Hogenakkal

Budget for the trip: Rs. 1000 per person

For the weekend break from the internship at Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore Nimisha and I went to this place famed for waterfalls, scenic beauty and massages. The place was called Hogenakkal which means smoking stones in Tamil. The name of the place is difficult to pronounce but the place is beautiful.

Travel: We took the train to Dharampuri at 6 in the morning from Bangalore Central. The train reached Dharampuri at around 10. After eating a breakfast of masala dosas in the bus stop we luckily managed to get a seat on the really over crowded bus which meandered through the Naxal inhabited areas for an hour and dropped us off at Hogenakkal.

Travel costs: General W/T (:P)- 0

Bus from Dharampuri to Hogenakkal- Rs. 40

As we had decided to visit Hogenakkal for only a day, we didnt have to waste time looking for a hotel. We directly went to the waterfalls. There was huge crowd all wishing to go through the waterfalls in these basket boats. The nauka wala informed us that it would cost like 250 bucks a person to travel in those boats. Paranoid of getting ripped off and going over budget, we decided to go and browse around the place for a little while. There we met the massage women. Massages for 150 bucks.. full body with hair. They made us buy shampoos, soap and a lot of oil too and took us to the dingy massage parlour. The massage was possibly one of the best massages ever and there was oil everywhere. They then shoved us towards this otherwise hidden waterfall where a commune of women were bathing and having the time of their life. That is one experience I shall never forget. A trip to Hogenakkal is incomplete without a massage and the bath in the women's waterfall.

We walked towards the bridge following all the other pedestrians where we paid 10 bucks each for the entry ticket. The waterfalls were magnificient. There were three of them each smoking away. There was a lot of area to sit and chill.

Eating: The fish pakoras are apparently legendary there but being a vegetarian I didnt sample them. They were being sold everywhere. There were other fruits and other roadside munchies sold everywhere. A couple of restaurants were also there where the food was really cheap but not very yummy. Food rating: 1.5/5, Cost: Rs. 100

Trip Tips:

Funnily all the shops charge more than the MRP so its advisable to carry all the things from the city, esp. booze and smokes

The bus from Dharampuri is always crowded so jump on the bus as soon as it stops.

carry a set of extra clothes.

Try to avoid weekends as it is generally very crowded then.

Carry sunblock

Try not to travel alone , especially if you are a north Indian woman. The menfolk are very lecherous and annoying.

Wear monsoon chappals.

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