Kerala Trip - Day2 [From Valparai to Athirappilly Waterfalls]

On Day 2 of our trip, we were ready by 8am and had thenir before we started to Athirappilly Waterfalls. On the way it was full of tea plantation estates. Early morning was fitting to watch the green of tea leaves completely dominated by the green before the sun gives different touch to it.  First we came across the Sholayar Dam. On one side of the dam there were calm green mountains and large water body. Far to the eyesight we could see virgin waterfalls silently pouring water to the dam. On the other side of the dam it was marvellous to catch the glimpse of the green on the walls of dam. Seeing the vast drench of gorgeous trees and mountains was fascinating. While it was drizzling, stretching the hands to the sky to finally cushion the head and circling 360 degrees (like Director Bala Mahendra captured beauty of Nilgiris/Ooty in “Kannae Kalaimaane” song) to register the landscapes again and again in heart and to realise what we have done to be in this beautiful planet was an experience of lifetime. At one place we could see a tea factory. And later we had Kerala’s delicious Appam as our breakfast from a home-cum-hotel like. (One Appam costs only Rs.5!! and one Vada costs only Rs.3!! Either trust me about the tariff I mentioned or travel there. But worth travelling).

From Sholayar Dam

From Sholayar Dam

Sholayar Dam

Tea Factory

 

Check post at forest entry point

Large extended family of  jackfruit

Once we crossed the interstate border we were stopped at the check post monitored by the forest officials. Adjacent to the small forest department complex, there were couple of Jackfruit trees. These trees were an adobe for the large extended family of about twenty Jackfruits huddling at different places.  And many of these fruits would weigh close to half my weight (on which I should soon work on).  The roads ahead were guarded on the both sides by the trees of dense forest. The roads were taking at least one bend/curve for every 150m. The roads were narrow and bit pathetic. In a way it was okay for me to have pathetic roads; we travelled slowly in the jungle and enjoyed the depth of the silence in the deep forests.   The atmosphere was terrific and we kept the windows open all throughout the journey. According to our chauffeur, normally we can witness elephants. Due to rain, elephants were not found.

Monkeys

Valley started

Valley of mountains

There were complex networks of shrubs, wild creepers and climbers, tall trees.  Wondering how the botanists keep count of the species available in this forest alone. With the help of grey clouds, sun started playing hide & seek with the forest and provided us numerous shades of green in the forest. We came across a valley of mountains on our right side.  I completely lost myself in the valley. Just observed it. On a grassy mountain, there were footsteps making way towards a factory.  At many places I stopped the car to just click snaps and didn’t worry that it made our journey long. I didn’t need any time compose the frames. I just had to click it, nothing else.

 

Pink flowers smiling

There were creepers, happily decorating the wet huge rocks with smiling pink flowers.  Every one of us enjoyed it. We came across silent silvery lake mirroring the mountains and the trees. We witnessed black monkeys of the forest. Vazhachal Waterfalls and Athirappilly Waterfalls arrived. We didn’t know how the 3.5hours journey went. We never felt bored. It was an awesome experience. One of the best routes for adventures travel in bikes etc. I had a silent wish to travel in an open roof ferry for two persons. Our chauffer didn’t stop at many places because there would be movement of wild animals in the forest. [But another reason is I was stopping at many places to take snaps. Trust me; I limited myself to take snaps because I was consciously aware not to lose the joy of the trip by clicking many snaps). I would highly recommend this trip (Valparai to Athirappilly Waterfalls) to everyone. The road from Valparai to Athirappilly Falls has everything for nature lovers’ viz., trees, creepers, shrubs, green, lake, monkeys, valley, flowers, mountains, waterfalls, dam, delicious food etc.

  Snake (Our chauffeur said that this snake will pluck human eyes. Reminded me of my friends who during school times narrated numerous fictional stories based on this snake) 

Creepers

 

Lake (mirroring the mountains)

 Didn't compose. Just clicked in my camera.

 

(This is not Athirappilly Falls)

By the time we reached Athirappilly it was raining heavily there. The water was flowing at a greater speed. We enjoyed it. Since it was raining we couldn’t spend more than 30” at the waterfalls. I have written more about Athirappilly falls previously here. Now we are in Kerala. On way to Chalakudy we stopped and had our lunch [as wont find much hotels in Athirappilly Waterfalls, I admitted my family to prepare the lunch]. Via Chalakudy we went to Kodungallur. The deity Bhagavathy Amme/Amman in Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple was ravishing, majestic. The deity was ornamented with gold plating glittering amidst numerous ghee lamps (nei vilakku). Next we went to Paravoor Mookambikka temple. The shrine here was admits Lotus ponds. The deity was simple and elegant without ornaments. Now we headed to Triprayar. Sri Rama temple here is the only Rama temple adjacent to a river in the planet. Ghee lamps framing the idol were adding a serene touch to the atmosphere. We were fortunate to go at the right moment (just the last people before the Pooja for which the shrine would be closed for a brief time) to pray for a long time. The best thing about Kerala Temples is simplicity. No archanas (Pooja), no special queues, home like divine feeling. 

With Family @ Vazhachal Waterfalls

Kerala Trip - Day1 [Aliyar, Valparai]

This monsoon July 2011, in my family, we went for a long vacation to Kerala. Here, I am going to share our soothing experiences in few posts, of course with pictures. On Day1 morning, I joined my family (who started from Pondicherry) at Pollachi. [Before that I was supposed to get down at Pollachi from the bus I travelled. But I slept (happened like this for the first time); hence I had to travel (extra 10km) till Udumalapet and take another bus to Pollachi]. We headed to Aliyar Dam at Aliyar. Aliyar Dam was awesome. The landscape of the mountains, clouds, water reservoir threw at us was mesmerizing. The clouds were embracing the mountains. There were couple of boats floating in the water reservoir. I framed a little of all these in my camera. The mountain landscape continued to the other side of the dam, where, in front of my eyes I could only see a blanket of trees, nothing else. And while the air was brushing the blanket, some trees were nodding with red flowers. I don’t remember when I last saw such view.

 (On way to Aliyar Dam)

 (From the park at Aliyar Dam)

 Landscapes at Aliyar Dam

  Other side of the dam

Travel Notes: Aliyar Dam is an excellent place to picnic with family, friends. There were not enough good hotels/restaurant at Aliyar Dam. Hence carrying food, especially for family picnics is highly recommended. 

From Aliyar dam we headed to Arivu Thirukkoil (Temple of consciousness) by World Community Service Center-WCSC founded by Yogiraj Shri Vethathiri Maharishi (19th Siddha). Amidst nature, amidst silence, Arivu Thirukkoil is an excellent place to stay and learn physical exercises, Kayakalpa, Mediation at easily affordable economic prices. WCSC is far from commercialisation yet highly reputed institute which is in the service for over 50+years

From Arivu Thirukkoil we travelled to Valparai all through numerous hairpin bends in the mountain. The day was cloudy. As we travelled higher the altitude, a close to bird’s view of the Aliyar Dam and the surrounding landscapes of mountains was breathtaking. We stopped the car for a while and clicked few shots. I didn’t go in any helicopter to get such shots. I was just clicking from the mountain. All through the way Valparai we came across numerous waterfalls.

 Hairpin bends

We reached Valparai for a late lunch. As per locals’ suggestion, we headed to Chinnakkallar Waterfalls, Neeraar Dam, and Poonjolai.  The way to Chinnakkallar Waterfalls is full of tea plantation estates and beyond a point it is forest. At many places in the tea plantation, there were huddles of blue colour walled houses with roofs using brick tiles. What a taste for those people living there. The blue colour fully complimented the tea plantations. The mist fittingly added the heavenly touch to the home. At the outset, to me, it looked like a simple life. In my humble opinion, they (and I) don’t need any iPod, iTouch, iPhone, iPad to listen to a melody there. We just need to listen to the silence there.  There was a calm young forest guard there to help us to trek about 500m to Chinnakkallar Waterfalls.  On a mat of wet grasslands, we were walking to the waterfalls. The forest guard said that, in a year, it would rain for 8 months in that place. Only between Dec and March it doesn’t rain. Facing the waterfalls at 100m, there is a suspension bridge constructed [during the British days] using wooden boards and ropes. On the mildly dancing bridge, standing and watching the waterfalls while heaven pouring as rains was a pleasant experience for us.  As mist was covering the mountains, we didn’t go to Neerar Dam and Poonjolai. However we travelled to Balaji Temple. What a place for a temple. (Lord) Balaji is intelligent. He has chosen a spell bounding place to stay. An excellent temple to sit and adore the beauty of silence.  

 

Mat of wet grasslands 

 

Chinnakkalar Waterfalls from the suspension bridge

Suspension bridge

Beauty

Travel Notes: For Chinnakkallar Falls, Neeraar Dam & Poonjolai, forest department charges a fee.  We (5+1D) paid Rs.600 for the package trip (inclusive of trekking charges, car, etc). According to locals there, the views we would witness at Neeraar Dam, Poonjolai would be breathtaking. (A family friend of us at Balaji Temple recommended us that) There are couple of important places such as Lemon Grass Hill (only by (an excellent) trekking (spot) in early summer Mar-Apr) and Top slip. There are around 15-20 hydroelectric power projects in and around Valparai. Orthodox vegetarians would find impossible to find pure vegetarian food there. 

In short, Valparai is a sweet place to get lost.