Another lovely destination which is easily reachable but really refreshes one is Parambikulam. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is located in Palakkad district of Kerala.It is located 40 km from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. The tiger reserve is located in an area surrounding the Parambikulam Aliyar Project or PAP.
PAP
The Parambikulam Aliyar Project is a unique initiative aimed at augmenting the irrigation facilities in the drought prone Coimbatore and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu and the Chittoor area of Kerala. The project includes 10 dams , 4 power houses, 6 main tunnels and 7 irrigation canals. It accomplishes the integration and diversion of 8 rivers with reservoirs at various elevations and utilising this for generating hydro electric power. Most of these rivers are rain fed rivers in the Anamalai ranges. The canals, tunnels and reservoirs are located in picturesque surroundings in reserved forests. Thus , it utilises natural resources optimally and also serves the interest of tourism. It is also an excellent example of inter state cooperation between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The Parambikulam Tiger reserve is home to four tribal communities who live here in hamlets. These tribals work as guides for treks and safaris in the reserve and serve as an integral part of the comprehensive harmonious ecosystem.
The activities available here include Jungle safaris, treks, bamboo rafting and tree top experiences. There is a giant 500 year old Kannimara teak tree here. It is more than 41 metres in height and almost 8 metres in girth. This tree is worshipped by the indigenous people of Parambikulam. Legend has it , that it bleeds when anyone tries to cut it and hence the tribals preserved it. “Kannimara” means virgin tree .
Our Trip
We drove down from Coimbatore to Pollachi and after a sumptuous breakfast, headed to Sethumadai. The road was beautiful with trees on either side of the road.
Pollachi Anamalai road
From Sethumadai we first reached the Anamalai Tiger Reserve where the first check post is located.
Anamalai Tiger Reserve
Here we paid the entry fees and completed registration formalities and proceeded further and reached Top Slip.
Top Slip
From Top Slip, we proceeded further. As we proceeded further, we saw the Elephant camp at Top Slip.There were lot of deer in the forests around and very often they crossed the road in front of us.
The Elephant Camp at Top Slip
Deer roaming around freely at Top Slip
Proceeding further, we reached the Kerala border at Anapady where we entered the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. Here again we had to pay the entrance fee and register the vehicle number .
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve entrance
About 2 km after this check post, we reached the Parambikulam jungle safari area. From here on, only people with pre booked accommodation are allowed entry into the reserve. Others have to leave their vehicles here and join the jungle safari organised from here in special vehicles.
Since we had booked for accommodation, a guide who belongs to the local tribe accompanied us inside the reserve. As we drove along inside the reserve we saw some more deer. Langurs and peacocks were also seen. We also spotted a fish eagle.
A peacock and an inquisitive langur
As we drove on, we entered more forested areas. Soon we were at Thoonakadavu where there is a large reservoir. As we drove past the reservoir, we saw some crocodiles basking in the sun on the banks of the reservoir.
The forested roads near Thoonakadavu
Thoonakadavu Reservoir
We proceeded further down and reached another reservoir , the Peruvaripallam Reservoir.
We had booked accommodation at Peruvari Island nest, a beautiful tree top bamboo house on an island in the Peruvaripallam reservoir.The only way to reach this resort is by bamboo rafts.
So we had to leave our vehicle near the bamboo rafting point and we boarded a bamboo raft .The local guides including the guide who accompanied us rowed the raft.
The Bamboo raft
Starting our journey to the Island resort in the bamboo raft
This was really a unique experience. The surrounding areas had large bamboo clusters which looked beautiful against the waters of the reservoir.
The beautiful bamboo clusters on the banks of the reservoir
Reaching the Bamboo house….seen with green roof in the back drop
The beautiful tree top bamboo house called Peruvari Island Nest
The house was made of bamboo and had all modern amenities. In addition, there was a bamboo extension bridge built into the reservoir where we could walk up to and enjoy the scenery around
The bamboo extension bridge
Feeling happy and safe on grandpa’s shoulders
The local guide who accompanied us quickly provided us some tea and snacks which we enjoyed sitting in the balcony of the tree top house.
It was truly a great experience. Beautiful views of the reservoir and surroundings with cool breeze wafting in made us feel ecstatic.
Beautiful views from the tree top house
After sun set, it was a different experience with the sounds of the forest and occasional sounds of nocturnal birds.
The guide along with the local raft helpers cooked up dinner for us. We enjoyed the meal in the stillness of the night. Spending one night in an island in the forest was really something unique for all of us.
Next morning we enjoyed the views of dawn and the breakfast provided by the helpers. After that we took the raft back ashore and then visited the Parambikulam dam by car.
At Parambikulam dam
We wanted to see the Kannimara Tree but unfortunately the road leading to the tree was damaged and tourists were not allowed at that time.
From there we proceeded back home via Pollachi with refershed minds and wonderful memories of a day well spent in the lap of nature.
This is again a very easily doable option for a unique refreshing holiday. The experience of living on an isolated island in a forest is a rare opportunity. So just pack your bags and head to Parambikulam…..
To keep me refreshed and enthused to get you more destinations, do keep your comments and feedback flowing in like the gentle breeze of Parambikulam….
P.S
There are various accommodation options available at Parambikulam and one can pre book at the site
This time, I am on a road trip from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra…..a simple Indian road trip. Not focussing so much on the destinations as on the travel.We covered a distance of more than 2000 kms over 10 days, halting at interesting places along the way.
A map showing the route we took….
The Route Map
This blog will focus on the sights along the way…
Starting from Coimbatore early morning our target was 200 km to reach Mysore by noon. Drove to Annur where we had breakfast of idli, vada….traditional south Indian and topped it up with filter coffee.
From Annur we were headed to Sathyamangalam. On the way we passed a famous temple at Bannari
Bannariamman Temple
It was a cloudy day and the drive was pleasant. The road condition was good by and large. Crossed the town of Sathyamangalam and headed to the Dhimbam ghat road.
This drive took us through the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve . Some pictures captured as we drove through the reserve..
The entrance to The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
A video to give the feel of driving through the reserve.
Soon we found ourselves on the Dhimbam ghat road. This road has 27 hairpin bends …some of them almost V shaped with significant lorry traffic making it a little challenging for anyone.
The Dhimbam ghat begins…
The Dhimbam ghat road
The view of the plains below
The sharp turns
Soon the fog started setting in hampering visibility…
Fog setting in
Dhimbam was the highest point and from there we started the descent.
As we descended, the fog reduced and we were in for some sunshine…and of course the vegetation also changed. There were bamboo clusters all along. This area is a elephant habitat and the bamboos are probably the reason , as it is a favourite of the giants.
Warm sunshine again
Bamboo clusters…change in vegetation
Soon we were at the town of Hassanur where everyone was taking a break….
The break at Hassanur
Hot vadas sizzling in oil
Soon after that we crossed the border from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka.
We crossed over to Karnataka
From there we headed to Chamarajnagar…a small town on the way. The road was bad for a few kilometers here.
Then on to the temple town of Nanjangud , and on to Mysore
Nanjangud Temple gopuram
Reaching Mysore just past noon , we took our overnight halt here. Checked into the hotel, rested for sometime and took a nice walk around The Radisson Blu hotel . Had some nice filter coffee and bonda in a hotel nearby.
Saw the excited crowds at the zoo which we were not interested in , as we had visited earlier. Returned to the hotel, had dinner and rested for the night.
Left Mysore next morning and took the Mysore Madikere highway NH275 en route to the temple town of Udupi which was our next halting point…..300kms drive
Authentic Karnataka breakfast of Dosa at Mysore
Mysore Madikere highway
The Mysore Madikere highway had good road condition and some pictures taken on the way...
Fruit shops like this one dotted the highway as we left.
Besides, there were lot of new developing housing projects on the outskirts of Mysore.
As we moved away from the city, more fields were seen on either side…..
Fields on either sides of the highway
Road signs like this one provided guidence and direction as we proceeded.
Some of the towns we passed was Hunsur, Periapatna and KushalNagar.
Just as we reached KushalNagar, we crossed Bylakuppe, the Tibetan settlement colony.
The Tibetan settlement colony at Bylakuppe
Tibetan monks in traditional attire is a common sight around KushalNagar.
A few kms away, we crossed Nisargadhama too. Nisargadhama is an eco park along one of the tributaries of the Cauvery river which offers various recreational facilities. It is one of the important to-do destinations from Coorg/Madikere.
Nisargadhama
Gradually the roadside scenery changed from fields to estates of coffee heralding our location to be Coorg. The climate was also getting little cooler and we had a slight drizzle. This added to the beauty though it hindered my photography.
A typical coffee plantation with pepper vines on the trees.
Another familiar site as one reaches coorg are the boards advertising typical Coorgi food .
Coorgi Pork recipe advertisements are typical here
Soon we were at Madikere ,where we bypassed the town. There is a proper bypass to this town and it helped a lot in saving time.
After that, there was a steady incline and the roads were more winding.
We passed several coffee and pepper plantations on the way. Coorg has plenty of spice plantations and the roads are dotted with spice shops.
The roads started getting more winding .
More coffee and pepper….
We did take a short coffee break among the coffee estates…
A short coffee break was welcome!
Another typical roadside sight are the spice shops like this.
After some beautiful scenic roads, the coffee estates were replaced by rubber estates heralding our descent to the plains….
Rubber estates on the way
We were entering south Karnataka and the main city there is Mangalore.
The first main town was Sullia where had a lunch break.
A typical south Indian Thali Meal
After lunch, we crossed Puttur and were heading to Bantwal when we had a stretch of real bad road for about 10 kms. That really slowed us down , but after that we took NH 73 which was again pretty good and reached Bantwal.
The Bantwal river was one of the first of the many rivers that we crossed on our way
After Bantwal, we joined NH 66 and headed to Mangalore but diverted off to Udupi from the outskirts ofMangalore . Again we did cross some bridges over rivers like this one near Mulki town
The Mulki river
Soon we were at Udupi the town known for its Sri Krishna Temple where we took a halt for the night.
We had visited the temple earlier and decided to stay at Malpe, a beautiful beach resort town near Udupi.
Malpe is a beautiful beach resort near the temple town of Udupi. One of the safest beaches in this area, it has various recreation activities. Some pictures from Malpe….
Beautiful Malpe beach
Resort at Malpe
Evening at Malpe
We also made a new friend here, a little lady who compared us to her grandparents ……
A new friend at Malpe
There is a lot more about Malpe which we can talk about in an episode dedicated to it. Here, Malpe is just one of our halts on the trip….
Next morning we departed from Malpe headed to Murdeshwar.
This was actually a break day after two long days of driving. So we did a short journey of around 100 kms only.
Continuing on our own “Route 66″…NH66
NH66…..our own “Route 66“
This route is dotted with bridges crossing beautiful rivers and backwaters ( difficult to distinguish) . Islands of mangroves can also be seen here in many places.
One of the many beautiful rivers on this route
There is a beautiful beach on this route at Maravanthe where the road is adjacent to the beach….some pictures from Maravanthe
Beautiful Maravanthe
Maravanthe….the beautiful beach
After this amazing beach comes the town of Kundapura from where one can visit the famous Kollur Mookambika temple.
The beautiful Sowparnika or Kollur River
Mangrove islands in the backwaters
Our destination for the day was the temple town of Murudeshwar where we halted .
Murudeshwar is a temple town with a huge temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.This templeis unique in many ways and more details will come up later.
Murudeshwar has a beautiful beach with lot of water sports activities too. More on Murudeshwar in an episode dedicated to it.
The arch at the entrance to Murudeshwar town
The beautiful beach at Murudeshwar with its water sport activities
Next morning after breakfast we were headed to Pernem in Goa, a distance of 300 odd kms for the day.
Joining NH 66 again we continued our journey northwards skirting the west coast.
One thing I noticed was the lurking danger of cattle crisscrossing the NH 66. I must mention this here as it is rampant. Cattle are left to fend for themselves on the road and they are a serious threat to the unwary driver. We did see a couple of cattle run over along the highway too. This trend continues into Goa and Maharashtra too. On city roads we do find cattle , but on a highway with speeding vehicles they really pose a danger.
Lurking cattle ….danger on NH 66
Some of the important towns we crossed were Honavar, Kumta and Gokarna.Also saw the roads to Sirsi and Jog Falls branching off the highway.
The River Gangavali was skirting the highway for some time too.
The River Gangavali skirting NH 66
Soon we crossed Ankola and Karwar and there was a clear change of landscape see. Muddy hill slopes dotted the highway. The highway was probably carved out from these slopes.
The muddy hill slopes from which NH was carved out
Soon we crossed the Karwar Naval Base, Karwar fishing village and Karwar Port
Karwar fishing village
Port of Karwar
Soon we were on a long bridge across the Kali River.
The Kali River
Soon after this we crossed the border to Goa.
One of the first signs that greeted us at Goa was this….
Welcome to Goa….
Crossed the Talpona river . Could see the muddy water clearly joining the blue sea.
The Talpona river…note the muddy water and the blue sea at a distance
Plenty of rice fields also dotted the highway…
The paddy fields of Goa
After entering Goa, for a considerable distance, it looked like an ordinary road and often with ghat sections. Soon we joined a 4 lane highway and then on to some amazing roads. A long flyover which crosses backwaters at places connects North and South Goa.
Was quite impressed with the infrastructure development in Goa. Crossed the Zuari River bridge. As we crossed it, we saw the new Bridge under construction….really impressive.
The new Zuari Bridge under construction
We also saw the Atal Sethu bridge which is a cable stayed bridge which is over 5 km long and is the third longest cable stayed bridge in India. It is built over the Mandovi river and one can see the River and the passenger terminal as one crosses the bridge.
Atal Sethu Bridge
The Mandovi River and Goa’s passenger terminal.
Proceeding further north we reached Pernem where we halted at Mandrem Beach which is one of the last beaches in North Goa.
At Mandrem, we halted at the Riva Beach resort. Some pictures..
A cute wooden bridge across a small backwater stream leading to the beach
The resort as seen from the beach…nestled among coconut trees
Beach bar
Some authentic Goan food was also on our radar
A typical Goan Thali with a big chunk of fish
After a day’s break at Riva Resort where we rested, we were headed further north towards Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri. Another 300 kms was our day’s target.
We continued on NH 66 for a considerable time and from Rajapur diverted towards Pawas.
Very less traffic once we left Goa and the highway was concreted probably keeping the high rainfall that these regions face in the monsoons.
The highway was dotted with huge mango orchards…
Mango orchards
The road from Rajapur was bad and it took us some time to reach Kohinoor Samudra Beach resort at Kurli in Ratnagiri. This resort is just 5 km from Ratnagiri town.
It is a huge resort with excellent views of the sea . Located on a hillock, we can see Bhatye Beach Ratnagiri from here. It looks awesome…the arial view..
Some pictures from Kohinoor Samudra resort where we spent Diwali 2022.
The open sea as we reached Kurli.
View from hotel, the Ratnagiri light house point is seen in the backdrop
Bhatye beach from resort
Sunset point at the resort with cliffs protruding into the sea.
Diwali celebrations at the resort
The sun sets on Diwali 2022
After a two day halt at Ratnagiri, we started our return trip
Benaulim beach in South Goa was our next destination.
Since we were following the same route down to South Goa, on NH66, the views were the same…some pictures
A typical Goan scene
One of the many churches that dot Goan roads
I must mention here one more dangerous trend on these highways. The 6 and 4 lane highways suddenly become 2 lane roads specially close to towns, With no proper warning boards, this can be dangerous and one has to be careful.
One such example
Sudden narrowing of the highway...a real nightmare on the drive
Well apart from being careful ourselves, nothing much can be expected….
Leaving the unpleasant things away….let’s talk about Benaulim…one of the best Goan beaches I have seen.
Really great broad beach with clean whitish sand.
We stayed at Benaulim for two days and enjoyed the beach ambience and of course also saw the rare solar eclipse from here!
At Fairfield Marriott Benaulim
Beach shacks at Benaulim
A parasailer looks down at the sands of Goa
And I managed a shot of the solar eclipse at sunset
Next day, we were headed to Koteshwar, a town close to Udupi where there is a beautiful beach at Beejadi. An unspoilt beach ; far from human intervention, it was a sort of private beach for us.
We were put up at Gluklich Beach Cottages, a cute small beach resort with direct beach access. Some pictures..
Gluklich Beach Cottages
Some of the offered activities
As you walk to Beejadi Beach
The long coastline along Beejadi beach Koteshwar
A lone unfortunate star fish was washed ashore!
Nature had sketched on this beach!
And we tried our best to get the sun home!!
The last beach sunset on this trip….had to be beautiful…..see the pink of the sky on the sand below!!!
After a nostalgic goodbye to the beaches, we returned to the hotel for the night.
Next morning we left Koteshwar for Hassan, a distance of 230 kms which we thought would be easy , but it took us some time due to the ghat roads, bad roads at Chikmagalur and nearing Hassan.
Some of the main towns we crossed were Haladi , Belve, Agumbe, Balehonnur, Chikmagalur and Belur.
After Haladi and Belve we were in to some winding roads with thick forests on either side. Arecanut and Cashewnut orchards were another common sight here.
Arecanut farms
Cashew orchards
Soon we were on the ghat road to Agumbe. Agumbe is one of the places in this region which receives lot of rainfall. Close by to Agumbe near Sringeri is also the most number of Indian King Cobras sighted according to National Geographic. The forested ghat road had some challenging hairpin bends where vehicles often stopped to give way to others. Some pictures
Thick forests line the ghat roads
Sharp turns at Agumbe ghat
The spectacular views from sunset point Agumbe ghat
After we cleared the ghat road, we were at Agumbe town and following SH 27 and 65 we were into Chikmagalur district. Coffee , pepper and arecanut plantations dotted the roads. Surprisingly we did pass through a small tea estate too. Some pictures
Coffee plantations
Driving through a coffee estate
The roads were pathetic in Chikmagalur area to say the least! There were no roads at places….felt like we were on a Himalayan rally!!!!!
After an overnight halt at Hassan, we left next morning to Bangalore and reached our son’s home by noon. Staying there for a couple of days, we took a breather after nearly ten days on the road.
After a nice stay at Bangalore, we drove back to Coimbatore.
A successful road trip of more than 2000 kms; a memory to cherish!
This blog has been different from my usual ones…
HERE I WAS FOCUSSING ON THE JOURNEY RATHER THAN THE DESTINATION! As promised, details on the various beaches will be covered in separate episodes . And as per popular demand, food was also included !!!
Kerala is known for its backwaters, lush green paddy fields and some awesome beaches. A major stretch of backwaters lies in Kottayam district in Kerala. A large network of rivers and canals empty into the huge Vembanad lake here. Vembanad lake itself is a developing tourist destination with facilities for boating, fishing, bird watching and other sightseeing experiences.
Vembanad Lake
Kumarakom is a green peninsula jutting into the Vembanad lake situated 15 kms from Kottayam.
Kochi , located 75 kms away is the nearest airport.
Like in any place in Kerala, the coconut tree is omnipresent and the gracefully bent coconut palms swaying in the breeze against the backdrop of the backwaters leaves everyone mesmerized.
The omnipresent Coconut palms
Much of the rural life in these areas is intricately connected to the canals and backwaters. Many houses are located along these canals and a boat ride on the canals gives one a sneak peak into the day to day lives of the locals. Most houses here own a boat and that meets most of their transport requirements. Even the women folk in these villages are deft at handling these boats.
A typical house along the backwaters with their boat
Mangrove clusters also dot the shores of the Vembanad lake where migratory birds arrive and thrive regularly. That provides bird watching opportunities to tourists.
A Cormorant family
Seagulls
One of the best ways of exploring these backwaters is to take a boat ride on one of the many houseboats that cruise these canals and the Vembanad lake. The houseboats are iconic of Kerala and are made of wood and have woven bamboo/palm mats used to provide shelter and shade.
A typical houseboat
These houseboats have all facilities for lodging of guests with a kitchen, bedroom, dining area etc. There are houseboats of various sizes with the larger ones having multiple rooms to accommodate more people. They all follow a particular itinerary.
A typical overnight cruise itinerary:
A typical overnight house boat cruise starts around 11 am. The houseboats are anchored along the jetty which abuts the side road and is lined by local houses and shops. The driver and assistant pick up the requirements for the overnight stay including any special meal requests from the guests and then set out.
The initial part of the boat ride is invariably through a narrow channel with houses on either side. After sometime the boat leaves the narrow channel and enters the lake. The driver takes a round of any particular area of the lake and by noon, halts for lunch and siesta.
Lunch is usually typical Kerala cuisine with fish and other varieties of seafood being the highlight. After lunch and siesta, the boat again cruises other parts of the lake and anchors around sunset at another jetty. Here the boat is connected to powerline for the airconditioning and other requirements. The guests are free to take a walk around the jetty or visit the local market or just laze around and enjoy the ambience.
Dinner is again provided according to the guest’s choice. Next morning the boat again starts and cruises the lake and breakfast is also provided. By around 10 am, the boat reaches the jetty from where they started.
Our Trip
We did an overnight trip on a house boat after driving in from Kochi and leaving the car at one of the houses along the jetty.
Some pictures as we cruised Vembanad lake and its surrounding areas. Take a look…
Our houseboat before it left the shores…
The narrow channel with houses on either side.
Soon we were in the open waters of the Vembanad Lake
A typical kerala style lunch with fish curry
Some of the resorts along the shores of the back waters
And some Chinese fishing nets along the shores
Sitting on the upper deck and relaxing as the boat cruised along
The beautiful sunset painted by mother nature…..take a look
Andgradually it got darker
After the houseboat anchored, we just took a stroll on the village road and returned to the boat for dinner. Next morning we enjoyed the sunrise views and were treated to some nice tea and biscuits .
Then we again cruised and enjoyed some more views….
Peaceful morning on the backwaters….
Followed by some authentic Malayali breakfast…
A typical kerala breakfast of Puttu( rice & coconut preparation) , Kadalacurry(chickpea gravy) and Nendrapazham(banana)
With that, the boat had reached its starting point and we stepped ashore and on to our car and drove back to Kochi.
We had a nice relaxed time on the houseboat and this is an excellent holiday destination….more so for small groups of friends and family to meet up and spend time with each other.
So do add this to your list…
Before that, do comment and give me your feedback..
Starting my first destination in India with the roaring Athirappilly falls….
This week, I take you to Athirappilly the famous waterfall in Kerala. Closer home, this is one destination that anyone can visit. No elaborate plans or preparations needed. Just fill up your fuel tank and take off to this beautiful destination….
This Niagara of South India will take your breath away for sure! A beautiful waterfall; the largest in Kerala, Athirappilly must be in every nature lover’s bucket list. Athirappilly falls is located on the Chalakudy river in Thrissur district of Kerala. The Chalakudy river is the fifth largest river in Kerala. The bountiful fall is seen mostly in the monsoon season or immediately after that. If there is a shortage of rainfall, the quantity of water flowing is reduced unlike in Niagara where the flow is constant by and large.
The Chalakudy river originates in the Anamalai ranges of the Western Ghatsand after an initial smooth flow, cascades 80 feet below at Athirappilly creating this magnificent waterfall. Here, the river flows in between rocks and forms three plumes before it plummets down. The peculiarity of this waterfall is that the entire breadth of the river cascades down the rocky ledge.
There are two views of the falls. One from the top which is where we reach first. A trek down a mud road takes one to the lower part where there is a totally different view of the falls. The trek up after seeing the falls from below can be a little challenging.
Have a look….
The falls as seen just as one approaches it.
Our Trip
We drove down from Coimbatore on NH 544 Salem Kochi highway. The diversion to Athirappilly is clearly marked on the sign boards after Thrissur. Once we diverted to Athirappilly on the left, we reached a more picturesque environment. Winding roads, with thick forests on either side welcomed us. A couple of theme parks for children are also located on this road.
As we drove further down we crossed the deceptively calm Chalakudy river. We were fooled by this calmness as the same river roars with ferocity at Athirappilly falls a few kilometres away.
The deceptively calm Chalakudy river.
As we drove further down we reached Thumboormuzhi dam where there is a beautiful foot bridge across the river.
The beautiful foot bridge at Thumboormuzhi
A couple of bridges to cross and we were at the first view point of the falls. Here we saw the falls from a distance across a forested area.
The falls as seen from the first view point
A short drive further down and we were at the main entrance to the falls.
There is a ticket counter where we purchased tickets . The entrance and ticket counter are made of bamboo giving it a very natural feel and matching the surroundings.
The entrance to the falls
From there we walked for a few metres and reached a flat rocky area. We walked on the rocks carefully as it was slippery at places. At many places we had to skip over a small stream of water.
The flat rocky area just before the river tumbles down
After we walked in between the rocks for a few metres, we reached the actual point of the falls. Suddenly the flat rocky terrain is not there and all we can see is the river hurtling down a rocky precipice . When we went we saw the river flowing down as two or three branches. With incessant rain, this can be just one broad mass of water….I was told.
The point where the river plummets down
A rainbow at the site of the falls
There is another fascinating sight at the edge of the falls….a cute little hut (Watcher hut) which is believed to have withstood many a spate in the river.
The mighty hut!!
After enjoying the view of the mighty falls from above, we decided to trek to the bottom of the falls. A passage paved with stones with a bamboo fencing leads to the bottom of the falls. We followed the path and soon were at the bottom of the falls. The trek passes through some forested area and can be a challenge to the less agile.
The path leading to the bottom of the falls
The view from the bottom was awesome!! Here it was very windy and the roaring of the water added to the thrill. Have a look…
Looking at the falls from below….a different perspective
Get the feel of being at the base of the falls by clicking on the video above
At the base of the falls….An exhilarating moment indeed!
After all the trekking , we were tired and decided to take a short break. Had a coffee and some local snacks at one of the food stalls around constantly keeping a watch on the monkeys around.
Then we decided to visit Vazhachal falls which is about 5 kms upstream. The drive to Vazhachal was through some dense bamboo thickets along the road which added to the charm.
The bamboo lined road to Vazhachal
The entrance to Vazhachal is also beautifully done up in bamboo. The tickets for Athirappilly can be used at Vazhzchal too.
The entrance to Vazhachal falls
A herbal garden lies on the way from the entrance to the falls.
Herbal Garden
The Vazhachal falls is more flat . Take a look…..
At Vazhachal falls
We had decided to stay for a couple of days at Athirappilly and were put up at the Plantation Valley resort which was a beautiful resort on the banks of the Chalakudy river.
The beautiful Plantation Valley Resort
The Chalakudy river seen from the resort.
After a refreshing stay on the banks of the Chalakudy river and few more visits to the actual falls, we decided to drive back on a different route.
We drove back via Sholayar dam and Valparai to reach Pollachi and returned to Coimbatore. This route is very picturesque but sometimes you may encounter elephants here.
Foggy tea estates lined this route adding to the charm…
Foggy tea estates near Valparai
We had a bonus during this drive; a lone Nilgiri Tahr was resting by the roadside near Sholayar. Nilgiri Tahrs are mountain goats which are an endangered species and so finding one on the roadside was really a surprise!
A lone Nilgiri Tahr by the roadside
Enjoying the beauty of the tea gardens of Valparai, we reached Pollachi and from there on, it was back in to the hustle and bustle of the city.
It was a nice easy to do holiday….easily doable by anyone…so don’t put it off…just hit the road to Athirappilly!!!
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Travel-along.in 