Behind the Bar 🚵🏻 | Part 1: Erode to Munnar
By: Vasanth Sankar
Tags: Travel, Holidays, Backpacking, Cycling, Touring

Pedalling life 🚲 🏕️ 🎒

Last-minute plans are always special, the plan just started with a kidding call but we made it.

We were ready to take risks. We started with a good ride plan & zero expectations.

A few months back (post-monsoon) we decided to redefine the limits by a road trip Erode- Udumalaipettai- Marayoor- Munnar- Muthukad- Suryanelli- Bodimettu- Theni- Kodai- Dindigul.

Planned to cover a distance of 580km with an elevation of 5,900m

Suresh, accompanied me with this trip, A passionate Cyclist, Traveler, Social activist, and Professional tableau developer. We both connected via social media- traveled and made many happy faces by volunteering works.

Yeah, we both started by early morning 4 am from Erode :)

The Pledge

Should not use Plastics throughout the trip, Recycle as much as possible

No rash rides

Follow the Hand signs (✋ Stop, 👍 Go, 👎 Slow )

we need to maintain distance but also stay close within 100 meter range

Power Nap, when we are tired

Hydrate ourselves by every 15 minute- 2 or 3 sips of water

🚵🏻 Adventure Begins…

First Leg (Erode- Udumalaipettai) 0 Km- 152 Km

We started to pedal 🚲 from Erode Railway station to Udumalaipettai via Kangayam, Dharapuram

We did not care about speed & time. We Just need to explore as much as possible, To meet some strangers and to learn their culture. Love to lose from this mechanical life and find ourselves in the lap of Mother Nature!

We met a Tender coconut seller on the way, who followed us for 50plus kilometers and gave some Tender coconut as sharing love and motivated us to cover more distance.

Full scenic view, with Terrains- highs and downs and Enjoying the sunrise in the farmlands.

We stopped for a Tea ☕

On the way, we had Breakfast, Lunch. We did not skip any tea breaks as well.

Finally, we reached Udumalaipettai at 8:30 pm with 147Km

On the way, Met Bharathi, A professional system engineer who lives in Udumalaipettai. He took us to his home about 5 Km and Gave us a space for camping for the night at his farmland ❤

Ending up the ride for the day with 152Km

Second Leg (Udumalaipettai- Munnar) 152 Km- 276 Km

Some adventure day, Yes we need to climb about 2,000m plus elevation

As planed we refreshed and started from Bharathi’s place with the best paruppu sadam (Daal Rice) with rich proteins cooked by Bharathi’s mother. we had that for Breakfast and Lunch

After a 10Km flat, we had a blessed tea to equalize the cold weather

To reach the Marayoor Kerala border we need to cross Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Before we reached the check post of Anamalai Tiger Reserve forest. A group of Elephants crossed the road and Cops restricted us to enter the forest.

After a long struggle, we Pledged (Not to disturb the forest animals)and enter with one forest officer, who entered for regular rounds.

Enjoyed forest roads with the sounds of Elephants and Gaur

After a 2,000m plus elevation we reached Marayoor

We had paruppu sadam for Lunch and Now heading towards Munnar

Roadside beauty

On the way to Munnar, we heard a waterfalls sound. So we stopped and looked at the falls it was Just amazing, we fine-tuned the day plan. We pedaled towards the Falls

Sounds made us Trek for 8km and pedal for 80km climb and reached the Thoovanam falls.