Our hotel did not disappoint us with the breakfast. We checked out at 10:00 am. Prakash was late because he had gone to get permission for our visit to Berijam Lake and was stuck in the traffic.
Meanwhile, I went around clicking some photographs.
This strange and absurd sculpture was in the fields in front of our hotel. Bush and Bin Laden proxying as scarecrows?
A view from our hotel.
A note about Hotel Sierra: The hotel was a decent budget hotel, suited for someone looking for a vacation outside the din and hustle of the town. The owner, Chinna, helped me make all arrangements and bookings. We also got a well ventilated corner room. The tap water wasn’t that good. It could be a problem of the area we were staying in (Naidupuram). And the guys can’t cook decent rotis and gravies (as evident from yesterday’s photograph).
Berijam Lake is situated right at the heart of the Palani Hills Forest. We couldn’t go there because one has to get a permit from the Forest Department. It costs INR 300 and has to be obtained between 8:30 to 9:30 am. Thankfully, Prakash took care of all the hassles.
Traffic gods weren’t with us today either.
The gate where we had to produce the permission letter. We had been there yesterday.
Only a tiny fraction of the lake’s bank is accessible to the general public.
There are a few spots en route that offer unobstructed views of the valleys on either sides.
The hills from lake view point. Beyond the farthest hills is Munnar. There is no direct route to reach there.
Before dropping us off at the town’s seven roads junction, Prakash took us to the Suicide Point, a spot that we had missed yesterday.
Suicide point (now known as Green Valley View) is a joke. This is what I found at the end of the walk.
The narrow lane leading to Suicide Point is lined by a lot of trinket shops.
Prakash took us to the shop in front of the chocolate factory. My sister bought some chocolates that she wanted to carry back to Kolkata. We also had our lunch at a hotel on the first floor – some value for money biriyanis and chicken fry (They called it Chicken 65).
Our cab driver Prakash. The hotel had commissioned him to assist us. He was a very helpful guy.
Prakash dropped us at the lake. At present, I am drafting this post at the same Cafe Coffee Day I had visited the day before yesterday. Our bus leaves at 7:00 pm tonight.