TravelingBeats

Location: Gooty, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh

Distance: 264 km from Bangalore, 50 km from Anantapur, 306 km from Hyderabad

Route: Bangalore – Hyderabad National Highway 7. To reach Gooty one has to take a left deviation from the main highway.

Travel time: Around 4.30 hrs from Bangalore

Accommodation: There are few lodges but nothing decent. If you are going with family best staying option will be at Anantapur or Kurnool.

Food: Available at local shops but no decent restaurant.

The star attraction of this town is the magnificent Gooty fort. As we were nearing Gooty town, we came to face the towering fort. The fort located on a hill can be seen from a distance. The hill rises abruptly out of miles of plains around and has no range. Earlier people used to stay inside the fort but with increase in population people started living outside the fort and thus rouse the town of Gooty around the fort. It is not straight forward to find the way to the fort. It took us asking few people to find the correct route. The road to the fort goes through a bazaar and leads through the boundary of the fort. At the foot hills of the fort there is a settlement of population. One has to track around 2 – 3 km to reach the top of the fort. At one end of the foot hill, there is a cemetery of the ones who ruled the fort once and their subordinate.

We started climbing in the afternoon in the month of August and it was pretty hot. To go around the fort it would take more than 3 hours time. At the foot hill, the climb starts and there is stone paved way with walls on both sides. I have been to many forts but this one was unique and landscape around was also unique. As we were climbing I could notice the various layer of additions this fort might have gone through. Some part of the fort is almost in ruins. ASI has mentioned it is a protected monument but it needs some help immediately.

The fort is said to be in existence since 7th century AD but I could not find any concrete evidence on who built it. It is understand that this area was under Gupta emperor Ashoka’s rule as archeologist have found one of his rock edit few kilometers away from here. Major construction of the fort might have started during the Vijaynagar empire. Under the Maratha rule the hill was further strengthened. Murari Rao, one of the Maratha general in the 17th century captured the fort and made it his permanent residence. His favorite place in the fort is know as Murari Rao’s seat. In 1775 Hyder Ali captured the fort and it went to British hands after his son Tipu Sultan died in 1799.

As we continued climbing our view of the surrounding became better. Now I could see the hills had only one major access without any barrier which was walled by the rulers to control access. After some time we opened up to a plateau which houses a water storage, ammunition depot and soldier resting place. From here we started to see Bangalore Hyderabad highway. Some steep hiking here onwards will take you to the peak of the hill where the palace and watch tower is located. I had to return back from the summit of the peak due to peer pressure who were not ready to climb further. From here I  saw see a goods train going towards Bangalore. The descend was pretty easy and by early evening we reached the foot of the hill.

Today Gooty is just a small town but it is an important railway junction.

To view more pictures visit, Travelingbeats Photo Gallery.

Filed under : Andhra Pradesh

0 Comment »

This was my second solo trip which I decided without any compulsion. After my friend dropped, I still decided to go ahead. I went and purchased tickets to Kalpetta from a KSRTC franchise counter. Both ways I paid Rs 1077. For the onward journey it was a Volvo ac sleeper. The bus left at 9.05 pm from shantinagar bus stand. Met a guy studying at NIT calicut. Chatted and went on to sleep. Most of the night I could not sleep because of the thought I might miss Kalpetta in sleep. Reached Kalpetta in the morning around 5 am while it was still dark. Hired an auto for Rs 30 near bus stand to Haritagiri hotel. Called up the reception to open the gate. Took possession of a non ac executive room for 1100 plus taxes as discussed with the hotel the day before. After getting fresh, I started hearing chirping sounds of birds. I opened the window and enjoyed fresh air of the morning. The first sight after opening the window was the mist kissed hills in the distant. I was already feeling hungry. Alas! breakfast buffet started at 8 am. They offered bread, butter, jam, chole ka dal, puri, tea, coffee, corn flakes.

For sightseeing hired a Tata indigo for Rs 1800. Around 9.30 am left for the day trip. First stop was Edakkal caves. From the place where the car was parked one has to trek around 1.5 km to reach the the cave. After walking through the cemented road reached the ticket counter. Ticket is Rs 15. If you are carrying water bottles then you will have to deposit Rs 20 at the counter and you will be reimbursed this Rs 20 on return if you produce you water bottle. Here then they will remove the sticker they pasted. From here even steeper climb started. However Good job Tourism department of Kerala – they have created stairs made of iron frame with marble slabs. After sometime I reached a small cave and I was asking myself – is this all I came to see here? However, found further climbing is required. After coming out of this small cave and climbing little further I came to the end of the hill and there was vertical climb on stairs. From here it gives a panoramic view of the area. Upon reaching the top, there was a small door on the right hand side and one has to walk down the stairs to reach the cave area. In fact it is not exactly a cave. It is a fissure of two rocks protruding over one another which gives a cave feeling with some opening throwing lights inside. It was pretty big area. Here on the stone walls there were carvings which were said to be done by early mans. Also, I read some where that they are related to the Indus valley civilization. Around 3000 years old. There is a security guard in the cave.

Next went to Soochipara falls. During day time it could be very hot in Wayanad in April. On the way to Soochipara saw a lot of tea gardens. It is located in Meppadi. Now there were hardly any water. A small stream of water was flowing. To go there one has to trek around 1 km downhill. Ticket is Rs 15 and Camera Rs 20. Looks like this falls is located inside a forest area and before entering your ticket will be checked. Again here you will have to deposit Rs 20 if you are carrying bottles and it will reimbursed when you return with the bottle. There are some shops around if you would like to drink or have something. You can also buy souvenir.

Then on way we had food at Wayanad hotel. Food was pretty cheap at Rs 150 – 1 litre Pepsi, 2 Kerala parota (KP), chicken 65. Next we went to Pookot lake. It is located in Vithri. Entry fee is Rs 15, camera Rs 20, parking fees Rs 15. This seems to be a natural lake. Surrounded by hills on all side and wooded it s good place to spend some time with family or loved ones. Booting is available, children play area, one can take a walk around the periphery of the lake. The lake has grassland in its bank on some area and also have lotus. Then we went to Likkidi view point. From here one can easily understand the hills are approaching the plains. This is on calicut road. From here one can see some hairpin bends. Calicut is around 70 km from here.

2nd day:

On the second day the destinations were little far. The places were zeroed in were Banasura Sagar dam, Kuruwa deep and Thiruneli temple. The asking rate was Rs 2200. However, last day the AC did not work, so the rate was reduced to 2000. Took bath and left hotel around 10.15 am for the day trip. The journey was awesome through the country side with surroundings of Coffee estates, tea estates, beetle nut tress etc. First destination was Banasura Sagar dam. It is large earthen dam created for multipurpose usage. Outside Banasura there some shops where you can buy some souvenir and can sugarcane juice. On the other side is a rubber plantation estate. From here onwards started a awesome drive to Kurwadeep. It was pretty hot by then in the afternoon. But was my ac car kept me cool while I was traveling. The road was getting better as I left Kurwadeep and headed towards Thiruneli Maha Vishnu temple. The ride through the hilly terrain and forest of wayanad was awesome. Then the forest was most dry. I was lucky to see a dear and a wild pig. It is said herds of elephants can be seen crossing the road around evening and early morning. After my sojourn, started my return my return journey. Reached hotel around 6.30 pm. Today thought of experiencing Kerala message at the hotel. Here massage for male are done by male and for female are done by female. I went for full body message and steam bath which cost me Rs 1126. Not bad at all. After a rejuvenating bath (they provided soap, shampoo, towel), went to room fresh and watched some TV. Then around 9 pm went to the hotel restaurant and ordered dinner at room. Food was good. Slept a sound sleep for the night.

3rd day:

Woke up little late. After having breakfast, took bath and arranged by bag. Then went to the restaurant for lunch. Ordered for malabar biriyani. It was ok to have but dint find it great. Checked out of hotel and left for Bangalore bus stand. It is located on Calicut road and it is basically city bus shed. Where long distance bus gives a halt to off board and on board passengers. It was hot and humid. On top of that KSRTC Volvo AC bus was one hour late. Once in the bus, it was a relief. Onward journey to Bangalore was awesome viewing the country side and forest. After Gundlupet, it is mainly plain and you know you will be soon back in the hustle and bustle of city.

To view more pictures of Wayanad visit: Travelingbeats Photo Gallery.

Filed under : Kerela

0 Comment »