BadrAdri gautami adigO&thePlayerURL=http://www.esnips.com//escentral/images/widgets/flash/mp3WidgetPlayer.swf" height="94" width="328"></embed></td></tr><tr><td><table style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; padding-left: 2px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;" cellpadding="2"><tbody><tr><td><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.esnips.com/CreateWidgetAction.ns?type=0&objectid=4c88470f-01af-4444-9b70-3d35c65f4264"> Get this widget </a></td><td style="font-size: 7px; font-weight: normal;">|</td><td align="center"><a align="center" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.esnips.com/doc/4c88470f-01af-4444-9b70-3d35c65f4264/idigO-BadrAdri-gautami-adigO/?widget=flash_player_esnips_blue"> Track details </a></td><td style="font-size: 7px; font-weight: normal;">|</td><td><a align="center" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.esnips.com//adserver/?action=visit&cid=player_dna&url=/socialdna"> eSnips Social DNA </a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Day 1</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The monsoon had started to recede, though there was a considerable amount of rainfall. The route is like this:Bhadrachalam - Chintur (diversion)- Konta (diversion)- Penta- Mothugudem -Sukma- Kukanar-Darba-Tirathgarh-Sosanpal-Jagdalpur-Chitrakote. The road was a National Highway (No 202) and unlike other highways, was a narrow road in a real bad shape. At places, the macadam surface is missing completely and the rains had rendered the road muddy and slushy. However, post Konta at the AP-Chattisgarh border, the scenery began to change rapidly into a thick and lush jungle to make up for the bad road. </span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_Xk1_QxzCiJ_Mov0_Pof1tznKT_6N0VnYH6ZBec4_ZJubVxv5yQJll2GgPMoFQ1OCGPnCPtU876Ikf_LxY5yx1JnZRSmM4B5rwekFKSOBTln9rPMeGa17lyWb_KbeD9cuEHn/s1600-h/Picture+011.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105341679129633218" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_Xk1_QxzCiJ_Mov0_Pof1tznKT_6N0VnYH6ZBec4_ZJubVxv5yQJll2GgPMoFQ1OCGPnCPtU876Ikf_LxY5yx1JnZRSmM4B5rwekFKSOBTln9rPMeGa17lyWb_KbeD9cuEHn/s200/Picture+011.jpg" border="0" /></span></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXPoXF6UbLl5q7vIfrCQGy_T2O7JkgK99GqTk_Q8dxRL9fPS0-DhHxrRStOaEvDz-E7WwiLM_b-oqSCLNqXk1GTX1zSyBdffjF3zoCP52ca5OhrI57GWiCMXSKKKAjPqr8hm_/s1600-h/Picture+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105343160893350386" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXPoXF6UbLl5q7vIfrCQGy_T2O7JkgK99GqTk_Q8dxRL9fPS0-DhHxrRStOaEvDz-E7WwiLM_b-oqSCLNqXk1GTX1zSyBdffjF3zoCP52ca5OhrI57GWiCMXSKKKAjPqr8hm_/s200/Picture+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">There were numerous streams and rivers in spate with muddy water. Principal among them was the river Sabari which ran along the road to join the Godavari at Chintur. We were driving upstream for many miles.The route was patronized well despite the bad state of the road. We had a steady company of loaded trucks, buses, jeeps, off-roaders, auto rickshaws and tractors. One common thing throughout the trip were cows and goats. Somehow, we saw more cows, goats, dogs and chicken than human beings. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7OH7-RzLvd4iTRN3t49KyUI2TQx22-AyUIxscLRnpHRmikhsjpjuvuK8_UcjOiFFpI_wBawrfDi8L1hzgBTE0RiDQ61bHJgAKIoQf5KZoym7eZJyev2WrrCOIPpNJMvmFkgn/s1600-h/Picture+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105342022727016914" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7OH7-RzLvd4iTRN3t49KyUI2TQx22-AyUIxscLRnpHRmikhsjpjuvuK8_UcjOiFFpI_wBawrfDi8L1hzgBTE0RiDQ61bHJgAKIoQf5KZoym7eZJyev2WrrCOIPpNJMvmFkgn/s200/Picture+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Barring the animals, the next most common sight were police! Chattisgarh has recruited an entire army of para-military forces to check the Maoist (Naxalite) menace. Special Group and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) cops manned the checkposts in every village. There were fortified barracks next to the checkposts at every village.<br /><br />Thanks to the monsoon, the land was swathed in different hues of green. The forests typically consisted of teak, sal (Shorea robusta) and mango trees. The fields were planted with rice all over. Offthe fields, grass grew lush and green, evidently fed with monsoon water. Numerous streams overflowed with muddy water, forcing us to stop and savour the scene. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLd-cKFTTfoxCyq_1YTuJql4P4M8v1E7Bgu9-0YDcjQ8z7ewbkkHSIrLH7kXQ4GMsCB8KCm0cH6GuMszE94p66Pz5XFkuDAK_I3M5n26q395QkHCbROJf-DyUNQo_v7lSchJB/s1600-h/Picture+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105342636907340258" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLd-cKFTTfoxCyq_1YTuJql4P4M8v1E7Bgu9-0YDcjQ8z7ewbkkHSIrLH7kXQ4GMsCB8KCm0cH6GuMszE94p66Pz5XFkuDAK_I3M5n26q395QkHCbROJf-DyUNQo_v7lSchJB/s200/Picture+032.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn3XkimZB4ByEN06ogRe-xalygxUCskdvz7cE9uKbI2wRI11C5DBEQDD4vKJt9xktcKqR1oYc3XsEs9WECLrSmnCa_rUN5-smUHSwu_Bvw1PFQvEt-nlGjX3XV_gCvbm8W7wP/s1600-h/Picture+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105343869562954242" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn3XkimZB4ByEN06ogRe-xalygxUCskdvz7cE9uKbI2wRI11C5DBEQDD4vKJt9xktcKqR1oYc3XsEs9WECLrSmnCa_rUN5-smUHSwu_Bvw1PFQvEt-nlGjX3XV_gCvbm8W7wP/s200/Picture+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Post Kukanar, the road seemed to improve. We took in the ghats of Darba to the first destination of our trip - Tirathgarh Falls, nestled deep in the mountains.The approach to Tirathgarh consisted of a narrow but well built road. Thanks to the monsoon, there was enough water to retain its magic. The water was a river that originated from a lake further up stream. Water tumbled down from a height of 100 feet over a wide column of rock on to a flat piece of land before slipping down further along the slopes of the mountain into the forest. There were a couple of small shrines beside the stream. A series of steps led us down to the foot of the falls. The water was shallow enough to wade through and reach an appropriate spot to sit and watch the water cascade down. The falling water gave rise to a spray of droplets that kept clouding my camera lens. We spent quite sometime at the falls. There were not many people around. It was not a season of tourists. The entire region is still waiting to be discovered.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSKdvgq7sCnuKGBDPxnHgzAKbqTOhPZGpSX6jJV2lchQ7pH3Jr2dLdftpnEnD_d71o7FgR6oLr-KUMTNILG7lKMTOHmOXvSsf2Sf9jr5L75vvsJc9ThA5_NnJm7VqJeRbJKGs/s1600-h/Picture+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105344427908702738" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSKdvgq7sCnuKGBDPxnHgzAKbqTOhPZGpSX6jJV2lchQ7pH3Jr2dLdftpnEnD_d71o7FgR6oLr-KUMTNILG7lKMTOHmOXvSsf2Sf9jr5L75vvsJc9ThA5_NnJm7VqJeRbJKGs/s200/Picture+057.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We resumed our journey to Jagdalpur and reached Sosanpal where we took the road from Gidam to Jagdalpur (NH 16). At Jagdalpur, we did not find it difficult to find the way to Chitrakote. This road was amazingly broad and well built. We hit a good speed on the road and reached Chitrakote (39 km away) in 20 minutes. The falls were right beside the road but we could not make much out of it in the fading light.At the end of the road and overlooking the falls was the Public Works department's guest house. It was now was undergoing major renovation, probably being converted into a tourist guest house.Adjoining the building was a dirt track that led to the facility built by the Chattisgarh Tourism for tourists. This is a resort that is still being constructed. The department had erected 5 log huts as a temporary measure to attract tourists. A good part of the landscaping was completed. The resort was built at a higher ground than the river. There were a series of concrete cottages being built the edge of the plateau, that offered an uninterrupted grand stand view of the falls from their balconies.The huts were at a disadvantage thanks to these new facilities which blocked the view of the falls. In any case the huts are a temporary solution. </span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFxARjCn_Bzll2fqX_VPqaXB7nz8BYieZPIGA9HSzYyUOkxZBaRTrA1xXtgLpMpNqMrjWCI1ZDop6mI_TzU1rgezuG74w7F51Stt7jk2_dj_hX68nIykgahFZzW_lEq5NKjeq/s1600-h/Picture+135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105346029931504178" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFxARjCn_Bzll2fqX_VPqaXB7nz8BYieZPIGA9HSzYyUOkxZBaRTrA1xXtgLpMpNqMrjWCI1ZDop6mI_TzU1rgezuG74w7F51Stt7jk2_dj_hX68nIykgahFZzW_lEq5NKjeq/s200/Picture+135.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />We made a quick detour of the falls at 10 PM. The caretaker of the resort had someone switch on a few floodlights to enable a good view. We were standing at quite close to the drop. The sheer force was evident from the thick mist that rose from the base and filled the air. The roar of the falls in the darkness rendered it eerie and frightening.<br /></span><br /></div></div></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVmI-EIg_MvgecqP7YtL0Ne_HpMeTMajZJvThpPpgt18D3c3LyGO0ueJLCl2nNl0dvKujUfcTarOmrCDfudN5P_2ga1eT-G2r28W-hwHouXnokb9LNFP-F5R6c-4zi-FbwAYs/s1600-h/Picture+092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105345677744185890" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVmI-EIg_MvgecqP7YtL0Ne_HpMeTMajZJvThpPpgt18D3c3LyGO0ueJLCl2nNl0dvKujUfcTarOmrCDfudN5P_2ga1eT-G2r28W-hwHouXnokb9LNFP-F5R6c-4zi-FbwAYs/s200/Picture+092.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>Day 2</strong><br />Chitrakote falls hits you in the face with its granduer. Though not in the league of some of the major falls of the world, the falls on the river Indravathi is nevertheless breathtaking to look at especially in monsoon. The resemblance to Niagara falls is uncanny even though the Canadian-American falls is much bigger. The mouth of the falls is a concave curve. The monsoon rains had caused a lot of water to flow from the catchment areas of the river valley flow into the river with silt and sand causing the Indravathi to swell and inundate the banks. </span></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7bFt1g20LWhlT5p9b54qTHvgc0Tclipd6wcj3z4vCIjt6FFMdy7zYSYdtgUwwOEIckk50NJ3dbZ9fsXgpEBCqNPJx5R4KGMVj0c637RxgDq7I-E9nWCj9E5zn_eMG1rM7goc/s1600-h/Picture+139.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105346614047056450" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7bFt1g20LWhlT5p9b54qTHvgc0Tclipd6wcj3z4vCIjt6FFMdy7zYSYdtgUwwOEIckk50NJ3dbZ9fsXgpEBCqNPJx5R4KGMVj0c637RxgDq7I-E9nWCj9E5zn_eMG1rM7goc/s200/Picture+139.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>The caretaker invited us to his favourite haunt. A remote river beach about 2 km downstream from the falls. We had to descend a rough and rock-hewn slope down to the spot. The climb down was trecherous thanks to the slippery smooth stones. But we were rewarded with an absolutely untouched and unspoilt little beach by the cascading muddy waters of the river. The caretaker, Mr. Tiwari rarely brings anyone here and we were the chosen ones of the day thanks to our enthusiasm. The beach kept us in a rapture for quite sometime before we ascended the slope that drained us of all energy. </div><div> </div></span></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxAeCaK0ARKgtH15fcUm_zAxiD19r1PGopR07jbtfJrpC0nVY7Uxoi2ZwbHlIux9ff-3YKggxWYc-kKcslWgw6GsDjd9xaK-R7x26LdOZ1s5bLczhhuuY1h0R9ZQ2VEp9eiVy/s1600-h/Picture+127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105347279766987346" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxAeCaK0ARKgtH15fcUm_zAxiD19r1PGopR07jbtfJrpC0nVY7Uxoi2ZwbHlIux9ff-3YKggxWYc-kKcslWgw6GsDjd9xaK-R7x26LdOZ1s5bLczhhuuY1h0R9ZQ2VEp9eiVy/s200/Picture+127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>Later we descended another slope down to the falls. The river had swollen enough to encroach upon dry land with its muddy waters. There were trees right in the middle of the river with the falls in the background. We walked close to the falls and observed it in complete awe standing on the rocks jutting out. Despite all the mud and silt, the falls still generated a great cloud of mist. The force of the water over the years had cut through the rock at the top forming a sieve. It was difficult to get a snap thanks to the continuous spray of water droplets that filled the air.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJkKUJy-YBTlRt5JQT3bOh3kJ7akLereWrECatKbNboXgYsJid_oRlQcbPRESznovjO2JC8e1ChseCsRwmvPdWQETNSkXBI1r8gfAOJ6frbXHq6TkszWWq0SjMfryRn1-Y3JP/s1600-h/Picture+142.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105347911127179874" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJkKUJy-YBTlRt5JQT3bOh3kJ7akLereWrECatKbNboXgYsJid_oRlQcbPRESznovjO2JC8e1ChseCsRwmvPdWQETNSkXBI1r8gfAOJ6frbXHq6TkszWWq0SjMfryRn1-Y3JP/s200/Picture+142.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkqKOcfzdBwkQpH0lW6zIH_WIKkmDSxbzSsWO0IDLA3t-mHUOJb2PE7Y5arFbmax45Dr3iBdHNmqSgtxmj4jgHbaVWjCcJVN7X2gL-xTio5CDYiIqeN7QVXnqVV7bUNHc4zIG/s1600-h/Picture+104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105350277654160002" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkqKOcfzdBwkQpH0lW6zIH_WIKkmDSxbzSsWO0IDLA3t-mHUOJb2PE7Y5arFbmax45Dr3iBdHNmqSgtxmj4jgHbaVWjCcJVN7X2gL-xTio5CDYiIqeN7QVXnqVV7bUNHc4zIG/s200/Picture+104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIwDwajPgda4R1Lpqij23-6idL6qAbGCnJGwr4wCoiOaMRMrJh0VHswcoWjbtL_85tyNkI39J-JELQNSdyUz64yb4cdWzcVGD3yHzeq5yxt6w8wselkSjNT-_H-7mYqH3hThI/s1600-h/st2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105349886812136050" style="width: 183px; height: 23px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIwDwajPgda4R1Lpqij23-6idL6qAbGCnJGwr4wCoiOaMRMrJh0VHswcoWjbtL_85tyNkI39J-JELQNSdyUz64yb4cdWzcVGD3yHzeq5yxt6w8wselkSjNT-_H-7mYqH3hThI/s200/st2.jpg" border="0" height="61" width="227" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>A cursory detour to the edge of the falls at the same point where we first viewed the falls at night completed out tour. We stood there watching the volume of water cascading down in sheer amazement. It took us the good part of the day to savour the falls as we returned to Jagdalpur, stopping en route to check out the Shitaldhara falls which left us cold and unmoved after the spectacle of Chitrakote. We spent the night at Jagdalpur. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRJxBcCR5YHPuw2PrxoBG6c_wavuVcM_eYqTbmYb8UoWZc9_1iFxhxN63T0j35boqDn9paJtXvKNDmCU6eBwhr5fDJkq76spUxh0To-EkcEST6jV1MupxE-anLTKuI8ps6Qw3/s1600-h/Picture+160.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105350977733829266" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRJxBcCR5YHPuw2PrxoBG6c_wavuVcM_eYqTbmYb8UoWZc9_1iFxhxN63T0j35boqDn9paJtXvKNDmCU6eBwhr5fDJkq76spUxh0To-EkcEST6jV1MupxE-anLTKuI8ps6Qw3/s200/Picture+160.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong>Day 3<br /></strong><br />We started early. Our plan was to take the National Highway 16 to Hyderabad. Our road atlas showed the highway going all the way to Bhoopalpatnam on the border of Chatthisgarh and AP and further to Mancherial. We were to take a diversion at Bhoopalpatnam to Venkatapuram and cross the Godavari to join the National Highway 202 to Hyderabad enroute Eturunagaram and Warangal. The ride out of Jagdalpur was exciting as the well built, wide road allowed us to cruise at a good speed without a single pothole or speed breaker. We crossed Sosanpal and came close to the Kothavalasa- Kirandul railway line. We were confident of touching Gidam, about 45km away in the next half hour. It took us 3 hours. About 20 km after Sosanpal, the smooth road turned into a minefield of mud and slush. A temporary aberration was what we thought as we spied a board stating that the highway was under construction by the Border Roads Organization. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz8JfPbaGps2v4eWbuZpbsSwc9phf5ISyIbk1uFLQ7FFDV9r2fCX7rWdzz9P3JlRqidN6rRIVx0Gesz7G0TqHNPIOWufC5OXV1skVT0XTulK0U2u2T6b4h9iuf6DxaUr_lajY/s1600-h/IMG_1392.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105351441590297250" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz8JfPbaGps2v4eWbuZpbsSwc9phf5ISyIbk1uFLQ7FFDV9r2fCX7rWdzz9P3JlRqidN6rRIVx0Gesz7G0TqHNPIOWufC5OXV1skVT0XTulK0U2u2T6b4h9iuf6DxaUr_lajY/s200/IMG_1392.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The aberration lasted all the way till Gidam that tested the mettle of our car. Post Gidam, the road switched between bad to terrible as we tried our best restrain our frustration and the traction of our car. The presence of gun-toting para-military men on patrol (looking for Maoists) and the increasing forestry did not help us with our confidence either. A consolation was the virgin landscape draped in hues of green. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNolaia6I_ypeoAu6qkNElkC_euSbeeQbRkttZnP9v1KyBhe8w23GCrxa-M0D4ZurkdLdufnuATxBepLoUNxMHDUYw6Nenz-8c_38yuVms-F0Ds97FTzEZ_DQrtW5GqPkyd6qN/s1600-h/IMG_0008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105352571166696130" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNolaia6I_ypeoAu6qkNElkC_euSbeeQbRkttZnP9v1KyBhe8w23GCrxa-M0D4ZurkdLdufnuATxBepLoUNxMHDUYw6Nenz-8c_38yuVms-F0Ds97FTzEZ_DQrtW5GqPkyd6qN/s200/IMG_0008.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />10 Km from Bhoopalpatnam, a group of travellers on a Scorpio coming down the road finally made us wiser. They told us that NH16 does not exist yet! It has been under construction for more than 10 years and almost abandoned. The milestones indicating the distance to Nizamabad were all wrong. There was no bridge across the Indravati to help us cross into AP. Worse, the detour we were supposed to take at Bhoopalpatnam did not exist either thanks to the lack of a bridge across a couple of rivulets that were in spate thanks to monsoon. Had it been summer, we could have waded through the shallow waters. They advised us to turn back immediately and head back to Gidam and from there to Dantewara. It was not safe in tyhese parts as the day wore off. We cursed our luck, the government of Chattishgarh, the Eicher Road Atlas, the Maoists and for a good measure, the town of Jagdalpur where none warned us about this. We had just travelled 200 Km on a road that does not exist! We turned back and headed for Gidam, braving the rain and the slush, rescuing the car a couple of times from the mud using physical force. We hit gidam just before nightfall and reached Danewada where we spent the night.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIswv5BjVDR_m1irLKYug_GU6QEL8NYcrV9TwLHZdL22GFV-rneDw0gi-LRP2OXgIUnb0nzInKTKImzK_mmA1t-W1gyjn9IU2g28J30qs2Bgu03K4DzZO3TfwKspTyT09S1U9a/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105353056498000594" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIswv5BjVDR_m1irLKYug_GU6QEL8NYcrV9TwLHZdL22GFV-rneDw0gi-LRP2OXgIUnb0nzInKTKImzK_mmA1t-W1gyjn9IU2g28J30qs2Bgu03K4DzZO3TfwKspTyT09S1U9a/s200/IMG_0001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong>Day 4</strong><br />The next day, we took the road to Bailadilla which was in great shape and diverted to the road to Sukma to meet the same highway we had entered Chattishgarh on. By 2 PM we were at Bhadrachalam, in one piece. Thus ended our tour of Bastar. Next time, we shall make discreet enquiries about the road conditions before we rely on road atlases! </div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-5552869442514631972007-07-10T04:24:00.000+05:302007-08-09T03:33:39.672+05:30Dorabavi ViaductThese are some hastily snapped pictures of the erstwhile Dorabavi viaduct. I snapped them on TV while it was being shown in a movie.<br /><br />This Viaduct was opened for metre gauge traffic in the year 1887 and was a part of the former Metre Gauge route between Guntur and Guntakal. A hallmark of engineering, the viaduct was built somewhere between Diguvametta and Chelama on the Nandyal - Giddalur Section in those days.<br /><br />There was a major realignment of the route during gauge conversion which took the new Broad gauge line away from this spot. The viaduct was abandoned and later dismantled. Sadly, it does not exisit anymore.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9kEwFXpRTBtVyVqSziOzq8VLqsgcPxujtPV7FDjo1Rlsd42chb0fatVKLs7z8FQSHyBxXD19iFy_UQ9us2lt6D3sdSZ8YPvrfO9nKdMkOMKaVxuxC9FsSbDotj5cW0g1yldV/s1600-h/dorabavi+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085335296597315218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9kEwFXpRTBtVyVqSziOzq8VLqsgcPxujtPV7FDjo1Rlsd42chb0fatVKLs7z8FQSHyBxXD19iFy_UQ9us2lt6D3sdSZ8YPvrfO9nKdMkOMKaVxuxC9FsSbDotj5cW0g1yldV/s400/dorabavi+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjampvYLb2Q6l6pDypsKNcZymM0nKyQke9FINkAHA5n1GTengC1aOwA4BI7AkyUTUiZ4p3ewtT4OEXsTT73ZyxH-Qn8GpXer9Jx_V95YyExQULNAqUG8W1x4aDByO6Q96yRvwBn/s1600-h/dorabavi+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085335927957507746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjampvYLb2Q6l6pDypsKNcZymM0nKyQke9FINkAHA5n1GTengC1aOwA4BI7AkyUTUiZ4p3ewtT4OEXsTT73ZyxH-Qn8GpXer9Jx_V95YyExQULNAqUG8W1x4aDByO6Q96yRvwBn/s400/dorabavi+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03r-qJbZK29-edyldAmFsok3rb6h5GtgriyLdobBpSaDYPeY2K9PoudD0shyfgLaN7-_crZ3CgUEXHOvmdQdz0UpAXASeBvVlsPh50PcjljRqTx3SCvxPXjhV9mlpbjQTOItI/s1600-h/dorabavi+5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085337766203510450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03r-qJbZK29-edyldAmFsok3rb6h5GtgriyLdobBpSaDYPeY2K9PoudD0shyfgLaN7-_crZ3CgUEXHOvmdQdz0UpAXASeBvVlsPh50PcjljRqTx3SCvxPXjhV9mlpbjQTOItI/s400/dorabavi+5.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-89212371048339562812007-04-17T12:52:00.000+05:302007-08-09T03:23:28.076+05:30Little Rail Bus - Bull Run II<span style="color:#000000;"><strong><u>Shimoga - Talguppa Rail Bus. April 14, 2007</u></strong><br /></span><div><br /><div><div><strong><u><span style="color:#000000;"></span></u></strong></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ccffff;">I did it again. I travelled on the Shimoga - Talguppa rail bus for the second time. The last time I did it was in 2004 . This time, I travelled on it with a group of 8 others. I could not have photographs the last time and instead wrote a long and nice </span><a href="http://reunny.blogspot.com/2006/03/bull-run.html"><span style="color:#ccffff;">trip report</span></a><span style="color:#ccffff;">. This time I keep the words short and say it with pictures.</span></div><div><span style="color:#ccffff;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ccffff;">All photos are by Bharath Moro except where indicated.</span></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD9p-aaZGoA5feOoVNA3bRsfkXvhcKBleziNYpnrXajoNJ6HvAcU7sJSFrD0j_WKTQgdpghxc2p_R5GOoiWhQG44cGkUqrc7u0g1MPLlZqXZPWTY4hr5z-waqvlxvQc2lvwDV/s1600-h/IMG_0859.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054316662671708354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD9p-aaZGoA5feOoVNA3bRsfkXvhcKBleziNYpnrXajoNJ6HvAcU7sJSFrD0j_WKTQgdpghxc2p_R5GOoiWhQG44cGkUqrc7u0g1MPLlZqXZPWTY4hr5z-waqvlxvQc2lvwDV/s400/IMG_0859.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>Tucked away in a corner of Shimoga railway station is the sole and tiny platform for the Metre Gauge Rail Bus. The bus is an articulated one with a trailing cab. It is a typical Ashok Leyland bus with an internal combustion Hino engine. Braking is however a vacuum affair.</div><br /><br /><p></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9xO-VSb0ZOjRY37tmm14bL5lqMd9e4eRgh7uqpbR8iCbKVgPWSD4Ni3XtWpYIyXEn0dJzWdbU6hMknAmF4TomkJtVsYUjt2Nr_bbl-xzEJJUxgtedBPa6yIl5LrjB9uK3non/s1600-h/IMG_0871.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054316473693147314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9xO-VSb0ZOjRY37tmm14bL5lqMd9e4eRgh7uqpbR8iCbKVgPWSD4Ni3XtWpYIyXEn0dJzWdbU6hMknAmF4TomkJtVsYUjt2Nr_bbl-xzEJJUxgtedBPa6yIl5LrjB9uK3non/s400/IMG_0871.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The bus has the typical steel rail wheels. The controls are similar to a normal bus except for the lack of a steering wheel. The horn is typical bus type except that it is an air horn like a normal locomotive mounted on the top. The rail bus cab also has a sander. Seen here are the two lights on before departure. The time is 6.20 AM and the lights are not required. They are put on just for the photograph.<br /><br /></div><div><div></div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3pm0pgk8-LsLBof5XHXQxMgdJSjH-Hlbr_i15YNAAYSivPZIL9-E_UnnMNcrcbFiz_8LCGZJZhyphenhyphen-W5KIp5nliv9JGlUKyPgJK0Uv7SRYPKfuZWLoMT5jw9zS281wKWxOe7qe/s1600-h/IMG_0875.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054316039901450402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3pm0pgk8-LsLBof5XHXQxMgdJSjH-Hlbr_i15YNAAYSivPZIL9-E_UnnMNcrcbFiz_8LCGZJZhyphenhyphen-W5KIp5nliv9JGlUKyPgJK0Uv7SRYPKfuZWLoMT5jw9zS281wKWxOe7qe/s400/IMG_0875.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We started to roll along the worn out tracks. The bus does not have the typical rail shock absorbers. Instead it has a leaf-spring absorber that is ineffective in absorbing the jerks. Seen here is the unique operation of gates. This line is quite basic with only one round trip service. hence there are no gatekeepers. The guard doubles as a gatekeeper. The bus slows down before each level crossing and the guard gets down to close the gates/stop traffic in case of gateless crossings. He then lets the bus pass the crossing and reopens the gates. The bus waits for him to return and then moves ahead.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR99_-jowBc-A6AALctqZI0DAl1N9oFunpLFGvaj_mcDr1UkqHSr_jD7FMqA8jHSHV9Oq3qFSKEUjI_p0ff6MslM7fBWRg4kpm3CLmk-R9-6CYg5RTpfU7XUMaPZ7jB5ZDyr_u/s1600-h/IMG_0905.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054315765023543442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR99_-jowBc-A6AALctqZI0DAl1N9oFunpLFGvaj_mcDr1UkqHSr_jD7FMqA8jHSHV9Oq3qFSKEUjI_p0ff6MslM7fBWRg4kpm3CLmk-R9-6CYg5RTpfU7XUMaPZ7jB5ZDyr_u/s400/IMG_0905.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The line is quite old and passes through some variety of terrain. Hence a lot of speed restrictions as seen in the photograph. There are a lot of steep gradients en route.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvPkPM5H0XkW4_307IkOa7wGjevaralIF8sVRHUSiN_1ohD790bQnCZZIe3FBB1BJK6AtS2J_b3m4EoVBn1pPbkauDPXQkqbMB1f19eFQrVXvm0WG3ky9t29oNsmf3ZcG5bzG/s1600-h/IMG_0895.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054315150843220098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvPkPM5H0XkW4_307IkOa7wGjevaralIF8sVRHUSiN_1ohD790bQnCZZIe3FBB1BJK6AtS2J_b3m4EoVBn1pPbkauDPXQkqbMB1f19eFQrVXvm0WG3ky9t29oNsmf3ZcG5bzG/s400/IMG_0895.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We reach Haranahalli the first stop as the sun rises. There are no proper platforms all along the route. Just little elevations. Years ago, normal trains used to ply this route behind steam locomotives. Stations have dilapidated ever since. but the little bus still has its patronage in the rural hinterland of Karnataka.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje09wSnuaSOAA5ISSlOZ7XZ59byshTQcoROxj2XISC1CdRv-aWzfOIJHB3wY534uBeWxFATV__JjTtSJuRlCKKojxGLYlmmP0Vh-eaAKVwVTRhLqfq6TiDpCcSZ6RLe1TswQj/s1600-h/IMG_0902.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054314807245836402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje09wSnuaSOAA5ISSlOZ7XZ59byshTQcoROxj2XISC1CdRv-aWzfOIJHB3wY534uBeWxFATV__JjTtSJuRlCKKojxGLYlmmP0Vh-eaAKVwVTRhLqfq6TiDpCcSZ6RLe1TswQj/s400/IMG_0902.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The bus is straight out of the 1960's. The line is more than 60 years old and bumpy. But the forest scenery rolling outside the windows is priceless. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sqbregRqT_ko7wwGfTm4QTqdidtq96o3F0hloi83Svc2k_HbeTYI-XJo9ooZ8z2SbaGVUPRIIKlHjwWzAht_xWtBhNh0BbpYdSSFLJ6f1-tKc9VcIkBEe7d5m6GjVNCh2lh4/s1600-h/IMG_0904.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054313639014731874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sqbregRqT_ko7wwGfTm4QTqdidtq96o3F0hloi83Svc2k_HbeTYI-XJo9ooZ8z2SbaGVUPRIIKlHjwWzAht_xWtBhNh0BbpYdSSFLJ6f1-tKc9VcIkBEe7d5m6GjVNCh2lh4/s400/IMG_0904.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Interiors are cramped and tiny but neat. Seen here is the guard who has to share seat with the passengers. Photo by Ranga<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCHaHDQVmrB4YK7htEumIShr-wGpsy5d-L5ml5Jjr28ZuYTUdGWr6rWAKBtbXyqpDdNsUuLbpS2CPkUvwP8VL03v7acVgstEh9GzHeuZLGWW-AS4hjhYBUuovK7lZk0w2O-Au/s1600-h/IMG_0917.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054313329777086546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCHaHDQVmrB4YK7htEumIShr-wGpsy5d-L5ml5Jjr28ZuYTUdGWr6rWAKBtbXyqpDdNsUuLbpS2CPkUvwP8VL03v7acVgstEh9GzHeuZLGWW-AS4hjhYBUuovK7lZk0w2O-Au/s400/IMG_0917.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It is April, well into typical South Indian summer. But the higher altitude of Malanad still affords some mist and fog. The weather is cool and fresh.<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk068uy8MsVPjbemDEhBVXGKtMBT-i8EPFgS9UueuhzwHc_6cNKt4NAiSyZbpvHVkNe6wgxHqLDOljqcxfshkyU7WwSdTiPiUU9V67AcXkkqTwccL3H0QI-uoltVFxmVWBiGKK/s1600-h/IMG_0919.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054312565272907842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk068uy8MsVPjbemDEhBVXGKtMBT-i8EPFgS9UueuhzwHc_6cNKt4NAiSyZbpvHVkNe6wgxHqLDOljqcxfshkyU7WwSdTiPiUU9V67AcXkkqTwccL3H0QI-uoltVFxmVWBiGKK/s400/IMG_0919.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Visibility is just about adequate. Malanad is a rain-fed countryside. It rains quite often here and that is the reason for the evergreen forests in the countryside.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-qMVebdOuxlpLWCROfGYrc8ThqR5BJWgrfH6dmsAv-pblUcAdusrYQ-tSQLV9VLUeFr_TWgQwGvzTDk5FvnZ5PflGTUHszgmtWF5YxcuUONLeV7w5wNeuS3JKyXkU16ZMpR2/s1600-h/IMG_0920.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054312075646636082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-qMVebdOuxlpLWCROfGYrc8ThqR5BJWgrfH6dmsAv-pblUcAdusrYQ-tSQLV9VLUeFr_TWgQwGvzTDk5FvnZ5PflGTUHszgmtWF5YxcuUONLeV7w5wNeuS3JKyXkU16ZMpR2/s400/IMG_0920.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A view from the driver's cab of the rail bus. The mist adds to the excitement of this little railway.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKynhEx5LNc997qGkA10ssgNWypZst0sqWX2FOKW4VSzccNEcbBKiP647vDr8eiZ63-MX5I8S8zyAYlk9hYBsBXSlVJOw0nnUd2HA6UQPs7w86K-XKFsFlO-7q6IVCZd6luzR5/s1600-h/IMG_0922.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054311736344219682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKynhEx5LNc997qGkA10ssgNWypZst0sqWX2FOKW4VSzccNEcbBKiP647vDr8eiZ63-MX5I8S8zyAYlk9hYBsBXSlVJOw0nnUd2HA6UQPs7w86K-XKFsFlO-7q6IVCZd6luzR5/s400/IMG_0922.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kenchanahallu at 7:45 AM. We are halfway between Shimoga and Talguppa. This is a 'tea-halt'. the crew takes a break for some breakfast and tea. Kenchanahallu is a beautiful station along a state road. the road passes right through the station. Photo by Ranga<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1IqRti0m-cvzf5Le5DJArzi2aByWgY8QoXR5ObnN6I8GXtt3lKZmdw5aWAvnV7dMKwwmfuqy64PwSnM8h3GFmHEyMKw6Fp03V4qRGq32NnnBVRfQ8PXaYU1elS6pjLPyHt2B/s1600-h/IMG_0924.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054311409926705170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1IqRti0m-cvzf5Le5DJArzi2aByWgY8QoXR5ObnN6I8GXtt3lKZmdw5aWAvnV7dMKwwmfuqy64PwSnM8h3GFmHEyMKw6Fp03V4qRGq32NnnBVRfQ8PXaYU1elS6pjLPyHt2B/s400/IMG_0924.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The passengers take a break along with the crew at this tiny station. Photo by Ranga<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMPuTSS9sQgcpanpzB7KfBqZZ2LPpFB4B5iR2nThp-m6L9PtCzrepJbjObWWUHapGirRwZ3s82NtPHCX7m1OCmk5lA2VHauavr5WhQdSZsgyQddIiOzhHzCXBEBBy-N0wtkDP/s1600-h/IMG_0928.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054311135048798210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMPuTSS9sQgcpanpzB7KfBqZZ2LPpFB4B5iR2nThp-m6L9PtCzrepJbjObWWUHapGirRwZ3s82NtPHCX7m1OCmk5lA2VHauavr5WhQdSZsgyQddIiOzhHzCXBEBBy-N0wtkDP/s400/IMG_0928.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kenchanahallu is amidst tall and shady trees. It is all quite and peaceful here. Photo by Ranga<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPbUF_IPrdMeHnQ7EC_Fk6TiThsEpbbFW1A1VxabuJXPI1hceP5beE7XaymcgRuS2ve6ZjcBpbjI2IrrtvHPflPEB3x5ahbrFdEcpNLBuLUfKyrvnHgKpmzKJNm5aCVfv3b9O/s1600-h/IMG_0929.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054309958227759090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPbUF_IPrdMeHnQ7EC_Fk6TiThsEpbbFW1A1VxabuJXPI1hceP5beE7XaymcgRuS2ve6ZjcBpbjI2IrrtvHPflPEB3x5ahbrFdEcpNLBuLUfKyrvnHgKpmzKJNm5aCVfv3b9O/s400/IMG_0929.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We take the opportunity to have some refreshments ourselves. We followed the crew to this little hut next to the station that provided us delicious idlis and hot tea. Photo by Ranga<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-dM0-2hKSUfmZxgQ3_6Ke6fS7nSJkjD001jzceEnhAgoyr8dnSn7EhmhJy28Wke_mj1dpE4JAK28yhTzKm-lHGgFnLyPOOWPs0NGmmNo_Jez8FGC_2ae7keTAhDuPj0_1-X5/s1600-h/IMG_0941.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054308931730575330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-dM0-2hKSUfmZxgQ3_6Ke6fS7nSJkjD001jzceEnhAgoyr8dnSn7EhmhJy28Wke_mj1dpE4JAK28yhTzKm-lHGgFnLyPOOWPs0NGmmNo_Jez8FGC_2ae7keTAhDuPj0_1-X5/s400/IMG_0941.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We resumed our journey after a while. Seen here is the guard operating the gates and running back to the train blowing his whistle to indicate Proceed. Seen here is the National Highway from Bangalore to Honnavar. Photo by Ranga</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7WWwI5paOnt2x2txZIYF-fMmA6rJ0e0iVKyj9NM-Bq_iVCdr582zsos9NsyeIO5EwYjpnvIg3TAYF4e9cEJUVHI2uh-OgAhpjUWixBuCyyHBVLH2lkxMb88E0eXyoeFFoZfG/s1600-h/IMG_0946.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054308467874107346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7WWwI5paOnt2x2txZIYF-fMmA6rJ0e0iVKyj9NM-Bq_iVCdr582zsos9NsyeIO5EwYjpnvIg3TAYF4e9cEJUVHI2uh-OgAhpjUWixBuCyyHBVLH2lkxMb88E0eXyoeFFoZfG/s400/IMG_0946.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Adderi is a quiet and earthy station with big trees in the middle of some woods. An old lady and her grand-daughter walk away into the village. Photo by Ranga<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWx_poEG30n5OFU8C69qpEiRHa5-H6F_2HGF8deO5i5RX1ebLcQxl_MVJ0By53DpzWqPWaspHeEhjlRVNd0ys8UGBrkCwojtRn4WjpAVk2jm08xL_XbxCVLDJicVtK8VMytt1/s1600-h/IMG_0955.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054306990405357506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWx_poEG30n5OFU8C69qpEiRHa5-H6F_2HGF8deO5i5RX1ebLcQxl_MVJ0By53DpzWqPWaspHeEhjlRVNd0ys8UGBrkCwojtRn4WjpAVk2jm08xL_XbxCVLDJicVtK8VMytt1/s400/IMG_0955.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We are now approaching Sagar, the biggest town in these parts and also the biggest station.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxFdhmqioUs3oJhfKiOUri3CsWtEozdLhING-UsHNbEW_O0OKmGJ8cgNtewjvxN1ObIA7ZvPWq66uCiWVOPYQYh0h5i8qDt9SCAEdZqezAmPo4bCBuPfNbKP6tna7AFP3Pumf/s1600-h/IMG_0967.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054338326486749410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxFdhmqioUs3oJhfKiOUri3CsWtEozdLhING-UsHNbEW_O0OKmGJ8cgNtewjvxN1ObIA7ZvPWq66uCiWVOPYQYh0h5i8qDt9SCAEdZqezAmPo4bCBuPfNbKP6tna7AFP3Pumf/s400/IMG_0967.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sagar (Jambagaru) railway station is a grand building, almost abandoned now. It used to have retiring rooms before. Despite its age, it still stands strong and beautiful reminding one of the days of the Raj.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbkrvG1FStBJo6MWcmwI-fW8_g7ieGbgLhB6qUyVAdbRWgffmCeKoYj1ErwX2AsMcxaHLnED1hUU7osBZ8dMjBsqQNnuBHIQxa0GJBaMTm2HazQaNgvSQq8hKPiW5H_4XTebS/s1600-h/IMG_0975.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054305500051705762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbkrvG1FStBJo6MWcmwI-fW8_g7ieGbgLhB6qUyVAdbRWgffmCeKoYj1ErwX2AsMcxaHLnED1hUU7osBZ8dMjBsqQNnuBHIQxa0GJBaMTm2HazQaNgvSQq8hKPiW5H_4XTebS/s400/IMG_0975.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>The empty space beside the station used to host a number of loop lines long ago, now dismantled. Sagar was a major station and goods yard in the olden days. The rail-bus stopped for 15 minutes here.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmosduAKWIhiQ0C4tG3_N5zC5DRlQk2bLWdu6e6lQuH0WB-D31H5jEY0Cp46BfK2Rh2CArf0Cx95NkawxKb5fVz0hajGRlRz5XCfO8i3IAiZtkpAeGhYWF44o_mgNMymxKQcU/s1600-h/IMG_0982.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054303846489296786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmosduAKWIhiQ0C4tG3_N5zC5DRlQk2bLWdu6e6lQuH0WB-D31H5jEY0Cp46BfK2Rh2CArf0Cx95NkawxKb5fVz0hajGRlRz5XCfO8i3IAiZtkpAeGhYWF44o_mgNMymxKQcU/s400/IMG_0982.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A lttile distance from Sagar was the Section Engineer's office which displayed teh history of this line as seen here. RRB - Birur. SME- Shimoga. SMET- Shimoga Town; ARU-Arasallu; ANF-Anandapuram; SRF-Sagar Jambagaru; TLGP-Talguppa. This line is up for broad gauge conversion and that would mean the end of this rail bus. But mericifully, the scenery would remain.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULbHsIT3dB4ah-CpSWsK_xuCzsC0ZkKs0qWKDCN8KB7W0WXVW0Toq6Nk4pUIyRH5QO7-gDJ2O-PpD8kmRCEEyhRhzkU7h1oI8jQ9fRWEYGFEPR13h4Yz4an4J8gm4DWhVlXC/s1600-h/IMG_0988.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054302725502832498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULbHsIT3dB4ah-CpSWsK_xuCzsC0ZkKs0qWKDCN8KB7W0WXVW0Toq6Nk4pUIyRH5QO7-gDJ2O-PpD8kmRCEEyhRhzkU7h1oI8jQ9fRWEYGFEPR13h4Yz4an4J8gm4DWhVlXC/s400/IMG_0988.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Interestingly, the station is called Sagar Jambagaru while town is called just Sagar. A nice pic by Bharath Moro.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfDnd6ZzyzPAtt9ZN4jGUskm7OZbIUJy0O5KbtNddal4ud4N0yelAUcUqAORDvahR8s2ZfB5N8eTwOgvxtGXBv3cxFf0IoyP2uPLVS8QQIPTzIdfauVqT8NBEMA57EqB9OspN/s1600-h/IMG_0994.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054302437740023650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfDnd6ZzyzPAtt9ZN4jGUskm7OZbIUJy0O5KbtNddal4ud4N0yelAUcUqAORDvahR8s2ZfB5N8eTwOgvxtGXBv3cxFf0IoyP2uPLVS8QQIPTzIdfauVqT8NBEMA57EqB9OspN/s400/IMG_0994.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>VSP takes a respite. He has a facewash at the only water closet at Sagar station, which, surprisingly is working. Photo by Ranga.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPuvOQHk-OTi-alGM_xUB34U-RntrDJe1_Jyyk0PetDNvww3HwWCkhvGkkeJBb4OdFzQsWp2aFaPwJoq3LkQGcKVdjuLY-BTtv-nyjwxyCwnnL1vdrjxZaFe3AFUbEN9L92QR/s1600-h/IMG_0996.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054302248761462610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPuvOQHk-OTi-alGM_xUB34U-RntrDJe1_Jyyk0PetDNvww3HwWCkhvGkkeJBb4OdFzQsWp2aFaPwJoq3LkQGcKVdjuLY-BTtv-nyjwxyCwnnL1vdrjxZaFe3AFUbEN9L92QR/s400/IMG_0996.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The commercial goods transported on the rail-bus - cane baskets meant for some village market. Photo by Ranga.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUy4PI5sRL9X1L318mbGDS54tTk1wBFs3lFfj73k9zivaOywGncg9cq7ERiRmT1y7RuvyKPlpQOYFFNYAwJQUnkr72lw-zq7iV9crg4xpKjKpYSQ9-twkoksuh_jVy7qub8j3/s1600-h/IMG_0997.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054302051192966978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUy4PI5sRL9X1L318mbGDS54tTk1wBFs3lFfj73k9zivaOywGncg9cq7ERiRmT1y7RuvyKPlpQOYFFNYAwJQUnkr72lw-zq7iV9crg4xpKjKpYSQ9-twkoksuh_jVy7qub8j3/s400/IMG_0997.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The sign on the top of the door says "Nimma tale Hecharike" or "Take care of your head" in Kannada. vivek Pillay seems to be just aware while Lakshman (right) is more cautious. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2BcP7mRONzDxs9WNtr_AQQjEMef0eKSTAruHCZTxgPBrabXy16IMlZTzdOkXSzTTZG5Jqq20Scb_xj57-EUaJxUbWLlnEwR7R6b86Onm6M0WItYlwA58kLJmkaoFivjT4fpx/s1600-h/IMG_0999.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054328271968309458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2BcP7mRONzDxs9WNtr_AQQjEMef0eKSTAruHCZTxgPBrabXy16IMlZTzdOkXSzTTZG5Jqq20Scb_xj57-EUaJxUbWLlnEwR7R6b86Onm6M0WItYlwA58kLJmkaoFivjT4fpx/s400/IMG_0999.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We approach our destination: Talguppa, the terminus of this line. </div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtcMRow7MroDUdn6L7wsElJ10yjzPettsLEdcWITrWNqbOSfQtJwCHgf3nwb1K7VaBvbgzySjTlS-QsBkKw9zqFUne90vz5a3m5U0gw5BpV9-spXSElKrcewP03knjBoVbrh-/s1600-h/IMG_1003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054301016105848610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtcMRow7MroDUdn6L7wsElJ10yjzPettsLEdcWITrWNqbOSfQtJwCHgf3nwb1K7VaBvbgzySjTlS-QsBkKw9zqFUne90vz5a3m5U0gw5BpV9-spXSElKrcewP03knjBoVbrh-/s400/IMG_1003.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>Talguppa has a quite and serene atmosphere thanks to all those trees and a quaint old building that is surprisingly neat and tidy.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGXPrvcTLWLeioyp5BrmRIKxAdeeqSbnG_3QVDMKcQNz0m7nmnyhyxsWaQsyAQMhisSY_mRgkUad3UBQShweGauwWYR_yCvv9uOnj3ICXrfBZkkuJticFG8vs3od_ZvfA8oJJ/s1600-h/IMG_1004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054300509299707666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGXPrvcTLWLeioyp5BrmRIKxAdeeqSbnG_3QVDMKcQNz0m7nmnyhyxsWaQsyAQMhisSY_mRgkUad3UBQShweGauwWYR_yCvv9uOnj3ICXrfBZkkuJticFG8vs3od_ZvfA8oJJ/s400/IMG_1004.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>It is 10:30 Am now. The bus will return to Shimoga at 5:20 PM. Before that the cab of the bus has to be reversed and attached on the other side of the trailer car.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ8r-LIpmwFe2okVbrI6Ns_yl7iSOF0PFp_A2skxD5M5AdQXO8F68JYrGGr7L6VrshejDPARjNiccQeQxsmYqgXbjIhYgtUAtSnyA0ZQHb7xyTRm4U9mH6IzUC6IV7kkGZKGJ/s1600-h/IMG_1007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054341436043071746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ8r-LIpmwFe2okVbrI6Ns_yl7iSOF0PFp_A2skxD5M5AdQXO8F68JYrGGr7L6VrshejDPARjNiccQeQxsmYqgXbjIhYgtUAtSnyA0ZQHb7xyTRm4U9mH6IzUC6IV7kkGZKGJ/s400/IMG_1007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The driving cab is detached and taken to a branch line by switching the tracks manually. Seen here is the manual switch that is fast disappearing all over India being replaced by automated switches. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbPCIl7Ga08y3oGbtbdTtusLXk18mQRKt5KeI7YaU4kia_gOqbX6yFSGj-idnh-vx0bxKxq7s9PFqG1oyXPUJZyAt9hOk38y5OUQIO0N961xQ-ULKyqok0Vb6UYeB58fhrgc3/s1600-h/IMG_1063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054342844792344850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbPCIl7Ga08y3oGbtbdTtusLXk18mQRKt5KeI7YaU4kia_gOqbX6yFSGj-idnh-vx0bxKxq7s9PFqG1oyXPUJZyAt9hOk38y5OUQIO0N961xQ-ULKyqok0Vb6UYeB58fhrgc3/s400/IMG_1063.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>A closer look at the switching device, which has key to prevent accidental switching.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZyNJWzPvpYZjaCijPq2Jqa3tydrmzDxX60q6zADXzYPtDyLHytYstx9uY7c1eVEeh_nGRIZDGAzBrfQByQrn_b7KKfokGV7zS6doRpX29PU0J1teKiCu_Au2aW7hPtSjImwk/s1600-h/IMG_1014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054299822104940290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZyNJWzPvpYZjaCijPq2Jqa3tydrmzDxX60q6zADXzYPtDyLHytYstx9uY7c1eVEeh_nGRIZDGAzBrfQByQrn_b7KKfokGV7zS6doRpX29PU0J1teKiCu_Au2aW7hPtSjImwk/s400/IMG_1014.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The driving cab is taken to the end of the branch line to a tiny turn table. The cab is placed on it to reverse its direction.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIu2hQkyRafA9M5QeczZwexDVdpmuse_vSgUEq07G0wpyj6iTAxwFWzZtIP9eYe1HbnN0g6LVOsgqgukPC0BoM0wX5E9G-rXX5Ai6u769LpZAmvhOh0K-vlnRytmjTfZUuk13/s1600-h/IMG_1018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054299001766186738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIu2hQkyRafA9M5QeczZwexDVdpmuse_vSgUEq07G0wpyj6iTAxwFWzZtIP9eYe1HbnN0g6LVOsgqgukPC0BoM0wX5E9G-rXX5Ai6u769LpZAmvhOh0K-vlnRytmjTfZUuk13/s400/IMG_1018.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The crew is pushing the cab around to reverse its driving direction. Since the bus is very light, the crew simply pushed it onto the table using their hands. The turntable rotates on a set of bearings and is easy enough to be operated manually.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlMpSmqoyiM6euq2-jcmzrngDXoj5CJjKnRFbQA2AaB5f7jU1cztTGAK59rrz_Y6ty0AfipaJjt7Wp2W1Z-wXtLMy8hqUYRYLuZfU6mTDJNDybbYJHWa-qZ9cxVxdF5UJSBzS/s1600-h/IMG_1040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054298348931157730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlMpSmqoyiM6euq2-jcmzrngDXoj5CJjKnRFbQA2AaB5f7jU1cztTGAK59rrz_Y6ty0AfipaJjt7Wp2W1Z-wXtLMy8hqUYRYLuZfU6mTDJNDybbYJHWa-qZ9cxVxdF5UJSBzS/s400/IMG_1040.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The found it easy to push it clockwise.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_vM9Vn2tDt7MmPccXp4gY2kaJNZkDtymSJqqFU3S9ng-u_WNgH4OBFbR2zcP2wZ2h6NCjmh70EN2NLsWkz4QH9fr0xXhxDGqGgBEXz8M3KCwh4yUqs583QGF7akdrm5-ZD2Z/s1600-h/IMG_1056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054298052578414290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_vM9Vn2tDt7MmPccXp4gY2kaJNZkDtymSJqqFU3S9ng-u_WNgH4OBFbR2zcP2wZ2h6NCjmh70EN2NLsWkz4QH9fr0xXhxDGqGgBEXz8M3KCwh4yUqs583QGF7akdrm5-ZD2Z/s400/IMG_1056.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The cab is now reversed. It is ready to resume its lead position in the return trip.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceB3pce5l8USP05ySq4MLjJcpviJZauy6WBzAuo2bs0F8svZeNXNRmT-itXe5kLtfffrgaC2YzAt-trf9ZTGiNOoyR59JcsIp-zAEymiaQVNJAgXcUnbxOm2a8qC2Jy2QfZkw/s1600-h/IMG_1057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054297481347763906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceB3pce5l8USP05ySq4MLjJcpviJZauy6WBzAuo2bs0F8svZeNXNRmT-itXe5kLtfffrgaC2YzAt-trf9ZTGiNOoyR59JcsIp-zAEymiaQVNJAgXcUnbxOm2a8qC2Jy2QfZkw/s400/IMG_1057.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The trailer cab hasdbeen pushed onto a switch line, the switch operated by a manual lever. Now the driving cab will be pushed back to attach it to the trailer.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7uveIahYh9GMuL94B0Cxo6sDXRtizI9EUF8C0zDvybyAmfeistpnRtJsECCk5Ybyy9-HDewfeZTlbFbnoe-ZXJ7QzmAGTLX2B2X7kiaSyprhUYgv2V6wr5bN8rlHfSTxydQm/s1600-h/IMG_1060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054296729728487090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7uveIahYh9GMuL94B0Cxo6sDXRtizI9EUF8C0zDvybyAmfeistpnRtJsECCk5Ybyy9-HDewfeZTlbFbnoe-ZXJ7QzmAGTLX2B2X7kiaSyprhUYgv2V6wr5bN8rlHfSTxydQm/s400/IMG_1060.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The trailer and driving cab are hitched together.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKeClddcCbQbYelhJ_OO3uYF1PN50MyfQAjLDuvz5cdJN02IWiZs8tJMyxzM5bBElkuzxlgDjjgL36gwToVckaSrd5vXX5QhKsbZkgwzQLpwsi5Qzgny5YA_qWdLSYfF4zvi1/s1600-h/IMG_1062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054295780540714658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKeClddcCbQbYelhJ_OO3uYF1PN50MyfQAjLDuvz5cdJN02IWiZs8tJMyxzM5bBElkuzxlgDjjgL36gwToVckaSrd5vXX5QhKsbZkgwzQLpwsi5Qzgny5YA_qWdLSYfF4zvi1/s400/IMG_1062.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The formation is brought back to the platform where it will rest till evening. The crew retire into the woods to take a well deserved nap and rest.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_aHsc07acM4OLXafFvTrM3YoPBkbZS2jK3xXqxReqPJpaso9mxl9WwPBM8YVoBuTjvUQGItdTxivRnlEIbnV5DKuoOd0kbyDBDjwsnGhYTSpsRVZjzNZ0Kj2J9gGKMba0WrG/s1600-h/IMG_1001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054301492847218482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_aHsc07acM4OLXafFvTrM3YoPBkbZS2jK3xXqxReqPJpaso9mxl9WwPBM8YVoBuTjvUQGItdTxivRnlEIbnV5DKuoOd0kbyDBDjwsnGhYTSpsRVZjzNZ0Kj2J9gGKMba0WrG/s400/IMG_1001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The team at Talguppa by the bus (before reversal). L-R: Colin Peter, Lakshman, Tejender Reddy, Assistant Loco Pilot, V Srinivas Prasad, Vivek Pillay, Praveen PVS, Bizzy Mishra and Bharath Moro. Squatting - yours truly.<br /><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_RIMKbwVBnYF4jjzyg-LV97r4k0xEcEaljDENXpBt7owM3-nDww-7KWCeKSzdP8vqzE2P1zNp_5xXoPeivYjAhfjnAfv-WlTWSN4e16YTNm-6LcLJYOrJPgkg-_M2mDaC7Lv/s1600-h/IMG_1065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054295342454050450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_RIMKbwVBnYF4jjzyg-LV97r4k0xEcEaljDENXpBt7owM3-nDww-7KWCeKSzdP8vqzE2P1zNp_5xXoPeivYjAhfjnAfv-WlTWSN4e16YTNm-6LcLJYOrJPgkg-_M2mDaC7Lv/s400/IMG_1065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Talguppa station building is a neat and cool place straight from the 1940's. It has an interesting architecture that is well maintained. Seen here are the two ticket windows. Surprising for a small station of a small village that sees only one round service a day. But the station has a reservation quota to book on the 6228 Shimoga-Bangalore Express. One of my favourite stations. I just hope that gauge conversion does not see the end of this beautiful station.<br /><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-12554504242031744282007-03-24T21:43:00.000+05:302007-04-19T05:32:11.397+05:30Rolling the Curves<strong><u><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Vizag-Koraput-Rayagada-Vizag rail trip, February 5 and 6, 2007</span></u></strong><br /><br />This was a trip I was alays dreaming about. Having lived in the close vicinity of the legendary Kothavalasa-Kirandul line (KK Line) for almost 15 years, I never had an opportunity to take a ride on it. It was on February 5 , 2007 that I finally had my chance. VSP, Praveen and Bharath came down to Vizag from Hyderabad. Sridhar Joshi, Seshadri sir (Chechu), Swaminathan sir, Karthik and I came down from Chennai. We took the only passenger service to Kirandul early in the morning at 6.30 AM. We all piled into the First Class to get the best of the line.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbShyphenhyphenLn4a7KglzoiKCkDrcNeF3FG1XmrUbDGb94rhffg1mArJzJFAa1LL5X9sfH_yD68NLBQI0hAu4fI8X0WCMzJWguyZ-6Sy1MMcZuu50aAAAwhwKrCFYU8dsqgK__fdWGCkU/s1600-h/DSC00540.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047334152652895042" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbShyphenhyphenLn4a7KglzoiKCkDrcNeF3FG1XmrUbDGb94rhffg1mArJzJFAa1LL5X9sfH_yD68NLBQI0hAu4fI8X0WCMzJWguyZ-6Sy1MMcZuu50aAAAwhwKrCFYU8dsqgK__fdWGCkU/s400/DSC00540.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">It was a march of the electrics all along. The KK line is meant for transport of iron ore. Large freight trains hauled by three electric locomotives each ply this route all day. In a matter of 6 hours we passed almost 50 electric locos!</span><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDb7rtbGh_Y0DjqiX83THlCAOLZgopuB9KY7hQ33z538eNP-nsl-dOGpNoLmLj152mvePfgiaVlNJxwLUNPVviKfTd5KrNqux3Vbm3Usuyhi60OKkPgVTzMPgQRZsZ-RFyL06/s1600-h/DSC00497.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047322002190414626" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDb7rtbGh_Y0DjqiX83THlCAOLZgopuB9KY7hQ33z538eNP-nsl-dOGpNoLmLj152mvePfgiaVlNJxwLUNPVviKfTd5KrNqux3Vbm3Usuyhi60OKkPgVTzMPgQRZsZ-RFyL06/s400/DSC00497.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Vizag to Kothavalasa was along the Chennai-Howrah trunk route. We deviated towards the hills after Kothavalasa. It was a normal run until we reached Boddavara. The hills appeared and pretty soon, we were rolling along horseshoe curves in and out of numerous tunnels.<br /><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxJ2TZA4UQ8HK61DNBkdcju8L40R5-hlCwWRhxKkR8fdZPLyEiQbHPmM1rZ-q8vaihPcH6vsqYjZ_-4cECoqYgQOxQW6VZndK6IpOqtqLEh7oY3hBBIS6WXmGNJDfH4Ur4dTB/s1600-h/DSC00499.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047268705941238546" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxJ2TZA4UQ8HK61DNBkdcju8L40R5-hlCwWRhxKkR8fdZPLyEiQbHPmM1rZ-q8vaihPcH6vsqYjZ_-4cECoqYgQOxQW6VZndK6IpOqtqLEh7oY3hBBIS6WXmGNJDfH4Ur4dTB/s400/DSC00499.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;">Seen here is a tunnel that we are about to enter. We are on a horseshoe curve and could see the other end of the tunnel before we entered it.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynYA_K9NLenV_pzictMok7m78aTIWr80JZGovj4kiz2b7bMQXoVqiQGinwCHFVY8do_uQAECTtKNnQLF-ne8cEXOijpWudz0T-gq8jyovurkR0nGWRztinHsXuXTEzYNzxZl8/s1600-h/DSC00501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047266786090857218" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynYA_K9NLenV_pzictMok7m78aTIWr80JZGovj4kiz2b7bMQXoVqiQGinwCHFVY8do_uQAECTtKNnQLF-ne8cEXOijpWudz0T-gq8jyovurkR0nGWRztinHsXuXTEzYNzxZl8/s400/DSC00501.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the 52 tunnels on the KK line. A lot of people on maintenance work at the tunnels.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E46DldF7LWnO8OH_5UHloW02KTZVaBPEbe5zxl4Jg7nphFZBKw_2vpwZ_amsLJq0OUZfz4wYoNeggYEr1LABfZ4fMVCoTf0iILNR__UsOuwEZWW0GVruHytTZTydaXpR7yoM/s1600-h/DSC00513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047266279284716274" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E46DldF7LWnO8OH_5UHloW02KTZVaBPEbe5zxl4Jg7nphFZBKw_2vpwZ_amsLJq0OUZfz4wYoNeggYEr1LABfZ4fMVCoTf0iILNR__UsOuwEZWW0GVruHytTZTydaXpR7yoM/s400/DSC00513.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Tyada station. We were waiting for a freight train to pass us from the opposite direction and give us a clear way ahead.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSb5moOtoiv5JPQUDBILwVrM9sKhCdmrvl-bDQGe-KjHJ7eGrpnBphvhYbiIsM46wgocUd0uiAA28FU5obwhPpHtU28ppO13EweX96HpiYXeEJ5ELgWSZm9K7yK8G6PEqAEBB/s1600-h/DSC00516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047265222722761442" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSb5moOtoiv5JPQUDBILwVrM9sKhCdmrvl-bDQGe-KjHJ7eGrpnBphvhYbiIsM46wgocUd0uiAA28FU5obwhPpHtU28ppO13EweX96HpiYXeEJ5ELgWSZm9K7yK8G6PEqAEBB/s400/DSC00516.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The locomotive of our train, A WAG5. It is meant to haul freight trains on this line. The KK line was fully electrified in the 1980's.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nMpeK9RtpmD-sRzawhmiDlnLj2oDeNAVUdr2jMENN6IpHLcPOG8b1YpWJwDzjEuGZ4Znb_HFIKI4NxU9Uan-PxxEA-OT5e77P7ZeH0wvAFYvaJQBSNwpksZCUr1Dz5wEuV3S/s1600-h/DSC00520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047264707326685906" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nMpeK9RtpmD-sRzawhmiDlnLj2oDeNAVUdr2jMENN6IpHLcPOG8b1YpWJwDzjEuGZ4Znb_HFIKI4NxU9Uan-PxxEA-OT5e77P7ZeH0wvAFYvaJQBSNwpksZCUr1Dz5wEuV3S/s400/DSC00520.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the many interesting things we saw...an abandoned bridge. There must have been a realignment of the tracks here. Probably due to landslides.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6tncbLmKOLVMxedr_Z7D4B2h7L47ICSf2QMEXL1PI9x773tmsCAT4SujgQ9F8QuUO90j8Mstv4QhB9ylS6yyrzIlXiCee49iWzbJZoKI7uzGYoYyoNWxzzIycIr9GBwtgmmB/s1600-h/DSC00504.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047322182579041074" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6tncbLmKOLVMxedr_Z7D4B2h7L47ICSf2QMEXL1PI9x773tmsCAT4SujgQ9F8QuUO90j8Mstv4QhB9ylS6yyrzIlXiCee49iWzbJZoKI7uzGYoYyoNWxzzIycIr9GBwtgmmB/s400/DSC00504.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">An unusal site...a sole loco with a short load. This line ususally has king-size freights hauled by three locomotives.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg_XBhqkeg-BitERDbdGs01Y63qFOyNlXQQRoVnsnwSew0k8vu6kTy8VN7atOXZBS1nRXJMg1mzcR0Tk6sV_g6FauB1ve_M0cEg69vUuttEc3572aDMQ_ypR6mjDuQi5YAljn/s1600-h/DSC00523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047264088851395266" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg_XBhqkeg-BitERDbdGs01Y63qFOyNlXQQRoVnsnwSew0k8vu6kTy8VN7atOXZBS1nRXJMg1mzcR0Tk6sV_g6FauB1ve_M0cEg69vUuttEc3572aDMQ_ypR6mjDuQi5YAljn/s400/DSC00523.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the many exciting sharp curves in the hills. This one is close to Borra Caves station. The curve is a steep gradient and in minutes we reached a high altitude.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut3YaOvNd4IqlHeMrAmPGDDVnpRMWcUgP5Q-SO_FepT3lzxiBImL43PQMm3NubJea2sSvjSVF_36WTZT1OxBEVeLV0HFLqGMUrVu6ZTz0_i38UIuH-VX_3rNACwQ73PXmEcI9/s1600-h/DSC00528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047263594930156210" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut3YaOvNd4IqlHeMrAmPGDDVnpRMWcUgP5Q-SO_FepT3lzxiBImL43PQMm3NubJea2sSvjSVF_36WTZT1OxBEVeLV0HFLqGMUrVu6ZTz0_i38UIuH-VX_3rNACwQ73PXmEcI9/s400/DSC00528.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The only level crossing on the line upto Araku. This is a beautiful spot for a level crossing with trees and flowering plants all over. The road slopes down in a series of curves to this point and rises again.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0CVHvPlQqWHwY1ZYBpaD0K4tHxKFJvgpsCGPYSaAldS0J_WPjEEXEmk_wVmTZHQjMMZmGMRQk6hhyQJAPiJ2jvp3bUk9PD9-6R43W6VM2LQUtj207t4olPtsZsKlfHevIJ28/s1600-h/DSC00533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047263053764276898" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0CVHvPlQqWHwY1ZYBpaD0K4tHxKFJvgpsCGPYSaAldS0J_WPjEEXEmk_wVmTZHQjMMZmGMRQk6hhyQJAPiJ2jvp3bUk9PD9-6R43W6VM2LQUtj207t4olPtsZsKlfHevIJ28/s400/DSC00533.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The same level crossing seen from a distance... from the opposite side of the horseshoe curve that the line took. We are at a higher altitude thanks to the steep gradient of the curve.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60P2KWD79ltTsk5acem5vfUg3uq4BkP2P1fHqc-PaGDHTeGKvRQTfZq283MsW5gh6jOAbelTjrh_XEDHCTTZ0qi27T95gyG4VZ6MFAeI75-4gvr4oS0i6qLih84d5OK6PpbC5/s1600-h/DSC00537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047261705144545922" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60P2KWD79ltTsk5acem5vfUg3uq4BkP2P1fHqc-PaGDHTeGKvRQTfZq283MsW5gh6jOAbelTjrh_XEDHCTTZ0qi27T95gyG4VZ6MFAeI75-4gvr4oS0i6qLih84d5OK6PpbC5/s400/DSC00537.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The steep gradients brought us to the highest point on the line: Shimiliguda at 996.2 mts above sea level. The gradient from Kothavalasa to Shimilguda is at an average of 1:60. Shimiliguda was the highest broad gauge station in India until 2004. Surprisingly, Bangalore is at an altitude of 920 metres...only 76 metres less than Shimiliguda.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglHRnpI6wGj2swRAjYQJniOUjLR-rC29PUpPSbPPE110gK3NxTV3SUls9P6BoZkx3KjtQGKLs2D-O9HR29j9h4kjBm_nKEje8LAogZCnvN6sA9gDDh9HC5nIJ8Ute3rZ0HBRm/s1600-h/DSC00542.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047261035129647730" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglHRnpI6wGj2swRAjYQJniOUjLR-rC29PUpPSbPPE110gK3NxTV3SUls9P6BoZkx3KjtQGKLs2D-O9HR29j9h4kjBm_nKEje8LAogZCnvN6sA9gDDh9HC5nIJ8Ute3rZ0HBRm/s400/DSC00542.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sridhar Joshi and VSP relax after Araku. We had spent most of the hill section aty the door observing the route. Post Araku, the gradient levelled out.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk46EaS3yddla55u09X99Oeo-n3QzbrI3yWgEE90i4MoIKGTS9e5eWHxTrJPTjxS-6xVerLqBAyJ1l-89cNkHRYK-FcdrjwNMtGSm69ni5Je-SB-jua4k3c-MFyWnWKNU-w3E8/s1600-h/DSC00545.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046505913648523394" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk46EaS3yddla55u09X99Oeo-n3QzbrI3yWgEE90i4MoIKGTS9e5eWHxTrJPTjxS-6xVerLqBAyJ1l-89cNkHRYK-FcdrjwNMtGSm69ni5Je-SB-jua4k3c-MFyWnWKNU-w3E8/s400/DSC00545.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The train curves along the backwaters of the Machkund reservoir.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbBhpC0fhBcKVjRAlIrARo7JKnUOik9lCokxHb2_pyhU66cfFT27iZ46U1wIOgPT7kbU-J4RTkL6VNTSRazIVEbIYNIx-6xwgurURPcd3pCOF1E9foQ9HzD1DQ4Iu_G1CC4YX/s1600-h/DSC00546.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046505398252447858" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbBhpC0fhBcKVjRAlIrARo7JKnUOik9lCokxHb2_pyhU66cfFT27iZ46U1wIOgPT7kbU-J4RTkL6VNTSRazIVEbIYNIx-6xwgurURPcd3pCOF1E9foQ9HzD1DQ4Iu_G1CC4YX/s400/DSC00546.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We passed along river Kolab too.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yWvpxeL_rizjMGDGgrOFOrTwM58YsUssuLiqP1H1d3nhP4rfIx4XrGALzhXH6KDDugEWDF6zaIRyrk_htXGShKAIuRxEbmvA-r6_FtCQXkD4p-Cf2PTw5JoJy16HRhfXXto3/s1600-h/DSC00560.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046504900036241506" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yWvpxeL_rizjMGDGgrOFOrTwM58YsUssuLiqP1H1d3nhP4rfIx4XrGALzhXH6KDDugEWDF6zaIRyrk_htXGShKAIuRxEbmvA-r6_FtCQXkD4p-Cf2PTw5JoJy16HRhfXXto3/s400/DSC00560.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Post Koraput, we were once again up the grade into the hills, forests and the remaining of the 52 tunnels. This is the famous </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Maligura viaduct over the Maligura Nalla. This long and curved viaduct delivered us into yet another tunnel. this viaduct was pictured copiously for promotional material by Indian Railways.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0nenEL91yxFrhLgH4b9X7RWM8g5Og_9AbZAcKHVBOO1sJMW5cg5bqg6gHce_ex4TsTeqiSGKpvQWyzRtaUB5e97Qc5VNXnxyQqbZ9fupUDC1PZR3dMfz9rnB2gM54PxXPGbT/s1600-h/DSC00561.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046504169891801170" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0nenEL91yxFrhLgH4b9X7RWM8g5Og_9AbZAcKHVBOO1sJMW5cg5bqg6gHce_ex4TsTeqiSGKpvQWyzRtaUB5e97Qc5VNXnxyQqbZ9fupUDC1PZR3dMfz9rnB2gM54PxXPGbT/s400/DSC00561.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The view of the train on the viaduct.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypmALnY8_9_JIOmzy2mZAi1f6H4QnuRLvCUiUBbCzYdrqeviOYb6cOCWf4IJCT1ypSgX5JlfmMmH8nhbjRROWieqjN54T7IQ30KTgwyMUURDWEvbrTQ3YYxleI3q6EhYdE3L6/s1600-h/DSC00564.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046503413977557058" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypmALnY8_9_JIOmzy2mZAi1f6H4QnuRLvCUiUBbCzYdrqeviOYb6cOCWf4IJCT1ypSgX5JlfmMmH8nhbjRROWieqjN54T7IQ30KTgwyMUURDWEvbrTQ3YYxleI3q6EhYdE3L6/s400/DSC00564.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We got off the train at Jeypore. We were supposed to spend the night at Koraput. But the Maligura viaduct made us go all the way till Jeypore.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKx1_c5o_VPvE6HZk0kbwomARsvnNvIjyF8pv4sUlhHn5Dsh6voAZlLfQBBEdFiDuDv6dVluaXExDlFkhDgvckkdOJ5NDU1isaX-mnSMxeLdcqkLTePdR7psoIef4Cmj8xVZw/s1600-h/DSC00565.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046502022408153138" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKx1_c5o_VPvE6HZk0kbwomARsvnNvIjyF8pv4sUlhHn5Dsh6voAZlLfQBBEdFiDuDv6dVluaXExDlFkhDgvckkdOJ5NDU1isaX-mnSMxeLdcqkLTePdR7psoIef4Cmj8xVZw/s400/DSC00565.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We had ready transportation at Jeypore. This Mahindra Bolero took us all the way back to Koraput<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0389tbWUXBgzGqnukFAy3NRCa_oz6mglGH5qhx9zKmA1Pf8YMHt0IWtWeSkqdjFvgFWa6PCtG7rqjnRyd35NL3E6gG-9C8g93qGj25lnjb2W3XTLb9j0BmszWae9TI3TMZ7vE/s1600-h/DSC00575.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046498126872815650" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0389tbWUXBgzGqnukFAy3NRCa_oz6mglGH5qhx9zKmA1Pf8YMHt0IWtWeSkqdjFvgFWa6PCtG7rqjnRyd35NL3E6gG-9C8g93qGj25lnjb2W3XTLb9j0BmszWae9TI3TMZ7vE/s400/DSC00575.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Day 2. We boarded the Koraput-Rayagada Passenger early in the morning at 5: 00 AM. It was pitch dark as the train rolled out. Chechu loves to travel by the door. Despite his age at 65, he still possess the energy to stand by the door all day and enjoy the passing scenery. ..something that tires the rest of us. The early morning darkness proved to be a dampener for him and he was forced to sit until day broke.<br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aPeFVziKJQcvW4y5fJRtUSPy3hi-OsiCuV-DpyILMfxvHJ932jDlcr9Z8pzesetsJj7x4ExwR6MhOiJSvwoZdfUUyFcrzbpMDc9zthVnRBqwaLrrrtGgp76nJT3M1Ectmq_D/s1600-h/DSC00589.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046481526824216594" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aPeFVziKJQcvW4y5fJRtUSPy3hi-OsiCuV-DpyILMfxvHJ932jDlcr9Z8pzesetsJj7x4ExwR6MhOiJSvwoZdfUUyFcrzbpMDc9zthVnRBqwaLrrrtGgp76nJT3M1Ectmq_D/s400/DSC00589.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">The train took an alternative route...the K-R Line or Koraput Rayagada Line, yet another hill railway for transporting freight iron ore. This line is not under wires and allowed us to enjoy a diesel loco's run through the hills. Much line the KK line, the KR line too traversed the hills and tunnels.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGSZDpN4RF9eMG-mBlWyk5qm9Q8pw_-G6snmQaDFHSGn90pvo-ffMjrk4xnMgmIGrjPtpfH5BrBKWhvnq4ClZliXu2VAeLzHKAySkHtUwtQlP33udbxR5hv2mdt5m2Q0yTHDP/s1600-h/DSC00588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046479843197036546" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGSZDpN4RF9eMG-mBlWyk5qm9Q8pw_-G6snmQaDFHSGn90pvo-ffMjrk4xnMgmIGrjPtpfH5BrBKWhvnq4ClZliXu2VAeLzHKAySkHtUwtQlP33udbxR5hv2mdt5m2Q0yTHDP/s400/DSC00588.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The day broke revealing wonderful hills looming large in the winter haze.</span><br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEsfmSLaqLTEyhxI_CsUfHh1HNeG507NCExmpfAZqeFOwVbIodJhg-HVERvi12wEEdXvXiluuEWMGvtLSO0Glx_b2Fe00D3Aebx-iRo6RS9B59BMpuYshNii7Vsa3gLqf7Ouc/s1600-h/DSC00605.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046479151707301874" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEsfmSLaqLTEyhxI_CsUfHh1HNeG507NCExmpfAZqeFOwVbIodJhg-HVERvi12wEEdXvXiluuEWMGvtLSO0Glx_b2Fe00D3Aebx-iRo6RS9B59BMpuYshNii7Vsa3gLqf7Ouc/s400/DSC00605.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />At Lakshmipur, VSP harangued a tea vendor to supply us tea even as the train started to move.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> <div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_D7vuEHpTy7dtcYcqdbIM_bIP5ejOp_LL_MCB44xpcuLblmSD1iZe4wQ2xJGA6qhX3mhMBwTn6W92NnuEYm9bE2CIkaCa6wxA_UCqoPocOWn6hrPTePhGVSjd99zhyphenhyphenmPn13o/s1600-h/DSC00614.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046477412245546962" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_D7vuEHpTy7dtcYcqdbIM_bIP5ejOp_LL_MCB44xpcuLblmSD1iZe4wQ2xJGA6qhX3mhMBwTn6W92NnuEYm9bE2CIkaCa6wxA_UCqoPocOWn6hrPTePhGVSjd99zhyphenhyphenmPn13o/s400/DSC00614.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the many station on the way early in the morning.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9rssuCrpDvJxmGlNlqS2jVU5Fu8Qt4oD9i6uSGqkE8n_Hi_quEs6UaBx_gmpo09x13r2zdP0kGv0NuZF-WXRGnV-9FiSy3J_9YCh7QDfhG0HQQb20wZ5hQYJ-QbKcavP7WM0/s1600-h/DSC00625.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046476570431956930" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9rssuCrpDvJxmGlNlqS2jVU5Fu8Qt4oD9i6uSGqkE8n_Hi_quEs6UaBx_gmpo09x13r2zdP0kGv0NuZF-WXRGnV-9FiSy3J_9YCh7QDfhG0HQQb20wZ5hQYJ-QbKcavP7WM0/s400/DSC00625.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Soon we reached the most enchanting stations on the route: Rauli. As we cleared one long tunnel and broke into a brief clearing over a bridge before disappearing into another tunnel, we spied a horsehoe curve perpendicular to us and a station far away on the ghat side that seemed to be all alone. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PxtpwysLfgYSZpJqwWw3GEVblJ1S4jgS4tAJXfbxUpAttRm1-3-MWRKi4ZWZ4SjGEDIjr_73HOt6C8MsHl28HnaAk-_GCtDHweT8daNrk1BfS63G3XpktfNlkPn_2sXGcC5L/s1600-h/DSC00626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046475135912880050" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PxtpwysLfgYSZpJqwWw3GEVblJ1S4jgS4tAJXfbxUpAttRm1-3-MWRKi4ZWZ4SjGEDIjr_73HOt6C8MsHl28HnaAk-_GCtDHweT8daNrk1BfS63G3XpktfNlkPn_2sXGcC5L/s400/DSC00626.JPG" border="0" /></a></span> </div><span style="font-size:85%;">It was all silent and uncanny. A bare and ethereal beauty in the middle of nowhere covered in haze.Apart from the tracks, signals, station house, a tiny platform and a couple of houses, Rauli was as nature made it. The power supply came from generators and solar panels and water was piped from a natural spring high up the hills.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOR63KSIt9VlKf_E7pI6OjfcYBi9JjMMNFQrMKtdwXPXwj7t2QncfJq4c3bgKHe6lOKP52NKH-aTRFGWoeYsw2Ww_JM0GP0WG4JQccBQRDp6mXj6CYTMBFUSB4x1AQE1jgTRB/s1600-h/DSC00628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046472408608647074" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOR63KSIt9VlKf_E7pI6OjfcYBi9JjMMNFQrMKtdwXPXwj7t2QncfJq4c3bgKHe6lOKP52NKH-aTRFGWoeYsw2Ww_JM0GP0WG4JQccBQRDp6mXj6CYTMBFUSB4x1AQE1jgTRB/s400/DSC00628.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Nestled on the hillside, Rauli was a one platform station. It overlooked a valley that had absolutely no human settlement. Ahead of the station was another tunnel. Hills and vegetation all around with no huma settlement, Rauli was a magical little station, one of the most beautiful ones I had ever seen.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Sgs_X-CEp6hhAFL1QGHFDL4LoQziQQvGrg-YhCf3O04wMCTTY2VyyxZ4refhM6EGVpsP4mnydlBskts9zRozzYN7pu7FA-tHEWHfXvfPq8cnnJyeO6fVRruQyOLPcIZO86E/s1600-h/DSC00630.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046471111528523666" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Sgs_X-CEp6hhAFL1QGHFDL4LoQziQQvGrg-YhCf3O04wMCTTY2VyyxZ4refhM6EGVpsP4mnydlBskts9zRozzYN7pu7FA-tHEWHfXvfPq8cnnJyeO6fVRruQyOLPcIZO86E/s400/DSC00630.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Rauli is a crossing station and we waited here as the Hirakahnd Express passed us from the opposite direction. It was an obvious choice to have a crossing here. The hills on either side were treacherous and prone to landslides during monsoons. These hills warranted a block limit and a reversal to terminate trains in case of landslides or derailments. No wonder Rauli materialized.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiDl1QQ4j1DiChwkdQQh1s1MmRu5NnoxG5gIKwY3s8lATarpl_AIEKIdb_fWQCVGQawb0RUz9zKtod5Y97jxCMym9J0V-Z1C4lzWriXsEScJEMBJA1Nqko9oxS8NTuaSyFSSU/s1600-h/DSC00633.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046470596132448130" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiDl1QQ4j1DiChwkdQQh1s1MmRu5NnoxG5gIKwY3s8lATarpl_AIEKIdb_fWQCVGQawb0RUz9zKtod5Y97jxCMym9J0V-Z1C4lzWriXsEScJEMBJA1Nqko9oxS8NTuaSyFSSU/s400/DSC00633.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;">From the platform we could have a hazy view of the steel girder bridge that we crossed minutes before on the far side. The horseshoe curve behind allowed us the spectacular site of watching the Hirakhand Express to cross us, go around a curve and materialize on the bridge on the far side of the curve. We watched in bated breath as the train came out of the tunnel, went over the bridge and disappeared again into another tunnel.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JqcPe5HKDpCinU-C1xxg7X6Z2f3XLlSFN5wvhbqOk4pO0z06lJt8meBO8KUTgDIU4SXBNzcVl6cbA5JCOQX0FTszdCdUWhvboMHauhecRDSzEleSlItmuL6cl2xQ-D_D4mtE/s1600-h/DSC00643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045537849494841186" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JqcPe5HKDpCinU-C1xxg7X6Z2f3XLlSFN5wvhbqOk4pO0z06lJt8meBO8KUTgDIU4SXBNzcVl6cbA5JCOQX0FTszdCdUWhvboMHauhecRDSzEleSlItmuL6cl2xQ-D_D4mtE/s400/DSC00643.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our journey resumed. We were now passing through thick forests, steep curves and viaducts. Chechu was in great spirits as the wonderful scenery swept by. He perched himself at the door and enjoyed the run all the way down to the plains at Rayagada.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yJSWylfHf534pNk5EtthXHaXVln1Aq9sKywim65qZXovUmOyE67xiVlk2tFiBfVky_v6FI_T_eW4vSPxe4N29W49p5uqPkdXpAWPravEqJirIQNnri6OfbrRRKhfJ5kVtX58/s1600-h/DSC00648.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045537200954779474" style="width: 399px; cursor: pointer; height: 191px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yJSWylfHf534pNk5EtthXHaXVln1Aq9sKywim65qZXovUmOyE67xiVlk2tFiBfVky_v6FI_T_eW4vSPxe4N29W49p5uqPkdXpAWPravEqJirIQNnri6OfbrRRKhfJ5kVtX58/s400/DSC00648.JPG" border="0" height="166" width="399" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Viaduct after viaduct brought us from the high hills to the humid and sultry plains of the coastal side. The journey concluded at Vuzag, where we started. </span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-71514832860084334982007-03-21T23:00:00.000+05:302007-09-05T12:52:49.867+05:30Season's Greetings with Godavari<span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#ffcc00;"><strong>Konaseema and West Godavari - December 23-25, 2007.</strong></span><br /><br /></span>Konaseema is located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is a part of the delta formed by the river Godavari before it enters the Bay of Bengal. Godavari breaks into two distributaries after Rajamundhry. These along with smaller rivulets and numerous canals cut across the region making it quite fertile. Gautama Godavari enters the sea near Yanam and completely falls within the East Godavari district. Vasistha Godavari enters Bay of Bengal near Antarvedi and bifurcates the two Godavari districts (East and West) downstream.<br /><br />In December 2006, Christmas fell on a Monday. The long weekend prompted me to join my friends on a trip through Konaseema. I joined Bharath Moro at Vijayawada and we travelled down to Rajamundhry enroute Bhimavaram to join Praveen, Roopesh and Tejender. Here is the summary of my trip:<br /><br /><strong>December 22, 2006 :</strong> Chennai - Vijaywada (Grand Trunk Express)<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>December 23, 2006:</strong> Vijaywada- Bhimavaram (Vijaywada-Bhimavaram DEMU Train) -Rajamundhry (Narsapur-Visakhapatnam Simhadri Express Link) - Kovvur (by boat) - Kakinada (Tirupati - Kakinada Fast Passenger).<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>December 24, 2006:</strong> Kakinada - Kotipalli (by bus) - Mukteswaram (by two boats and a long walk across a river island) - Amalapuram (by autorickshaw) - Palakollu (bus) - Narsapur (autorickshaw)<br /><br /><strong>December 25, 2006:</strong> Narsapur- Sakhinetipally Revu (boat) - Antarvedi - Sakhinetipally Revu (hired autorickshaw) - Narsapur (boat) - Gudivada -(Narsapur Vijaywada Passenger) - Chennai (Circar Express) .<br /><br /><br />Now for the pictorial report:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04xja3bf9tAlN8ZLVj3Xvd3lrD5Sto31nVl8PXvYkTVbG0iNO46UlULNx4V2ZQq7Oui2i9XlN4ecYkEyVkGN9QYyCmFU3zjktdjuw4HEU8cr9n7dX-PehCeb7QPIPKJiF8P7n/s1600-h/konaseema+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044433463079183442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04xja3bf9tAlN8ZLVj3Xvd3lrD5Sto31nVl8PXvYkTVbG0iNO46UlULNx4V2ZQq7Oui2i9XlN4ecYkEyVkGN9QYyCmFU3zjktdjuw4HEU8cr9n7dX-PehCeb7QPIPKJiF8P7n/s320/konaseema+056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Somewhere between Gudivada and Bhimavaram close to the Kolleru lake. this pic was taken while travelling on a train. This region is rich in greenery and fresh water prompting many entrepreneurs to set up fisheries. I suspect some of these were encroachments of the lake.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybh3LL9Mq1IdXwU82v_P_TTOhWalh-mSHXZfIithi-zAy7F00YFfLmo_f3c4Ekleyti5SbOschpV6t0O3ix7At_CPyv5NH2PfWKCwrdsXvvNoJLeOXvzLgwilPqdfDrVi15y2/s1600-h/konaseema+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044474591686010610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybh3LL9Mq1IdXwU82v_P_TTOhWalh-mSHXZfIithi-zAy7F00YFfLmo_f3c4Ekleyti5SbOschpV6t0O3ix7At_CPyv5NH2PfWKCwrdsXvvNoJLeOXvzLgwilPqdfDrVi15y2/s320/konaseema+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The region has a lot of canals, many of them man-made thanks to the vision of one Sir Arthur Cotton, an engineer during the British Raj who specialised in irrigation. Little motor boats ('launches') like the one in the pic ply these canals and the Godavari river.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6vq93-2OCcbbagkxCaPHo7vEwKhYfCXtmdnpFIYyaIY9oKEw77jYCRh9AhHfov7TB2KOyHY0J6S8lIfdr8thxxlVKUOv8EbMVYSyj9ILR1-nhprIuzaKSP7D_8kXVykqsr4h/s1600-h/DSC00156.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044465860017497810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6vq93-2OCcbbagkxCaPHo7vEwKhYfCXtmdnpFIYyaIY9oKEw77jYCRh9AhHfov7TB2KOyHY0J6S8lIfdr8thxxlVKUOv8EbMVYSyj9ILR1-nhprIuzaKSP7D_8kXVykqsr4h/s320/DSC00156.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Cute little kids on the Simhadri Express link which took us to Rajamundhry.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WpTxSpLDzsP7UNObp9poGuJFkzT9ltQFXSTpQw5sXSwfsEE8S5rGTCQgyjms5HnOFHASzvyk_Ahv2_tEtpkHPFTJrF2PqQSgd-phdp5RLb2LVarPUB7rDh0qphWVQtISCXqh/s1600-h/Copy+of+konaseema+024.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044489258999326466" style="CURSOR: hand" height="250" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WpTxSpLDzsP7UNObp9poGuJFkzT9ltQFXSTpQw5sXSwfsEE8S5rGTCQgyjms5HnOFHASzvyk_Ahv2_tEtpkHPFTJrF2PqQSgd-phdp5RLb2LVarPUB7rDh0qphWVQtISCXqh/s320/Copy+of+konaseema+024.jpg" width="320" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">At Rajamundhry, we met Roopesh, Praveen and Tejender. After a nice lunch, we headed to the banks of the river Godavari and relaxed there. This bank is known as Pushkarala Revu and is just beneath the first and third rail bridges across the river.</span><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiere7Cp8XYioDJhfEPcCuJL_E5e43qXGZdceHVS1mtoAy4VlFuhUtUVVg9jiyPiXSoSsejg8aaDb6zHdp1KqVAoOKt-a25S-dhZvmVVCcWV_hRymWA_KgYUK6GUh807QkD7KdR/s1600-h/konaseema+022.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044454405339719138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiere7Cp8XYioDJhfEPcCuJL_E5e43qXGZdceHVS1mtoAy4VlFuhUtUVVg9jiyPiXSoSsejg8aaDb6zHdp1KqVAoOKt-a25S-dhZvmVVCcWV_hRymWA_KgYUK6GUh807QkD7KdR/s320/konaseema+022.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Pushkarala Revu. The river is very wide at Rajamundhry. The second railway bridge can be seen at a distance. </span></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0JQJqegu-4CuTmacc4eK4UMMFvhlly5NDwop8p5eQGelqUkrRrtrGZ25F-GDVaL9A7RmJoQIQpVFFI8oNwHPVMIWo-q6rErjf7waNI46E5yLfTx39YK1-4IflqaFfIIPRYD8/s1600-h/konaseema+026.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044462754756142690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0JQJqegu-4CuTmacc4eK4UMMFvhlly5NDwop8p5eQGelqUkrRrtrGZ25F-GDVaL9A7RmJoQIQpVFFI8oNwHPVMIWo-q6rErjf7waNI46E5yLfTx39YK1-4IflqaFfIIPRYD8/s320/konaseema+026.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Old and New. The 100 year old Havelock iron railway bridge on the left and the newly built RCC bridge with its graceful arches on the right. The new one has replaced the older bridge. The Havelock bridge had been the only one across the Godavari between Rajamundhry and Kovvur for many years. It served well and has now been retired. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><p><br /></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln0nQHrG9FiPaxxwjE37VqOBm751Kej_K2zT5GMWfzAuKWV1qrTjcpBGaPCrPqbD8fk8p9MsDaEt5o1UQ9Q3q1EdL_HneCrnYIrTTZsowjLFpCqNXs5WpACrr8XGkfyfuOOkc/s1600-h/konaseema+029.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044465855722530498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln0nQHrG9FiPaxxwjE37VqOBm751Kej_K2zT5GMWfzAuKWV1qrTjcpBGaPCrPqbD8fk8p9MsDaEt5o1UQ9Q3q1EdL_HneCrnYIrTTZsowjLFpCqNXs5WpACrr8XGkfyfuOOkc/s320/konaseema+029.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />A plaque that commemorates the opening of the Havelock bridge more than 100 years ago. The bridge survived all these years as a mark of engineering and still stands strong.<br /><br /></span><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hohHjDimLx-31ju59EY1Ewl9XMqoxWqkqd1VQfXGCDHxYiCluBiCU-_qMvmWCknWdXvmDng1HGOlaqJ8xi0O8MFp9ZWfKyPoMPldbKhFUK3-o6U9gH5NfQ2bbXqO0hLSS9AJ/s1600-h/konaseema+035.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044462771936011906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hohHjDimLx-31ju59EY1Ewl9XMqoxWqkqd1VQfXGCDHxYiCluBiCU-_qMvmWCknWdXvmDng1HGOlaqJ8xi0O8MFp9ZWfKyPoMPldbKhFUK3-o6U9gH5NfQ2bbXqO0hLSS9AJ/s320/konaseema+035.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />The third bridge came up in the 1990's to replace the Havelock. It took a good 10 years to build unlike the Havelock which was completed in 2 years. Nevertheless the new one looks beautiful thanks to its graceful arches. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3oLcSh5E0TS7LTNDuLTn3rFrbeIvA4kMGduzuElPHiIqfUI9SynmYN1YjZjYHWDbIYrb0VvCSb8Mp2zByyzoywf_tpD9ZpTZypuSMekXOXoqJb4zJZsFHFyhu9Z2-X3isi1-/s1600-h/IMG_1071.jpg">Here is a great pic </a>clicked by Roopesh of the bridge with a train on it.</span></p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBFGPXiQ6LqguLpjTQDiJsVlTX61KiiYRFWZG4qAfVBFsrCdAWWU4akn3jbL56ZvuTw10uNzlpTbed6Sx-3MLXXyAUVqN13m0Hx_AKevEeBqNf-eUHlPgzHbfeQbE_QaK8hcu/s1600-h/konaseema+030.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044462789115881122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBFGPXiQ6LqguLpjTQDiJsVlTX61KiiYRFWZG4qAfVBFsrCdAWWU4akn3jbL56ZvuTw10uNzlpTbed6Sx-3MLXXyAUVqN13m0Hx_AKevEeBqNf-eUHlPgzHbfeQbE_QaK8hcu/s320/konaseema+030.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Bharath and Praveen enjoy the cool breeze blowing across the river on the motor launch against the backdrop of the setting sun.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFInaQgAlgX2mZYecHaMQjt_t2ESQexqMGnY9USj7DQNxsUL-Sc4uniqDbVlBby2CHGqGxZgde-HQE9uDL-bxFmlYDdIdHfKxaNWVkUPyGD3yN3M1tX_qDPY2LB-DKq4cBY3A8/s1600-h/konaseema+003.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGT_6yehlHLCeemHtwD1b629Eun8Xv_3PGc2hzCRw03PcYxQpCLFpZA39kl147e4MAqs0gJlnIQg7k_-9JGALR-fsZ2knsf5PWnWeKLgbUKdIB-yxt7yGF7z083Je8bplBEJ4X/s1600-h/konaseema+025.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044454409634686450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGT_6yehlHLCeemHtwD1b629Eun8Xv_3PGc2hzCRw03PcYxQpCLFpZA39kl147e4MAqs0gJlnIQg7k_-9JGALR-fsZ2knsf5PWnWeKLgbUKdIB-yxt7yGF7z083Je8bplBEJ4X/s320/konaseema+025.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />A train crossed the river on the second bridge as we started off on the launch.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><p></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHGrbysHm4BVBSA_JuyQdwxhdfdNmmCwiu5ARr5zYGYi-0e6aoBoDNfktcQitQqRSxjW-bPcKBM6iykWp7HQV59aVus8PJ5LZUyQ9XOcMuzmMRG39lhjkllUsuxYgKw8uz1Li/s1600-h/konaseema+036.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044458021702182482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHGrbysHm4BVBSA_JuyQdwxhdfdNmmCwiu5ARr5zYGYi-0e6aoBoDNfktcQitQqRSxjW-bPcKBM6iykWp7HQV59aVus8PJ5LZUyQ9XOcMuzmMRG39lhjkllUsuxYgKw8uz1Li/s320/konaseema+036.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />We are closer to the banks at Kovvur now. All the three bridges are visible in the background. Click on the photo to enlarge. </span></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9GXzEcXfKm1pmTOgZqNaPBa3VRX4_E7METo-RYjLWVV3tLT0oWGI-u6y0Ek63r1Y6Ptx8obgWmnkz0X1Wp7MfcxIoPNd2l2hKuBV9HcUSDNSEZO8lDyKB6X42h22DzMtdkvr/s1600-h/konaseema+041.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044449607861249442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9GXzEcXfKm1pmTOgZqNaPBa3VRX4_E7METo-RYjLWVV3tLT0oWGI-u6y0Ek63r1Y6Ptx8obgWmnkz0X1Wp7MfcxIoPNd2l2hKuBV9HcUSDNSEZO8lDyKB6X42h22DzMtdkvr/s320/konaseema+041.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Day 2: Kakinada railway station is well maintained with sprinklers irrigating the lawns. We were waiting for the Kakinada -Kotipalli passenger. One of the objectives of our trip was to check out this newly laid railway between Kakinada and Kotipalli. Unfortunately, the station officials had no idea when the train would turn up, leave alone when it would start.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRfm7ILeUHEYR9lKDcQf3q2ZFub9bpSpYWhpFlhV7i9XW9bGlqCjt5JZ1qqaICaVeThzvwaXU9rJuNdGFcrb3Z1tyHEYLgclb9tGUm7U-8hU1y4bov_3uQi3zH_LsQgE6mVPB/s1600-h/konaseema+043.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044781793516824354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRfm7ILeUHEYR9lKDcQf3q2ZFub9bpSpYWhpFlhV7i9XW9bGlqCjt5JZ1qqaICaVeThzvwaXU9rJuNdGFcrb3Z1tyHEYLgclb9tGUm7U-8hU1y4bov_3uQi3zH_LsQgE6mVPB/s320/konaseema+043.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Tejender walks towards the APSRTC bus that took us from Kakinada to Kotipalli. During this trip, we travelled on trains, boats, buses and autorickshaws and even walked across a long river island.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGCTJftNvZmnkJAqX0WPT-oS8dkAs6eNy3kK7Rn_gwYZZB2N5s6NlZ9noDB698-U5yNRSOQqJ8CXGtd7J8x3x0GqQLG1Sn5dIV-KglgtLxrdJGxiIpErIjT4jdUEq0a6cX8N2/s1600-h/DSC00160.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044454401044751826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGCTJftNvZmnkJAqX0WPT-oS8dkAs6eNy3kK7Rn_gwYZZB2N5s6NlZ9noDB698-U5yNRSOQqJ8CXGtd7J8x3x0GqQLG1Sn5dIV-KglgtLxrdJGxiIpErIjT4jdUEq0a6cX8N2/s320/DSC00160.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">He is alive. This drunk boarded the bus en route Kotipalli, purchased a ticket and promptly hit the floor. He was later carried out and deposited on the roadside at Draksharamam (his destination) where he stirred for a minute and then happily slipped back into an intoxicated slumber.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W2J-7T9dkrKn4-h-cTO1TWEC-N7-g7JA5BrL1gF3ZTJAaontXyzkvU3itEB8ppw_NbUzN_Iv6RtmTb-zhzWHtY3WjjDsW3TLxolt9XGzS3YaxpV8bgBEVopNJyu-LzhwJ65L/s1600-h/konaseema+044.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044444737368335618" style="WIDTH: 321px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px" height="240" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W2J-7T9dkrKn4-h-cTO1TWEC-N7-g7JA5BrL1gF3ZTJAaontXyzkvU3itEB8ppw_NbUzN_Iv6RtmTb-zhzWHtY3WjjDsW3TLxolt9XGzS3YaxpV8bgBEVopNJyu-LzhwJ65L/s320/konaseema+044.jpg" width="586" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">On the banks of Gautama Godavari at Kotipalli Revu. The bus deposited us exactly at this spot, a kilometer away from Kotipalli town. The river is very wide here just like upstream at Rajamundhry. The sea is about 30 km away from here. Seen on the far side is a large river island. </span></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilceupiaL73QW93u69oJ_PQGM5nFGyY1R5JCu6ba2yVsx1_B_pTInvNZTFto552nr5N4H_Cs4JdOtbXZM-6kQD3IhxaRhIsUpjqhrgwtPL1JoHeppt2PpD0BYL7ja0P2FrmbRJ/s1600-h/konaseema+050.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044447997248513346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilceupiaL73QW93u69oJ_PQGM5nFGyY1R5JCu6ba2yVsx1_B_pTInvNZTFto552nr5N4H_Cs4JdOtbXZM-6kQD3IhxaRhIsUpjqhrgwtPL1JoHeppt2PpD0BYL7ja0P2FrmbRJ/s320/konaseema+050.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />We hired this boat to take us across the river to the island. The boatman took us to a secluded beach on the island where the currents were weaker and the river bed shallow so that we could have a swim. We had a good ride on this rudimentary yatch as the wind worked the solo sail. I had always wondered how these boats work. Now I have a fair idea thanks to the friendly boatman who displayed his skills in steering the boat across. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3oRqbTeyNvYbFERftH7AddHFQ4WcaLEiCsYeP-2CMDjQfIrsT_SaYnS_BNCSV0mUG8EBzyGqc4dtDGghbABYaY1OhZ35w7aXpSVwz8lpa7JTk3XKMdVpmbdK2kmY_JkLrgNr/s1600-h/konaseema+047.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044448005838447954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3oRqbTeyNvYbFERftH7AddHFQ4WcaLEiCsYeP-2CMDjQfIrsT_SaYnS_BNCSV0mUG8EBzyGqc4dtDGghbABYaY1OhZ35w7aXpSVwz8lpa7JTk3XKMdVpmbdK2kmY_JkLrgNr/s320/konaseema+047.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />It was December and the water was cold. But it did not deter us from a swim. We did not venture deep as the currents were strong. The water was quite clean and fresh at this point. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">It was the first time that I swam in a river this big. It was much better than swimming on a sea shore. However the currents were really strong further into the river. The boatman who knew his waters well kept a vigil and held a stick across to mark the limits for us. Godavari is a holy river and we were prompted by PVS Praveen to take three complete dips into the waters to cleanse ourselves spiritually!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWz8Ff2OXf6BoLebnJ63cjwqwbN2St_pkvwt7sI-M5TfbTa92eQuw2Dl25PeRilIgzJdBF7yIms-Fr6HImyNSO1bBA58IiB9jvEV9hPV5wExzEMjEsurK5waTE1GjohUC3_me/s1600-h/konaseema+048.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044448023018317170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWz8Ff2OXf6BoLebnJ63cjwqwbN2St_pkvwt7sI-M5TfbTa92eQuw2Dl25PeRilIgzJdBF7yIms-Fr6HImyNSO1bBA58IiB9jvEV9hPV5wExzEMjEsurK5waTE1GjohUC3_me/s320/konaseema+048.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />A little ahead of us, these fishermen worked hard to pull a huge fishing net into place. The other end of the net was tethered to a boat in the middle of the river. Seen in the background is a makeshift shelter for buffaloes that are brought here for grazing. The river is shallower on the other side and the animals wade across it. The island is almost a kilometer wide. During floods, it submerges completely but during other seasons, it is put to agricultural use to grow cucumbers, pumpkin, watermelon and tobacco. We walked across this island after finishing our bath to catch a ferry to the opposite bank of the river.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_rXMehe3EAOGrjklk7IIywPOiPC1N9JuJRd8_xrTrXkIsQk3dJosYmXBb5qpPVF7sp3tThXXpb7gViy-qTDZ8isaopV3Ww8ABldMegEc8cLI2fGUw60iZmIn9HuLuZungu2w/s1600-h/konaseema+001.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044457991637411346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_rXMehe3EAOGrjklk7IIywPOiPC1N9JuJRd8_xrTrXkIsQk3dJosYmXBb5qpPVF7sp3tThXXpb7gViy-qTDZ8isaopV3Ww8ABldMegEc8cLI2fGUw60iZmIn9HuLuZungu2w/s320/konaseema+001.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />The boat that took us to the other side. Seen at a distance is the river bank at Mukteswaram. All along there were many people using the ferry to cross the river both ways. They would land on the island, trek across it and catch a ferry on the other side of the island to the other bank. Some people also loaded motorcycles that onto the boat. We were accompanied by at least 5 motorcycles, a few bicycles and a couple of goats along with people on our ride to Mukteswaram. At Mukteswaram, we found that the road that terminated at Kotipalli Revu continued further as evident from the milestone close to the banks. A state highway interrupted by a river! The road took us to Amalapuram through a dense plantation of cocunut and other trees. It was the greenest countryside I had ever seen marked with several canals.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSJXUtwZPbvTALBaEbE1FxX9YAzDCi7IztRVteIWh4vIgfdn68-v_mD1v0TdCQ93xaZocmOO80pRFzh6EiZ6mHpm-WwUSVCo0Cx5EOWu0HMGNp_WG0NMzBV2kbNdUc5SvE0LV/s1600-h/konaseema+010.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044458000227345954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSJXUtwZPbvTALBaEbE1FxX9YAzDCi7IztRVteIWh4vIgfdn68-v_mD1v0TdCQ93xaZocmOO80pRFzh6EiZ6mHpm-WwUSVCo0Cx5EOWu0HMGNp_WG0NMzBV2kbNdUc5SvE0LV/s320/konaseema+010.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Ox-7a4VDXh2NjdlgdYWy2_tjrpeRKsCTAFWS6wHh8xclWP6EPb2b3rfLe5kPJFPUJfat6vmOuP_1B-1Z6ltEdCPJy16Qh4l-myNe1J7fV9D7SaJhBIovjPEn5vF7STsgJVQ/s1600-h/konaseema+002.jpg"></a>Day 3: This is the dockside at Narsapur on the banks of the Vasistha Godavari. Seen at a distance is Sakhinetipally Revu in the East Godavari district. Narsapur is in West Godavari. We took the first ferry of the morning across on our way to Antarvedi. Since there a few people we used one of the smaller boats. Much later during the day, the big barge seen here starts to ply carrying small vehicles and people alike.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAPBqZzgbjTwx-2OxLomyfyhI-h6RUmmYAQY4x9FBxQ3JdGUZ0tLoZPH_LyIJewrcfWa2lDTxMvzQD-Ioj1HzCNCf14v9dWJcFx6edjhrLD3DACUKIfuc8HdR4NoNG2GYnx6n/s1600-h/konaseema+011.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044444741663302930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAPBqZzgbjTwx-2OxLomyfyhI-h6RUmmYAQY4x9FBxQ3JdGUZ0tLoZPH_LyIJewrcfWa2lDTxMvzQD-Ioj1HzCNCf14v9dWJcFx6edjhrLD3DACUKIfuc8HdR4NoNG2GYnx6n/s320/konaseema+011.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />That is Narsapur as seen from the boat that has reached the mid point of the river.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJVkifFoyh3-_TTVDH1QSI18vjIymBB7JlPK86uHRpkZOkA_9ndYylEUqTdWdyXTywSkUv4gTEPAsi_387sjMwHk_liA7NUwqXegT_7xUZ08nZvf-R_Ace8mNVT2aYeVr4NW5/s1600-h/konaseema+015.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044442783158215890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJVkifFoyh3-_TTVDH1QSI18vjIymBB7JlPK86uHRpkZOkA_9ndYylEUqTdWdyXTywSkUv4gTEPAsi_387sjMwHk_liA7NUwqXegT_7xUZ08nZvf-R_Ace8mNVT2aYeVr4NW5/s320/konaseema+015.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />The river is calm and serene early in the morning only to be broken by the wake of the boat. The winter mist had not yet cleared as we set out to visit Antarvedi.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLszcxKHTZz29r8CQrHT9H7-eL9VrqEyoh4AwbuSnKF1Y8VNlB-pVe-oYq6gG19QLs1DPYzmLb3A7-iBRGiNM6vbzpisD0o2G9icZ9UsdCUsiRH4-Gkqe6L5LYv2B-BV1HS1tQ/s1600-h/konaseema+017.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044796138707593010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLszcxKHTZz29r8CQrHT9H7-eL9VrqEyoh4AwbuSnKF1Y8VNlB-pVe-oYq6gG19QLs1DPYzmLb3A7-iBRGiNM6vbzpisD0o2G9icZ9UsdCUsiRH4-Gkqe6L5LYv2B-BV1HS1tQ/s320/konaseema+017.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />The scene on the banks of the river at Sakhinetipally Revu.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj983no38jYDgHe5qqjQC4mvnpJpPB0gSZvYnn9QTNY59a8vE1Fahk6IBv4bZbqvU38vfdIxp8xrrpAz_AtXN5EajtygcN7sRoj3jXXCpopHY72EuNog3bn0-uk5_D41n7xQ2Nv/s1600-h/konaseema+051.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xqrWezXEqVAbQ099ZjVauk5IM7uDJRIdtK6uyzaT8PRChWxT0noc4t7ycQ7s6H5AmVyOpkvExmrMzv-ggmn0v3sJuuxSIhp9B-X7_6xWC0_QHWoY30wlXWC_OWXUPEcvIUm2/s1600-h/DSC00164.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044436830333543586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xqrWezXEqVAbQ099ZjVauk5IM7uDJRIdtK6uyzaT8PRChWxT0noc4t7ycQ7s6H5AmVyOpkvExmrMzv-ggmn0v3sJuuxSIhp9B-X7_6xWC0_QHWoY30wlXWC_OWXUPEcvIUm2/s320/DSC00164.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Ducks heading to the nearest pond - a still from the Konaseema life.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCVS4nqBijZ3_Cv__k2WcxLEm0xYXacfMgOUN7CPezckjlY1PTZHnKdNek0ASdoXfvzSo4yqtCXXdKhdjvKZdIq8ya6vfEBU_wydAFsbSgA35YNxorSWj72FC8LTF9y1RZ1hJ/s1600-h/konaseema+021.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044447997248513330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCVS4nqBijZ3_Cv__k2WcxLEm0xYXacfMgOUN7CPezckjlY1PTZHnKdNek0ASdoXfvzSo4yqtCXXdKhdjvKZdIq8ya6vfEBU_wydAFsbSgA35YNxorSWj72FC8LTF9y1RZ1hJ/s320/konaseema+021.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />We wished the road would never end.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9080EBmCRTF4j3sGrfo20opu8OFt179gwZlfdAQ35IInD8STceZZgmaYuAeoAcdT4rJbZMIk6fxQ2pUJBxiKXL_12XjQpiDagQMstl9S5q8lGy7PgOJHaTkMhZBmMl6lfik_n/s1600-h/konaseema+031.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044442778863248578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9080EBmCRTF4j3sGrfo20opu8OFt179gwZlfdAQ35IInD8STceZZgmaYuAeoAcdT4rJbZMIk6fxQ2pUJBxiKXL_12XjQpiDagQMstl9S5q8lGy7PgOJHaTkMhZBmMl6lfik_n/s320/konaseema+031.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Even the most progressive of cities could not match the earthy aura of this countryside. Blessed are those who live here. Fields of paddy by the road, on our way to Antarvedi.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnekGhULGFWzBhG0rtfDqTSQGRp3xNdG0Wb-Lvk3ECRCoT_y7zzKyecwgrdftlh0RlmU29mbcR3-LsbT6J8ZteDlsrGfhXZ8lcqwplfOAMg3CrhBaa6t9voTecxBY1WVAz3fkg/s1600-h/konaseema+023.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044442774568281266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnekGhULGFWzBhG0rtfDqTSQGRp3xNdG0Wb-Lvk3ECRCoT_y7zzKyecwgrdftlh0RlmU29mbcR3-LsbT6J8ZteDlsrGfhXZ8lcqwplfOAMg3CrhBaa6t9voTecxBY1WVAz3fkg/s320/konaseema+023.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />We hired this autorickshaw for Rs 200 to take us to Antarvedi on the seashore and back. The route was fantastic as the road took us along fields of paddy, cocunut trees, ponds and canals.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxly5lwMfpHuSKpy06gfE2u76M1E3zHPHp_9BznoiiPmXdVTizS_XBhYUxI2AdL_v3N51gQgbYA9Z_4d3kqZC2uuQ0-LA-AVXDWXL6SqNU34S26uanOTXJJZyzGippjVsGVAMv/s1600-h/konaseema+039.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044434785929110626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxly5lwMfpHuSKpy06gfE2u76M1E3zHPHp_9BznoiiPmXdVTizS_XBhYUxI2AdL_v3N51gQgbYA9Z_4d3kqZC2uuQ0-LA-AVXDWXL6SqNU34S26uanOTXJJZyzGippjVsGVAMv/s320/konaseema+039.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Antarvedi! The mouth of the Godavari. This is where it meets the sea. Seen here is the merger of the river with the sea. This picture was taken from a lighthouse that stood here.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmDIe4FLt-xGWz4xdxKdxNrREh0kH6O5ABVSlTthF6Pkbfz6isZLk8WAQRRmY3wHNYCXWcgIw67R6V7gh03hCXgoIWVRQoMwttvLpWPaVnME5vghQrdq41TkfSooWjPAtl0Fp/s1600-h/konaseema+033.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044434790224077938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmDIe4FLt-xGWz4xdxKdxNrREh0kH6O5ABVSlTthF6Pkbfz6isZLk8WAQRRmY3wHNYCXWcgIw67R6V7gh03hCXgoIWVRQoMwttvLpWPaVnME5vghQrdq41TkfSooWjPAtl0Fp/s320/konaseema+033.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />The Bay of Bengal as seen from the lighthouse at Antarvedi, a little distance from the point where the Godavari meets the sea.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL937_73kWfAcaKGKwW-48U-d754VY0eNxphe0HLuDMFN7LWNxgt7Ycg6PoNv7zVQ_UAKENqVq2xjO_qFv6LM6jEuVbyR3lGLseoqs1aZEEYL4sDKMsdgQKjZNwCD_WmVM0-e/s1600-h/konaseema+059.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044433458784216130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL937_73kWfAcaKGKwW-48U-d754VY0eNxphe0HLuDMFN7LWNxgt7Ycg6PoNv7zVQ_UAKENqVq2xjO_qFv6LM6jEuVbyR3lGLseoqs1aZEEYL4sDKMsdgQKjZNwCD_WmVM0-e/s320/konaseema+059.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />We returned back to Sakhinetipally Revu and took the barge across. Thereafter we went straight to the Narsapur railway station to catch a train to Vijaywada. I was supposed to alight at Gudivada to catch my train to Chennai. Seen here is the Narsapur - Vijaywada passenger on its brief halt at Pennada Agraharam, a beautiful little station.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOgAjNublUKAWrjdjm64YRCQsg7BwBUBeDvecO7L7kwy9XUzUUp-2tcweCkH_armAmtIcn8YFoA6Kj5N7NyfGqr8u30-u50NbFYFBmBS69LCxyRWBMEWWE8sasjDBgpfUAVBj/s1600-h/DSC00173.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044449616451184066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOgAjNublUKAWrjdjm64YRCQsg7BwBUBeDvecO7L7kwy9XUzUUp-2tcweCkH_armAmtIcn8YFoA6Kj5N7NyfGqr8u30-u50NbFYFBmBS69LCxyRWBMEWWE8sasjDBgpfUAVBj/s320/DSC00173.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />The route from Narsapur to Bhimavaram was a treat thanks to the paddy fields and coconut trees and quaintly named little stations like this one.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7oRpSy-eLYyrOsIbvkASJsWJ61KccAcIJi0tNoWu0yrIGgnA9Q88r0Gj8qOkw_JcOdcy3T8g8b3QAsH8YHGFa8XZs8Ldyl3Ho56s8yOudwxdT6fpcbTfkbcIK97QvrImprnW/s1600-h/konaseema+061.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044432771589448754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7oRpSy-eLYyrOsIbvkASJsWJ61KccAcIJi0tNoWu0yrIGgnA9Q88r0Gj8qOkw_JcOdcy3T8g8b3QAsH8YHGFa8XZs8Ldyl3Ho56s8yOudwxdT6fpcbTfkbcIK97QvrImprnW/s320/konaseema+061.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />After a couple of days of travelling, we finally relax on the train and check out all the snaps we clicked. L to R: Bharath Moro, Roopesh Kohad, Me and PVS Praveen Kumar.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">More photographs can be seen in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roopesh_kohad">Roopesh Kohad's Album</a>. They are much better than mine.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-3253805799729411952007-03-20T00:49:00.000+05:302007-03-21T02:47:09.772+05:30Sankranthi at Home - Bommala Koluvu<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Sankranthi</span></strong> is a harvest festival (Pongal in Tamil Nadu) falling in January. It is by far the most important festival of my family. Of course, we do not have any harvesting to be done and for that matter we do not own any farm lands. the importance is due to my mother's annual shwocase of her collection of idols and show-case dolls and icons. It is called<span style="color:#000066;"> </span><strong><span style="color:#000066;">"</span><span style="color:#000066;">Bommala Koluvu"</span></strong> or "Assembly of Toys/Dolls". Famous all over South India, it is usually celebrated during Dusshera in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka though my mother prefers Sankranthi like most Andhraites. This yeartoo, we had a Koluvu at my parent's home.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbe_2i_y6QLlxUYrDavxLfy8IULQWdxC6e8t5q8CH3ts2Vit2rLwxMz8surxFiJmschsE2hkkaR3Q9Th-g7oF3b7sw1Hcwyhfh3FGJD0ev9yaJ1zOeye07GV4KFh7PW4Qyubk/s1600-h/DSC00301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043721605112950594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbe_2i_y6QLlxUYrDavxLfy8IULQWdxC6e8t5q8CH3ts2Vit2rLwxMz8surxFiJmschsE2hkkaR3Q9Th-g7oF3b7sw1Hcwyhfh3FGJD0ev9yaJ1zOeye07GV4KFh7PW4Qyubk/s320/DSC00301.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Bommala Koluvu is a display of dolls and toys depicting Gods of the Hindu pantheon on a platform of steps like in the picture. The steps are always numbered odd for some reason. One can follow a specific theme in displays like depicting the Ramayana or scenes from it or other mythologies. Or, one can display the household dolls without any specific theme. My mother prefers the a la carte mode but also makes it a point to add a new doll or set of dolls to the display each year. She has been collecting the dolls for the past 25 years and some of them still occupy prime spot in the display despite all those years.<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACHdHdlte2Cf75_uv6Ky3L66Qnh5upyQNzCc2n3toBE1ZBP7KUvxdZaf1gmihrfiPIEII3IfGLl5V1pUHcn_bGqg5Lel5jPXcGaar2OPItIA0xUsWwbQTtEYrpJlqL1sSacJq/s1600-h/DSC00336.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043726028929265506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACHdHdlte2Cf75_uv6Ky3L66Qnh5upyQNzCc2n3toBE1ZBP7KUvxdZaf1gmihrfiPIEII3IfGLl5V1pUHcn_bGqg5Lel5jPXcGaar2OPItIA0xUsWwbQTtEYrpJlqL1sSacJq/s320/DSC00336.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>This set of Rama, Sita, Lakhshmana and Hanuman has been a pride of my mother's collection. She acquired them from Chennai in 1982. They are made of paper pulp and painted in bright acrylic colours. Despite being 25 years old, they still retain the shine and vividity thanks to the pain my mom takes in storing them shielded from light and unpacked only for the Koluvu. Chennai is a hot spot for these kinds of dolls made of papier mache. Here they take the top step of the Koluvu, the pride of the display.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFJHJzwxpE4afJJccrtl_rJ8F0NVUKLIN6Uou3lYZGKWgvmYTezAAlvPSgj42hzhpWW56fqcqCQ3kzfqI-AXsNHNZ5yPC_T7X7WnzTfRpYIGG8I8DvxWg1WJqj1phJKiYGLlq/s1600-h/DSC00313.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043728094808534898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFJHJzwxpE4afJJccrtl_rJ8F0NVUKLIN6Uou3lYZGKWgvmYTezAAlvPSgj42hzhpWW56fqcqCQ3kzfqI-AXsNHNZ5yPC_T7X7WnzTfRpYIGG8I8DvxWg1WJqj1phJKiYGLlq/s320/DSC00313.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>This smaller set Rama is made of marble and is from North India. This is a new addition to my mother's collection this year.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgxhKScpmoa4LOA6hVdC2bzXZFVxzPLC9L-rTKSO25Ezo1u0BH7jwSnrisUXBG0_CHi19PJSsemrs4odMkNRU7w_bnjNrTtXzlLijZLMr036Prw7pF4Ri7heJz5uuRCBmSCFv/s1600-h/DSC00321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043730938076884866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgxhKScpmoa4LOA6hVdC2bzXZFVxzPLC9L-rTKSO25Ezo1u0BH7jwSnrisUXBG0_CHi19PJSsemrs4odMkNRU7w_bnjNrTtXzlLijZLMr036Prw7pF4Ri7heJz5uuRCBmSCFv/s320/DSC00321.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The cute Krishna idol is made of clay and was acquired from a street-side seller in Nellore back in 1983. the one next to it is of Goda Devi or Andal, made of papier mache and acquired in Chennai. At the foot of these idols are dolls of Gopikas in dance. Sankaranti this year coincided with the Goda Kalyanam, and so, mother attempted a small theme here with Krishna, Goda Devi and Gopikas.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY2yYALA9VRv7nOt8OLEZjrM5Pgt7ymrnUUpho2y_WWsaxVfIPr3Ga03h638J3aipKwxH_nG7VGEWcJ4yz_e6QpGj38da0a6n1E5dmf14bjAWpmjfFsVHJiG9e0SRaKhOCVg1/s1600-h/DSC00319.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043739695515201426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY2yYALA9VRv7nOt8OLEZjrM5Pgt7ymrnUUpho2y_WWsaxVfIPr3Ga03h638J3aipKwxH_nG7VGEWcJ4yz_e6QpGj38da0a6n1E5dmf14bjAWpmjfFsVHJiG9e0SRaKhOCVg1/s320/DSC00319.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This idol of flute-playing Krishna along with a cow and even a calf occupied a special place apart from the regular steps. Despite being off the steps, it still qualifies as one step and is in the countof the odd number of steps. the separate display accentuated the idol. A smaller idol of Krishna can be seen flanked by gopikas in dance.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo95YjZdX8UyQfv80GvVPlbmbrel91lzqSwQnVjsZ0ieMqTAM-hVqZqJi5WOo1bM0f0xpoacZZsBnz91NYUOHYd_klZnq0G-7eh63Vt9rNr2dBaOnPVDyQE9IwiBbzy9lnrUW/s1600-h/DSC00320.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043743170143743906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo95YjZdX8UyQfv80GvVPlbmbrel91lzqSwQnVjsZ0ieMqTAM-hVqZqJi5WOo1bM0f0xpoacZZsBnz91NYUOHYd_klZnq0G-7eh63Vt9rNr2dBaOnPVDyQE9IwiBbzy9lnrUW/s320/DSC00320.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Mother finalising the displays by bedecking the idols with flowers. For the next three days, these idols and dolls will be treated like royalty in the household and prayers would be offered twice everyday.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfGyIIcF9r-_XZ6jaUhQfeNwtguaTTwjdA3NVkRHfP7qlVRN_3B5AxaZ413oKXjq_NxUVMDSdV9tfH1nAf0Ep0-2uDF-cJ3N6z4EsqpoXhkcDwMtHnovoDYKIaIL2VKopvxtc/s1600-h/DSC00325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044089689601844146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfGyIIcF9r-_XZ6jaUhQfeNwtguaTTwjdA3NVkRHfP7qlVRN_3B5AxaZ413oKXjq_NxUVMDSdV9tfH1nAf0Ep0-2uDF-cJ3N6z4EsqpoXhkcDwMtHnovoDYKIaIL2VKopvxtc/s320/DSC00325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A closer look at the topmost steps. They are all made of papier mache. Saraswati, Subramanua and his consorts, Srinivasa, Srimannarayana and even a couple of Ganeshas. My mother has a good collection of Ganeshas, but Krishnas top the list of her collection. two idols depicting Krishna can be seen here. The acrylic colours over paper mache are so vivd especially when light reflects off them. </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYVzqxdsRjlS0YoJlzMaQ4CmrasbPpoonbFJ2dnQkURKUPWhXe1QYc7gHeF-9TZ45oXzKEPt2w3P6RgRj28iYZgmM5MOdlCMgcPDyZE6HcVDtZ5j2N-FoROfOK-zYkWvn5831/s1600-h/DSC00307.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044084612950500242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYVzqxdsRjlS0YoJlzMaQ4CmrasbPpoonbFJ2dnQkURKUPWhXe1QYc7gHeF-9TZ45oXzKEPt2w3P6RgRj28iYZgmM5MOdlCMgcPDyZE6HcVDtZ5j2N-FoROfOK-zYkWvn5831/s320/DSC00307.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A South Indian wedding set displayed at the foot of the Krishna and Goda Devi idols. This one is a gift to my mother and a new addition to her collection this year. I had purchased this papier mache set from Khadi Bhandar in Chennai. Mother completed the Goda Devi Kalyanam scenario by adding this set.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0FU01uwRZbMyKAstOaoWd-pAWUwHy75vFZkJwTNpON08wDS1bKO2XO71k2WoPIFMrSVcLIGhKDYlE-ZvH4nRaPatW2GnA5dtEd9kbsCtUDBdA065CsK50q7maHJ18At7Eol4/s1600-h/DSC00340.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044088302327407522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0FU01uwRZbMyKAstOaoWd-pAWUwHy75vFZkJwTNpON08wDS1bKO2XO71k2WoPIFMrSVcLIGhKDYlE-ZvH4nRaPatW2GnA5dtEd9kbsCtUDBdA065CsK50q7maHJ18At7Eol4/s320/DSC00340.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Ashta Laksmi. A set of Goddess Lakshmi and her 8 incarnations.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oRMMbM6bjKArfkQslzvLIUErHn8lEAaEtgWBpvecUibOOaeL0pNEn29I6GVsd-PPTqxL4QQg5vAGe2wIOztfGIiD-qZpAIZKHShuMVYObXF_Ycv4RehG3gZpkfP30TwQ6Opz/s1600-h/DSC00342.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044097777025262530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oRMMbM6bjKArfkQslzvLIUErHn8lEAaEtgWBpvecUibOOaeL0pNEn29I6GVsd-PPTqxL4QQg5vAGe2wIOztfGIiD-qZpAIZKHShuMVYObXF_Ycv4RehG3gZpkfP30TwQ6Opz/s320/DSC00342.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>A respite from papier mache. This Ramayana set is an example of the famous Kondapalli toys of Andhra. They are made of a special softwood and painted in natural dyes. I guess there is a dearth of papier mache icons with my mother. My future gifts to her would hence include Kondaplli, Etikoppaka, Nirmal and Channapatna toys.</div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Rmo9ROcfy6Rs4oUGRhgZG0HfWFqxYl05X65wqdGBJBJ-Yw3Mi2wM-OlsXWPLeBmmNrn5Ii1neCHz6jLabg89WTYf7IDIzHCceDTYbfyxsNJ8XyLQL0EPoaD6a-YKEDvsQi3J/s1600-h/DSC00348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044112886720209922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Rmo9ROcfy6Rs4oUGRhgZG0HfWFqxYl05X65wqdGBJBJ-Yw3Mi2wM-OlsXWPLeBmmNrn5Ii1neCHz6jLabg89WTYf7IDIzHCceDTYbfyxsNJ8XyLQL0EPoaD6a-YKEDvsQi3J/s320/DSC00348.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Another Kondapalli set, this time depicting the Dashavatara -10 incarnations of Vishnu.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW773PzuuPsZDnMM_YoIoRayxxXZoPXhhJGS_bLeOk6IAj1iSxgciwHB09r8AoAsnmt6bJMExaaiwk97z4VHWz1gL1rq-bLiCtkdNKDRhlMl2x9u5eBckvqEHntEXEOAhmwlFQ/s1600-h/DSC00388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044104301080585170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW773PzuuPsZDnMM_YoIoRayxxXZoPXhhJGS_bLeOk6IAj1iSxgciwHB09r8AoAsnmt6bJMExaaiwk97z4VHWz1gL1rq-bLiCtkdNKDRhlMl2x9u5eBckvqEHntEXEOAhmwlFQ/s320/DSC00388.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Another addition to the collection thsi year. Mom does not cease to surprise us. This is an idol of Hygreeva, another name for the Varaha Avatar.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZbUAfOiR-lPdQWqXq_nPNBFq6ayW-MMQqL1AA6NF8Ve-e7zGLbOuB495HbBHbMRXG7lJjOona0CWsQbMVdaM3j4hRut-x-xtDnzcb5uoBFnhaKPU_KD4LrhrtUS4Wl9yoHBJ/s1600-h/DSC00344.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044106890945864674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZbUAfOiR-lPdQWqXq_nPNBFq6ayW-MMQqL1AA6NF8Ve-e7zGLbOuB495HbBHbMRXG7lJjOona0CWsQbMVdaM3j4hRut-x-xtDnzcb5uoBFnhaKPU_KD4LrhrtUS4Wl9yoHBJ/s320/DSC00344.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>More of Radha Krishna. Marble statuettes, with colourul dresses made by mother.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZpTP3mgMBnAxDy_rwY-j8G6h6-aedWSGLnpO9dyp37_YwQV5wW005ilRh7eQ24cgR8ImsvER1c4cS27KUd2np6b4cV_H4fy68GRXbyPLXxHKksi4Dqd_YkpFuMLut6FD_7kK/s1600-h/DSC00343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044110730646627314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZpTP3mgMBnAxDy_rwY-j8G6h6-aedWSGLnpO9dyp37_YwQV5wW005ilRh7eQ24cgR8ImsvER1c4cS27KUd2np6b4cV_H4fy68GRXbyPLXxHKksi4Dqd_YkpFuMLut6FD_7kK/s320/DSC00343.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of the oldest idol in my mother's collection (a couple of others could be older than me.) It is an idol of Goddess Saraswati made of china and was procured by my parents at the Santinikethan Fair (West Bengal) in 1980.</div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LeYaxyAY6NpF_ZcLqo2pT-J43pBwflS66usz5rCysJ0n8tiwQPs2PkBWVx1lsrc-vWLokTn9vhH12e-Tt8LYYCK76X4C8ZEHPmldf2BeYRu9Lnkw3hh9xH-M7HI3uJpr8V4S/s1600-h/DSC00349.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044115450815685650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LeYaxyAY6NpF_ZcLqo2pT-J43pBwflS66usz5rCysJ0n8tiwQPs2PkBWVx1lsrc-vWLokTn9vhH12e-Tt8LYYCK76X4C8ZEHPmldf2BeYRu9Lnkw3hh9xH-M7HI3uJpr8V4S/s320/DSC00349.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Offerings made to the deities in "Koluvu".</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtTuljByhZ5AI3pV4aPd7KBQlYVi-h8yPpfB_9S9QNUtv2z6rN6tbVnBAHX_7kwLi587qghDX6_sG0kbZUDVZ8kDSOqKufGW3WQY8gEiYdlkPJzvQjjbzDn4uIu_XEviqrq2W/s1600-h/DSC00317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044116769370645538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtTuljByhZ5AI3pV4aPd7KBQlYVi-h8yPpfB_9S9QNUtv2z6rN6tbVnBAHX_7kwLi587qghDX6_sG0kbZUDVZ8kDSOqKufGW3WQY8gEiYdlkPJzvQjjbzDn4uIu_XEviqrq2W/s320/DSC00317.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Thank you for visiting my mother's "Bommala Koluvu". Here is the entire display.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-26993504922372756382007-03-18T02:53:00.004+05:302008-03-02T18:07:06.184+05:30The Little Narrow Gauge of Central India<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#660000;"><br /></span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHctm-9SdiYUpny-VLoopjK2rYojP0Pk6yQNLudQVxVNSgRG_GcLo_yBAcK8wp3FXkKTHJF2i5MCuwf4rwjPbE7oKnKoWzp1tyevdbICZrfW2iy8dUD3Mq47WqCrg-ysaxXFaI/s1600-h/000033.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043009542484946258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHctm-9SdiYUpny-VLoopjK2rYojP0Pk6yQNLudQVxVNSgRG_GcLo_yBAcK8wp3FXkKTHJF2i5MCuwf4rwjPbE7oKnKoWzp1tyevdbICZrfW2iy8dUD3Mq47WqCrg-ysaxXFaI/s320/000033.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />On the morning of December 9, 2006, we wait at Itwari Jn. to catch the Nagpur Chindwara passenger. VSP looks on as the rest of the gang is busy chatting up the station officials about the narrow gauge line from Nagpur to Chindwara. The line goes north of Nagpur to Chindwara from where it veers towards the East till Nainpur where it turns north again till Jabalpur.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLLqSpbTMorE81Ci4SzFRmP-MPawA4o65RhDN56-ZtH3Q6unNUTQTtBzrudwKBbAM-rrdyd2taOe07TW8C7SEl7iZRmOayRUsENYVRbQQiP7kiK92qVSwvOTU9iZA2NapC1xk/s1600-h/000034.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043010775140560226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLLqSpbTMorE81Ci4SzFRmP-MPawA4o65RhDN56-ZtH3Q6unNUTQTtBzrudwKBbAM-rrdyd2taOe07TW8C7SEl7iZRmOayRUsENYVRbQQiP7kiK92qVSwvOTU9iZA2NapC1xk/s320/000034.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Itwari Jn. is a suburb of Nagpur and is a dual gauge station with a full complement of broad gauge lines on one side and narrow gauge lines on the other side. In fact, I had never seen so many loop lines of narrow gauge anywhere else than Itwari. VSP, Bharat and Sachin (with camera) seem to agree with me. Dr. Akash Apurva and Mr. Srinivas are examining the gauge.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsmx97uU7DYzCWEjvc8J5bPxspaEuQe0g8W-nCgVZH3WU3S0jeSSSf-CGJsSjYqJhK69PiFIwUwbgTx9TMdOOmiv0FidpoZqOIL9Vl8seS5rJg4QAEP-P814bsmsUoa0oZFBZ/s1600-h/000032.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043016912648826242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsmx97uU7DYzCWEjvc8J5bPxspaEuQe0g8W-nCgVZH3WU3S0jeSSSf-CGJsSjYqJhK69PiFIwUwbgTx9TMdOOmiv0FidpoZqOIL9Vl8seS5rJg4QAEP-P814bsmsUoa0oZFBZ/s320/000032.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The little narrow gauge train arrives behind a ZDM diesel locomotive.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJahAkGHn5x6g-wNdOoKx5EekTR_ydEKNbAtZc_hXNYFbUozWuBzmEwM2jHFhWm7xYAUud6Cqf73x-CK4iTj_Lb7TOyQbmbwdVHc3ze7Z5FmgcXNdoTodS-uhOF5aquUrF4BM/s1600-h/000030.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043022899833236882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJahAkGHn5x6g-wNdOoKx5EekTR_ydEKNbAtZc_hXNYFbUozWuBzmEwM2jHFhWm7xYAUud6Cqf73x-CK4iTj_Lb7TOyQbmbwdVHc3ze7Z5FmgcXNdoTodS-uhOF5aquUrF4BM/s320/000030.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The little train was packed with people. Some of them hanging by the doors. The journey was a rock and roll affair as the train rolled over the tiny tracks swaying sideways all the time. Here we are crossing the Howrah bound broad-gauge line by going under it.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl_TrhSezOBYp5by-vKz2E4dbkj9fQ7qZIr9KtnLmeKqS_ptiC64rpjoFMubGbEDxEA9tcwS7Ezx99jgXXTtBM_ccovAvCqOEq-yydnWTcGKQRgHJf3n-lLIa2-8H6efjFUpG/s1600-h/DSC00026.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043028272837324194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl_TrhSezOBYp5by-vKz2E4dbkj9fQ7qZIr9KtnLmeKqS_ptiC64rpjoFMubGbEDxEA9tcwS7Ezx99jgXXTtBM_ccovAvCqOEq-yydnWTcGKQRgHJf3n-lLIa2-8H6efjFUpG/s320/DSC00026.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Koradih, a major mining town is the second station we stopped at. It is a Passenger Halt as the board depicts ("P.H."). This one is a basic single line with non-automated signalling and quite a few crossings. Most of the stations are termed passenger halts as they do not have loop lines to enable crossings of opposite running trains. These little stations fall within a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_section"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">block section</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Only a few big stations on this route are the block stations.<br /><br /></span><div><div><div></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNbX4SyWcxbOcK4sE9rufJM2iwp0xuW-fFQUvAyTIdRkIwSwvX5Tm39udYW_Y7o7QWENClNAfoJNRXq7Pou4B7WcGVeG4mIv5gJZF8ZcIVH7V5E-dBaEBXYVfXAyD6A3_3RK4/s1600-h/DSC00118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043031425343319474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNbX4SyWcxbOcK4sE9rufJM2iwp0xuW-fFQUvAyTIdRkIwSwvX5Tm39udYW_Y7o7QWENClNAfoJNRXq7Pou4B7WcGVeG4mIv5gJZF8ZcIVH7V5E-dBaEBXYVfXAyD6A3_3RK4/s320/DSC00118.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There were a few curves along the route until Ramakona line like this one. Most of the route was dead straight.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ASH63dXc4FpvisduM9B81onzD-IKdGU1AVdc6pcRn_xBehVvVcgeG15gFGoenUk-r4INdZaW3Qg3WqqRjc6J4nO7cC2OTEh6FxYHZV-oLHYgrlpP1GRc6gteoQik4vxh8EGi/s1600-h/000025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043032709538540994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ASH63dXc4FpvisduM9B81onzD-IKdGU1AVdc6pcRn_xBehVvVcgeG15gFGoenUk-r4INdZaW3Qg3WqqRjc6J4nO7cC2OTEh6FxYHZV-oLHYgrlpP1GRc6gteoQik4vxh8EGi/s320/000025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A departmental observation car at at the end of the train. It is in a mint condition despite being almost 100 years old.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0AMQUeK_3elkwlPLoxq8WIBBHmCFjmO0QZdgxLdkFS_lpfKB_fNPZeuy44r-0t9poZ6mSg5-k-InVKY5bHWM3TiNftVaxw5lBWVnipl5olssCgceV8vcMiRQ_7d5dD136QY3/s1600-h/000024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043035720310615506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0AMQUeK_3elkwlPLoxq8WIBBHmCFjmO0QZdgxLdkFS_lpfKB_fNPZeuy44r-0t9poZ6mSg5-k-InVKY5bHWM3TiNftVaxw5lBWVnipl5olssCgceV8vcMiRQ_7d5dD136QY3/s320/000024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The observation car came with a dining car too. Both were closely vesitbuled together.</div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKelUs00bbnKVvi-NVI0HPsFfZjLYk57X0tGqlri-4Q6o0b0NIi91idukczIEfrMEb3Y58XPOpKmhmWAzCYwegg826JWrVOK6B-JtsYug6_mdL2lYEeyY8XCYTBe9QtTFCWpZE/s1600-h/DSC00117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043359878672313826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKelUs00bbnKVvi-NVI0HPsFfZjLYk57X0tGqlri-4Q6o0b0NIi91idukczIEfrMEb3Y58XPOpKmhmWAzCYwegg826JWrVOK6B-JtsYug6_mdL2lYEeyY8XCYTBe9QtTFCWpZE/s320/DSC00117.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>One of our the crossing stations, Khaparkheda. The Ramakona-Nagpur passenger (VSP is standing by it) was waiting for us on the loop line. The ZDM are well maintained by the Motibagh Shed at Nagpur.</div><div></div><div></div></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JYqxEf_B58Oe7Z_T1Riori8AAr_4wQZTqA7znXhGq10Fo6RhOrqIV51T0z4wUW3t8uzUw_6jxB2DTKucrwHq9eIQQ4ix-nG3zCFZqfE-O2XwYPDifDhrZk8xojtbu-7Lv4v_/s1600-h/DSC00115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043381688516242978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JYqxEf_B58Oe7Z_T1Riori8AAr_4wQZTqA7znXhGq10Fo6RhOrqIV51T0z4wUW3t8uzUw_6jxB2DTKucrwHq9eIQQ4ix-nG3zCFZqfE-O2XwYPDifDhrZk8xojtbu-7Lv4v_/s320/DSC00115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Another view of Khaparkheda. Note the observation car. It has windows to the back offering an uninterrupted view of the track behind.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh6J7BLhQUZIVcZYFAqcsDZuwqOBKifJD5BlJ7t4gL_WOmyJFbIZ_udpkMHA41guWOrf0DGPS466E0EAX_7Hiiv7EyFbPWj-W99AH5TfAW6_pKxtJgEMPhbRUBdXhpCs_dDEN/s1600-h/000027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043362983933668850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh6J7BLhQUZIVcZYFAqcsDZuwqOBKifJD5BlJ7t4gL_WOmyJFbIZ_udpkMHA41guWOrf0DGPS466E0EAX_7Hiiv7EyFbPWj-W99AH5TfAW6_pKxtJgEMPhbRUBdXhpCs_dDEN/s320/000027.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>A long section of straight tracks. The rails were not replaced despite having been laid for long due to the impending gauge conversion. As a result we had a rock and roll journey all the way.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP-iYYdWWDbOnF_sbQgG14pDnBnbeiSTXUsVNNkxIHfRC99X4wdvAHYjvEOf7jCaRWGkZ6L_q0ui7Iz8z3hyobRT6VkOLoOF3At0Ooq9Jf4dZDkKG4EQcQsBkYKCN5bLif9Dj/s1600-h/DSC00114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043390394414952050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP-iYYdWWDbOnF_sbQgG14pDnBnbeiSTXUsVNNkxIHfRC99X4wdvAHYjvEOf7jCaRWGkZ6L_q0ui7Iz8z3hyobRT6VkOLoOF3At0Ooq9Jf4dZDkKG4EQcQsBkYKCN5bLif9Dj/s320/DSC00114.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Saoner was a bigger station with plenty of passenger movement. It had two loop lines.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxDN2_DKFRhfcMiKV3NzAlQuYbuUv8zsKBzplFngevzBTKAfHDkZY_Vh0YpB0A0wMjdxT05pK0G91sYtcn7Sty2YpmUj0eCxloHKKHHwJ-6sF6QwZlD9c2p2HX9I75Ptgd56W/s1600-h/000026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043393916288134786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxDN2_DKFRhfcMiKV3NzAlQuYbuUv8zsKBzplFngevzBTKAfHDkZY_Vh0YpB0A0wMjdxT05pK0G91sYtcn7Sty2YpmUj0eCxloHKKHHwJ-6sF6QwZlD9c2p2HX9I75Ptgd56W/s320/000026.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Another view of Saoner's railway station. </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSe9Bo47WeoJE5EFt44w8yt0BS4VholZH7lLqjyFVvI-4EH7tSzBZmVlrdldJftRN7keZeeH9pP_Rc0mkKbzmhlFmFSftjIecmRxyym9E2770TpZfRHpVGGIuUfDUEp4AM-9g/s1600-h/000022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043395565555576466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSe9Bo47WeoJE5EFt44w8yt0BS4VholZH7lLqjyFVvI-4EH7tSzBZmVlrdldJftRN7keZeeH9pP_Rc0mkKbzmhlFmFSftjIecmRxyym9E2770TpZfRHpVGGIuUfDUEp4AM-9g/s320/000022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Goodbye Saoner. Note the semaphore signal.<br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskD1qdo9JEBrDaqwXAYpIhSfR_sLx_ZsWBcjCwQ-L-Kc-fPLAJRa817Zl6huIRXTHic5RDPzmuEC2WI-SYCpx7rqf06d0B93kGfIpmGHdjWv4NZ4dysEzbu0Uxhx8Cfgc5IdA/s1600-h/000014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043691574701616802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskD1qdo9JEBrDaqwXAYpIhSfR_sLx_ZsWBcjCwQ-L-Kc-fPLAJRa817Zl6huIRXTHic5RDPzmuEC2WI-SYCpx7rqf06d0B93kGfIpmGHdjWv4NZ4dysEzbu0Uxhx8Cfgc5IdA/s320/000014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ramakona was the next big block station. It also marked an end to endless plains and straight tracks. Seen here is the locomotive of our train.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq1dSoWZX9ka3WONtasahRdw3h9vQ-H2ge-AeWfxjZ0n4U-UF4a9IfZip3ciDm8fj_pGy91y850q4EkEW-kMxgkOpVby_6zg3uH2FisoA1FicpY6QWEJ_MVTMmriwjxQYuZyx/s1600-h/000008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043705696554086146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq1dSoWZX9ka3WONtasahRdw3h9vQ-H2ge-AeWfxjZ0n4U-UF4a9IfZip3ciDm8fj_pGy91y850q4EkEW-kMxgkOpVby_6zg3uH2FisoA1FicpY6QWEJ_MVTMmriwjxQYuZyx/s320/000008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Post Ramakona, the scenery changed dramatically. Population became more sparse and seperated. Vegetation turned thicker as foilage started to skirt the tracks. There were more trees, taller and sturdier than before. Curves also increased as we headed into the forests of the Satpura.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB-d2ikgMzSa8-YcBeTeH_iNgYovKHvha6OK3Xw81hTmMyocDmBGXRnGA5UoZaifL_ikiOATiS2S-OtjNcas-FoHvJuwxPuDIauuimdP7IWU4YK05o66laWvV39Vt5QLyepTN/s1600-h/ramakona+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043699644945166034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB-d2ikgMzSa8-YcBeTeH_iNgYovKHvha6OK3Xw81hTmMyocDmBGXRnGA5UoZaifL_ikiOATiS2S-OtjNcas-FoHvJuwxPuDIauuimdP7IWU4YK05o66laWvV39Vt5QLyepTN/s320/ramakona+047.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>As the sun set, we passed small stations nestled amidst increasingly thickening woods. Ghadela was one such station. The temeperature was falling slowly.</div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQYo1OdtBNwktFn4c031HHPwqu_4p196rMkDHIdVls8MhwyVtAl9Cv70uhMkqKBymfpKb95fNGio_qizAr37N-CytWCyQimJH_IdSVcYSrG5_vhtWQTM7E3qxtywRdqkyhxh_/s1600-h/DSC00128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043702355069529826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQYo1OdtBNwktFn4c031HHPwqu_4p196rMkDHIdVls8MhwyVtAl9Cv70uhMkqKBymfpKb95fNGio_qizAr37N-CytWCyQimJH_IdSVcYSrG5_vhtWQTM7E3qxtywRdqkyhxh_/s320/DSC00128.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We passed little stations with small sheds in place of station houses like this one named Devi.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp5PR554Dh4JR4vnqzOyskjNxpl2rz6MRugNYDn9Oh0S8o57XE66B5YRLkLhDM56u1dAcHI1aaXVXGZuqZBTt113WoUYsSEpigcDfJFXRZQf2pqUg59i0h7VLKhLwIEsZEZve/s1600-h/000001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043705108143566578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp5PR554Dh4JR4vnqzOyskjNxpl2rz6MRugNYDn9Oh0S8o57XE66B5YRLkLhDM56u1dAcHI1aaXVXGZuqZBTt113WoUYsSEpigcDfJFXRZQf2pqUg59i0h7VLKhLwIEsZEZve/s320/000001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Bhimalgondi was at a higher altitude reached after negotiating thick forests of teak along hillsides that the train crossed on a series of sharp curves. </div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjAswKCuvJGsQsEn1JR8U1mvDOOb282p_zbx8lKuFXXVnsZTZxmxoL74yXVAgnf8H0s1gTw3USQggYEWVOvoZRZN-j8sdRqARdKf-ZJVgcepT1v-8MAP3GuALd24QmKihL06J/s1600-h/000007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043707483260481298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjAswKCuvJGsQsEn1JR8U1mvDOOb282p_zbx8lKuFXXVnsZTZxmxoL74yXVAgnf8H0s1gTw3USQggYEWVOvoZRZN-j8sdRqARdKf-ZJVgcepT1v-8MAP3GuALd24QmKihL06J/s320/000007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Bhimalgondi is my favourite station of this route. Nestled among hills and surrounded by thickj forest, this little station seems so far away from civiliztion and so peaceful.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gKhComlWWy7FgDKMO2-Vj5-PnvGaT28T_136OSZmTkQ127LLmhgA9tyagCOiXRJK1BgXj9KiX1cnQ3TeuA7CTGLGZFXfZYfwFqbv8ynPW5XhtXiV6xHIc-QSpMC3umYWQWNX/s1600-h/DSC00144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043712383818166050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gKhComlWWy7FgDKMO2-Vj5-PnvGaT28T_136OSZmTkQ127LLmhgA9tyagCOiXRJK1BgXj9KiX1cnQ3TeuA7CTGLGZFXfZYfwFqbv8ynPW5XhtXiV6xHIc-QSpMC3umYWQWNX/s320/DSC00144.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>It was dark by the time we reached Chindwara Jn, our destination. The passenger from Chindwara to Nagpur was already at Chindwara. We alighted our train to catch this one. The train we alighted would continue to Nainpur and then to Jabalpur.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-26113502132191902972007-02-14T12:27:00.000+05:302007-03-18T02:52:47.369+05:30Monsoon Train to BodiRail Trip to Bodinayakkanur - November 18, 2006.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXHjtfayFuJ6I3zqIkUlzE85UB99xirlEvagi2uvUeUNT2oTVav1Y9eHLMp5n6l_LBV23TmVkqRqh1JJaLhGk0EXa5jyTc2aicrLVb8dn2BnSe6k-3rz2uf2cHjBAS2l2F4qk/s1600-h/000028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031285262750447074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXHjtfayFuJ6I3zqIkUlzE85UB99xirlEvagi2uvUeUNT2oTVav1Y9eHLMp5n6l_LBV23TmVkqRqh1JJaLhGk0EXa5jyTc2aicrLVb8dn2BnSe6k-3rz2uf2cHjBAS2l2F4qk/s320/000028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One wet afternoon, I took a train to Bodinayakkanur from Madurai.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZDz0ZfW9uYrsYp_9UN7CdP_RNr3Pbe2h8yLQ6d5-wjBR1aV2VDC7U6NwUs4cbGO92gTmx7m4up-1N3KWqDVbSc9Gm6vlT0KIFbMOuvI8BpQqBdswC6aOZxGdkbQEoDTLlCWw/s1600-h/000037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031286031549593074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZDz0ZfW9uYrsYp_9UN7CdP_RNr3Pbe2h8yLQ6d5-wjBR1aV2VDC7U6NwUs4cbGO92gTmx7m4up-1N3KWqDVbSc9Gm6vlT0KIFbMOuvI8BpQqBdswC6aOZxGdkbQEoDTLlCWw/s320/000037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The train swept across water logged paddy fields<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpRzQt8iwjlgKIzv3gjX1OjNzkvjDJ-16RiwyAgSCydR6wtCY8HEcSrzUpRw-OWuXRDygwGWs5QgNA9iDqlooZ37a5xpDC0uwbQwtB8r7SEAO2YaEbZEudkGG-FewMTvzzEcn/s1600-h/IMG_2138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031286783168869890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpRzQt8iwjlgKIzv3gjX1OjNzkvjDJ-16RiwyAgSCydR6wtCY8HEcSrzUpRw-OWuXRDygwGWs5QgNA9iDqlooZ37a5xpDC0uwbQwtB8r7SEAO2YaEbZEudkGG-FewMTvzzEcn/s320/IMG_2138.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The sky was overcast. Bodi was in midst of the Western Ghats. The hills loomed large as the lttile train pulled ahead. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCDlQrBbw0g031Gl6G-XQW9lbTJJ9nAcrI-GJey1OKo5aX_K_H4ohmh15panHnx1Ay7cBEuJKMv_7AegtisDjrVjEuFPwiNtQV7QN899q8AbYMjAOGWk2w4Ya1yUfPJjv4f2Q/s1600-h/000024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031365668833195634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCDlQrBbw0g031Gl6G-XQW9lbTJJ9nAcrI-GJey1OKo5aX_K_H4ohmh15panHnx1Ay7cBEuJKMv_7AegtisDjrVjEuFPwiNtQV7QN899q8AbYMjAOGWk2w4Ya1yUfPJjv4f2Q/s320/000024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Multiple hues of green and grey with the monsoon clouds looming low. The rain had swept away all the dust inthe atmosphere.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf2xEo1giiXE3Iep6rNG0xB11Gay7ailnFml1fak49IwzxkFnKDhCfXkd1R4dHo1W3etPfr9wBK1FZtLAqRsEWD1FquINGr9kDv3fbLviolYjKY1b49iPkt0TJVAdQBzPRyQB/s1600-h/000022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031359088943298082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf2xEo1giiXE3Iep6rNG0xB11Gay7ailnFml1fak49IwzxkFnKDhCfXkd1R4dHo1W3etPfr9wBK1FZtLAqRsEWD1FquINGr9kDv3fbLviolYjKY1b49iPkt0TJVAdQBzPRyQB/s320/000022.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>A little light music to go with the climate.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKQE6ePKL0f91njbn-hNs-UBh-C8l36fl9wGTLSyqFm6zO75sM4bmrcqeyxrZVF18lvxQWuOYsyMjV5TDyqeDFTzCXrVaS2k77w_WeVGu4sgH2aeIEk062BRA8UYoOJUZaN-Y/s1600-h/000034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031361309441390146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKQE6ePKL0f91njbn-hNs-UBh-C8l36fl9wGTLSyqFm6zO75sM4bmrcqeyxrZVF18lvxQWuOYsyMjV5TDyqeDFTzCXrVaS2k77w_WeVGu4sgH2aeIEk062BRA8UYoOJUZaN-Y/s320/000034.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>All the tall peaks of the Kodai Hills were covered by clouds.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTwhyphenhyphenIH89AzOlHOSyN1xDhQlqpqNvaDdGd2eZlC7K_DDCbWcbnbhLEZdL4Fde37pFVNo9C3PaqvEAJlGI0ntZU3fLENMflRZ9YNtaplkc8STyooVYMbcA7rgr6eGnGS38JScQ/s1600-h/IMG_2142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043001618270285074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTwhyphenhyphenIH89AzOlHOSyN1xDhQlqpqNvaDdGd2eZlC7K_DDCbWcbnbhLEZdL4Fde37pFVNo9C3PaqvEAJlGI0ntZU3fLENMflRZ9YNtaplkc8STyooVYMbcA7rgr6eGnGS38JScQ/s320/IMG_2142.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Wonderful shapes these peaks assumed. They absolutely dwarfed the little train I took. </div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTaZnixBpmojCutgWCpNdian1Mo_zNLGRdUTXpM7F0_mw9YxrOhYlngsSxbkpiWmvYrEcbUE3MG7m_6xYi46893GWyUbSQDqrHPzT_Ry7b9Q44T3hMQZJ48gBqRT2PcabVqWQ/s1600-h/IMG_2148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031363774752618082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTaZnixBpmojCutgWCpNdian1Mo_zNLGRdUTXpM7F0_mw9YxrOhYlngsSxbkpiWmvYrEcbUE3MG7m_6xYi46893GWyUbSQDqrHPzT_Ry7b9Q44T3hMQZJ48gBqRT2PcabVqWQ/s320/IMG_2148.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Every second, a new scene. Window of a train offers more than what all television channels put together could offer.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuLpKUyzHXfZuX26tzLHQt70ud9BD7Zj-7fSj3gatAl0GKARhdgn3usBwkimY5S9QwePhqIzJ5tF8hMQG2pGRoJw-2Oipdf1P3ZH_YknaQKSe3wfvYWKbaA8f82Tj3W9DanIa/s1600-h/000027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031367056107632258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuLpKUyzHXfZuX26tzLHQt70ud9BD7Zj-7fSj3gatAl0GKARhdgn3usBwkimY5S9QwePhqIzJ5tF8hMQG2pGRoJw-2Oipdf1P3ZH_YknaQKSe3wfvYWKbaA8f82Tj3W9DanIa/s320/000027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Little stations passed by with few rural passengers alighting the train. It was an earthy branch line.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sbvcaAZMrEkd_90yPT8U6PHA0eKt0Iq-puqRvze_S00YezMbwX7Xto8xK_zu7wjNUbpeDwtsvPigm0x4-JEH-xW8n1JNtcYXi8PM__MNa1vjFm6DBvLb0voby5LouzRT4CII/s1600-h/IMG_2129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043000170866306290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sbvcaAZMrEkd_90yPT8U6PHA0eKt0Iq-puqRvze_S00YezMbwX7Xto8xK_zu7wjNUbpeDwtsvPigm0x4-JEH-xW8n1JNtcYXi8PM__MNa1vjFm6DBvLb0voby5LouzRT4CII/s320/IMG_2129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>More hills and more clouds. Monsoon at its best.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmEmzYSBaLvTVAEbe40vqZQmmHYeAqGCK9ZYQ4bG9YxdA2-xV5aztGS0tQbzZTWX3uRlWKVWbYdFnFXuhNMuXioLLv88LsaoZBKIA21ZBzk-gq4SBgeb-8Co9qjQavX3smycC/s1600-h/000016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043000845176171778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmEmzYSBaLvTVAEbe40vqZQmmHYeAqGCK9ZYQ4bG9YxdA2-xV5aztGS0tQbzZTWX3uRlWKVWbYdFnFXuhNMuXioLLv88LsaoZBKIA21ZBzk-gq4SBgeb-8Co9qjQavX3smycC/s320/000016.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>At last, Bodinayakkanur! We reached Bodi at a twilight hour and found a little station tucked in a corner and guarded by huge peaks. Bodi is the terminus of this branch line from Madurai. The train won't go any further. A small and silent station, Bodi is a treat to the eyes thanks to all those trees surrounding it.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45_4yAstWn_AGDwrOUiubtRy6aeNQYXAclU7F8buwuxBUXI6uKR5mw_8JbyT-hR27XTCkhFy0mpSzh9wqFM6PWQXiLA6Fs7MiIzMNj6-9rnudK2wodmCwzy-Hvr1WMKTu_ToX/s1600-h/vivk-bdnk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043002876695702818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45_4yAstWn_AGDwrOUiubtRy6aeNQYXAclU7F8buwuxBUXI6uKR5mw_8JbyT-hR27XTCkhFy0mpSzh9wqFM6PWQXiLA6Fs7MiIzMNj6-9rnudK2wodmCwzy-Hvr1WMKTu_ToX/s320/vivk-bdnk.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Bodi is known for its cardamom. This little train helps the traders carry the cardamom sacks (in the pic) to Madurai from where, they are sent to all parts of India. thanks to cardamom, Bodi is the most fragrant little stations in India. The train will start back to Madurai in half hour. Vivek gets the last minute snaps. Look at those trees and all the greenery. Bodi is heaven.</div><br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxl_QvmMOl6jV-hZUO3Plp9X4ty9mec1BlhN2ottMU8dUe44kWRWaZdo2zhyphenhyphenXHmmygyffpT4iqX0CKsDtV84O_Bv7kF49tU1wjGDOb_hSEKAkC0ciVTkVi7Q8pQXoLPdnUfjp/s1600-h/IMG_2176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043004560322882866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxl_QvmMOl6jV-hZUO3Plp9X4ty9mec1BlhN2ottMU8dUe44kWRWaZdo2zhyphenhyphenXHmmygyffpT4iqX0CKsDtV84O_Bv7kF49tU1wjGDOb_hSEKAkC0ciVTkVi7Q8pQXoLPdnUfjp/s320/IMG_2176.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The little YDM4 locomotive is attached to the back of the train. It is all set to return to Madurai. The beautiful YDM4 and metre gauge are not forever. Their days are numbered. In two years from now, the route will be converted to broad gauge.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-1141608186789361852006-03-06T06:42:00.001+05:302008-03-02T17:49:25.875+05:30The Bull Run<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Deep in the rain-fed forests of Malanad (Rain-Land) lies the magnificent Jog Falls, the highest one in India. One fine day, I suddenly decided that I wanted to see it. I took an overnight express from Bangalorethat reached Shimoga at 5 AM.<br /><br />This part of Karnataka relies heavily on buses for transport. There were many buses from Shimoga to Sagar and from there to Jog falls. But then, I discovered something that morning. A little known, tiny and beaten piece of machinery leaves Shimoga railway station every morning at 6 AM, except Sundays. This one takes three hours through eight little stations on metre gauge tracks to cover 75 km of the Western Ghats. Through lush forest and vegetation, it goes all the way to Talaguppa. Talaguppa is about 9 miles from Jog Falls. This little thing is a rickety old Ashok Leyland rail bus that used to run between Yelahanka and Whitefield in the days of metre gauge.<br /><br />The rail bus consists of two small-articulated coaches with the engine and the controls placed at the end of one coach. This tiny fellow accommodates 57 passengers. They comprised mostly of the hinterland gentry with all the rural paraphernalia, including coconut saplings. The ticket cost 20 rupees, much cheaper than the bus fare. At six, a guard arrived from nowhere, wearing a crisp white suit and a peaked cap with two neat flags in his hand. He blew a sharp whistle and waved the flag…a mere tradition, since the guard could as well speak the signal to the driver…so small being the train. The next moment, the bus created quite a ruckus as it charged ahead, like a bull picking up speed in no time. The bus is a corkked piece of machinery; hardly as any shock absorbers and the condition of the tracks do not cushion the ride either. All kinds of noises erupted…snorts, bellows, creaks, shudders, rattles, crashes...and massive vibrations! And I coined the term The Bull Run.<br /><br />This tiny fellow was the sole lord of the track he used. The tracks were more than 100 years old and did not have a loop line anywhere in the run. The British had built it for the purpose of being a ferry line for the dam being constructed at Linganmakki. The Bull rocked and rolled and charged ahead into one of the loveliest countryside I had ever seen.<br /><br />This was Malanad, a rain-fed, green country. The recent rains left a cover of wetness on the earth and all the greenery making it colorful and pleasant. The Bus rumbled through virgin rain forests full of deciduous trees covered with moss and lichen. The little hamlets with tiled huts added an earthy touch to the scene. The countryside was interspersed with thick woods and lush fields looking like golf courses. This was beautiful India. Small stations had passed, with the Bus making short halts, enroute.. People somehow filled up this train and it ran full all the time. A cheap and efficient service was what it provided to these good folk. Everybody on the train knew everybody including the guard and the drivers and there was always a bonhomie exchange of niceties.<br />At seven, we rolled into a small station called Kenchanahalli. This was a typical one-horse town with a small platform and a tiny station house. The Bus halted just after a small level crossing that was probably used by bullock carts and two wheelers. Here I followed guard and the drivers went across the track to a small tea stall and sipped some fine tea on a cool misty morning. So small is this railway and so insignificant that, there are no amenities or hawkers all along the route. The stations are just heaps of earth lined with flagstones or cement embankments.<br /><br />It was an earthy combination, a small rural train, a green countryside, beautiful rural folk and picturesque villages. Anandapuram was a bigger station. It had a neat and old station house. Just beside it were lush green paddy fields. The Adderi station housed trees of teak and jackfruit. Balegudi was my favourite. It was a small station with a tiny station house dwarfed by a number of huge teak trees. The ground was covered with lichen. There was no road to it. The station was always there, never changed and never grew. It stood still in time as if nature had stopped metamorphosing. A rural peasant boarded the train here. A young lad got down and retrieved his bicycle from nowhere and disappeared. The soft wind swished about before being subdued by the Bus’s charge. Having been in cities all my life, this little moment was a special one and would be etched in my memories.<br /><br />After two and half-hours the Bus rolled into Sagar, a major town of Malnad. Sagar had a decent platform and the station had a Station Master and a compliment of staff. The bus looked odd on the tracks here where the platform was meant for a larger train. Practically all of the folks in the train alighted here and went out. The Bus started 20 minutes later, almost empty. Instead of speeding up, it ambled on lazily for the last 8 kms of run. At Kannale, I saw something that summed up the quaintness of this lovely railway. Kannale was unlike the other stations, devoid of any vegetation and lay on a plain. The platform was a mound of earth and the miniscule station house was a ruin. On the platform stood a man clad in a soiled vest and a faded red lungi, looking every bit like a mistry on a construction site. He was beckoning a couple of people far away to hurry up as he chatted up the driver. Once the people neared him, he pulled out a neat bundle of tickets, handed them each one ticket, collected the money and bid them a goodbye as they boarded the railbus. He was the one-man station-master-cum-staff of Kannale. I had traveled the length and breadth of Indian Railways. Never had I seen a lungi-banian clad Stationmaster before.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">At 9 am, the Bull finally rolled into the 100-year-old tree-lined Talaguppa station, one of the cutest ones I had seen. This, apart from Shimoga, had the only loop on the line…to reverse the bus. At the end of the station where the tracks terminated was a tiny and cute turntable. This was used to turn the engine of the bus around for his onward journey. India has the second largest railway network and the largest passenger network. In pockets of India, there exist many stations and routes like this one, that are devoid of any attention, but continue to charm the people on their own with their quaint ways. The Talaguppa –Shimoga line will soon vanish thanks to the Project Unigauge. Or it may go into disuse and obsolescence. But as long as it exists, the</span> Bull Run, its little stations, the green country and the gentlefolk who dwell here shall be a fantasy.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-1140595448146759622006-02-22T12:50:00.000+05:302006-02-23T03:10:39.923+05:30Tipong - David and FriendsHere is our own version of Thomas the Tank Engine. Unlike Thomas this is for real. Presented here are some pics of the steam railway in operation at the Tipong Colleries of Assam.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;"><strong>Thanks to Mr. Mohan Bhuyan (IRFCA) for lending me his lovely photographs.</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/Tunnel%20Exit.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/Tunnel%20Exit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Wonder who is this? This is B 796 ( B class 0-4-0ST no. 789 ) a tiny coal hauling saddle tank steam locomotive.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/Bridge.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/Bridge.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The loco is same as the one that takes you to Darjeeling.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/David%20negotiates%20the%20waterfall.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/David%20negotiates%20the%20waterfall.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">That is little David. Yes that is his name given by the folks here. David is more famous outside India! Every year hordes of steam enthusiasts visit this place to witness David in action. He and his friends are among the last narrow gauge steam locomotives still operating in the word. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/David%20on%20the%20bridge.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/David%20on%20the%20bridge.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">David (Bagnall 0-4-0ST ) is the only loco light enough to be allowed on this particular bridge.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/Beast%20and%20Burden.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/Beast%20and%20Burden.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">B796 reverses itself to its little trucks of coal.</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/Bridge%20Entry.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/Bridge%20Entry.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Who says coal mines are ugly, dirty sites. David and is friends make this colliery only more beautiful...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/Betel%20Grove.2.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/Betel%20Grove.2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It is a day in life as usual in Tipong...and its steamers. Tipong..one of the last steaming villages on earth.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">]</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(B796 Hauling its load from the mines through the village)</span><br /><br /><br />All Photographs: Courtesy Mr. Mohan Bhuyan (IRFCA)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-1140384709653494452006-02-20T02:20:00.000+05:302007-09-02T00:19:59.837+05:30AmarkantakFebruary 3, 2006. I was in Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, convalescing from the varicose vein surgery. My folks live here and they decided to treat me an early birthday surprise (Feb 4) by taking me to Amarkantak, about 110 Km from here. We started off early in a Maruti Wagon-R. The route took us north of Bilaspur to the border of Madhya Pradesh where Amarkantak was located. It was dark at 5 Am and most of my journey was spent in the darkness. Nothing much except that at Kota, we were stopped at a gate manned by forest officials. They were polite and helpful and said that both the forest and the ghats start from this point.<br /><br />Later at 6:30 AM, daylight broke and we found ourself at another gate, this time for an entry into the <a href="http://indiavarta.com/travel/8dec.asp">Achanakmar </a>forest. This was a teak and sal forest in its natural best. The road was great for a small state like CG and the journey was pleasant. It was somewhat chilly and the air. The name Achanak-mar meant sudden kill and sent some more chill down the spine. There were liberal signboards of WWF and government of CG appealing to conserve forests, not to kill or poach animals etc. May be there is a connection between <a href="http://www.wwfindia.org/div_feature_details.php?divsession=8&secname=Features&feasession=5">"Achanak-mar" and poaching</a>!<br /><br />Anyway, kudos to the Chattisgarh government in their conservation effort.<br /><br />The teak and sal trees were the highlight of the drive. These are some of the best timber-producing trees one could find. Sal wood was used to make those highly durable railway sleepers until the railways decided to save forests and switch to metal and now concrete. These trees in the forest are now safe from vanishing due to the reserve status of Achanakmar. Unfortunately, except for a horde of monkeys and langurs, and a sole sighting of the common jackal, there was no wildlife to be seen. Probably they were taking it easy on this chilly morning.<br /><br />As we crossed into MP, the road condition sublimed! It was one hell of a pothole ridden way to Amarkantak and we managed to reach Amarkantak by 8:AM only to find the village waking up to the new day.<br /><br /><br />Amarkantak is a villlage. A small and tiny one. Population would not cross 1,500, I guess. There would be more outsiders than locals here!<br /><br />Situated in the Maikal (Mahakaal) mountains at an altitude of 1057 m, Amarkantak is a natural wonder and a religious place on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Chatthisgarh. In fact there is a dispute between the two on claiming Amarkantak. It is located in Anuppur District. This is the meeting point of the Vindhyas, the Satpuras and the Maikal hills. Most importantly, this is the place from where the mighty Narmada river (150m yera solder than the Ganga) begins her journey. Apart from the Narmada, another fine river, the Sone (Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar, venue of the longest rail bridge in India) also emerges in a different direction here. Amarkantak is , therefore, a holy place nestled in an ecological preserve.<br /><br /><strong>Holy Amarkantak</strong><br />In many parts of India, Narmada is considered much holier than the Ganga and is more than 150 million years older. Amarkantak itself is sacred to the Hindus and is deemed to be a door-way to<em> nirvana.</em> According to a legend Lord Shiva blessed Narmada with purifying powers such that the mere sight of Narmada is enough, whereas a devotee is required to take one dip in the Holy Ganga, seven days' prayers on the banks of Yamuna and three days' prayers on the banks of Saraswati for the same. Another legend goes on to state that the Ganga visits Narmada each year, dressed like a dark woman to cleanse herself with a dip in its waters. Yet another legend describes the birth of Narmada. Long ago there was a drought on earth and devas begged the Lord Shiva to quench the thirst of the land. While He was dancing on the hills one day, a drop of sweat from his forehead fell on the ground and created a beautiful lady, so lovely that all the gods tried to pursue her, but in vain. Lord Shiva decided to name her Narmada.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-1138428936323372032006-01-28T11:39:00.000+05:302006-03-03T20:30:01.746+05:30A Day at Rameswaram<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00044.jpg"></a><br /><br />My day-trip to Rameswaram on January 1, 2004.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00040.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00041.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00041.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Rameswaram Island as seen from the Indira Gandhi Road Bridge</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00036.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">The older cantilever rail bridge (metre gauge) adjoining the new road bridge over the sea (Palk Straits). This bridge was completely washed off in the 1964 floods and was re-built. The remnants of the older bridge can be seen along the new one. The central portion is a cantilever that lifts up to allow boats and other bigger vessels to apss through the channel into the fishing harbour .</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong></p><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00037.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">The rail bridge extending to Rameswaram island.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00046.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Rameswaram is a green and windy island. Windmills for generating electricity. This photo was taken from the Gandhamadhanam hill which houses one of the numerous Rama temples in Rameswaram. </span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong></p><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00049.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00049.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00049.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00049.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00047.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00047.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00047.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Ramnathaswamy Temple: 4000 feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 pillars, supposedly the longest in the world. The carved granite pillars are mounted on a raised platform. What is unique about this corridor is that the rock is not indigenous to the island and it was brought in from elsewhere in Tamilnadu across the sea.</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00049.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00049.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Is that Sri Lanka? An island in the sea far away as seen from he Kodandarama Temple whihc itself is on an island between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00051.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00051.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Freshly laid road to Dhanushkodi. This is a National Highway 49 (Kochi-Madurai-Dhanushkodi).</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Note a railway track (a blue line) on the right side buried beneath the sand. This is the metre gauge line that used to run all the way to Dhanushkodi till 1964.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00052.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/00052.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Ghost town! Dhanushkodi was abandoned during the 64 floods and remains a ghost town today. Seen here is an abandoned railway building.</strong></span></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00044.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/400/00044.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Another shot of the rail bridge</span></strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00049.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/00035.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/400/00035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Indira Gandhi Bridge connecting Rameswaram island with mainland India.</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-1138344627628562162006-01-27T12:04:00.000+05:302006-01-27T15:46:50.476+05:30Sims Park, Coonoor<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000024.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Sims Park, Coonoor</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><p>Parks are my favourite landscapes in cities and towns. Having lived in Bangalore for 4 years, I can say that a city or town without a park is no civilization at all. However, I cringed at the state of Lalbagh the last time I visited it ( almost an year ago after I moved to Chennai). There are in my opinion, two parks...recreational and botanical. Both the <a href="http://www.indtravel.com/bang/graphic6/bang019.jpg">Cubbon </a>and <a href="http://www.plantx.com/botanical_centers/india/bangalor-park-entrance-lalb_s300.jpg">Lalbagh </a>parks are botanical first ands recreational next.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000026.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000026.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>A giant Fir tree</strong><br /></span><br />I was looking forward to the botanical gardens at Ooty during my vacation at the end of 2005. I was not expecting much from the lake, though water bodies surrounded by vegetation happen to be my most favourite landscapes. For some reason, I could not make it to the Ooty botanical garden. The Nilagiri Mountain Railway occupied most of my time and mindspace. At Coonoor, I suddenly found that I had 3 hours to spare before I could catch the next shuttle train back to Ooty. With time to kill, I explored all options at Coonoor for sight-seeing in the guide book. Sims Park was described as a garden in a ravine...mmmm sounds interesting. I decided to check it out. The auto drivers insisted that I take a more well trodden option: Dolphin's nose, tea gardens et....but my mind was set on the park. I was not disappointed.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/sims.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/sims.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Long and winding pathways.</span> </strong></p><p><br />Sims Park is the best reason to visit Coonoor. It was built over 130 years ago, and covers about 12 hectares of land. The park is situated in a deep ravine on the north side of Coonoor Railway Station. Set in a natural forest on the slopes of the ravine with winding footpaths all over, the park is a home to a wide variety of trees, brought here from all parts of the world. The grass is always green and fresh and in winter, the mist mingles freely with the trees giving you that romantic atmosphere seen only in movies. This park is more compact and definitely much prettier than the botanical gardens at Ooty.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000023.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000023.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Little pond at the bottom of the ravine</span></strong> </p><p><br />The USP of this park is the collection of trees and plants it hosts. It is divided into eight major sections and contains over 1,000 species of plants from the Himalayas, Australia, Africa, China, Europe, Brazil and other places. It is this painstaking 100 year old collection of trees that should be the ideal interest for any nature lover visiting Coonoor. There is a representative of almost all genera in the plant kingdom here. This is also the home of the Himalayan holy Rudrakhsa and even the Australian Monkey Puzzle.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000025.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000025.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Set in a natural forest</span></strong> </p><p> </p><p>Pines and Firs of all kinds adorn this garden. There is even a separate rose garden within the park. The park is ideal for a long and idle walk through nature. An enviable factory of fresh oxygen, the park is carpeted with some fine grassy lawns and winding pathways that lead to the bottom of the ravine where a small man made pond with an island adds to the landscape.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000022.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000022.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Mist and light mingle with the fresh greenery</span></strong> </p><p><br />Tourists prefer to cover as much as possible in a single day and therefore do not enjoy the park much. The best way to visit this park is to give it at least half a day. I have two interests in Ooty now...The Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Sims Park and looks like my day will be well spent divided between the two. :)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6481622.post-1137767402779227312006-01-20T19:52:00.000+05:302006-01-25T23:38:49.950+05:30Nilagiri Mountain Railway #3<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000027.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000027.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Rest In Dignity? A nicely painted Winterthur plinthed in front of Coonoor station house. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cog_railway">Abt system </a>is not visible under the loco, however.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000028.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A flagstone for the loco describing its features. Even age....looks like the loco is still in running condition, for the age is changed every year.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000037.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000037.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The Mettupalayam-Ooty passenger slowly ambles into Coonoor after a 4 hour uphill crawl at 13kmph.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000036.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000036.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The coal is all used up! The loco, coaches and even the fireman are all covered with soot. A common site many years ago, now reserved only for the Nilagiri Mountain Railway. The passenger moves onto the only platform at Coonoor.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000034.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Many fans for the steaming hot Swiss Miss. One thing I have observed is that this train is more famous on the Coonoor-Ooty stretch than up or down to Mettupalayam. Hordes of tourists of all kinds and nationalities temporarily ditch their preferred mode of transport at Coonoor/Ooty and take a joy ride in this train. They even take snaps of the YDM4 diesel loco thinking it to be a part of the 'toy train' set-up. But the steamer has its own fans too, like in the photo.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000033.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The diesel and the steamer. Looks like it is straight out of Thomas The Tank Engine...the steamer would be Giggles and the Diesel is Barney....dunno ...the names just came to my head :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000029.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Giggles and Barney again...a critical mind would see a great deal in this photo....the locos, the distance between them, the angle etc. I see only one thing...darn! I screwed up the snap :)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000031.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Giggles is shunting itself out of the main line onto the pit-lane....sheesh that is Formula 1 jargon!...well towards its steam shed.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000030.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />No more giggles (pun intended)! The Winterthur steam loco looks like it could do with a nice clean up and paint job in the front. After all, it is a Unesco heritage!Look at the plinted loco...it is all clean and polished.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/1600/000016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1038/351/320/000016.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Stations on the NMR are compact and cute. Note this points levers right beside the station master's office at Ketti. They are newly painted in bright colors. After all, they are a heritage under UNESCO.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0