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Scotland of India - Madikeri (Part II)

(Somewhere near Mandalpatti. Xperia L. 1/243. ISO 100)

The 2nd Day - Mandalpatti and Mallalli Falls

Let's start from where we left, eh?
 
We could only cover two places, but given the time constraints and no own vehicle, I think it is understandable. We had tasty food at home and there was no need to hurry. So, we enjoyed every bit and left home at around ten.

Mandalpatti

(Mandalpatti veiwpoint. Honor 4X. 1/1585. ISO 200)

Although Mandalpatti is a fairly popular tourist place, the place has no (or at least didn't have when I visited it again last year) proper connectivity through public transport. So, we had to hire a jeep from Madikeri. You can also go to the foot of the hills and hire a jeep from there, but it's pricey.
The road was very bad (as with any other hill station roads). To go there in a normal car would be a nightmare.
So, up we went. There weren't many people up there, mostly because it was eleven in the morning and the sun was blazing. To be honest, Mandalpatti is not a place that you must visit. Not saying it is bad, but it's just not that good. I have been to better places.
We stopped at another viewpoint on the way which was surprisingly better than Mandalpatti viewpoint.
(Near Mandalpatti. Honor 4X. 1/243. ISO 200)

We reached home by one in the afternoon and had lunch, rested for a bit, and left to Mallalli.

Mallalli Falls

Now, this is one funny story! But it wasn't so funny when it happened.
We left Madikeri at around two thirty. We went to Somawarpete by bus, since we had planned to hire a taxi from there. But there were no taxis around who were ready to come. Or even if someone was ready they would demand unreasonable prices. Determined, not ready to give up, we searched for taxis. And finally, we found a rickshawala who was ready to come.
It was almost five when we reached there. It was the same thing again with bad roads (or as we say in Kannada - "Ade raaga, ade haadu"). It had rained recently and the road was muddy (you can imagine). We parked on the main road which was around two km from the waterfalls, and we walked. The auto driver agreed to come with us (we really should thank him!!). And remember, Mallalli falls was not so famous back then. So, this place was kinda in the middle of nowhere.
And we reached the entrance, which was marked with the presence of some old forest check-post gate. We have to walk down to reach the waterfalls in Mallalli.
(Mallalli falls as seen from above. Honor 4X. 1/708 ISO 100)

They were constructing the steps (which took just two years to complete, a pace only matched by that of snails). So, it was all muddy path which was not an easy task at that time considering there was nothing to hold on to and that it had rained recently. Somehow we went down. And trust me, every struggle to get there was totally worth it. It was really awesome. We went there, played for a while, and before we knew the sun had started to set.

(Mallalli waterfalls. Honor 4X. 1/64. ISO 400)

The place, which, not long ago, seemed like a magical world, now looked like someplace straight out from The Haunting of Hill House (which you should watch. Alone! Trust me). So, anyway, we were a bit scared but we left the place and along the way, we could hear the noises of bulldozers knocking down the trees (which is kinda shady if you think about it), but we made it to the main road and off we went to Somwarpete. That day we would be stranded in that forest if it wasn't for that auto driver. We saw no bus on either side of the road while going back.
All in all, it was an awesome experience that we still laugh about sometimes.

This has been a fairly bit longer post than the previous one, but I couldn't find any details worth slacking off. So, thank you for sparing your time and reading. And as always, I would love to hear your feedback on this. Comment here, or message me, whatever you like. And if you like it, then share it with your friends who might enjoy this. Goodbye, and have a great, long weekend ahead!
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