Hogenakkal Falls On Wheels

Nov, 2009 - Day 1
3:10 AM, Kandanchavadi(My flat)
Balaji: "Hey fatty !!! Its raining da.Shall we go ahead or call off? I dont mind riding in the rain"
Me: "We will decide when you reach my flat. Where are you now?"
Balaji: "I just reached the big toll gate da!!!"

3:10 AM, Palavakkam (Deepak's flat)
Deepak peeked out of his window. It was drizzling. But looked up the sky, saw clouds clearing off. That was a good sign.

3:30 AM, Besant Nagar (Vijay's flat)
No sign of rain in Besant Nagar. Vijay had a tough time getting his bike ready for the trip
....fixing rear view mirros, foot rest, checking brakes.....He never had a second thought.

Our trip started just like this. No one cared about the rain or the distance. It was all about a passion for biking. We all met at Madhya Kailash bus stop around 4:15 AM. After a small chat, we started off our 340 Km journey.

The route:
Madhya kailash > Guindy > Porur > Poonamalle > Sriperumbudur > Vellore > Ambur > Vaniyambadi > Krishnagiri > Dharmapuri > Hogenakkal


Hogenakkal is one of the wonderful waterfalls in Tamil Nadu. It is a part of the river Cauvery and is about 250 metres above sea level. The main attraction of the falls is its vertical drop from a height of 20 metres with a thundering sound. A sacred bathing place, Hogenakkal is well known for its power of healing. It also offers a thrilling experience, and perhaps that is why the name means the smoke that thunders.It is located at a distance of 340 Kms from Chennai.

Many warned...its raining...its off season...but we all were too addicted. Near Poonamalle we stopped to have a cup of coffee before entering the highway. After covering 60 Kms we stopped for our first break.

Deepak & Me (Vivek)

Around 7:00 Am we reached Vellore and decided to have breakfast.We covered 130 Kms from where we had started.

We had breakfast here


The Legends: ?, Deepak & Vijay

? and me (Vivek)

Hot discussion: Deepak, Vijay and ?


Some dreamzzz are just meant on wheels: Deepak


The Knight rider: Starring Vijay

We started from Vellore after 45 minutes. The sun was up, no sign of rain, the sky kept smiling and we kept riding. The breath taking sceneries...the fluffy clouds like cotton wool...the mountains...the humming engines...the sound of our wheels....our heartbeats became louder and faster…..

Courtesy Vivek

Courtesy Vijay


Breath taking view (Courtesy Vivek)


The Highway: Dedicated to all bikers (Courtesy Vivek)

Around 12:15 PM we reached Dharmapuri, filled our fuel tank & had a tea break.



Identity revealed: Balaji and Deepak



We stopped for lunch 5 or 6 Kms before Hogenakkal at a Dhaba.


By 1:45 PM we reached Hotel Tamil Nadu. Thank god....only 3 to 4 cars in the parking area...the hotel was empty since it was off-season and we took a 6 bed room for Rs 1125/-. We refreshed ourselves in the room and took rest for 1.5 hrs.

We started for boating at 3:45 PM. Balaji & Deepak had a tough time bargaining with the boatman. After a negotiation for 15 to 20 minutes they fixed the rate for 3 hrs. The boating package was like this - They will drop us in a jeep near the starting point. They will take us to the falls. Then an oil massage for Rs 100/- per head. The massager will come with us in the boat. After the massage, a holy bath in the waterfall & also they will take us to the main falls.

Deepak & Balaji: Negotiating with boatman

On board…..Ready to start….(Balaji, Deepak & Vijay)


Presidential election, 2009 - Hogenakkal panchayat (Senator Balaji of Thambaram nominee of the Democratic Party)

Our boatman: It weighs around 50 Kg (Courtesy Vijay)


Deepak getting into the boat

Approaching the falls (Courtesy Vivek)

Did you see the rainbow???? (Courtesy Vivek)


The Falls...........the Clouds......


Yo yo...thats me...


Deepak getting massaged


We three: After the massage

Main falls in the evening(Courtesy Vivek)

Main falls (Courtesy Vivek)

By 6:40 PM we finished our boating, oil massage and a holy bath in the falls. Had a cup of tea and hot dosa. We saw few women selling fishes near the road side, u can choose any variety you want, they will fry and give you instantly. Deepak & I decided to get some. Also we bought some egg burji for the veggies Vijay & Balaji(Ha ha ha... Egg Veggies).

Making of egg buriji (Courtesy Vivek)

Deepak, Balaji & Vijay waiting


Till 10:00 Pm we all were chatting & teasing one another and dont remember when we slept off. The day 1 story comes to an end.

Nov, 2009 - Day 2

Next day morning 6:30 AM we all woke up, had our breakfast and started of for a bath in the falls. To reach the Main falls by walk, one needs to cross the hanging bridge.

The Hanging Bridge (Courtesy Vivek)

Me(Vivek), Deepak & Balaji


Holy Bath: Balaji, Me(Vivek) & Vijay

Holy Bath: Me(Vivek), Balaji & Vijay


After bath, we walked towards the main falls.Hogenakkal really was at its best.
Frolic of water near the falls, the sun playing hide and seek behind the clouds,
i could see the spectrum of colors appearing and disappearing into the Gorge.
The view was pleasant & charming.


The Fluffy clouds (Courtesy Vivek)


Spectrum of colors (Courtesy Vivek)




By 11:00 Am we returned to our room. After an hour, around 12:00 PM we started our ride back to Chennai.We refilled our water bottles and started from Hogenekkal. We almost lost an hour waiting for food at Dharmapuri, 3:00 PM we finished our lunch.


On the move: Vijay


Ready to wheel : Deepak




5 kms after Dharmapuri signal, we found Vijay missing. He was behind me at the signal.
Deepak, Balaji & I tried calling him, but no response. This moment was mind bothering. So i decided to go back and check out vijay, but in vain. Deepak dropped an sms to vijay & we started again. When we were approaching Krishnagiri, Deepaks mobile started ringing. Balaji gave a stop signal to me. Deepak picked up the call...it was Vijay.

Vijay: " I crossed Krishnagiri"
Deepak: "Stay whereever you are. We will be right there."

Somewhere after Dharamapuri, Deepak, Balaji & I stopped near a junction to decide the return route (Dharmapuri to Krishangiri thru Highway - The route we came & the other route). We missed Vijay from here. He was trying to overtake a bus, didn’t notice us stop.
We regrouped after Krishanagiri.


The return journey: Machines resting!!! They never looked tired….


Balaji down: Rum or Whiskey???? It was just a teaspoon of cough syrup!!!!(just kidding)

We stopped near Sriperumbudur for our final break. We all layed down on the divider and like sky gazers we looked at the sky. Spectacular view!!! It was a crescent Moon. After taking a group snap in self timer mode, we started off to cover our final lap.

The crescent


Rest on a divider: (Vijay, Balaji & Deepak)


Mission accomplished: Vivek, Vijay, Deepak and Balaji

For breaking a signal at Porur, i had to bribe. Around 9:40 PM we reached Tidel park and dispersed. For a moment I wanted to exult, and to exult with all the ardor of my soul.

Special thanks to Vijay for handling the trip accounts, humorist Balaji who entertained us throughout the trip and amicable Deepak chandra.


Biking = Risk , We take it

Writeups: Vivek
Photos: Vivek & Vijay
Participants: Deepak Chandra,Balaji,Vijay & Vivek
Bikes: Pulsar 150cc, Pulsar 180cc, Fz 150cc

Chunnambar Island & Aurovilla (Oct 11th 2009)

This trip is about the beautiful Auroville and one of the beautiful islands near Pondi – Chunnambar Islands.

Auroville:
Auroville is located in south India, mostly in the State of Tamil Nadu (some parts are in the State of Puducherry), a few kilometres inland from the Coromandel Coast, approx 160 kms south of Chennai (previously Madras) and 10 kms north of the town of Puducherry.

Chunnambar Islands
This island is situated inside Pondy and is a serene place to spend a whole day out, away from all the gaga of city life.

Trip details:

We barring Kishore started our trip from Thiruvanmiyur bus depot at 5.35 AM. After fifteen minutes of ride on the ECR Kishore joined us at Sholinganallur road.

Here is the gang which have conquered two of the beautiful places Auroville and Chunnambar islands in a day.

From left to rite : Deepak, Ravi, Vino, Biju, Vijay, Kailash, Vivek (Nature Baba), Kisshore and me ( Mayank - taking the snaps)


From Left to right : Deepak, Biju, Vino, Vijay, Kailash, Myself (Mayank), Ravi, Kisshore.

After the merger with Kishore, at around 0600 hrs we started riding on the picturesque ECR. The climate was good and the shore line along side ECR was giving us company.

For the first time I was riding as a pillion with Vivek and enjoying the Scenic beauty along side ECR. We were riding at around 65 kmph average speed, overtaking every one at regular intervals to avoid monotonity.

At around 730 hrs we had break fast. Every one is so hungry

Served with love by Vijay.


Biju refueling himself.


Right to left : Deepak, Kisshore, Vino


Discussing the future course of action :)


Easy Kisshore :)


Waiting to be served:Ravi

We finished our break fast and started driving to reach our first destination – Auroville.

We reached Auroville at around 930 hrs. We had to wait there to enter the place as it opens by 1000 hrs only.



The Life and Death: Courtesy Vijay

For the time being we watched a video on Auroville and Matrimandir.
Then we came to know that for visiting the Matimandir we need to do prior booking – 2 days in advance (Better luck next time . Here are the details for the future visit.)

Booking time: 2 – 4 PM
Tel: (0413) 2622268 or book in person at Matrimandir Office(No visit on the same day).

Walk towards the Auroville Temple – Matrimandir.


Vivek with his smile as always.


Biju Enjoying the scenary – A lively character filled with fun.


That’s me – nuisance creator of the group :) (guys any comments????)


Kailash – Always in style but ......


Vivek & Vijay


Entrance to matri mandir.

The above shows the reality of one of the phrases – where there is a will there is a way. A waste land turned into a lush green area full of trees.


Ravi posing

Here is the final destination at Auroville. The Matrimandir looks awesome.


The Matrimandir: Courtesy Vivek

A close up of Matrimandir: Courtesy Vijay

After seeing the temple we started our journey to chunnambar islands at 1130 hrs. After driving for sometime we had a tea break. We reached Chunnambar islands at 1215 hrs.

We enquired regarding the travel to the island, had our lunch and also the water(tanneeee) at this place.

We started for the paradise beach – Plage paradise at 1400 hrs, it was a ½ an hour boat ride to the island. The area was surrounded by trees and all the greenery.




Deepak: Enjoying the boat ride



We reached the paradise beach and got our place at the beach under the shed.

Chunnambar Island.

The Dock: Courtesy Vivek


The Dock: Courtesy Vijay


Landed at Island.


We have spent nearly 2 hrs at the island playing freebie and hand ball. The sun was at its peak but did not stop us from playing and taking on the beach waters.


Kishore with the hand ball.


Myself ( Mayank ) Trying to find out where the ball Is

Taking rest after playing and thinking something (Ha ha haaaa....)
Bay watch: Dont think they resting, especially the guys with sunglasses


Gang just before the departure from the island.


Nature baba


On our way back : Courtesy Vivek


This is how the back waters look in the evening – truly beautiful. (Courtesy Vivek)


Started our journey back to Chennai at around 1630 hrs. on the way back we had tea and dinner in pondy.

Bidding bye to Pondy – At the Pondy Entrance on way back.

On our way back Kishore was leading the Gang and the trailing was done by Vivek. The reason was we have encountered heavy rush due to A R Rehman’s show that day. But we were able to reach Sholinganallur on ECR at 2130 hrs. from here we separated to reach our houses but to meet again for yet another trip.

As it is said, passion brings people together. We all have a biking passion and also to explore new places. Buk up guys.


Writeups: Mayank
Photos: Vivek & Vijay
Participants: Biju, Vino, Deepak, Ravi, Kisshore, Vijay, Kailash, Mayank & Vivek
Bikes: Pulsar 150cc(2), Hunk 150cc, Pulsar 180cc, Gladiator 125cc, Avengar 200cc