After our rest day in the wildlife reserve, we set off early at 7.30 for an alternative route. The roads we had intended to take via Ooty to Kodaikanal through the Nilgiri Hills were blocked by landslides after heavy late monsoon rains. So we headed round the range of hills, but still over a pass with 27 hairpin bends on the way down (the signs counted down the numbers). We then bypassed Coimbatore and headed through a game reserve to Munnar. In total the journey was around 400kms – by far the longest of the trip. And the last 50kms over very windy roads through tea estates were completed in the dark.
We finally got to our hotel at 8pm. One car went into a ditch on one particularly dark muddy bend (its driver got a lift with us and her car has now been recovered). Another car had smoke coming out of the engine and also had to be left behind for the mechanics to collect later. Only one puncture today. But twelve and a half hours driving has taken its toll on the people, if not too badly on the cars.
The Hotel in Munnar accommodated us at short notice and is brand new and very smart. Each room is named after a film (ours is a Bollywood classic). The food is great and the beer is cold and there is internet!!
Because of the diversion, we are now ahead of our scheduled route, so we can have a lie-in and a shorter drive tomorrow – only about 110kms to Thekkady. After that the final run into Cochin on Friday.
The Silver Bullet (see pictures) is now decked with flowers and an Indian flag and looking great. It went very well today after an early hiccup when it failed to start after fuelling, due to a loose battery connection.
Today was very hard and tiring – a real challenge! Everyone is ready for an early night. Even Katy has already gone to bed, and she wasn’t even driving. So I am off next, as soon as I have uploaded the photo selection from today and the previous two days. Enjoy!
The name Munnar is made up of two words – Moonnu (Three) and Aaru(river) referring to three rivers. It’s quite picturesque, especially in monsoon. Looks almost like a fantasy land with picture perfect tea estates.