Kerala Floods: Ensure relief reaches those in distress

Reaching out to those ravaged by floods in Kerala. Account for every penny sent to CM's relief fund

There are two opinions about the fact that recent Kerala floods are man-made disaster. These disasters are hard to escape given man's repeated nudge to nature's template.

The magnitude of disaster that has visited the Southern State of Kerala is yet to be known and what is being dangled out are figures like one million people taking refuge in over 5000 relief camps . A detailed rehabilitation plan needs to be drawn as the number of dwellings that have been brought down by flash floods is roughly 8,000 and counting. Repairing and constructing houses would be a herculean task as what would be found wanting would be resources that would be hard to come by. Though loss is estimated to be rs 20,000 cr (preliminary estimate), with the state seeking rs 2600 as immediate assistance and the Centre sanctioning rs 600 cr to tide over the crisis. The worst affected districts in Kerala include Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha and Chalakudy.

The trauma that visits the residents hit by floods is hard to overcome and they are essentially drained out physically and mentally and it takes months if not years to rebuild their lives. No doubt it is a man-made disaster and more would be sucked in if we continue to fiddle with nature's mandate. Large concrete structure replacing green cover and green grace being repeatedly mowed down in the name of development and what we have is a disaster that leaves imprint from Bihar, Uttarakhand, Assam, Chennai and now Kerala.

The water woes emerging from incessant rains is a leveller as it remove inequalities palpable on surface in normal times and make each entity irrespective of caste, colour and gender chip in with whatever imagination they can travel forward.

MPs cutting across party lines need to donate one month salary towards rehabilitation and if possible bureaucrats need to follow suit. From Large business houses to common man on the street all need to chip in. What would be on everyone's mind would be every penny donated to CM's relief fund reaches to the last man in the last row despite cacophony of voices emerging here and there that they have been left out. Even a token gesture to CM's relief fund should be welcome. In this state of affairs it is important to see that middlemen don't intrude and try to take away the benefit meant for those in distress and discomfort.

Hope the people of Kerala are able to tide over this crisis and get on with life filled with hope and aspiration. It would be a monumental task but well within their reach.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Adored by one and all

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Adored by one and all

It  was in May-June '96 the 13 day experiment of BJP came to a halt given its inability to shore up numbers in Lok Sabha (Lower House). I was returning from Tirumala. Having taken Sapthagiri Expresss from Tirupati to Chennai i read about Vajpayee govt putting in papers in a newspaper of the South and paving the way for a new combine to take office. The  13 day access to power period was also witness to one of his cabinet colleagues Sikander Bakht showing distress at the portfolio handed to him.
A moderate face in a hardline party who preferred to walk the middle path in the heydays of Mandal and Mandir agitation which meant to singe the fabric of the country. His affable nature, his modest arguments often replete with poetic posts seem to take sheen away from arguments put by other side. On occasions he was a man of few words and his ability to read the situation better than his counterparts proved his grip in areas like foreign affairs. A filibuster campaign which he least adhered to and his poetic postures were enough to win hearts across country and the world.  Whenever he took to mike his extempore speech was all that his audience rooted for craving for more of such creative creations. Some of those occupying the opposition benches were in effusive praise of him when he went on Lahore bus trip and the camaraderie he shared with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief was not to be lost.

I came across Vajpayee in Parliament House Annexe  (PHA)in 1995 and that was the only time when i saw him in person. Those days entry to PHA was without much hassles.

Not nudged into a corner he went ahead with nuclear tests undeterred by international brouhaha and in no time the sanctions imposed by a host of nations were scaled down. Pakistan too went with nuclear tests and that showed South Asia all but sitting on a powder keg. His oratory skills much of which got noticed in Parliamentary debates showed him a man of true wisdom and character. Taking a strong line against corruption the muddle the telecom ministry found itself in he changed the Minister at the helm. A solitary vote loss in the no confidence motion in 1999 could not keep him down and he was all prepared to start afresh whenever polls happen. In between Kargil happenned and when Nawaz Sharief and US President spoke on the finality of Pak Army withdrawing from Kargil Vajpayee was the first to acknowledge the Kargil conundrum had been fixed. I wrote a piece on Vajpayee in HT titled "It's all about governance."

Less had been said and heard ever since he decided to bid goodbye to active politics in 2005 and had it not been for his failing health he would have provided the much-needed ammunition to campaign strategy of his party which had been lying in tatters. NDA lost in 2004 and when questioned in Kullu in Himachal State on why the party lost so badly, he was blunt to admit that Gujarat riots had cost the party dear. When results were declared for 2004 polls his security personnel pacing up and down the corridors of 7 RCR to find out the modalities to vacate the premises, Vajpayee cut them short by stating Bistar Bandho aur niklo (Pack bags and make room for others).  He belonged to that school where giving space to opposition, giving succour to the disadvantage and giving the much-needed ammunition to economy set the stage for a statesman to lead a non cong govt for close to four and a half years (Oct 1999 to May 2004).  Having secured best parliamentarian award in 1995 it would be hard for any politico from opposition to bag such award in the polarised times we live. He  did not take to foreign travel as leaders from ruling to opposition benches hit on these days and yet having the courage to show that in diplomacy India was second to none. A politico of his genre would be hard to trace these days and a politico of his sentiment would be hard to chase.  Vajpayee would remain embedded in our memory for a long time and three cheers for the strong leadership he provided on the political firmament.

It would take more than 100 years for a nation of this size and sensitivity to have a statesman and an orator like him.

Reminiscing about stay in South India

Reminiscing about stay in South India

A day to cheer and none to fear was all i was up against as i left New Delhi for South India.  A modest observation i came across at New Delhi Airport: Think of everyone as your equal and the world will become a better place. In the times when there is growing restiveness in certain locales of the country with increasing incidents of those taking law into their hands this minor and not mighty reminder should be imbued by one and all. The Supreme Court has set a ceiling on reservation and that is 49.5 per cent and those politicos who are promising the moon (reservation for their state residents) should bear in mind that there can't be any tinkering with this reservation ceiling  and it is as good as done and dusted. Employment opportunities have dried up across country, agriculture sector is showing signs of  recovery still not significant by any yardstick and here you have plush offices/residential quarters and luxury sedans the latter pacing up and down the state highways and big metros and this is bound to make the unemployed class struggle/wrestle with unmitigated anger and release the same on whoever comes its way.

Flipping through pages of inflight magazines

During my sojourn in South India i flipped through the pages of different inflight magazines. Some came with the caveat that those women in the age group of 18 to 27 were eligible to join the cabin crew needed to be relaxed so that they (women) could remain employed for a large number of years; definitely not exiting at 27 from work sphere. Other stories in inflight magazines featured Mysuru in South India voted the cleanest city to Clean India Campaign meant to impress upon each citizen to do his/her bit on this front.  The first port of call happenned to be Bengaluru in South India. A tidy and neat room in Shubhodaya lodge in Gandhi Nagar with a reminder that check out time was 24 hours and not something like 12 in the afternoon gave me the benefit of paying for a day instead of two days. Mr Jagdish and Mr Anand come out as easy to reach managers with no pretensions. In the city besides visiting Hotel Adora and Hotel Kamat i quite often visited Gandhgava Upahar for tea and snacks. I am able to get the number of Mr Shivanna who has served in Hare Krishna Vegetarian restaurant in the past located near Bengaluru railway station and he hails from Chikmagalur in Karnataka State. Cobbler Mr Ramachandra was helpful so was Mr Kamat of Kamat Hotel. Going to 16th Cross Vyali Kaval in Bengaluru where TTD temple is located it was automan Mr Syed Mastan who gave the ride. The food from Swathi Deluxe restaurant which is on first floor in Majestic bus station was something to relish.

Strategically placed boulders in Anegundi

Ananda Rao circle in Bengaluru city has hints of green. In late evening set out out for Hospet by a train that took over eight hours. Ms Madhu from Yelahanka boards the train. Meet Mr Keerthiraj who works for NGO WeWorld. From Hospet i head to Anegundi and take a room in Vaibhava Guest House. Here it would be prudent to mention about Mr Khwaja Pasha who enquired about purpose of my journey and told me the stop where i should deboard for Anegundi.  Later i head to Anjaneya Parvat (Lord Hanuman Temple). There are in all 550 steps to be chased to reach Hanuman Temple. Mr Parushram, son of Mr Malappa, i meet him after a while who was kind enough to dish out a room when i visited Anegundi in September 2014. There are strategically placed boulders/rocks which you come across quite often in Anegundi and going to No 1 river cross to Hampi the sighting could well make you engineer a step closer to these boulders. Meet Mr Gangadhar and Mr D Subbaya in Anegundi who wish to travel by ferry boat to other side.

Reaching Virupapura gaddi 

In Hoova cafe i meet Shreya studying in class 7 who helps me to collect soaps, writing pad from adjacent store. Thursday before leaving for Virupapura gaddi i come across Sapna who is in IInd year in a college. In Virupapura gaddi (VPG) i stay in Mowgli guest house where i am told the rents hit the roof when the season is on. Mowgli guest house/restaurant employs a large number of people from Nepal. In VPG i meet Mr Farooq who runs a small restaurant and here the veg thali comes for 100 rs as against 180 rs at other places. In the same restaurant i happen to meet Mr Gil from Israel who has a desire to go back to New Delhi by travelling in a sleeper class in a train as the air fare has set him back by more than thousand fears.  Meet Mr Naga Babu who is into farming, meet Mr Archit who is a bike enthusiast.  Meet Mr Abey who is a Judicial Scrivener, Mr Shuttle, who is a novelist (some of his works go by the name Manapu and Nakano). Both have come from Tokyo.


The next day i leave for Hampi and take a room in Pushpa Guest House. The place where i board the vessel for Hampi i meet Mr Sujit and Mr Pawan both from National Institute of Creative Communication, Bengaluru who are supposed to complete a project report for which they are visiting Hampi and nearby areas. Mr Abhishek who is a guide too joins us in the vessel. In Pushpa guest house seeing the pictures of Lord Venkateswara i tell them i am also an ardent devotee. In Hampi Meet Mr B Gangappa who has worked in AIR (All India Radio) and he is able to place me. Meet Mr Prasanna Patil staying in Hampi for over 30 years, meet Mr Prakash Kulkarni staying in Hampi for 50 years. Meet Mr Parmesh of Shambhu Guest House. I stayed in Hampi for three days before heading towards Hubli.  In Hampi visit Vitthala temple and other places. Take dosa from Naivedyam restaurant before boarding a train which would take me to Hubli.

The findings from NRC (National Register of Citizens) should be handled tactfully and the line that differentiates between an alien and native doesn't get blurred. All for histrionics relayed here and there these four million people would continue to reside in Assam or dispersed to other places in the country in the times to come.

TMC MPs being beaten up by securitymen in Silchar airport is highly unfortunate. These securitymen should be taken to task. This shows the times we live in.

STATE OF AFFAIRS: Bring Order; Rein in cow vigilantes ; Stay in Secundarabad

STATE OF AFFAIRS:  Bring Order; Rein in cow vigilantes
Stay in Secundarabad in Telangana State

Before i begin to write on my stay in the city of Secundarabad, it would be better to write a word on two on cow vigilantes who are on a rampage across country. Cow vigilantes need to be reined in before they dish out another lynching story. Not a word has been spoken by those in power and all they have alluded to ( observed by one party leader) is that as the leader's popularity would rise in the coming days lynching incidents would continue to pour in. Who is this leader and how popular or purple he is? The country is witness to enough of globetrotting by this mentor; now the time has come to chase a blueprint that at least guarantees peace.

Lynching as the mob suspects one to be a child lifter to suspecting someone indulging in bovine trade. A set of guidelines has been issued by Supreme Court and all states need to get on with it before a new law is put into action. A state of affairs which we all detest and a new law needs to be framed by lower house to stop mobocracy which tends to leave a dark imprint as the day goes by.

Technology affiliated rumours need to be checked, collection of people turning to a mob needs to be discouraged, advertisements across print and electronic media and to top it all District Magistrates across states need to appoint nodal officers in dozens in each district to see to it that no situation comes to a breaking point. Multiplexes, malls and SUVs making more than a maiden entry against unparalleled existence where there are no jobs and no source of livelihood have all let up to release of pent up anger. Liquor vends spread across country ( the number of liquor vends that were sanctioned in the city of Delhi between 2000 and 2013 is unparallel) and people addicted to the same, Print Moguls, real estate emperors and business honchos travelling in SUVs sharing space on road with buses loaded with passengers, all this add up to a situation where pent up anger is bound to reflect. It is collection of upmarket colony car chasers/drivers pushed to the brink by khaki men and those in plain clothes and the filthy abuse generated by them shows the clout of neighbouring house and sums up the intensity of exasperation/frustration. Because of department people of neighbouring house the water supply has been erratic/disrupted for the past seven years and this shows the hold they have over water and power supply and they lose no opportunity to create trouble every passing hour. You will crave for water if you disrupt water supply to simple households. They are frustrated and would continue to be frustrated. The minority man who was thrashed in (Alwar) Rajasthan State it took four hours for law enforcers to take him to a health centre which was just three kms away as reported in the media.

Need to take a break from 7 star feasts

These leadership and ladder summits by round the year ringing media czars are enough to cock a snook at those vast majority of men who struggle to eke out a living by sheer hardwork. The country needs to take a break from these 7 star feasts as there are enough countrymen who don't have a source of livelihood and here you have participants lining up for summit that should have not been organised in the first place.  No one is going to cheer for these participants and globetrotting leaders. Men of all political hues crisscrossing country on taxpayer money; the debate about the same consuming prime time in news channels; plethora of soap operas set in a construct where luxury is the byword, good times are least conceivable even for an incorrigible optimist.

Stay in Secundarabad

Having spent the entire night at Hyderabad airport, decide to leave at 6 in the morning. I am told Secundarabad the city is quite far from the airport. Take a bus from Hyderabad airport to Jubilee Bus Station. From Jubilee Bus Station take auto to Padmaja Lodge which is located near Secundarabad Ganesh temple and Secundarabad Railway Station. Stayed put in Padmaja lodge from Sunday to Tuesday. I had the opportunity to visit Ganesh Temple on Sunday and Tuesday. During my stay in Secundarabad had the opportunity to take a metro ride which was yet to touch the old city area. Had the metro been introduced in old city area of Hyderabad it would have eased travelling. In Secundarabad visited Divya Sai internet/cyber cafe for doing stories. In Padmaja Hotel the tea served was great and so was the food. Take meals from Padmaja veg restaurant and Hotel Swathi Lodge veg restaurant. Met Mr Mohammad Salauddin who is into selling of socks, Met Mr Rajesh automan who was very helpful

Sightings in Secundarabad

- Mahadev Prasad Kirana General store
- Jio Digital Life
- TSRTC bus station
- Hotel Nirmal Grand
- Blue point hotel
- Sri Rami Reddy Pure Ghee sweets
- K. N. travelling goods
- Samsung Galaxy
- Style Plus
- Shakti Clinic
- Champa Jewellers
- Milan Pan Shop
- New Mathura lassi. Available here
- Gokul Medical and General store
- Gokul Residency
- Jawahar tea mart
- Renuka AC bar
- M.P. Enterprises
- Mustafa restaurant
- Kings mobiles
- Cost to cost footworld
- Ganesh lodge
- Golden China Bazar
- Golden Bakery
- Hotel Santosh Mess
- Sri Ganesh Temple
- Moiz Watch Co
- Amruth stores
- Manappuram Gold Loan
- Bhavani pan shop
- Golden restaurant and bakery
- Hotel Indian
- Sai Chandana footwear
- Asoka restaurant tea and bakers
- Swathi sweets/bakery and meals
- Sandarshini pure veg
- airtel 4G
- Medical Hall
- Devi Deluxe Mess
- Hotel Swathi Lodge veg
- Hotel Balaji
- Everest Lodge
- Hotel Padmaja restaurant lodge
- National Lodge
- Royal travels
- Secundarabad railway station
- Hotel Tulip Deluxe Lodge
- Andhra Bank ATM
- Navodaya Lodge
- VIVO
- Asian tea co
- Devaki lodge
- Hotel Lotus Grand
- Alpha Hotel and stores
-
Outside station
- Orange VRL Travels: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Tirupathi, Goa, Shirdi, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Ernakulam, Trivandrum (Thiruvanthapuram), Vizag, Cochin , Nagercoil, Dundigal, Calicut, Kannur

On Monday take metro from Secundrabad East to Ameerpet and from Ameerpet to Miyapur. Start from Secundarabad East at 12.15 pm, reach Miyapur at 1 pm. In the metro meet a family from Mangalore. They are taking a ride in Hyderabad metro for the first time. The Mangalore family boarded a bus at 4.30 pm from Mangalore reached Hyderabad at 11 am the next day. Meet another man from Godhra in Gujarat state. Took train from Mumbai (9.30pm) reached Hyderabad at 11.30 am the next day. Meet Mr Babu alias Mr Raghuraman from Madurai.
While taking a metro ride near Bharatnagar metro station the Majestic Garden is great. Come across Sheesh Mahal cinema hall (Single Screen Theatre) next to Ameerpet. This cinema hall is perhaps not functioning. It should start again and there is a need to give impetus to single screen theatres. After Begumpet metro station there is Sai Ganpati temple. Later the Parade Ground that we come across is massive.

Metro stations on the way
Ameerpet, Begumpet, Prakash Nagar, Rasoolpura, Paradise, Parade Ground, Secundarabad East, Mettuguda, Tarnaka, Habsiguda, NGRI Stadium, Uppal, Nagole. Aradhana theatre near Tarnaka station should start functioning again. Near stadium station there is a huge pond the like of which you won't be able to find in Delhi. Perhaps this pond could hold some reserves. At Nagole station there is an outlet which goes like this Get your pulse report, proteins, water, height, fat, bone minerals. At Nagole Station meet Mr Srinivasan a security man. There are more people looking after security hailing from Orissa, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra. There is Gated Community @ uppal depot billboard.
In Secundarabad railway station there is Mr D Venu Gopal dispensing platform tickets. In Secundarabad railway station announcements are being made for Shatabadi express and Padmavathi express 12764 and Faluknama to Nizamuddin Delhi station train. Secundarabad Tirupati Express is on Platform 1
- A.H. Wheeler and co Pvt Ltd
- Bhimavaram
  Sri Someshwara temple
  Discover God
  In the vibrant colours
  goandhrapradesh.com
Another hoarding
Book the 5 steps to success by Yandamoori Veerendrantu

Green initiatives adopted in Secundarabad station
- 100 LED lights are installed.
- Three lakh litres of water are being recycled per day - around 10 per cent of water requirement is         met from recycled water. Perhaps the city of Delhi could take a cue from that.
-  Four hundred + trees and 100 sqm of landscaping add to the greenery.

In Secunderabad station
- general waiting hall, prepaid AC waiting hall
- Book this space before your competitor does

In Padmaja lodge where i stayed meet Mr Aakash, Mr Manjunath, Mr Thilak. Mr Thilak talks about Jagannath Rath Yatra and by God's grace this time it passed off peacefully.

- Telangana State Police
  Duty, Honour, Compassion

- Gowtham Model School
   Learn from your child

On Tuesday reach Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) by auto. There a bus waiting for people who wish to go to Srisailam. The bus for airport leaves at 9.20. Mr Ravi is at the wheels who is very humble.
Fares from pickup point to airport
Secundarabad JBS 250 rs
Tarnaka 250 rs
Uppal Road 200 rs
A hoarding says traffic rules are made for our safety. Hence do not violate.
Going past
- Panjagutta Bakers
- Classic Tiffin Centre
- J V Rao Park
- Agra Sweets
- Sardharshini restaurant
- Mehdipatna
- Telangana State Khadi and Village Industries Board
At 10.08 we are on P V Narasimha Rao Expressway. Go past Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University. We reach Shamshabad 10.28, Airport 10.41. From outskirts of Airport the city of Bengaluru is shown to be 547 km. At the airport meet Mr Subhachandra hailing from Manipur working in CISF. There is a billboard: From the charm of Charminar to the calm of Hussain Sagar.

Sightings in Airport

- Hyderabad Tiffin Express
  Mysore Bhaji 4 piece 100 rs
  Filter coffee 100 rs
- self check-in
- meet a man from East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh
- International Departure is on right
- Domestic departure is on left
- Krishna Pearls and Jewellers
- fabindia
- William Penn
- flights to Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Shirdi, New Delhi, Bengaluru.
- W H Smith
- Indian Savouries
- Parle
- A section on Fiction chart, non fiction chart, Indian writing chart, magazines

The flight takes off from Hyderabad at 3.17 pm, lands in Delhi at 5.13 pm. Hello 6E inflight magazine has an ad. The sky needs stars. Looking for young women to join its cabin crew. Age between 18 and 27 years. It should be between 18 and 42 as that would keep them(women) employed for long. Take taxi from Airport. Mr Kranti Kumar is the taximan hailing from Bhagalpur.

I stayed in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and days spent had its share of flourish and charm.

VIEWS on break darshan in Tirumala; In Udhgai Visiting Coonoor, Visiting Doddabetta Peak; leaving for Coimbatore

Views on break darshan in Tirumala; In Udhgai Visiting Coonoor, Visiting  Doddabetta Peak; leaving for Coimbatore, reaching Hyderabad on a Sunday

The VIP break darshan in  Tirumala should be through draw of lots and that too for just two days in a week and that too for one hour each day Mon Tues between 6 am to 7 am. Lord Venkateswara is for everyone and not just for break darshan people.

The Lord Venkateswara temple is managed by TTD. The TTD should see to it that pilgrims including common pilgrims are not pushed around repeatedly just to ensure that enough time is made available for VIPs to troop in. The tag line in SVBC channel shows those who have donated a lump sum  amount (over Rs 10 lakh) can opt for break darshan. The Lord Venkateswara Temple is for everyone. L1 L2 L3 lines should be discontinued for all times to come. Make arrangements for elderly people and those who need help. If TTD can't manage things the temple should be looked after by an independent institution like ASI.

All is well in Tirumala except for break darshan and giving freebies to so-called politicos and other VIPs like CM of this state or that province. Keeping people in compartments for long hours to let this VIP get inside the temple won't do. Then SVBC channel showing this VIP visited the temple during such and such date and taking his or her views has become a reigning practice and this needs to be stopped immediately. SVBC should devote its resources towards productive things instead of covering the so-called VIP and his troop members.

There was a time when seva tickets like Thomala, Archana were given to those who joined the queue at 2 in the morning or before that and counters would open at eight. Those who were first in the queue would be given the seva tickets. Such practice has been discontinued and pilgrims find it hard to avail Archana, Thomala Seva. A sort of correction needs to be introduced here.

In Udhagai, Visiting Coonoor, Doddabetta Peak

It would require steady rigour on a consistent basis to map out the areas i visited in and around Udhagai (Udhagamandalam) and the sightings i made note of. Intermittent rains defined the proceedings with a word out that exploring Udhagai would be incomplete without visiting  Mudumalai, Coonoor and Doddabetta Peak. A summary of assumptions constructed and summary of events recalled  the visits to these places spread between Tuesday and Saturday were marked by a hospitality that normally one comes across in States of South India. The sightings of different places is primarily done with the objective of noting the people i come across and their hospitable nature with no intention to show who is the boss.

Sightings in Udhagai

- Hotel Mughal. Here i Meet Mr Karthik
- Hotel Landmark
- Meet Mr Govindraj from Mysore
- SBI ATM
- Narendar mobiles and textiles
- Madhima coffee, tea and spices
- Green Apple residency
- Silly talks (Kuniyar mobiles)
- Narendar electricals co
- Tasty Kitchen
- Indian electricals
- Ubaid Coffee and tea co
- Bismillah hotel
- Sri Selva Vinaygar stores
- Nilgiri super coffee
- Jyothi tea and coffee
- Ayesha cafe and cool bar
- Sri Ranga Vilas restaurant
- P. V. Ragavan National tea restaurant
- Taj Bakers
- Blue star cottage. Room available
- Meet Mr Aseem
- Deluxe bakery. The coffee shop and snacks
- Star Cafe
- Tamil Nadu paints and hardware
- Thunder world
- Experience real snow in Ooty
   snow world
- Udhagai railway station
- Ticket counter only four tickets per passenger
- Southern railway computerised reservation centre
   retiring rooms, booking office
- Meet Mr Halgor
- Nilgiri Railway Co constructed the railway from 1886 to 1899 between Mettupalayam and                  Coonoor  using 'Alternate Biting Teeth' technology. In January 1903 the railway was purchased by      the govt and construction between Coonoor and Udagamandalam was completed in 1908.                    UNESCO conferred World Heritage to Nilgiri Mountain Railway in 2005.

 Going to Coonoor

Take Nilgiri train. Leave Udhagai at 12.43. Lovedale comes at 12.54. Three tunnels come on the   way. To gauge the surroundings and surfeit of challenges, a window seat would have been desirable.
 1.07 Ketti
 1.42 Aravankadu station. The message here is water is precious. Please don't waste water
 1.54 Wellington. Year of construction 1808
 1.58 Coonoor

 Sightings in Coonoor

- In  Coonoor meet Mr Sudaram, Mr Murugan , Mr Radhakrishnan of New Classic Foods Bakery          and Sweets. From here i have veg puff.
- Hyderabad Biryani
- Venkateswara lodge
- S.A P. Hotel veg and non veg
- Y S Men's Club of Coonoor
- From Coonoor Kotagiri is 22kms, Lambi's rock 9 km, Dolphin's Nose 12 km
- Eldee Complex Lodge
- Hotel Ragavendra
- May I Help You Coonoor Traffic Police
- V. K G. Mobiles
- Chamraj finest Nilgiri tea
- Hotel Sri Lakshmi for meals
- Variety Handloom Exclusive Silk Sarees
- K Fashion Vimal Textiles
- BKC Biryani and Kabab corner
- Hotel Vinayaga
- Hotel Haathira
- Star mess
- Blue Mountain Tea traders
- Nagaraja Medicals
- Sri Manikandan Medicals
- Indian Bakery

 Meet Mr Kurup of Venky's restaurant in Cash Bazar Coonoor. I am meeting him after seven years. Since i can't get the ticket for Nilgiri train i settle for bus. The bus for Ooty from Coonoor  leaves at 4.05 pm. Mr Rajesh is bus conductor, Mr Vijay Anand is bus driver. Both are very humble. We are on Ettines road at 4.55. Reach Ooty at 5.07. Meet Mr Ravi Vijaydurai of Bharat Scouts and Guides in the bus.
 In Udhagai bus stand
- Tamil Nadu Tourism Welcomes You
- Places of interest in and around Udhagai
   Ooty lake, Rose Garden, Botanical Garden, Doddabetta Peak, Kalhatty Falls, Avalanche, Pykara
   In Kotagiri, Kodanadu view point
   In Gudalur,  Mudumalai  which is 18 kms from Gudalur
 Distance from Ooty
 Mettupalayam 51km
 Coimbatore 89km
 Chennai 585 km

 In Udhagai bus stand
 Filter coffee, filter tea, black coffee, black tea, lemon tea, milk all for rs 15.

  Arafa Bakes
  Hot tea, coffee, lemon tea, soup available
- Iyangar cake shop near SBI ATM
- In Marriamman Temple there are two statues One is Kali other is Marria
- Meet Mr Silvaraj. Meet Mr Srinivas. Meet Mr Dakshnav a class 10 student

 Leave for Doddabetta Peak at 10.26

 Going past The Nilgiris Hotel Pure Vegetarian restaurant attached, Race Course Lodge
 Directions Market Left, Charring Cross Straight, Coonoor Straight, Kotagiri Straight
- Benchmark chocolate factory
- High Hill tea
A message. Find a bin put it in.
Deboard at 10.59
Take another bus at 11 am. Reach Doddabetta Peak at 11.45 after walking for a considerable time as there is traffic jam.

Doddabetta Peak Menu

Lemon Tea 15 rs, Green tea 15, Veg noodles 70, Veg biryani 70, Tomato rice 60. Here there is no receipt given.
The Telescope House is designed and constructed by Engineering Wing T.T.D.C. Ltd.
Mr Patrick hands over my picture clicked by a woman photographer.
Meet Mr Dinesh Yeole from Nashik in Maharashtra State. He came in a group by tempo traveller. As for 2019 battleground he is of the firm view that one man is up against a plethora of leaders. The basic fact is all political leaders travel on taxpayer money. Is it fair?

It is raining without a break in Doddabetta Peak. Take shelter in a tea shop in Doddabetta Peak Junction. Meet Ms Aruna who is very helpful. Even his brother Mr Arun studying in a college in Avinashi Main Road in Coimbatore is helpful. Here i meet Mr Pradeep from Trichy, meet Mr Antony, a teacher in maths and science. Mr Antony tells me about Fruit show in Sim's Park in Coonoor on May 26 and 27.
Reach udhagai bus stand by 1 pm. There is a need to redevelop Udhagai bus stand. There are not enough seats for passengers.
In Southern Railway Pure Veg restaurant what is on offer is Tea, coffee and meals. In Kutti's bakery for tea and biscuits meet Ms Raagri and Ms Priya.
Meet Mr Deepan and Mr Satyan in City Palace restaurant. Meet Mr Satyanarayan priest in Marriamman Temple. Meet Mr Ismail running a general store who hands over tongue cleaners
Meet Mr Senthil.

More Sightings in Udhagai

- Venkat tea stall tea, coffee and snacks
- Shree Manjunath Computer typing
- Ooty print park
- Bharathiar University study centre
- Fiat car TN 43 A 8188
- Mr T. K. Devaraj B. A. LLB Govt pleader
- Rakshit and Harshini enterprises paper cup manufacturer
- National restaurant
- Shivanna Beauty Parlour
  10 am to 7.30 pm
- R K Mobiles
- Umesh Nahar Jewellers
- National tea and coffee bar. Meet Mr Praveen at the counter. This tea centre i have repeatedly visited in 2011.
- REPCO Bank
- Global computers computer sales and service
- S.S. Holiday Inn
- Meet Mr Harry who has come with family members from Chennai. They visit Udhagai three to          four times in a year.
- Infant Jesus Church
- Best Furniture
  Hi sleep. Dreams hug you naturally
- We are in Willow Bound Road
- Meet Mr Syed Abdul Razaq
- Muthu store
- Shree Navodhya stores
- Meet Ms Sharow. Born in Udhagai. He says in Nov Dec the temperature dips below zero.
  While going towards Boat House come across a hoarding Tamil Nadu Forest Dept Goal of Life           Living in harmony with nature.
- F.M.J. Supermarket opposite Boat house.
- Hotel Tamil Nadu
  Instant room booking done here for all TTDC hotels
  Meet three men from Ernakulam. Meet two girls from Tiruchirapalli. Meet Mr Joseph and Mr              Sukumar.
  BRU outlet in Ooty (Udhagai) bus stand.  Here the staff is very humble.

Leaving Udhagai for Coimbatore

Get in bus at 1.30. Bus leaves at 1.51
Going past
- Sri Shanti Vijay Girls Higher Secondary School
- Hoarding of National Model School Nilgiris
- Hotel PNR
- Tata Motors
- Hotel Sabari.  Kerala rice available
At 2.10 Coimbatore is 83 km. Later Ketti Town Panchayat welcomes you
2.18 Kethi. Kovai shown to be 80 kms away
2.20 Ellanalli
2.27 Erode shown to be 136 kms
- Cordite factory Aruvankadu
At 2.32 Wellington Cantonment Limit Begins
At 2.37 Wellington
At 2.40 Madurai 285 km
At 2.41 Coonoor.  Say no to plastic litter
At 3.05 Marapalan. The bus stops at 3.25, resumes journey at 3.37
At 4.07 Mettupalayam
At 4.34 Mettupalayam road. Later come across Billboard of Kanjivarams and silk sarees, R S Puram Coimbatore
At 5.30 we reach Coimbatore Ooty bus stand 
Take another bus to Gandhipuram bus stand.  The conductor of bus number TN 58 N 1579 very cooperative. Take bus no 36 from Gandhipuram for airport. Mr Ramesh in bus no 36 guides me to Chitra airport in Coimbatore.

Near Coimbatore Airport visit Aroma Bakery and have repeated dose of vada and black tea. The Aroma Bakery needs to be appreciated by one and all. Visit Sree Lakshmi Medicals and take plastic u shaped tongue cleaners. Walk all the way from Aroma Bakery to Airport. Inside airport the display board shows flights to Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Singapore. This is a silent airport. There will be no flight announcement.
A board shows SSVM institutions wishes you a pleasant flight
Shree Sarasswathi Vidhyaah Mandheer Mettupalayam
SSVM World School Coimbatore
SSVM School of Excellence Coimbatore

In Coimbatore Airport
- Buddies cafe
- KR Bakes which has a story on how sandwich originated
- Sri Krishna sweets
- In K R Bakes Veg puff, Egg puff, chicken puff, chicken cutlet and veg roll
- It's the best of TIMES in Coimbatore hoarding
- Meet Mr Chandrashekhar working in Udulamet, 10 kms from Coimbatore as service engineer.            Hails from Madurai. Talks about Madurai temple and there is no two opinion about the fact that       economy of the city is based on temple.
- MCR Dhothies Shirts, vests and briefs

Leave Coimbatore a little after 11 pm  and reach Hyderabad after 12 am. Stay put in Hyderabad airport till six in the morning. These department people in Delhi in a nearby house giving trouble the less said about them the better it would be.

Landfill sites in Delhi on the brink of collapse; Need to introduce electric buses

There are three landfill sites in Delhi. They are Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa. They are on the brink of collapse. Baby steps or to be more appropriate no steps have been taken for the past twenty years to look into the issue of waste that is generated in Delhi everyday. Can't part of this waste or in toto be recycled so that these landfill sites have something to fall back on. Both the Central and State Governments need to take urgent steps and that too not spread over months so that things don't go out of hand. A sorry state of affairs in the state of Delhi. It is important L-G (Especially, Central Government) and the Delhi government show some seriousness on this issue.
The time has come for electric vehicles to be introduced in Delhi and other parts of the country. Begin with electric buses in Delhi. All tenders floated for fuel guzzling vehicles should be cancelled and electric buses should be introduced.
There is a need to decongest the  roads of Delhi. A surcharge on any household having second car would be desirable. Only through these measures the air pollution can be checked.
In Tirumala E-Rickshaws, the ones plying in Delhi, should be introduced so that the pilgrims are not at the receiving end of vehicles that continuously overcharge. Tirumala is a great place with great people. In Ahmednagar they should discontinue with the practice of throwing garlands from Sai's platform with full force. They should keep garlands quietly at the back instead of ruthlessly throwing.

Saying No to FRDI Bill In India

The Indian Govt's move to bring in FRDI  (Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance) Bill is highly unfortunate. It can't play with honest deposits of a large number of countrymen. The FRDI Bill is fraught with grave consequences. The clause that in case of insolvency in a bank, the depositors would have to bear a part of the cost shows how insensitive the govt could be on occasions not realising the wide travels across country and world by politicos on taxpayer money. Don't play with deposits of countrymen. A report in a section of Press indicate the Govt is toying with the idea to withdraw the FRDI Bill.

As for lateral induction in Central Government this trend needs to be encouraged irrespective of which party is at the helm.
New Delhi should continue to import oil from Tehran despite threat of sanctions by US. Who is bothered about the threat and the path that it will trek. We desire for peace in the Middle East and other places.

Winds of change or winds of pain- Is TV one among many culprit?

Winds of change or winds of pain- Seething with anger: In India Are TV channels one among many culprit?


As the political class chews on elections, impending by no stretch, still 10 and a half month away polls has led many to dissolve themselves senselessly (as seen in some TV channel debates) into something that is inevitable after every five years. What has been lost in the hullabaloo is concern over a range of issues that bedevil the nation state. Anarchy of sorts is playing out across states with some people losing the will to control their anger and taking it out on those who are by no means known to them or having antagonised them. The basic premise is we need to show respect to everyone irrespective of religion or background he or she comes from.

Mob violence can't be seen in isolation in the task of nation building. Taking law into their hands some continuously poach into a territory where not-to-cease thrashing and throwing abuse turn imaginative souls into lifeless objects on the ground of suspicion. If suspicion has travelled by word of mouth they add fuel to the fire by prodding bystanders to turn into a mob and mete out a treatment with whatever force that is available to them. Lynching is fast forwarded on the suspicion of cow slaughter here or child lifter there and sets in a process where anyone on a routine work or whoever dodge or assumes to do so would be dealt with same sickening mindset.

Lynching is by no means just an aberration, the conduct of so called guardian of faith neither collective, qualitative imagination, it is a resemblance of a banana republic in making where it is up to each individual to decide when to trespass and whom to assault. A lawmaker in Jharkhand decided to pay for legal expenses of a large number of accused who had lynched a man just on a mere suspicion. A CM taking offence on why there is no Dalit reservation in institutions like Aligarh Muslim University is like giving an open invitation for trouble to erupt. A Hindu man being thrashed by right wing groups for adopting a child hailing from minority section.

As TV sets / smartphones belt out images of a princely wedding here and astonishing, plush  hamlets/homes as featured in different soap operas there to newsrooms/editorial tutors in the lap of luxury, a sense of being left out gets to find foothold among those who make up the republic (read public). This gives way to distaste for the nation state with a large number of under unemployed giving vent to their frustration. Those news channels which binge on tabloid journalism (teetering on the brink of kitsch)  like next surgical strike would be on Islamabad (just two to three days ago on a Hindi news channel) should at least show some maturity. A politico from opposition ranks repeatedly taking jibe at ruling dispensation and ruling party returning the honours should instead ask their cadres spread across country to deliver the homily about the need to show patience. Instead of showing clashes the news channels should report on efforts underway to bring sanity to the ground.

Reams of newsprint would have gone into giants falling wayside in football world cup , a CM on a sit-in to civil servants refusing to take up work, all these catching the imaginative minds of a newspaper man, there is no secrecy code to be unraveled on why mob violence and efforts underway to contain the same doesn't make headlines. The party in power need to put out ads in vernacular press that lynching/mob violence would be dealt with a heavy hand and a law should be in place- if it has not been so far - that stringent punishment would be handed out to those who indulge in mob violence. The speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15 should broach on this issue with enough hints of law enforcers leaving no stone unturned to deal with defaulters.

For some indulgences of this nature one need not lose sleep for a nation as vast as India with enough dialects and enough delusions a stray incident here and a stray incident there need not be magnified.  That is nothing but turning a blind eye to such acts of irrefutable evidence. Acts of lynching have to be derailed from the word go and law machinery and Press need to get into their respective acts to see a broad sense of camaraderie is brought to the proceedings. As for news channels who take comfort in tabloid journalism, the lab from where they took lessons in journalism they need to revisit and work with a mindset that doesn't rob the nation of much cherished peace and patience.

  Kadhal Rojave - A R Rahman - Arvind Swamy, Madhoo - Roja and Pudhu Vellai Mazhai - Roja Tamil Songs have a charm of its own. This reminds me of my visit to Tirumala in 1995 and 1996.

Chopping over 16,000 trees in Delhi should be stopped; Sightings in Kotagiri, Udhagamandalam

Chopping over 16,000 trees in Delhi should not be allowed at any cost even if it means giving tall towering housing units a go-by

There is excessive vehicular pollution in Delhi. The green cover is minimal in this giant city of giant vehicles and giant  hiccups. Now the real estate company meant to bring new set of houses for government employees doesn't give two hoots to the green cover and less than visible green lease of life that city has. It wants to chop 16,500 trees to make way for tall, towering housing units. Find a way out to raise residential units with no hint of pain to these existing 16,500 trees in Sarojini Nagar where the residential units are supposed to come.  If NBCC the real estate company can't come up with a solution it should better withdraw from this project. Courts are requested to give a breathing space to these 16,500 trees and these 16,500 trees need to salvaged at any cost.

What are you going to leave for future generation? Multiple private vehicles, multiple private hospitals with no effort made to improve the functioning of govt hospitals and multiple high rise buildings equipped with energy sapping machines that would only add to global warming. Revolt including incidents of natural upheaval (Richter scale) can brew from any quarter and why you want to give a standing ovation to an incident that can well be avoided.

The story in HT on Sunday June 23, 2018 For acid attack survivors and the disabled, cafes offer a chance to start over by Ms Madhushree Ghosh was interesting read. For Acid attack survivors and disabled people these cafes not only provide them gainful employment, it also helps them to get into mainstream. Such stories on disadvantage sections need to be pursued diligently.

Story on Ms Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory in US as covered in NY Times was good. Medicare for all has been her campaign point enabling her to register a surprising victory. Defeating fourth-highest-ranking Democrat Mr Cowley stunned many and there are more such stories waiting to happen.

Story on Udhagamandalam

Stay in Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu State

In Kotagiri it was in Byna lodge where i tried to get a room. There was no meeting of minds as the tariff they quoted and the tariff i could settle for could not be brought to a negotiable point. Finally i zeroed in on Majestic lodge whose rooms have had a makeover to entice more customers. The next morning in Ganesh temple i meet priest Mr Nagraj.

Sightings in Kotagiri

- Majestic lodge
- Indian bank ATM
- SBI ATM
- Dena Bank ATM
- Kerala Wooden Furniture Mart
- Jio Digital Life
- Raj Tyre Works
- Cake 'o' Cake
- Ambassador car MDN 8069
- Kumar Tyre works
- JJ Battery and spares
- Naveen sweets 9585633165
- Meet Mr Madan Kumar
- Jayamatha Industry
- Achu Digital studio
- Muthoot Finance
- Salem Steels
- Ameer electrical tools
- Vodafone
- Meet Mr Silvaraj of Sreevanth Iyengar Bakery Kotagari
- Sugam Agency
- Mettupalyam 30 km, Coimbatore 70 km, Kodanadu view point 17 km (i have visited Kodanadu          view point in the past, Ooty 28 km
- K.R.C. Strore Mr Mohan gives change
- Jenni Medicals
- Rajkumar Hardwares
- New Sajitha Bakery. Had tea from here in 2011
- Ayyanar electrics
- Suganya flour mill
- Gayathri stores
- Sri Sakthi auto spares

- Fiat car TN 37W 1292
- Sankar cement
- KMH Food court
- Perfect 32
- White Mart
- Magesh Mani Oil
- Kumar wood works
- My Kalyan
- Kalaivani stores
- We are on Donnington Road
- Krishna water wash
- Byna lodge
- Durai Motors
- A-One tea stall
- Trilan Cottages
- Sharum readymade and woollens
- B N R Bakery tea and coffee
- Sri Krishna store
- Sugan tyre care
- Womantara
- Lakshmi Tailors
- Thangaraj Mess
- Hari Mess. I have had meals from here in 2011
- The plyhome Interiors and Hardware
- Tea County
- Little Steps Nursery and Primary School
- Hotel Royal Green Rooms available
- From here Coonor 23km, Dodabetta 23 km, Beragary 8km
- Sri Balaji Medicals
- Kushal Medical store
- Green Shop
- Tea Zone
- Friend's cafe
- Board of Summer Festival 2018 May 22 to May 26 Ooty
- Mr Bhiman guides me to Kotagiri bus stand
- Kotagiri Special Grade town Panchayat

Near bus stand

- Sheeba bakers
- Jio Digital Life
- Vivo Super Agencies
- Bethel Lodge
- GRV Bakery tea, coffee shop
- Meet Mr Abdul Rahim Owner of Reba Complex. He came here in 1947. Mr Dinesh guiding
  me to a cyber cafe
- Pandiya tea marketing company
- Jeep MSR 2371
- Hotel Kasthuri Veg
- Sri Vinayaga Tea Green Tea, Masala Tea, Elachi chai, Chocolate Tea,
 Peppermint Tea, Black currant Tea
- Royal Bakery
- ST. Antony's Middle School

The Bus from Kotagiri for Ooty leaves at 1.25 pm. It goes past Kayepee College of Arts and Commerce. There is Lions Club of Kotagiri with a message Save trees, save water. The ride is amidst scenic surroundings. Horasholai comes at 1.32. Sree Lakshmi Tea Industry at 1.34. There is Central Bank of India, Kotabettu branch. There is Hotel Maadhi's. There is MKT guest house. There is message of Blind curves use horn. Perar comes at 2.03. There is long winding traffic. After a long wait finally we are in Udhagamandalam at 3.05.

Sightings in Udhagai (Udhagamandalam)

- Sri Venkateswara tea stall
- Woolen store stall
- Aazam Bakery (From here i have veg puff)
- Prem Coffee works
- Travelon
- Titan
- Vijaya Bank
- VIVO
- SBI Maruthi footwear
- Meena hardwares
- Honest stores
- Uttams since 1961
- Ramraj cotton
- Moosu Sait and Co
- Sai store
- Uttams Kreations
- BATA
- Indostar
- Bag Palace
- Samsung
- ADAMS Fashion Corner
- Sneha Bakes
- Shree SR Xerox
- Venkateswara Agencies
- Deluxe Times
- Venkatesh Stall
- RAJHANS The family Shop
- Ooty EN VEE Hotel
- Milan readymades
- Saraswathi readymade centre
- Variety Hall
- MY BRAND
- Tevanas
- Action footwear
- Hotel Taj
- Hotel A- One
- Sathya Spreading Happiness
- Amma Medicals
- T N Govt Employees Cooperatives LTD
- Om Servana Medicals
- Blue Mountain Veg restaurant
- Hajee Fakeer Mohammad Sait's Memorial Govt Maternity Hospital
- Digitek Computers
- Bethal Nilgiri Products
- Umesh Nahar Jewellers
- Hotel best
- Anna cards and Print
- National Tea and Coffee bar ( Mr Praveen is at the counter)
- New Bangalore Iyengar Bakery and sweets
- Rajesh Furniture
- H. M. S. Mobiles
- Sabari lodge
- Sarvana Electronics
- Annai offset printers
- Hi-tech electricals
- Rytham (it is not Rhythm) Digital studio
- Sri Astalakshmi Drugs
- Sri Adhilakshmi distributors
- J. F. A. Hotel
- Anand stores
- Sumangel tea and coffee co
- Meet Mr Appu Kuthan who has been staying in Ooty for 35 years
- M. Nanthi Gowder and Co
  Stationers and General merchants
- ESWARI
- Pushpa Hotel
- Hotel Aryaas
- Ambal textiles
- Bombay Ware House
- Saraswathi Hall
- Hind Stores
- Kishor Nilgiri Eucalyptus oil centre
- Bangalore restaurant
- Sri ram medicals
- RR Sweets and Savouries
- Shri Ram Fashion Jewellers
- Chandralok A stop where you will shop
- Ferroli
- Apollo Pharmacy
- Lithanya Medicals
- Bangalore Iyengar Bakery
- Korakundah Organic Green Tea
- Jyothi Dairy
- Shoba tailors
- Keeran clinic Dr A Nanjan
- Suryaa Holiday Inn
- Suryaa home needs
- Oriental Bank of Commerce
- Net City Internet Browsing Centre (for doing stories i visit this cyber cafe where the personnel are very helpful)
- Sree Vigneshwara Automobiles two wheeler spares service and tyre tubes
- Bindhu Ladies Beauty Parlour
- KKS Fathemull Jeweller
- Lovely Designers Men and Women
- IDBI Bank
- Parekh Financiers
- Rao Designers Ladies and Gents
- Dress Well Tailors
- Airtel 3G
- Jio
- Vodafone
- Lakshmi Metals
- Limra collection
- S.S.O textiles
- Nakshatra Jewellers
- E.M.S. Collections
- M. E. Moosa Sait and Sons
- Vijay Jeweller
- Srihans Jewellery and Finance
- Barma Hall
- Mahaveer Finance Co
- Nilgiri Naturelle
- Rajhans Jewellers and Finance
- Lakshmi Jewellery
- Vinay Jewellers and finance
- Jewellers and Pawn brokers
- Navkar Jewellers
- Saraswathi Pathira Kadai
- Suresh Jewellers
- Sri Krishna Lodge
- A Balaguru Swamy
- Thruppur Jawule Kadai
- Sree Lakshmi Hall
- Sree Ambica Enterprises
- Sri Ganesh textiles

The first place where i stay in Udhagamandalam is Hotel Royal Paradise.  Later i shift to Green Valley lodge where Mr Kiran is very helpful.

More Sightings in Udhagai

- Sri Guru Fresh ghee and butter
- Sri Lakshmi Saroj jewellery
- Elite furniture mart
- A K Abdul Majeed  flower merchant
- Akshaya Bakery
- Meshal's mobile
- JK Mobiles
- Blossom florists and gifts
- Meet Mr Swaminath or Mr Swaminathan of tea stall of JFA hotel
- Meet Mr Shivangi Gowda of Ooty
- Woodlands Pure Veg
- Gulab Paradise Santosh
   S Abhishek Finance
   S Bhavesh Finance
- A Ranjith K Kumar B.A., B.L.
  advocate and notary public
- KVM ATM
- Sun Direct
- Airtel
- Jio Digital Life
- Meet Mr Shiva from Gudalur. I am told Wayanad is 80kms from Ooty
- Sampath and Co
- Kutties bakes and cakes
- Sri Jain spices
- Deva Finance and Jewellers

Leave at 10.37 on a Wednesday to explore Udhagamandalam and beyond.
Go past Radhika Chettinadu Hotel
- Sri Vignesh restaurant
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway Centenary Celebration 1908 - 2008
- Shiv Shanthi Inn
- Shri Krishnaprabha sweet zone
- Billboard of GRT  G R Thanga Maligai Jeweller
- Sathya now @ Ooty
- Railway Police Station
- Hotel Sapphire
- New Kwality supermarket
- Hotel City Palace. The Tea and Idly from City Palace restaurant is something to cherish
- Green Valley Lodge
- Hoarding of Goal in Life living in harmony with nature
- Thread Garden Flower show
- Radio Astronomy Centre 5km
- Bangalore Iyengar Bakery
- Hotel Shiv Shanthi Grand
- Tamizhagam Garden
  First halt point is Shooting point where movies have been shot in the past.
- Go Past Road Ribbon Club Women College
- AIR Udhagai
- Stop at Rehman Bakery and snacks for taking veg puff. Perhaps the
  place should have relieving points (Loos)
- Second halt point is Kamrasa dam
- Sheep breeding research centre
- Tree Park Pine Forest Eight Mile at 12.27
- Meet Mr Noor Ali Mohammad. Born in Eight Mile.  For 22 years served in Saudi Arabia, has also      worked as electrician, son working in Sharjah. Mr Mohammad selling chocolates and living near        polytechnic

Come across Plastic ban hoarding. Here the plastic has been completely banned. Meet Mr Jaswant Deep running a store in pine forest, studying in class 7th. From 8.30 am to 6.30 pm the shop is open. Going beyond pine forest there is amazing sight. Meet a family from Thiruvarur. Meet Mr Sudhakar with family members from Chennai. Reach 9th mile at 1.10 pm, Pykara dam 1.20.  Come across a message. Plastic free Nilgiris. Eliminating pollution is the best solution to save environment.
A board shows Calicut 139 kms, Gudalur 29 kms

Later reach Pykara boat house which is open from 10 am to 5 pm. Meet a couple from Ahmedabad. In Pykara boat house the man at the Lazza Ice creams counter does not want to lose even one customer. Later meet Students of D J Vaishny College, Chennai who are pursuing graduation in commerce. Leave Pykara boat House at 2.46. Come across Plastic free zone message at 2.52.
Come across a string of houses coming up near MSH store.
Reach Deivamalai at 3.32, reach Gudalur 3.42.

Sightings in Gudalur

- Riyadh Store
- Indian Murugan Metal Mart
- S.S Fruits
- Shantimahals Bakery
- Spot Covai to Salem bus
- Biriyani Corner
- Star Primary School
- ESAF Panda hardware
- Stars lodge, charms lodge
- Friends Auto Industries
- Sankar Cement
- Gudalur Cosmopolitan Club
- Kerala Hotel
- Regency Tourist Home
- Meet Mr Chandru driving in Udhagai since 1996
- Meet Mr Muniar, Mr Ashiq in CMS restaurant, Gudalur
- Nilgiri Grand Spices wholesale and retail
- Wildlife Tourist Home
- Rooms AC Non AC Dormitory
- Meet Mr Silvan of Udhagai
- Meet Mr Ravi Kumar of Vijaywada who has a gold shop in Vijaywada. Meet Mr Manju another      man at the wheels

Enter the front gate of Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary  at 5.05,  reach Masinagudi and from here we leave in a jeep driven by Mr Raju. Go past Marvakandu dam constructed in 1951. We are told Mudumulai has 63 tigers spread over 321 sq km. At 6.20 reach Moyar Lake. Leave Moyar Lake at 6.30
Leave Masinagudi at 7.10, reach Udhagai (Udhagamandalam) at 9 pm.

The Tamil Nadu Govt is doing a good job. It should be allowed to complete its tenure. At another level India should continue to import oil from Iran irrespective of threat of sanctions from the US. The threat and the trick can't prevent oil import from Iran (Iran is the third largest supplier of oil to India) and the sanctions whatever its fire and fury can least hurt us as we are a sovereign nation with solid fundamentals.

Vaaranam Aaviram- Neniukkul Peidhidum , Adiyae Kolluthey which are Tamil songs are great.