Bangalore - Coimbatore

Perur Temple

I had been to Coimbatore last weekend (May 18-19) with my friend Vinodh in car. We went in Maruti Swift. The aim of the trip was to attend the marriage of our friend Chandrashekar. It is worth mentioning that me, Vinodh and Chandrashekar got introduced to each other through an Orkut community for Ilayaraaja.

We started from Bangalore at 6AM. We had breakfast at Vasavi Cafe Krishnagiri. Most of the times, the hotels between Hosur and Krishnagiri (Kamath, Krishnaand Adayar Anandha Bhavan) are crowded. So I recommend this hotel for people going in that highway, just that you have go into Krishnagiri town.

Isha Yoga Center

It was an ultra-smooth drive till 40 Kms before Coimbatore. From there, since road construction was going on it took more time than expected. We reached Coimbatore at 1PM. We stayed at Hotel Vijai Paradise, NSR Road. The hotel was pretty decent and the good thing is that Annapoorna hotel is near Vijai Paradise.  'keerai' they served for Saturday lunch was awesome!

Mahalakshmi Temple

Luckily, I had my UG friend Arun working in Coimbatore for more then 3 years.  He joined us in the afternoon. We went to Kovai Kutralam (though we returned back without seeing since entrance is open only from 10AM to 3:30PM but we went there only at 4PM). From Kovai Kutralam, Isha Yoga Center (Velliangiri hill base) is just 15 Kms away. One has to take left at Iruttupallam while returning back from Kovai Kutralam. Velliangiri trek is considered to be one of the toughest and interesting trek in south India. It seems it will take 8 hrs to go up and ladies are not allowed to climb that.

From Isha Yoga center we went to Perur Patteswarar temple (It was built by Karikala Chozhan) and finally we went to Marudamalai Murugar temple. We started from Coimbatore city at 3PM and returned back to city after seeing all those places by 8PM.

Next day, we started at 7AM and went to Eechanari Vinayagar temple and Mahalakshmi temple. Both the temples are present close-by in Coimbatore-Pollachi route.

Hydro Meteorological Project

After attending marriage, we started back to Bangalore at 1PM. For a change, we took Sathyamangalam-Bannari-Chamrajnagar-Kollegal-Malavalli-Kollegal route. Though distance wise it is short by 40Kms, it took more time and also the drive wasn't very comfortable. But all those inconveniences can be accepted for that spectacular route. It was completely green on both the sides. 27 hair pin binds have to be crossed and all of them were steep.

Vinodh, Arun and me in front of Marudamalai temple

A hydro meteorological project on that route after Karnataka border was a surprise package (We were not aware of that place). That place can be made as another tourist place like Thekkady. It was 9PM when we reached Bangalore.