One day Chimmini Trek, Thrissur

It was almost an year since I went for a trek.  So, when I was free for a day, I planned a trek to  Chimmini Forest.

At 6.30 a.m. we boarded the van from Kochi. When each one of us boarded from different locations, some of them tried to greet others and introduced themself. It was drizzling outside which made our travel more enjoyable on the Ernakulam-Thrissur National Highway. After Amballur, we diverted to Palapilly Road. I craned my neck out of the Van to get a closer look at the rubber trees on both sides of the road.

We reached Chimminy check post at around 9'o clock. Entry ticket is Rs.20/- per person.

Chimminy Wildlife Sanctuary Sanctuary  is situated in Thrissur District and is close to Nelliampathy and shares a part of it with Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary and Parambikulam Sanctuary.

After breakfast, we started our trek. Two forest officials also accompanied us. This is a 5 km trek which can be covered within 3 hours. It was indeed a beautiful experience, walking with a 19-member enthusiastic and energetic team.

We had frequent stops for photography and rest. The sanctuary in itself was picturesque with a variety of flora and fauna along the way.

After few kilometers of trek, we reached Choorathala. Since monsoon is yet to arrive, there were no waterfalls, which disappointed us. But we managed to overcome that with some entertainment which lasted for around half an hour.

After few kilometers from Choorathala, we came out of the forest. We could see the reservoir of Chimmini Dam and mountains and forests around it. We walked through the reservoir area and reached starting point of the trek. Dormitory facility is available near Forest office.

After lunch and rest for some time, it was time to coracle ride popularly known as Kottavanji ride, in the dam reservoir. Since this is an Ecotourism Centre, there was a heavy rush of   tourists. A 20-minute ride for four persons cost Rs.400/-. 

We, four persons each in a coracle, started our ride in 30 ft deep water with life jackets. It was a beautiful experience with coracle ride in the dam reservoir, enjoying the backdrop of majestic hills and nature all around.

It was indeed a beautiful day with trek, coracle ride, photography sessions and songs. Million thanks to the team who made the trip a memorable one.

Read More

Trip to Munnar

Every year during the first quarter, I visit Munnar and each time I choose different places around Munnar.  But this time, the main reason for travelling to Munnar is a long drive in my new Honda Amaze CVT and get familiarized with the gap road and narrow roads between the tea estates. And of course, breathe some fresh air and have some good food with scenic view.

As usual, we started from Kochi and the drive was pleasant. We stopped at Adimali for a while, had our tea and snacks. We had booked our room in the Munnar city area. Since, we didn't plan much about the places to see in Munnar this time, we thought it was better to ask the hotel lobby about the places to nearby to visit.

After having lunch and rest for some, we went to the KDHP outlet. We purchased tea in different flavors, chocolates and couple of other items for our family, back home . There is a beautiful garden on the premises of the old railway station which is on the banks of the Muthirapuzha river.

A little further through Munnar Madurai National Highway, is the Govt Botanical Garden. We spent some quality time there. Enjoyed the spectacular garden which houses around 150 varieties of flowering plants and an open theatre.

Night was so cold. Next day, after breakfast, we visited the century old C.S.I. Christ Church which is in the middle of Munnar town. This Church is famous for its religious and historic significance and its gothic style of architecture. Its main attraction is the construction in traditional architecture style with rocks.

We decided to drive till top station.  Both sides of the road were very scenic, and I really enjoyed it. Since it was Sunday, there was a huge crowd in tourist spots like Photo point and Kundala Dam. I stopped my car, when I saw a roadside vegetable vendor. He was selling fresh beetroots, carrots etc., directly plucked from the farm.

On our way back, we visited the market and purchased some fresh vegetables. We then headed straight to Kochi without making a major stop except for a little rest and tea break. 

These two days were pretty relaxing, full of a lot more of driving and enjoying nature.

Read More

A Day in Abhayaranyam Ecotourism

Abhayaranyam, an ideal weekend getaway from Ernakulam is situated near Kaprikad at Kunnathukadu Taluk in Ernakulam district, Kerala State.

Entry fee is Rs.50/-. An ecotourism shop functions near the main entry gage of the mini zoo which sells sandalwood oil and honey etc. The canopy walkway offers plenty of shade and you can walk around the park within 2 hours with a few stops along the way.

The walkway sections are divided by several themes like bamboo forest, butterfly building, mini zoo etc.  There are benches all over the walkway which offer a handy spot to rest. During the walk, you can see tree houses on the way.

 

Deer and Sambar Park are another attraction here. Hundreds of Deers and Sambar are kept here, and visitors can enjoy the animals roaming around in a natural forest area.

Home to various species of birds, butterflies, spiders, and mushrooms, Abhayaranyam has an elephant shelter and also a training center for mahouts.

You can enjoy the green and lush of the area with the view of the river here. There is a bathing session for elephants which is an amazing site for the visitors.

Make your way back to the entrance area afterwards to follow the trail down to the lower entrance/exit. It is an ideal destination for a one-day trip. 

Read More

A Day in Mangomeadows

 

I was searching for an ideal spot to spend one-day near Kochi and finally spotted Mango Meadows which is an agriculture theme park located at Ayamkudi near Kaduthuruthy, Kottayam District in the Indian State of Kerala. It is a beautiful place, away from the bustle.

Spread across 30 acres of land with more than 4500 species of plants and trees, it is a paid attraction privately owned and managed by Mango Meadows Agricultural Theme Park.

It is one of the popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, offering a range of activities such as swimming pool, pedal boats, row boats, water cycle, go-kart etc. So, you should plan on spending a couple of hours or up to a full day here.

The park includes a fishpond, tree grove, farmland, cattle farm, boat safari, ropeway and restaurant.

Efforts are taken to preserve the natural beauty and cultural significance of biodiversity, which is helpful to visitors - both enjoyable and educational experience.

You will be directed to a parking area to park your vehicle when you reach the park. Your first stop when you arrive should be at the Visitors Center, where you can take entry ticket and book your lunch time.  Then you will be directed to a waiting area, and they will assign a guide. The tour guide explains the importance of trees and its scientific information.

Tea Garden

The statue of the Bible which stands at 25 ft by 25 ft is one of the major attractions in the park. The statue has been made with concrete and has original pages from the Bible in Malayalam language. The Bible Garden containing 125 plants, trees and herbs that were mentioned in the scriptures is set around the statue. 

Bible Statue

A unique romantic spot at the park is the Valentine's Garden.  There is also the Eden's Garden, belonging to Adam and Eve.

Valentine's Garden

Another attraction is Indian Map Statue. Children can learn about the “State Tree” of each state. Many such “State Trees” stand tall within the state spaces.

 Indian Map Statue

A few meters away, a temple pond proclaims the rich traditions of the past. Near to it, a 'sarppakavu'

(a place considered as abode of snakes) reminds about traditional culture of conservation of biodiversity.

After the guided tour, you can explore the park on your own or add on a cycling and boating experience.

Free cycling is allowed for 20 minutes with a deposit of Rs.100/-which will be refunded when you return your cycle within 20 minutes. Then we visited the place where Archery is practiced and enjoyed the thrilling experience of shooting arrows from a bow.

There is a tea shop which sells tea preparing in a traditional way. It was a fabulous experience. I anyway love tea. It tasted even better with pazhampori!

By evening, we left the place with a refreshed mind hoping to visit the place again.

Read More

Vagavanam Trek, Idukki

Vagavanam is near to the famous hill station Vagamon, which is located in Idukki district, in the Indian State of Kerala.

We started our journey from Kochi in the early morning. Had a pit stop at Thodupuzha for breakfast. From Moolamattom onwards, the journey uphill having narrow roads and curves, was not at all comfortable. We stopped our car before reaching Vagavanam and collected our packed lunch. Reached Kerala Forest Department office at Ottamarapara, which is 8 kms from the Junction. There was a small shop selling honey and tea dust and we decided to purchase those when we return.

Kerala Forest Department arranges  windy walk trekking at Kuvalettam. Total trekking distance would be around 7 kms, which can be covered within 3.5 hours.

After taking entry ticket for Rs.155/- and completing formalities by filling form , we started out trek with our guides. Initial trek was through tar road, then we deviated to mud jeep road. Since this was rainy season, the road was slippery. We stoped at the foothill of the first hill, and had group introduction to know each other and resumed our trek.

Walking with greenery and fresh wind makes life easier here. We could see Vagamon in a distance.

We reached the top of the first hill. We could see a herd of elephants way down the hill.

It is all about walking up and down through the grasslands and enjoying the heavy wind. Few areas were slippery, rocky patch, so one needs to be careful while climbing. The journey is also scenic and is worth visiting for all nature lovers. Its beauty enhances during the monsoon season.

We trekked further until we reached the final hill which is the last point in windy walk trekking. Other side of the reservoir is Kulamavu. From the peak, we could get the beautiful views of catchment area of Idukki reservoir.  We rested for a while, had packed lunch, took pictures and started return trekking. 

It was around 3 pm, when we returned to the starting point of the trek. Next up in our chart was a bath in the nearby Kallattupara waterfalls. It was not a big waterfall, but water was cold and a bath beneath the falls, gave a lot of relief to us. After bath, we had a pit stop near the reservoir and shared our experience in this trek.

Kallattupara waterfalls

A beautiful challenging one-day trial with a mixture of greenery, rain, grass land and heavy wind. 

Read More

Trek to Moodal Mala, Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary

I already had a couple of treks to  Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary but trek to Moodalmala is a new trek path opened recently by the  Kerala  Forest Department. This is one of the highest trekking point in Peechi WLS. 

Our reporting point was Forest Office, Peechi, near Thrissur , Kerala ,  at 9 a.m.   After getting the required permission from  the Forest office, we started our trek at around 9.30 a.m accompanied by two  forest guides. We walked through the jeep road until we reached the mouth of the forest. This is the real starting point of the trek. After a small introduction of group members , we started our trek.

Initial trek was a hike through dense forests, and we took halt in regular intervals. On the way, our guide showed us different trees and plants and shared his deep knowledge about those trees and plants.  After a steep hike, we reached  a viewpoint, and we could see Kochi Coimbatore National Highway and the  Kuthiran Tunnel.

We took halt in the  open rocky area and we were greeted by picturesque views and gusty winds.  I found a comfortable spot to sit and relax. From this spot, we could see the  reservoir at a distance.

Then we resumed our trek downwards through the  thick forest without any proper route. We passed through Elephant passage route known as Anathara. We had a pit stop near a rivulet. Had our packed lunch and some of us  filled our water bottles too. Rest of the trek was beside the reservoir.

There was a surprise waiting for us.  It was amazing to see  many  wild dogs just on the  opposite side of the reservoir. They were seen heading to the  water to catch their meal. 

We waited there to click few  photos as they moved to the  forest after taking their meal.

 

Then we resumed our trek and returned to the  Forest office.  This is one of the best one-day trip in Peechi WLS.

Read More

Weekend at Abad Turtle Beach Resort, Mararikulam

 

After an hour's drive from my home at Kochi, we arrived at the vast expanse of the resort, and I felt some relaxation after seeing the neatly maintained area spread across 13 acres of land with palm trees. I took a deep breath, and it was starting of our two day's fun.

We spent two days in Abad Turtle, and we loved everything about Abad Turtle. There are lots of unique and different things to do in the resort for families that makes it a fun and memorable place to visit. It's an absolute joy to wander and discover what is around in each corner. The rooms were cozy and spacious and had open sky bathrooms.

There were hammocks outside to relax, lot of space to walk around and direct access to beach.   There is a small garden where they grow vegetables. I cycled around the area.

The swimming pool at Abad Turtle is another major attraction to spend a cool and fun filled time in the waters ...

Delicious meals are served for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

One of my favorite spots for taking photos is the beach. Sunset view was breathtaking. I love the sea, and also  to stroll along the beach listening to the waves. In the morning, we woke  up early and walked to the beach and spent time for fun filled activities by running with the kids through the beach, taking candid photos etc.

I felt that I should have visited this place long before. I wished I could extend my holiday at Abad Turtle!!     

Read More

My stay at KTDC Tea County, Munnar

 

I had the pleasure of staying at the Tea County Munnar in March 2022. It was a memorable stay especially as a break from my regular routine. The weather as was cool.

I stayed in the first floor of a cottage which had a balcony with a clear view of the picturesque Munnar valley and adjacent hill. The chair in the balcony was my favorite corner in the room and I enjoyed the magic of the mist and the mountains.

The bed was comfortable leading to a good sleep all around I enjoyed complimentary buffet breakfast and lunch as well as dinner from the hotel. 

 

I walked around the area and enjoyed the greenery of the land that extends to about eight and a half acres. And this leisure trip was really rejuvenating for me.

Read More

Ten hours Of Sightseeing, Travelling And Exploring from Munnar to Kanthalloor in KSRTC bus

No matter how many times you  have visited Munnar, you may never discover it enough.  A vista of how Munnar was this season was the blue Jacaranda  flowering  at its crazy best. This is what I love about repeated visits to Munnar, it is new everytime!

This time I got an opportunity for sightseeing by bus in quite a different way and enjoy a unique ride through the tea-carpeted hills.  Munnar KSTRC has come up with a special package that will take you on a budget-free tour from Munnar to Kanthalloor.  Kanthalloor is located 57km from Munnar. The costs for one day journey is Rs 300. The bus carrying tourists starts at 9.30 am from Munnar KSRTC old depot and had one hour halt in each stop.

The first stop in our chart was Tata Tea Museum  which is located at 2 km from the centre of Munnar. Entry fee is Rs.125 per head. It is a part of the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea.  A 30 minute documentary feature by the museum will give you the opportunity to watch the transition from the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. 

Next stop was at Estate photo point. Surrounded by the Tata Tea gardens of the Kanan Devan Hills and a string of silver oak trees with the backdrop of the vast expanse of the Sahyadri ranges, this is the perfect spot to relish the beauty of Munnar

There is a small road side tea stall selling tea and snacks. We had tea and proceeded to Marayoor.  Twists in the road reveal vistas so vast and breathtaking that  they’re distracting.

Further the road goes on through Marayoor natural sandal reserve. The forest department has rightly put high fence to prevent illegal activities. We could see the sandal trees on either side of the road.

The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom in this stretch just before reaching Lakkom falls. Local people call it ‘Neelavaka’.  Jacaranda indicates spring season. British brought Jacaranda to Munnar during colonization to beautify the hills and estate bungalows. It is one of the 49 species of flowering plants in the family of Bignoniaceae, and is native to South America.

Next stop was at Lakkom waterfalls. Entry fee is Rs.50 per head.  The waterfall is close to the main road. You have to climb few steps to reach the falls from the main road. Originating from the Eravikulam National Park, the stream cascade down from the rocky cliffs. Further we walked down through the road and then through tea estate to reach the natural pool.  I walked along the paths between the carpet of green.

There are a whole lot of plants and shrubs around the pool that add to the scenic view.  A dip in the cold yet refreshing water is all you need on a hot summer's day.

A pretty drive through the sandalwood forests will take you to the sugarcane blossoming village. When you hear Marayoor, Marayoor jaggery and Marayoor sandalwood come to mind. As the name suggests, there are many jaggery making centers in Marayoor. Farmers are benefitted by making significant changes in the production of Marayoor Jaggery with the availability of Geo-Index status. As result,  black-colored jaggery is now in high demand in the market.

Most of these factories are largely without mechanization or infrastructure and these production units are still man-made. Now 12 months full mature sugarcane is used  for the production of Marayoor Jaggery. The juice obtained from the crushing of sugarcane is transferred to a large iron vessel through a tube, which is then boiled over a fire and reduced to a paste-like jaggery. The product here is this rolled jaggery. It is sold in many places in Marayoor.

Most of the people who work here are attached to these grass-fed jaggery units for accommodation, cooking and caring for children.

Muniyara's are famous in Marayoor. Tourists often visit the munirs at Anakottupara. We use Stone Age culture to describe the way of life of human beings a thousand or two thousand years before the year of Christ. The muniyara's were the burial chambers of the time. The muniyara's look like two layers of rock steep and another layer of rock fixed on top of it. Some say that the 'soul' resided in muniyara's after death. Those remains are still intact in Marayoor. The muniyara's will help us to go back in time to history.

Finally we reached our last place in our chart -  Kanthalloor. Kanthalloor is situated on the eastern side of the Western Ghats on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, between Munnar and Udamalpet. It is at an altitude of about 5000 feet above sea level. This is favourable for the natural farming of many fruits like apple, blackberry, orange, plums, strawberry, passion fruit, etc. and vegetables like Cauliflower, carrot, potato, garlic, cabbage, beans etc.are grown in plenty.   We visited one of the private farm. The best season to visit Kanthalloor is from August to October. Because of the off season there was not much fruits and vegetables. There isn’t much to do here, but that’s part of the charm.

As we made our way back to Munnar, we passed through Nachivayal, Kovilkadavu.  Not only do you get to cruise through a sandal forest reserve but, more often than not, you will spot a herd of deer.

From 6 pm onwards, the mist would be my constant companion through the ride. It was already dark when we reached Munnar at around 7 pm. By that time the chill in the air had picked up.

Read More