Chenchu Tribal Museum

You will find a unusual tribal museum in Srisailam, giving us brief history of Chenchu tribes and their strict customs and skills. The forest here is dense and the tribes lead undisturbed life. Things changed in 1952, when AP govt. constructed a motorable road to this place. Now we can see some tribes interacting with tourists showing their drums and other wares.

The museum has two floors, each cell describes about different tribes. You also a find a percussion room, where you can try your drum beating skills here and enjoy some different sounds.

How to reach there ?

You take the road from Hyderabad and reach Atmakur or drive from Ongole and take Guntur-Kurnool road from Dornala to reach Srisailam. There are no roads from other sides. The museum is visible and is at the entrance of the Srisailam town.

Time to spend : 1 Hour
Entry tickets : Rs. 5/- per person
What to take : Cameras not allowed , though you may get special permission if you request them.

Alamparai Fort, an amazing history

This is an ancient town (now Kadapakkatrum village) with a history dating back to centuries. This tiny place on the east coast was used as a port to export zari, pepper, salt and ghee in ancient times. Also we gather that this famous ECR was once a beaten road to Rameswaram for pilgrims. Must have been a buzzing place in those days. Even ancient poems refers this place as

Idaikazhainadu

The ruined fort in the picture was built by musilm rulers during 1746 AD by Nawab of Carnatic Dost.Alikhan. However, by 1760, this fort was destroyed by the Britishers. This fort was also destroyed by 2004 tsunami.

Now it looks like a small fishing hamlet with scenic backwaters.


How to reach there ?

You take the ECR from Chennai and drive past Mahabalipuram, you will find a small sign post on the left side guiding you. If you zip past you might miss.

Time to spend : 30-45 minutes.
Entry tickets : Nil, this place is in ruins and anyone can walk in .
Ask the fisherman around, to take you a ride on the water to view the fort from sea.

A nice place for lovers of history to explore the fort ruins.

Srisailam Temple

After a 60 km drive from Dornala, 10 km on the Nallamalai hills you will reach Srisailam. This place was inaccesseblile from other sides. This is a part of the largest forest tiger reserves in the country. Very quiet motorable road and one can see peacocks, lizards in dusk. If you have time, also visit the hydroelectric project and dam.

The ancient temple is of religious signifiance where you can worship Lord Malligarjunaswamy and his consort Bhramaramba Devi. The temple has excellent sculptures carved in its outer walls like you find in Hampi.
A refreshing, calm and serene place amidst mountains.

How to reach there ?
You take the road from Hyderabad and reach Atmakur or drive from Ongole and take Guntur-Kurnool road from Dornala to reach Srisailam. There are no roads from other sides.

Time to spend : One day.
Where to Stay : APTourism Punami cottages are excellent around Rs.700/- for A/c and Rs.500 for non-AC cottages.

Markapur Temple

The place around Markapur is internationally famous for its granite and slate pencils. You can see many quarries and houses built of broken stones, enroute to this place
Another attraction is the Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy temple , built by the Vijayanagar rulers during 15th century.
It has a slim and tall gopuram, with beautiful sculptures.The pillars in the main mandapam are also famous for their sculptures. The temple window is constructed in such a way that sun rays falls at Chennakesava deity's feet during the auspicous month of December -January.

Overall, Markapur, is a small town 94 kms from Ongole on the banks of the river Gundlakamma river.
You may drop on the way to Srisailam temple/Tiger reserve.

How you reach there ?
You take the NH5 road from Chennai or take State highways to reach Kurnool. The place is remote and situated in a dry belt. The nearest major towns are 100 kms apart. So plan your lunch/stay elsewhere.

Time to spend : 1 Hours
What to take : Cameras allowed till the main mandapam.

Ranganthittu, the perfect Bird Sanctuary

One of the best bird sanctuary I ve seen.
A very quiet place with birds minding their business in the cool Cauvery river.

You can do many things here. Take a quiet nap in the tree shades as time goes by. If you are an avid bird watcher, take the boat ride and
spot as many varieties you can identify.

Birds are quiet and so are the crocodiles basking in sun.
But your heart will miss a beat or two if you
spot the crocks nearby your boat.


With the boat, rowing slowly, you enjoy them as if they
You are watching a movie, where one bird replaces other. You get amazed by the sheer number of birds and their colors and you will feel sad, as the boat ride comes to an end.

So, when you are anywhere near Mysore next time
Don’t rush past and miss this beatufiful place.

How you reach there ?

You take the Mysore road from Bangalore (the roads are being widened now and it takes more time), and drive upto Srirangapatna, then take the road to Hunsur and the Rangathittu road. You will end up in the sancturary. It is beatuiful with bamboo groves and a peaceful atmosphere. Do go there on week day so you can miss the weekend picnic people.

Time to spend : 2 Hours to 3 Hours (For bird watchers in days)
Entry tickets : Rs. 20/- per person + cab charges
What to take : Cameras and lot of film rolls or battery+memory cards, mineral water and eatables.

Pichavaram Mangroves

Pichavaram is an area of around 3000 acres full of mangroves.
.
These are rare kind of ecosystem, where plants grow in the inter-tidal zone.

You enjoy these watery trees from a boat with the boatman acting as
your guide. He will reel out stories, escapades, cinema shootings and
also amazingly some of the botanical names of the birds, flora and fauna.

If you are lucky, you may see some water snakes or fox cubs.

Some of the mangroves are dense and and you have to bend, crawl
to get around those overhanging trees.

Totally you take them as a unique experience where you would
have discovered yet another nature's dimension.

How you reach there ?
You take the ECR from Chennai, the well built and the scenic road to Pondicherry and continue upto Chidambaram. Before Chidambaram, you take a left turn to Pichavaram. The nearest railway station and airport is Trichy which is 168 kms away.

Time to spend : 2 Hours to 3 Hours
Entry tickets : Rs. 25/-
What to take : Cameras and lot of film rolls or battery+memory cards, mineral water and eatables.

Munnar, the perfect holiday

A must see place in Kerala in south India. Munnar has expansive tea estates, lush mountains, silver like water falls and breathtaking sceneries.

How to reach there ?

You take the road from Madurai and travel to Usilampetti-Theni-Bodinayakkanur roads. The roads are scenic and less populous. (Or from Kochi, which has an international airport and drive to Munnar)

After Bodinayakannur, the climb starts where
you go through hair pin bends and the treachery roads.

As I am writing this (Mar2006), the new mountain roads and bridges
are being built and the roads are closed during daytime.

After TN border, you drive straight into tea estates, cardomom plantations and the winding roads welcomes you to Munnar.

If you have 3-4 days and the need to unwind, Munnar is the perfect place. A very calm town, with few people to bother and yet you get most modern comforts.

You have serene lakes, with picturesque sceneries where you step into a powerboat and get the thrill of the mountain winds or a pedal boat and disappear into a different world.

At every corner, waits a view which makes to pull your car aside to enjoy the view


Some highlights of Munnar

Nyayamakad (10 km from Munnar)
– Breathtaking waterfalls from 1600 meters

Matupettty dam – A beautiful picnic spot with facilities for power boats

Rajamala (15 km from Munnar)
The natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, where you can find them in small herds.


Eravikulam National Park – A Wildlife animal reserve, where you can find mountain ranges so beautiful comparable to the best in the world.


Top Station

Note : Do enquire around in the place you stay to get some idea of the place before you explore.

Chittanavasal Fresco Paintings

Sittanvasal , 15 kms away from Pudukottai is a rock cut jain temple, international renowned for painting of 2000 years old. These were painted in fresco style with mineral colours. You will find paintings of lotus pond, lillies, fish, elephants and buffaloes. These paintings are comparable only to the paintings of Ajanta

How you go there ?
You get down to Pudukottai by road which are decent State Highways.

The nearest airport is Trichy, from there you may take a cab.

Time to Spend : 1 to 2 Hours
Time to reach from Trichy : 2 Hrs.

Expense : Rs. 5 for Indians and US$100 for Foreigners

Note : Cameras not allowed inside

You may find rare collections of archeology, anthropology, geology in a nearby Government museum in Pudukottai. This museum is open on all days except Fridays and second Saturdays.

Rock Fort Temple, Trichy

Location : Trichy, (320 kms from
Chennai, nearest
International Airport,
Tamil Nadu, INDIA


Rockfort is an ancient temple tunneled in oldest rocks and built as an fort. This engineering marvel belongs to 8th century AD built by Pallava Kingdom. The rocks are said to be 3800 years old (older than Himalayas)


You reach the top of this fort by climbing 417 steps (100 metres ) and can enjoy the panoramic view of the river cauvery and city of Trichy.

How you go there ?

You get down to Trichy which has an airport,
well connected by bus, train and roads.

Rockfort temple is in centre of the town and a landmark of its own.
You make a short climb, which may be little tiring
but worth it. After halfway, you
get refreshed by nice breeze flowing out of small windows
cut through the walls of the fort.

At a fork, left is Thayumanaswamy temple and right
is the way to top. Both are worth visiting.
Don't miss the archeological sculptures on the way to top...

Time to spend : 2 Hours to 3 Hours
Time Allowed : Morning 5 AM to Evening 9 PM
Expense : Neglibile Entry tickets
What to take : Cameras and Camera permission ticket

Highlights are :

• Thayumanaswamy temple, an architectural wonder with 100 pillar hall with many sculputres and paintings.
  
• The colossal painting of ambal on the ceiling, where the eyes
  of ambal will look at you from any angle like the famed Monalisa.

• Famed tunnel underway, which is claimed to reach Uraiyur Palace, a town few kms
  away from the fort (Closed now by Archeological Survey of India)