Pulicat Lake - Pazhaverkadu One Day Trip

Started off with mindset that as a family we need to go for drive and some fun activity, kids where asking about the beach options.

Upon exploring the options through internet got one of the suggestion as Pulicate Lake and its a rare visit place any anyone even if there in Chennai for decades.

It was very quick plan on that morning to go for the one day trip. As everyone felt the same to step out, I got a quick nod from every member of my family to gear up for the one day trip.

Started taking actions immediately by searching for the contact person in pazhaverkadu for the availability, the first disappointment that its coincide with one of the Holiday too with reply getting from other side that most of the boats are not operating.

9:00AM - Trip Confirmed

Finally one of the fisherman agreed to accomadate us and we started filling our water bottle, snacks to have it on the beach and the cloths to change for swimming. Its Shallow water body so its safe for kids to swim and play within the restrictive range. We started from Chennai around 10:00AM and reached the destination around 11:00AM with less traffic.

12:00PM - Boating

After reaching the place the fisherman have guided us for car parking and taken to the shore to board the Boat. The food is arranged for us with some customization and they are friendly. The Boat started at 12:00PM and it took 30-40mins of journey to reach the place where lake and ocean connects.

1:30PM - Lunch

Around 12:40PM we reached the destination and weather was ultimate. To our surprise there where good number of families enjoying the time same as us. The beach view was good but as usual the place where polluted with food and bottles. 

 Upon arrival the care taker have bought the plastic sheet to spread on the sand to rest and poles to put up the tent. The weather was cloudy so there was no need for the tent and we enjoyed the complete day without getting sun burn much but with fear of getting rain shouldn't spoil the trip.

The food has arrived around 1:40PM and our care taker delivered the same to us to enjoy our meal in the open beach with waves sound. It was completely a different experience which every one of us to try out. There are restaurants on the ECR where beach view or near the shore but not as close as this you can sit and enjoy the meal. 

3:00PM - Swimming

After the heavy lunch we had some rest and kids with lot of energy been collecting empty shells on the beach to play. It was real fun when someone collect the shell with color not exists of what we have in our hand. Even the grown ups got curioty and started collecting the rare colors to put in the fish tank.

Slowly kids started getting into the sea and started playing in water which get them completely wet and made to dive in completely to enjoy the swim. Slowly one by one after the seeing the kids joy the adults started dive-in.

3:30 - The Ugly Truth

Have to say this if you go with family, you wont find any rest rooms facility. The grown up mens and kids are easy not the same case for the other family members. So plan it accordingly which might make you a uncomfortable sometimes to find the shady or hideout place to relax your bladder.

4:30 - Pack up

Around 4:00PM we started taking pics when the sea water level goes inside which expose the sand dune which is like we can walk in the center with both sides of ocean similar to Dhanushkodi experience (will make separate post for it).

The Car engine revived to start the journey back home, had some tea/coffee along with some puffs to end the trip with nice evening drive with praying of less traffic to end the trip happily. To our surprise yes the traffic was very less on the way back to home and with some good memories we bring back from the Pulicat Lake.

See you in the next post with my new journey experience.

Chennai To Yercaud & Salem Trip

 Hi Guys,

Below was my plan from Chennai to Yercaud 1 day and Salem 1 day. (Execuse my timings they are approximate based on the memory I have during that trip)

Day 1 - Yercaud

6:00AM - Trip Starts

- Started from Chennai Around 6AM to Yercaud as our first destination.

07:30AM - 99 Coffee Stop

Our first stop at 99 for breakfast with millet based food.

11:30AM - Iyyar Hotel

Our Second stop on the way to try the Iyer Hotel Parotta. It was around 11:30AM I reached the hotel and preparation are getting ready for Lunch. I ordered three parotta as it was not timed to have the lunch. Based on youtube feedback we want to try the IYYAR Hotel Parotta.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HiX4otRoLcqrAjDf6 

Image Source: (Google Maps) I didn't take any pics, but its similar to that.

Food Feedback

I got the parcel and travelled for another 2-3km to find a spot to rest and have the parotta. The Parotta is fluffy and Channa was good. We where not that much hungry but still the taste was good. You can give one try to taste the parotta.

1:30PM - Yercaud

Around 1:30PM we reached the Yercaud Lake junction, my family was little hungry and we tried to eat in one another youtuber recommended restaurant but it was completely busy and all sold out. Then we tried random shop for biriyani but it was not upto the mark.

2:30PM - La Four Seasons Resort

Around 2:30 we check-in to the Hotel (La Four Seasons Resort)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/scesr15RsAeNPaMY8

Image Source: Google Maps

Feedback

The resort was good, for sure it need renovation and not as shown in the image for the rooms and facilities. The garden was maintained good but Swimming pool was under maintenance when we visited. We where allowed to swim but it was risky as the tiles are causing injury. Food was .

We stayed for a day over there and started to Salem next day where the real surprise waits.

Day 2 - Salem

2:00PM - Heavy Rain

After checking out the hotel the same briyani shop we bought the packets to have it on the way. After getting down from the Servarayan Hills (Yercaud) to Plateau region (Salem) we drove the way to Poolampatti Village near Mettur Dam which is 50km drive from Salem. It was heavy rain pour on the way and not an easy drive for us with little fear of things to go smooth as planned for the resort as the dark is not far away to find the roads interior. 

It seems we went through our one of our CM village and seeing the development happened over there which is good and thats the reason we where able to reach the resort on time as the roads where good.

05:30PM - Grand Lake Resort

On the Mettur River Bank in the village named Poolampatti the Grand Lake resort is situated. After Check-In we rushed to take the pictures as the sunlight was about to logoff for its day. All different poses where tried to capture the river bank along the mountains behind it was a perfect spot to enjoy the view and pics for your memories.

Quickly gone over the resort facilities and we started to settle down in the room with kids being exploring the room facilities. I have booked a room with Dip Pool at the back was surprise for the kids. The kids started throw of the cloths and rushing to enjoy the dip pool with song played behind from the bluetooth speaker.

Image Source: Google Maps

The dip pool was with open sky view with prison compounds surrounding them with some sort of privacy. We check-in the hotel on Monday because it was completely occupied on weekend with some corporate party. It was only us and another bachelor team where enjoying the resort with lot of privacy.

The night went spending time with kids enjoying the dip pool. The whole trip memory stay with that and it actually made one of the family memory for us.

Day 3 - Mettur Dam

06:30 - Surprise

Next morning we woke up around 6:30AM to explore the near check dam which is 1KM away. After checking it out and on the way back we stopped at the normal tea shop to get refresh but ir turned out to be surprise for us where they where serving hot Vada and Sundal (Chana) along with tea and coffee. 

Everything tastes good at the shop, we are about to done with our morning munch but there comes another surprise for us where they started making hot bonda's made of coriander and mint. There was lot of local people waiting for that to get packed for the home to enjoy what we had for ourself at the shop.

SRI VELA BACKES 

8:30AM - Artificial Water falls

Our breakfast was done because we started trying out everything from the shop to not miss out any taste. I felt like this is what unadulterated food tastes like. Back to the resort and played for sometime. The resort has artificial water fall which they can run for 20mins for a booking and extra can be paid service. It was kind of Thai massage with complete privacy for us to enjoy that.

10:30 PM - Poolampatti boating

We started again to roam the near by places like Poolampatti boating spot where they take you for 20-30 mins ride on the river bank which is enjoyable scenery. All good we started to see the Mettur dam with mesmerizing view of the dam from tower.

02:00 Lunch - River fresh Fish

 After we back to the hotel we had good fresh water fish at the Hotel Restaurant and other sides we ordered to enjoy our meal. Back to the room for some rest and started the evening again with dip pool entertainment.

Day 4 - Back to Chennai

02:00 - Anbu Mess 

After Check-out we started to chennai and on the way we want to try the youtube recomended hotel "Anbu Mess"

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4GxCdZZXBGEqh3H17

Image Source: Google Maps

We are almost the last batch to enter the mess peak hours. We ordered the food for us and enjoyed the meal and the food is good.

It was a memorable trip as a family with great weather and food we enjoyed on the way based on the youtubers whom we really need to appreciate their effort to bring us some hidden gem restaurants to us. But not always i find good restaurants. Only the one above which i have given details I recommend to try once. Hope it wont disappoints you, be calm when there is crowd and plan your timing perfectly to enter the crowded places before/after the peak hours.