DESI DISCOVERY QUIZ 16

The two places : Wai in MH & Pollachi in TN.

Both  never qualify as a tourist spot – leave alone a summer destination. However, their typical “just like anywhere in India” locations are favourite with film makers as their lady luck. Wai ( 70 Km from Pune)  is to Bollywood what Pollachi is to Kollywood.   Numerous films in various languages have been made at both these places.

Wai is  a typical Indian village with the Sahayadri ranges forming an impressive backdrop. It has been there since Mahabharata period,  has a popular ancient Shiva temple quite a few lakes & dams; it has no lodges or decent place to eat. Most of the villagers have routinely been part of crowd scenes in many movies.

Wai is located at the foot hill of the ghat section to Mahableshwar & Panchgani – places people in  MH call as hill station. Summer evenings are extremely cool & pleasant here. During the day, it is better to drive off into some wooded areas around to escape the sun.

Strawberry cultivation & tourism are the main  activities sustaining this hill town that has the Venna lake & few boarding schools. Squahes, Jams, spreads, toppings, syrups, unique desi nutty chocolates that you do not get elsewhere abound here. The Malpro Garden is a good place for unlimited free tasting samples of their squashes & syrups.  While here, you also get the best creamy, frothy, fresh strawberry  shakes,  excellent Sandwiches  & cheezy wood fired pizzas. Beware- while the food is a treat to the all the 5 senses, it can leave a big hole in your pockets.

The cook at one of the family resorts here was just amazing. All residents have to dine in the central dining hall only. You need to tell the menu your group needs atleast 4 hours before. When your group sits at the table, you are given different sized casseroles, flasks etc. While you are finished – you will be surprised that neither is any member having some unfilled space in his tummy  nor there is any left over food. Such precise quantity of hot tasty food  comes with years of experience & precise understanding of the customers. Be it 2 or 15 members , the precision in quantity & taste just amazes.

Pollachi no doubt is a hot place-especially in summer, In these days of self-driving, its easy to  just pack up & keep driving without any plan. Just before entering Pollachi, you will see sign boards pointing to udumalpet, Munnar, valparai, Top slip, Kozhikamuthi elephant camp, kovai kutralam, Alliyar Dam, & a host of other well known places that you have heard but did not had the time to see. Toss up a coin & go in any direction. You will soon find a place that can thrill you up. “Oh!! everything  seems so near”- is the thought that will definitely pass your mind. Lot of elephants to see & safari around; Quite a few freshwater waterfalls/spots to cool off.  With Coimbatore at an hour’s drive – you have numerous stay & fooding options to suit your budget –whatever it may be. No prior planning required.

With the numerous coconut trees around, an activated carbon factory cannot be far behind. The coconut shells & husk are used to make “activated carbon” an interesting widely used product that is used to filter anything from water (the water filter in your house is bound to have it, beer, whisky, vodka etc.., an antidote to mercury or chemicals ingested & in most high end face creams; the latest fair & lovely tv commercial screams that its creams have it. Well a good portion of it goes from nearby coimbatore.