summer holiday in Bheemeswari fishing camp

Had a couple of blissful days at the GRT nature trails Skyroca resort in Yercaud. We got these fabulous rooms with a glass floor which had a scary view of the valley below, It was like hanging in mid air . Ramya freaked out and slept on it the whole night. As if this shocker was not enough we had to have a shower with a glass floor !. Kind of strange feeling undressing and washing with a view of the valley down and the hairpin bends with the traffic. Sowmya was concerned a little if anyone can go down to the rocks and look up !! The food was good and maybe tasted better in a place where you don't have much else to do. We did the usual routine of going the Shevaroys Temple, pagoda ! point (crappy dirty place), children seat ( nice view of the resort from here) etc. The rose garden was pretty good and we could checkout some great looking plants.

The next day we had a reservation in the jungle lodges at Bheemeshwari fishing camp on the banks of river cauvery. Sowmya , Ramya, Usha and I got a little adventurous and Googled a route from Salem to the Jungle lodges instead of taking a safe route from Bangalore to the fishing camp via the Kanakapura road. We started off quite well and plotted the route on my new IPhone Maps and reached Pennagaram. Thereafter the tracker went crazy and was taking us where there are no roads! We reached anchetty through rough tracks along hoggenegal and finally reached Anchetty after many misses and re tracking. thereafter we had to go to kodi halli which we pronounced wrong every time as the villagers were correcting us every time we asked and we gave up:( . At last after going through great hills and vales and ghats (awesome views) and many misses we reached our destination.

We realized there was no mobile signal of any operator ! and were informed proudly by the forest rangers that we are the only occupants of the 40 acres jungle resort for the next 2 days! It was kinda eerie !! . We were allotted ( or choose) the best log huts just on the banks of the river. Very excited:)) Amazing views of the hills and the river and the jungles across. We saw lots of monkeys prancing around. We were offered a ride on the coracle on the river and caught the sunset which was Gods nature at its best hues. Later we 'joy' fished . Most juvenile & retarded activity. As the sun set on us we were led to a bon fire specially lit for us and a BBQ ! Is this luxury ? Followed by some tasty home co oked food and we went back to our log huts. We waited and chatted to midnight as it was Ramya's birthday the next day and we wanted to wish her.

At about 3 pm the electricity switches off ! Bloody hell! Usually I am a brave guy but middle of the forest in a log hut and errie sounds of animals scampering and grunting and the wood creaking was like a scene out of a horror movie. But then the lights came back and we got up to a forest rangers wake up call with bed coffee at 6 am. Who the hell still has bed coffee ?? crazy british habit!

We got ready for a trek and were offered a 'hard' trek to scale a vertical hill or a nature walk in the Jungles. Though I wanted to choose the 'hard' trek the softees with me made me choose the nature walk. We saw deer, wild boar running through bushes and supposedly elephant and bear paw marks. Came back to a hearty breakfast and felt like the old time Maharajah during hunts.

The rest of the day was spent fooling around in the nets tied around trees and tree ladders and eating at regular intervals followed by the evening BBQ and dinner yet again.

The next day was more leisurly as we did not want to do the dumb treks for the animals to see us and in the evening we went on a Jeep safari into the jungle . It was an ecstastic experience as we got mobile signal and we were back in touch with sms pouring in and calls coming in. We were driven to a view point and saw the Cauvery river in full glory and also the sun set. It was etheral , like a huge canvas painting.

The next day we drove back to Bangalore which is an 2 hours drive on NH 209 and hit the Pizza Hut like addicts deprived of basic needs!!

Overall a nice holiday where we relaxed and still had adventure. The best part was the drive from yercaud to Bheemeshwari !! Highly recommended !!!!