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.
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.
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.