14th August, 2016.

Today was a really long drive. Don’t get me wrong, we covered just about 200 Km. But thanks to the weather and our frequent stops, we took over 7 hours to do so. The plan was to get out of Kozhikode by 7.30. So naturally, we were out by 10.30.

This drive was especially entertaining, as Saijal’s daughters (age 6 and 8) decided to join in. After a really good breakfast we headed towards Wayanad. The very (in) famous Thamarassery churam, with its nine hair pin curves, in on this route. This is not the easiest road to drive through, and if you have the slightest hint of motion sickness, this road is certainly unpleasant. But this stretch is also hauntingly beautiful and wild. Throughout the stretch, waterfalls, mist, and wild flowers gave us company. The little girls certainly enjoyed this bit.

From Thamarassery, we moved to the tea gardens of Sultan Bathery, and then, to the Muthanga wild life reserve. Muthanga later joins Bandipur tiger sanctuary, leading us from Kerala to Karnataka. This is the first state border we crossed. Driving through Bandipur is always a pleasant experience. Teak forests and grasslands cover the sides of the road. We were even lucky enough to spot a herd of deer. Holding our breath, we lowered the car windows and pointed our cameras at the herd. Sadly, two fellow travelers on a bike took a slightly different approach. They walked confidently towards the herd with their cameras, and the timid animals disappeared immediately. A little disappointed, we continued on our way out of the beautiful reserve forest.

The sight that awaited us outside the Bandipur forest still seems unreal. On either side of the road were undulating hills covered in fields, each field filled with marigold blossoms. Mist was lifting off far away hills while rain clouds gathered in the sky. The diffused light and dramatic sky gave the whole scene a surreal appearance. As we drove along this road, we found a tiny by lane, with flower fields on either side. We followed this path for a while, until it was just us and the flowers.

We managed to pull ourselves (and the kids) away from this scene, only to find ourselves amidst fields filled with sunflowers. I hope you understand why we took 7 hours to cover a mere 200 Km.

After spending most of our day amidst flower fields, we finally reached Mysore by late evening, just in time for some Mylari Masala Dosa. And we also saw a few pelicans along the way.

I guess that was pretty much our second day. Tomorrow, we are off to Shivamogga to visit Jog falls.