A Travelogue to Masinagudi

I have been in search for 2 day trip from Bangalore, suddenly one of my friend pitched for Masinagudi – Ooty Trip . In this blog I am explaining more on Masinagudi tour Part.

Decision for Masinagudi Tour

It was on Saturday morning before Bakrid leave we had decided for the 2 day trip and we got the destination Masinagudi in agenda. Searched whole Google with various Keyword phrases for Masinagudi Site seeing, Masinagudi Tour , Masinagudi Bus Timing from Bangalore and so on. After the brainstomring for the basic details on Masinagudi , We decided to leave Masinagudi from Bangalore in Karnataka State Transport. Now the dilemma is when to reach there, there is no point to reach on midnight in the dense forest of Mudumalia National Park (Near to Masinagudi). We identified bus which are blocked in Bandipur national forest will reach near to Masinagudi by morning 7 am.

How to Reach Masinagudi

If you are going to masinagudi from bangalore, need to goto destination gudalur.

Road Direction to Masinagudi from Bangalore

Bangalore -> Mysore->Gundalpet->Bandipur National Park->Mudumali – gGudalur Route. Actually the Gudalur is the junction from there if we take left which will guide to Ooty and if we turn right which will lead to Kerala.

So if we are going to Masinagudi we are bound to stop near to Mudumalia Wildlife Sanctuary Main Stop, Which is called Thekkapadu.

From Theppakadu we need to take a left turn and drive a 6- 7km inside to reach the ultimate destination MASINAGUDI

If you are going to Masinagudi in Bus better catch Ooty Bus or Nilambur Bus or Gudalur Bus. If you are travelling night in Bus to Masinagudi better book for Rajahamsa Bus than Volvo Airavat, because don’t have Bandipur national Park ban in forest.

My Masinagudi Experience

Myself and Friend got the bus ticket in Karnataka stateRoad Transport (KSRTC) from Shanthi Nagar for the 9 .45 pm bus to Ooty. We book the ticket to Ooty and thus started the journey and reached the Karnatka Satellite stand. From there truly speaking the bus left the Bangalore town by 11 30 pm. As I said the Karnataka rajahamsa bus will stop near the Bandipur National Park, once the park gate is open in 6 am morning, then only bus will move on.

Advantage of the Bus : If we are going in the 9.45 Bus, After the 6 am journey which starts in the bandipur national park will be BEAUTIFUL. You are going through the breeze and early morning view of the forest. Which is absolutely stupendous.

We had reached in the Mudumalia WildLife Sanctuary Main Stop by 6. 40 AM. We did a bold decision from the bus stop, I don’t think so everybody reading my blog can digest. The Jungle Safari Opened in the Mudumalia Tiger Reserve (National Park) is morning 7 am – 9 Am and evening 4 Pm – 6 PM. We just enquired the Mudumalia Tiger Reserve Canteen fellow about the visit, he told safari will go by 7 now. We just walkin Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Ticket reservation centre and took the ticket (we did not went for our daily routine:P). Yes we too got the ticket and the Jungle safari cost is Rs 35 now per person.

Mudumalai National Park: Tiger Reserve Jungle Safari

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Jungle Safari, the bus took the same route we had traveled in the Karnataka KSRTC from Bangalore. Somewhere in the middle it took left diversion. From there we were expecting the something BIG in the jungle safari. But as mentioned in the Mudumalia Jungle safari van “Animal Sighting is Matter of LUCK”, yes we didn’t had luck at all. Whole our safari we saw only heard of deers only . Anyhow I can claim to my friends I had traveled inside the jungle for 45min – 1 hr. For my luck I had seen Dears, Peacock,Wild Elephants, Basin while I traveled in KSRTC bus though Bandipur – Mudumalia National Park State highway.

After the Safari , we badly need a resting place. We came out and enquired how to move to Masinagudi from the Mudumalaia Wildlife Sanctuary Bus Stop. From the enquiry we came to know the place we were present is called Theppakadu. From the Brainstorming of other Masingudi Blogs I had discovered, another tourist spot near Masinagudi Theppakadu Elephant Camp. Since we were from Kerala, We don’t have the craze to watch the elephants again and again. So we decided to move to MASINGAUDI itself.

From there we got a jeep, shared with other fellow and reached Masinagudi in 20 minutes. We payed 50 Rs, because of less people in jeep. Actually if the Jeep you are getting in have 12 members, then fare too Masinagudi to Theppakadu is Rs 10 only.

Masinagudi Stay

On the way to Masinagudi also part of Mudumalia national park, so its understand whole the place around masinagudi is surrounded by forest, once we reach small town masinagudi then the density of forest will be depreciated. If we check in Google for stay or lodge in Masinagudi, there are lots of resorts poping in. Anyhow we didn’t went for the resorts having website. In the small town of Masinagudi itself a resort there. We took the room there.

Facts of Masinagudi Site Seeing

Before going to Masinagudi I made a list of places to visit. Unfaortunately we heard the truths of masinagudi site seeing from resort fellow.

Main attraction to masinagudi is Mudumalaia WildLife Sanctuary, since we covered before itself we need to rule out that site seeing option from the list. Then Thepppakadu elephant camp is not in our interest. Then he suggested fishing near Singara river. Singara is a power station , there is a river near to it. We can engage in fishing if we now any localite there, we cant go alone because wildlife animal crossing may be there near to it. He told guide can accompany you for Rs 500 with a jeep. If my readers are interested then you can go for it. Since neither we are interested and the success rate of fishing in the river we turned it down that option.

Due to some nasty touristers, Government of Tamil Nadu restricted so many site seeing option near Masinagudi to privae. We need to get the visitor sanction letter from Government authority in Ooty to visit the Singara Power station and Moyar Dam Power Station.

Bird Watching and Private Jungle Safari is another option: Private jungle safari is touristers will be taken in Bandipur – Mudumalia national high way or Sinagara power house or Masinagudi Ooty Route or Moyar Dam Route. Funny fact is if we travel in any of the route probability of seeing the Dear, Peacock, Varies Birds are high. If we have luck we will site it if not no. They will charge Rs 900 for such visit in Masinagudi. We travel in similar route in Rs 12 per person. Read the rest of the blog.

Spent the noon taking rest in the resort, we decided to go moyar dam for a visit.

We know there is no permission to visit inside dam and power station. We went to Moyar Dam in jeep sharing with others Rs 10 per person. Saw the dam from outside. We cant go inside it.

We met a outsider in Moyar Dam, he said there is a waterfall near to the dam . There only the last shot of Raavan or Raavanan Movie was shooted. They went inside it seems. They told us to give a try to visit it if possible and told us the way to go there. Since he was in car, they covered the place in 10 minutes, he told by walk also we can cover it in 15 minutes. Once we started walking understood the place we are going is deep inside the forest region and no entry. And saw the peacock and other variety of bird(sorry I’m not a bird enthusiast) By the half way itself we had returned back. Met another malayali near Moyar Dam bus stop, he told the waterfall view point area in deep inside I t may be near to 3 km from the bus stop and the area is entry restricted.

By the time we reach back to Masinagudi town, it was around 6 PM.

Enjoyed the rest of the day with good dinner accompanied by chill breeze from the ooty hill top with bottle rums.

Masinagudi best place to visit for people who needs full rest, and spent good amount of time with your family. Have fun with family or friends. Touristers will be limited, enjoy time spent in Masinagudi as you want, not by full time site seeing.

Facts For Masinagudi Trip Planners

1. Since Masinagudi is a valley to Ooty ,better stay there for the mild chill climate to spend time on.

2. Valley stay is always preferable for uphill stay, we will minimum adapt with cold climatic condition. You will love Ooty more once you stay there. Body adaptability will be more.

3. Masinagudi Stay will be preferable for people wants good rest, not for people who are enthusiast to go for site seeing.

4. Hardcore Nature Lovers and Wildlife adventure will love MASINAGUDI. (limited touristers and can enjoy the beauty of nature to their level (other don’t feel the uniqueness you guys feel there)

5. If you know somebody out there, then Masinagudi will be rocking, or spend more on resorts to have tree house (experience it if you don’t try upto now).

I will continue my second day of trip to Ooty from Masinagudi via Kalhatty Hair Pins and Train Journey to Conoor in my next blog.