It has rained before at Bakarapet, and we had great fun.
The weather forecast has been wrong for today and this weekend. This weekend was supposed to be really wet in Madras/Tirupati. However, it is dry as a bone and sunny. The forecasters also predict rain for the Bakarapet weekend (NE Monsoon season), but we know they will be wrong again since the hares have already put in a word to Indra, Varuna and Prajanya. This email helps you prepare for a spell of rain just in case?
A practical thing to do is to bring a tent if you have one. This is in addition to the accommodation that you will find at Bakarapet. This will guarantee yourself a dry spot to sleep in. Mattresses, sheets, pillows, blankets are there. This is only insurance and you probably will not need it. Your goody bag too is practical keeping the possiblity of rain in mind.
We guess that by now most people know how to get to Bakarapet. The Hyderabadis arriving super early on Friday can hire transport to drop themselves to Bakarapet and return to fetch another batch arriving by the next train. Or each batch can take care of themselves. Look for the MH3 Direction banner opposite the gate to Tally Ho. The Saturday morning batch can look for a vehicle with a sign like Hash Boos written on it, though it will be more likely be a car or SUV, since there are only 3 on this train.
For the ones driving from Madras, there are several optional routes:
- Drive on the Tirutani/Putur route from Poonamallee and turn left when you reach the Tirupati ring road (they are 4 laning the ring road and it is pot holed). Head towards Chittoor. Pass a HP Petrol Bunk and Coffee Day. A few km later look for Hotel Park Avenue on the right in a small market place. Turn right soon after (at the turn there is a sign for Rangampeta, if you look back as the sign is intended for people driving from Chittoor). See pics below for the turn off point.Take a 5 km winding road to Rangampeta, meet NH 205 where you turn left towards Bakarapet and Pileru. Tally Ho is at the 253.5 milestone
- Or you can drive towards Nellore on the Golden Quadrilateral. 5 km after the Intergrated Checkpost near the TN/AP border you will be entering Tada. Just before the flyover that goes over the town, stay left and take the service road. Then turn left towards Sri Kalahasti. Pass through the town and meet the Nayudupeta-Tirupati road. This is the option preferred by our host, though Option 1 is about 30+ km shorter.
- Or you can stay on the highway past Tada and head to Nayudupeta. Turn left at Nayudupeta towards Tirupati. Bypass Sri Kalahasti and meet the Tirupati ring road, where you turn left and join the Option 1 route. The pic below is where you meet the ring road.
- This is the entrance to the Venue. Do NOT drive in. Park outside. Walk in with your stuff.
See you at Bakarapet. The run starts early (3 pm or earlier) on Sat. Be done with your lunch way before that.
On On
Jazz in the Jungle Mismanagement
and there are still some who have not