Trip to Upper Bhavani Backwaters Lakkadi

Covers Lake Avalanche, Upper Bhavani Dam backwaters, Emerald Lake

(enroute)& Dam
Need to carry Water & Food. Be there by 9:00AM.
Lake Avalanche i.e Upper Bhavani Lake Back Waters (Lakkadi)
Route: Ooty Good Shepard Knowledge Village - Muthorai Palada Ithalar
Emerlad - Avalanche forest check post.
Google Driving directions to Avalanche Lake from Government
Museum (51 mins 22.1 km)
Head south towards NH67
Drive from Kandal Main Bazaar St and Lake Rd to West Mere
6 min (2.5 km)
Slight right
Continue on MDR1071 to Avalanchi Rd
32 min (15.1 km)
Continue straight onto Avalanchi Rd
Pass by Forest Rest House (on the right in 2.0 km)
Avalanche Lake
Road Conditions - Very Good. Last 5km Average (Dense forest).
From the Korakundah check post, you will have to take a Avalanche Eco
tourism bus. There is enough space for parking and the place has toilets as
well but no eateries. Only two bus trips a day at about 10:00 and 13:00. If
you want to avoid the crowd, go for the first trip of the day and be there by
9:00 AM. The tour lasts for about 2 hours. The ticket cost for bus is Rs 150
per person and Rs 1200 for a jeep and Rs 20 for camera. The bus journey till
the lake is around 45 mins. The first halt is at a valley called the Sholas. The
view from here is of mountains which are full of trees which look like
cauliflower from top. The second stop is at the Bhavani temple which is the
origin of river Bhavani and has a small waterfall running down the valley. The
last and final stop is the extremely beautiful and completely unexplored back
waters of upper Bhavani lake. I have no adjectives to describe the feeling.
Please go and find out yourself.
While coming back from Avalanche check post, you can visit the emerald
dam and lake along with Avalanche Lake. Trip includes Lovely views of
vegetable farms and tea estates.
Beyond the Red Hills resort to Porthimund (permit required) and all the way
to Parsons Valley which is another pretty lake.
Actual Upper Bhavani Lake/Dam
Route: Ooty --> Kaikatty --> Manjoor --> Upper Bhavani
Distance ~ 63 KM
Road Conditions - Not sure

To visit the actual Upper Bhavani lake/dam, you need to obtain prior
permission from the forest dept office in Ooty. Hence we didn't visit the
actual lake. However, visiting the back waters is also a great experience.
Mukurthi National Park
The Mukurthi National Park is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, the
south eastern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau. Spread over 78.46 km, this
represents one of the very few areas which support a viable population of the
Nilgiri Tahr. A fascinating feature of the Mukkurthi National Park is its
endemism and relationship with the Himalayan flora and fauna.
The entire tract included in the National Park bears natural vegetation typical
of higher altitudes of South India, comprising of rolling grassy downs,
interspersed with temperate shoals occupying depressions and valleys. The
landscape is extremely picturesque and should be zealously protected and
preserved to maintain the primeval beauty and grandeur of the tract.
Mukkurthi National Park is approachable through 4 different routes.
Avalanchi which is 30 km. from Ooty From Avalanchi, Upper Bhavani is
reached by road (25 km), from where the sanctuary area beings after Upper
Bhavani Dam.
From Anumapuram near Pykara which is 24 kms. from Ooty in the Ooty
Gudalur Mysore Road and then reaching Porthimund Dam.
The third entry point for Nilgiris Peak area is near T.R.Bazaar in the Ooty
Gudalur Mysore road via Terrace estate road reaching Mudimund (40 km).
The fourth entry point is via, Parsonsvalley road, which leads to Western
Catchment II and III.
Due to the tough terrain and difficult accessibility of the area, biotic
interference is limited. Trekking along the prescribed trek routes and vehicle
drives in the existing roads are the activities permitted.
Trekking Routes
1.
Bangitapal Sispara -16 KM
2.
Bangitapal Sispara-Poochiparai- Silent Valley -52 KM
3.
Devabetta Mukkurthi Peak -12KM. Fishinghut (halt) 8 KM.
4.
Kolarikutta Bangitapal -20 KM ( halt)
5.
Western Catchment Bangitapal 14 KM
6.
Trekking Shed Kangerkundi Nadugani -18 KM
Forest Rest Houses:Bangi Tapal, Upper Bhavani(EB), Mukurthi Fishing Hut
Wildlife Warden
Mudumalai and Mukurthi National Parks and Sanctuary,
Mount Stuart Hill, Ooty 643001
The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
Ph: 0423-2444098
Trip to Mudumalai
Kalhatty water falls

Go to Theppakadu via Kallatty Falls. Kalhatti Falls is a tourist spot near Ooty,
The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. These falls are about 13 km from Ooty, on the Ooty
to Mysore Road or Sigur Ghat Road.
Moyar River Gorge (towards North 11kms)
Driving down from Masinagudi village towards Moyar, our guide tells us to
keep our eyes open to track animal movement on the grassy patches that
line either side of the road. That is all we need to get started. Every time the
dry grass rustles in the sharp breeze, we watch intently, hoping to see a tiger
or an elephant. But all that meets the eye are herds of sambar, spotted deer
and scampering mongoose.Caught up in this `wild animal' chase, we almost
forget the real purpose of being there - to have a dekko at the 260-metre
deep Moyar gorge. The view of the chasm cut by the Moyar as it hurtles
down to empty itself into the Bhavani, is breathtaking. You need permission
to go near the gorge. Drive down till Surgeshaft, 11 km from Masinagudi and
take a winch till the Moyar power station (a journey of 20-25 minutes). As we
haven't sought permission, we decide to settle for a view of the gorge from
the plateau near the Chikkamman (small goddess) temple, 11 km from
Masinagudi.
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary at Theppakadu
Elephant Safari and Van Safari by forest department.
Go all the way to Gudalur to retun via NH67 to Pykara. Theppakadu to Pykara
Lake via Singara Rd is closed.(Verify at Masinagudi)
Pykara lake/ Pykara Boat House
Boating is available at Pykara lake. A trekking up for 1 km will lead one to
Pykara falls. For 350 rs you can hire a boat,which can accommodate 4 to 6
members. Return to ooty via NH67.
Coonoor
Ketti Valley view
On Ooty-Coonoor Road. 7 Km from Ooty. The Ketti Valley is the second
largest valley in the world and the view.
Dolphin's Nose
10 km from Coonoor Centre
This is the best viewpoint among the ones in coonoor/ooty region. BEWARE
of monkeys. Too much crowd. May take more than 1 hr. Hairpin bends and
tea factories on the road. The roads leading to Dolphin's nose is well laid but
little narrow, so try going early in the morning to avoid any traffic. Catherine
falls will be visibe from Dolphin's nose viewpoint.

Lamb's Rock
On the road to Dolphin's nose. You get a view of the Coimbatore Plains and
also the valley around. There is a small tower in the lookout spot for better
view. Need to walk for 500m to reach the viewpoint. 15 -30mins
Sim's Park
On Cantonment Area Road. Established in 1874. This is a natural garden. The
park has colourful flowers beds, lawns and rockeries.
You can see rare economic tree like Bead Tree, Cinnamomum etc., and
graceful trees and shrubs like aracaria, quercus, phoenix, magnolia,
turpextine, pine, Ferns, Camellia, you can see the island garden sorrounded
by stream and pond, on the other side is a rose garden where more than 300
varieties are maintained. Collect rudhraksha seeds here.
Highfield tea factory
Highfield tea factory can be reached from Sim's Park by taking a smaller road
just to the left of the Coonoor-Kattabettu-Kotagiri Rd(Going downhill). It has
now become a very touristy tea factory, but in the past it used to be the only
one that allowed turn-up visits. 15-20 mins guided tour. Can buy tea
500grams of premium tea will cost about 130 rupees and other herbs. Maybe
others have now caught onto this tourism business. However, if you can, try
and go to Brooklands Tea Factory instead. As far as I remember, they only did
tours (for free) on request.