aptdc - reception
Most trips are planned with knowledge of destination, stay, basic time estimate. We (a member of two) kept decisions and options "On the Fly" == No plan, No solid info at hand. Destination is Horsley Hill, c/o Madanapalle and direction is west of chennai, thats how it began with backpacks.
On enquiry, it was understood major stations to madanapalle is via Chitoor or Tirupathi. Since we started late reached CMBT at 11:15 pm - we do not have a direct bus immediately to Madanapalle - an APSRTC bus remains parked, is scheduled for 5:00am departure - we definetly unwilling to kill the night at CMBT.
Tirupati is piligrim center remains active during nights with floating devotees - while chittoor could be inactive for a bus transistion and to stall. It was Friday - and we are seriously behind Tirupathi buses - There was no hope for seats availablity in APSRTC services that departed one after another continuously - the APSRTC reservation counter offered only for buses that ply early morning after 5:00am, clock ticked 12:30am, we are loosing time, further enquiry indicated the tamilnadu unreserved services 911 and another number (911 express service) haves service all night, not giving up approached blue uniform SETC/tnstc employeed conductor personnel, who advised us to get on to a parked vehicle at opposite salem platform, cautioned for it would cost more i.e. 200/- AC service, that was a delight..
That was where our travel began to gain momentum at 1:30am - estimated 4 hours of journey, Tickets charged Rs. 180/- per person - Soon sleep took over my consciousness until my mobile reminder ticked morning 5:00am - I often have difficulty sleeping in buses but this was fine. Finally the bus made to Tirupathi at 6:00 am morning ! delayed,..there were a number of buses destined for madanapalle at high frequecy. we looked up for fastest services - not all bangalore services (volvo) are willing to entertain passengers to Madanapalle. We boarded a KSRTC service, that left bus station at 6:40am ticket was charged - Rs 77 per passenger /driver promised a time of 2:30 upto 3:00 travel hours, that turned out 3hr 20 mins, at Madanapalle by 10:00am - Oops a bus to Horsley hills left 15min past the next one is schedule to depart at 11:00am wait !!! 1 hour.. Buses to kasikota, will passby the Hill Cross roads, so we took a bus for the cross roads, that was quite far off they charged Rs. 10/ passenger, a travel time of 15-20 mins, the cross looks as a sign of silence, 2 tea/snacks shops - a maruthi van maks trip up hill/ downhill was full and no chancesfor this trip, a bus entered rapidly the uphill route - it was empty - this bus is a replacement for an over crowded breakdown vehicle midway uphill, we were not allowed into bus initally, but by some locals recommendations we were allowed to board APSRTC replacement vehicle and tickets collected from madanapalle point Rs.13/ per passenger.
On enquiry, it was understood major stations to madanapalle is via Chitoor or Tirupathi. Since we started late reached CMBT at 11:15 pm - we do not have a direct bus immediately to Madanapalle - an APSRTC bus remains parked, is scheduled for 5:00am departure - we definetly unwilling to kill the night at CMBT.
Tirupati is piligrim center remains active during nights with floating devotees - while chittoor could be inactive for a bus transistion and to stall. It was Friday - and we are seriously behind Tirupathi buses - There was no hope for seats availablity in APSRTC services that departed one after another continuously - the APSRTC reservation counter offered only for buses that ply early morning after 5:00am, clock ticked 12:30am, we are loosing time, further enquiry indicated the tamilnadu unreserved services 911 and another number (911 express service) haves service all night, not giving up approached blue uniform SETC/tnstc employeed conductor personnel, who advised us to get on to a parked vehicle at opposite salem platform, cautioned for it would cost more i.e. 200/- AC service, that was a delight..
That was where our travel began to gain momentum at 1:30am - estimated 4 hours of journey, Tickets charged Rs. 180/- per person - Soon sleep took over my consciousness until my mobile reminder ticked morning 5:00am - I often have difficulty sleeping in buses but this was fine. Finally the bus made to Tirupathi at 6:00 am morning ! delayed,..there were a number of buses destined for madanapalle at high frequecy. we looked up for fastest services - not all bangalore services (volvo) are willing to entertain passengers to Madanapalle. We boarded a KSRTC service, that left bus station at 6:40am ticket was charged - Rs 77 per passenger /driver promised a time of 2:30 upto 3:00 travel hours, that turned out 3hr 20 mins, at Madanapalle by 10:00am - Oops a bus to Horsley hills left 15min past the next one is schedule to depart at 11:00am wait !!! 1 hour.. Buses to kasikota, will passby the Hill Cross roads, so we took a bus for the cross roads, that was quite far off they charged Rs. 10/ passenger, a travel time of 15-20 mins, the cross looks as a sign of silence, 2 tea/snacks shops - a maruthi van maks trip up hill/ downhill was full and no chancesfor this trip, a bus entered rapidly the uphill route - it was empty - this bus is a replacement for an over crowded breakdown vehicle midway uphill, we were not allowed into bus initally, but by some locals recommendations we were allowed to board APSRTC replacement vehicle and tickets collected from madanapalle point Rs.13/ per passenger.
Lake beside Museum
Reached Hilltop at 11:40 am, as we walk through in search of accomodation for afresh up and deport our baggages. Hills are inviting with leaf less trees that blossomed Full in Lavender, they carpeted the lanes with their unique Lavender tinge, Flamboyant is no short of this welcome parade.
Haritha - aptdc offer the accomodation with credit/debit card transaction facility, aptdc resorts are ringing FULL..... peak season, first surprise uphill is 'No ATM' machine - nearest ATM center is located 20-25 km in madanapalle, our plan is to search accomodation On-hill - worst scenario head back to madanapalle a make shift at evening. Enquired at roadside drinks/snacks shop for accomodation - they advised one behind - that was a very pleasing green area with trees and birds chirping, Accomodation dealt with Mr. John samuel (9703143170) a polite person - the house looks like a old British construction with rock walls and wooden beams, even the switch boards have been those age old style round black moulds facilitating only 2 pin plugs, the offer was two beds in a room to cost Rs. 500/- for 24 hour stay, no hot water nor tap they filled 3 buckets with water manually carrying, no more room surveys we occupied in no time , much interesting about the place is the bird population, they outnumber the people in any area :) outside, Tailor birds, red whiskered Bulbuls and babblers are very populus here, red vented bulbul, flameback, pied Bushchat, Bunting/Munia ? are other common birds noticed.
Haritha - aptdc offer the accomodation with credit/debit card transaction facility, aptdc resorts are ringing FULL..... peak season, first surprise uphill is 'No ATM' machine - nearest ATM center is located 20-25 km in madanapalle, our plan is to search accomodation On-hill - worst scenario head back to madanapalle a make shift at evening. Enquired at roadside drinks/snacks shop for accomodation - they advised one behind - that was a very pleasing green area with trees and birds chirping, Accomodation dealt with Mr. John samuel (9703143170) a polite person - the house looks like a old British construction with rock walls and wooden beams, even the switch boards have been those age old style round black moulds facilitating only 2 pin plugs, the offer was two beds in a room to cost Rs. 500/- for 24 hour stay, no hot water nor tap they filled 3 buckets with water manually carrying, no more room surveys we occupied in no time , much interesting about the place is the bird population, they outnumber the people in any area :) outside, Tailor birds, red whiskered Bulbuls and babblers are very populus here, red vented bulbul, flameback, pied Bushchat, Bunting/Munia ? are other common birds noticed.
Accomodation and Active points
Our credit/debit cards to rescue, for our nearly cash free pockets - Our lunch at aptdc (only buffet) done with basic needs.., I am out with my tripod and camera, exploring way down hill, a forest inspection officer intercepted me, and disclosed some restrictions in reserve forest zone and permissions from chittoor DFO are recommeneded, further conversation indicated wild life is active with good number of bears - congregate daily at the pool (named Gangotri - to the best of my memory) little downhill as the sun sets. Leopards, pythons, deers, peacocks are the other animals active and prominent here, the officer offered me lift back to my accomodation point. Soon a short nap on call, and I made it upto 5:00pm, we walked around the nature park settled at the museum hill watching the sunset upto until venus was bright revealing the crescent curve in my Optical zoom of 300mm focal Lens, what I have been tracking for the past couple of months, made long 30s exposures of glowing plains in a mix of natural and artificial, traffic lights. A 'No' to aptdc for our dinner and settled in for the homely cooked food, at the same road side snacks shop, the weather was comfortable and going cooler, some talking ended up in sleep. < End of day one >
Twilight Shoot
Woke up in early twilight for a sunrise chase, too clouded to have any glimpse of early Sun, made my way alone to the view point where the winds are very gusty, ventured off a torn fence downhill that kept going the views are good, already made 45 degree of this Hill not aware where I head over unprepared with my loaded luggage, if a bear chases :) backed off...., explored the sun set view point. followed by energy recharge with buffet breakfast at aptdc, spent some time at the adventure sport unit, they offer archery, terrain motor vehicle ride (5 laps), raffeling, looks good for group of 4+, No cash - no adventure, no Swimming pool. kept walking to visit a view point under construction, guess that be the best view point for a surrounding plains, Museum offers to see (touch) the skins of leopard, bear, python, gaur, deer.
Red-whiskered Bulbul
All together one day is far sufficent for Horsley hills it spans no more than 4 km, two is good for family break out, or trek. Focus next time will definelty be on adventure sports :), Rainy season is considered good for those clouds engulfing the hill, not sure how far true. Hill station - do not let yourself compare with Kodaikanal - Ooty - Munnar a hill station of its own kind just 1280 mts elevation above sea level, Expectations often decide satisfaction, keep it right.
Kicked off, at 1:20pm by and auto that worked out for Rs. 60/- to reach Madanapalle by 2:00pm, ATM in sight now cash in hand. We guys set the exploration ON, departed to take different routes, myself to Chennai via chitoor, my friend to Chennai via Tirupathi.
2:15pm Madamapalle to Chitoor - Travel time 02:30 min ~ 108 km
5:20pm Chittor to Vellore - Travel time 00:45 min ~ 35 km (heavy rain and hail storm - ice ice ice on floor)
6:40pm Vellore to Tambaram - Travel time 03:00 min ~ 150 km (Bus No. 155 -via Kanchipuram, Humidity kept rising from a point before reaching Kanchipuram, rose to an uncomfortable level reaching Tambaram.) Reached Tambaram by 9:45 pm
My friend Sunil, made it to CMBT by 8:45pm taking a volvo from Tirupathi at ~ 6:00pm, Madanpalle to Tirupathi (Non-stop) 02:30min at 02:10pm.
An adhoc journey of 7 hours by public transport, by car should be no more than 4-5 hours end to end.
In this economy mode expenditure was ~ Rs.1400/- to and fro Travel & Food expenses from Chennai.
2:15pm Madamapalle to Chitoor - Travel time 02:30 min ~ 108 km
5:20pm Chittor to Vellore - Travel time 00:45 min ~ 35 km (heavy rain and hail storm - ice ice ice on floor)
6:40pm Vellore to Tambaram - Travel time 03:00 min ~ 150 km (Bus No. 155 -via Kanchipuram, Humidity kept rising from a point before reaching Kanchipuram, rose to an uncomfortable level reaching Tambaram.) Reached Tambaram by 9:45 pm
My friend Sunil, made it to CMBT by 8:45pm taking a volvo from Tirupathi at ~ 6:00pm, Madanpalle to Tirupathi (Non-stop) 02:30min at 02:10pm.
An adhoc journey of 7 hours by public transport, by car should be no more than 4-5 hours end to end.
In this economy mode expenditure was ~ Rs.1400/- to and fro Travel & Food expenses from Chennai.