Its a memorable trip for me as a biker and traveler not just because of Mind blowing Mega malai but also because of my first ever long trip in my beast(i own a Desert storm 500CC)
We have been planning to visit Megamalai for months and finally got a chance to fulfillthe wish on a long weekend hoping all tourist will attack kodaikanal, ooty and Kerela.
Also Megamalai is not a well known place and its good to be unknown and unexplored . That why it remains original and unpolluted. Let it be the same forever.
Lets get to the trip . Started from chennai on Friday and stopped at Dindugal and reached Megamalai next day. Stayed at megamalai on Saturday and came back to chennai on Sunday. (Aug 12,13 &14)
Route: Chennai(Navalur,OMR) - Tiruporur- Chengalpet - GST(Vilupuram- Udumalapet-Trichy-Dindugal - Batlagundu - Theni - Chinamanur - Odapatti - Megamalai(exact place we stayed is Mallaru )
Mode of transport - Royal Enfield Desert Storm Bike (Speedometer - 2280 KM to 3530 KM) covering 1250 KM roundtrip
Let me tell why it is special because this was my first ever Bike ride and that too a Mountain ride(a true hill ride without any road)
Actually the hill starts from Odappati and hardly 20 KM to #Megamalai and there was no proper road when we drove. It was under construction and had all sorts of road conditions( Broken road, road with pot holes, muddy road because of rain, rain washed stone road and the typical hill curves and most important no side walls). Most of the small cars were sent back by forest officers for the same reason.
Trip meter
We have taken many pics to save time and energy. Few clicks for our memories
Once you reach Odapatti, you will have Forest office check post. Post that the roads are very bad. Infact there is no road. But it was expected they will lay the road in 3 months (possibly you will have a road from Dec 2016 or 2017)
Beauty of Megamalai, the roads will be flowing on the corners of lake from one hill to another
Few lessons we learnt in this trip though i am a regular traveler but not a regular biker.
1 - Dont rely on technology - Google maps is not good for unexplored places- So speak to people at every spot.
Online booking is not always reliable - we booked only available bunglow using makeytrip and to check on the route we called those people near Theni. They said rooms are all booked and we have no connect with Makemytrip. Thankfully the supervisor had helped us to arrange some rooms because we are travelling all the way from chennai to Megamalai.
2- Plan your trip with all necessities with a back up option - There is no petrol bunk in Megamalai - We should have carried few litres handy though we are not short of fuel.
Also it rained in between at various places. Always invest on proper rider gears- Helmet,jerkin, shoes, Riding Pads, Gloves- Nothing is costlier than your safety
3- Expect anything and everything to happen - Applicable for firstime riders like me- My trip mates bike breakdown in Chengalpet. Always prefer to service your bike few days or a week before your trip . A nut was not tighten properly and it ends up in jamming the break. Thankfully nothing happened. It cost around 3k for reparing it
Also when we are returning, my bullet headlight went off and had to drove few km's till mechanic shop without any light (we should have carried a torch light atleast). The fuse keep firing everytime and found at there is a shortcircuit in the back light lines.
And most important
You are not on a racing track to race and win. We have not drove more than 20 to 30 KM speed in hills with the given condition of roads. Of course you cannot ride faster than that with pot holes, muddy and curved roads.
"Slow and Steady wins the race". And most important enjoy the ride.
And last but not least " Bullet is always bullet" #Bulletda
We have been planning to visit Megamalai for months and finally got a chance to fulfillthe wish on a long weekend hoping all tourist will attack kodaikanal, ooty and Kerela.
Also Megamalai is not a well known place and its good to be unknown and unexplored . That why it remains original and unpolluted. Let it be the same forever.
Lets get to the trip . Started from chennai on Friday and stopped at Dindugal and reached Megamalai next day. Stayed at megamalai on Saturday and came back to chennai on Sunday. (Aug 12,13 &14)
Route: Chennai(Navalur,OMR) - Tiruporur- Chengalpet - GST(Vilupuram- Udumalapet-Trichy-Dindugal - Batlagundu - Theni - Chinamanur - Odapatti - Megamalai(exact place we stayed is Mallaru )
Mode of transport - Royal Enfield Desert Storm Bike (Speedometer - 2280 KM to 3530 KM) covering 1250 KM roundtrip
Let me tell why it is special because this was my first ever Bike ride and that too a Mountain ride(a true hill ride without any road)
Actually the hill starts from Odappati and hardly 20 KM to #Megamalai and there was no proper road when we drove. It was under construction and had all sorts of road conditions( Broken road, road with pot holes, muddy road because of rain, rain washed stone road and the typical hill curves and most important no side walls). Most of the small cars were sent back by forest officers for the same reason.
Trip meter
We have taken many pics to save time and energy. Few clicks for our memories
Theni to Kandamanur Road
(initially we went to Kandamanur and lost in a location shown by Google. Biggest lesson learnt- Dont rely on technology. Speak to localites)
Vaigai Dam
Once you reach Odapatti, you will have Forest office check post. Post that the roads are very bad. Infact there is no road. But it was expected they will lay the road in 3 months (possibly you will have a road from Dec 2016 or 2017)
A view from the mountain
Panoromic view
Tea estate view (Road widening is happening )
Muddy roads - Rain effect
Highways Dam
(not sure why this place is called Highways)
Beauty of Megamalai, the roads will be flowing on the corners of lake from one hill to another
A Nice view from a Bridge
Our Beasts meets the lake
A bus that goes to Chinnamanur(nearest town)
Sad state is there is only one bus available and it comes in the morning and leaves back in the evening. No other transport unless you have your own vehicle. A great salute to the bus driver for driving safely in the ghat roads.
Roads with a mesmering view
Few lessons we learnt in this trip though i am a regular traveler but not a regular biker.
1 - Dont rely on technology - Google maps is not good for unexplored places- So speak to people at every spot.
Online booking is not always reliable - we booked only available bunglow using makeytrip and to check on the route we called those people near Theni. They said rooms are all booked and we have no connect with Makemytrip. Thankfully the supervisor had helped us to arrange some rooms because we are travelling all the way from chennai to Megamalai.
2- Plan your trip with all necessities with a back up option - There is no petrol bunk in Megamalai - We should have carried few litres handy though we are not short of fuel.
Also it rained in between at various places. Always invest on proper rider gears- Helmet,jerkin, shoes, Riding Pads, Gloves- Nothing is costlier than your safety
Also when we are returning, my bullet headlight went off and had to drove few km's till mechanic shop without any light (we should have carried a torch light atleast). The fuse keep firing everytime and found at there is a shortcircuit in the back light lines.
And most important
You are not on a racing track to race and win. We have not drove more than 20 to 30 KM speed in hills with the given condition of roads. Of course you cannot ride faster than that with pot holes, muddy and curved roads.
"Slow and Steady wins the race". And most important enjoy the ride.
And last but not least " Bullet is always bullet" #Bulletda
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