A pleasant journey to Munnar
A Nilgiri Tahr
The next destination was the Lakkam waterfalls, which gushes from a height of 50 feet. The
water was refreshingly cold and rejuvenating. We posed for some photos at the
scenic spot and started off to Eravikulam
National Park. After having some bread omelettes for lunch, we boarded a
van which took us through the plantations. All along the way, we had a
breathtaking view of the mountains, lush meadows and the Nilgiri Tahrs grazing around. The location is also home to the Indian
Star Tortoise and the Grizzled Giant
Squirrel, which are among the endangered species.
After a short ride, we walked through the park and took
pictures of the Tahrs with a scenic backdrop. The cool breeze refreshed our
minds and the first day gave us a sanative experience. We then reached our
cottage and took a walk to have dinner at the nearby restaurant. The quaint little
place was decorated with lights, and the night view was one of a kind.
Day 2 :
We started our second day with a visit to the CSI Christ Church. It is one of the oldest churches in Munnar made of stone. We also visited the Blossom Hydel Park, which was a half-hour drive from there. The place had a stunning view of greenery, and a river running through the neighbourhood. Activities like Zip Lining and Fish Spa are inside the park, along with a small aquarium. Visitors can enjoy the relaxing view of the river from the garden benches. A walk along the flowery trail soothed our senses. We also savoured ice cream and snacks from the snack shop within the park premises.
We moved to a four-star restaurant to have a hearty meal.
We had a specially prepared Egg Roast,
which is one of my favourites in the menu. We visited the Mattupetty Dam, where boats and off-road jeeps were available. We went
on a speed boat, which took us around the lake twice. The area was surrounded
by dense trees, giving a mesmerizing view. We also rode on swings facing the
lake, which was a time well spent.
By the time we reached the tree house, the sun was
setting and the woods were covered in a golden twilight. The view from the
topmost floor, where we stayed, was quite welcoming. The towering trees and the
bed of fallen leaves on the ground were as pretty as a picture. We had some R
& R with a campfire and songs playing in the background. We had gone to bed
early, but began feeling sick and tired in the middle of the night. Still, the
host was kind enough to bring us hot water and green tea with medicinal herbs,
which helped us through the night.
Day 3:
After a well-deserved
rest, we went for a walk through the plantations that surrounded the tree house.
There was a huge swing hanging from a tall tree, which takes you high above the
plantation fields. Riding the swing ,amidst the trees and tea plantations, was
an unforgettable experience.
We had brunch in a small outdoor dining area in a corner
of the host’s house. It was surrounded by a beautiful garden, where rabbits and
birds were raised. Boiled bananas,
Idiyappam with Kadala curry and green tea were some of the scrumptious
regional dishes served. We bought some organic cardamom and green tea, grown in
their fields. We bid adieu to the hosts, who were considerate and attentive to
our needs.
We started travelling on a bumpy route with steep drops. We were able to find the attraction after enquiring with some of the locals. The Kalladanthy Natural Cave is one of the longest caves in Kerala, which allows you to walk 350 metres underground. It is noted as a hiding place for dacoits like Malaikallan Thankkyya, as it crawls in a circular fashion. The interior was so dark that we could navigate only with the help of torches or mobile flashlights. We trudged along the ankle-deep water inside the cave. The cave also offers overnight camping for the brave-hearted.
After travelling for a while, we stopped for lunch.
I gorged on a thali meal, which was
so fulfilling after the intense pursuit. As we continued our return journey, we
stopped for tea at the same tea stall near Karimutty Falls. The driver was
paranoid that elephants might venture in our path after 7 pm. The tea shop owner also confirmed that elephants emerge
from the wild around that time. It was already 7.15 pm when we restarted
our descend journey.
On crossing the hilly terrain, we reached the
plains with dense vegetation on both sides. I was trying to get some shut-eye before
I was awakened by a sudden break. We saw three elephants trying to cross the
road 10 feet ahead. My wish to see a wild elephant was finally a reality, but I
was too stunned to speak. Our driver, having faced such occurrences, pulled the
vehicle back in reverse mode. The elephants were not facing us directly, so we
felt safe. After waiting for the elephants to clear the area, we resumed our
journey.
I was seated in the front seat, wide awake after the
close encounter. We continued our journey for a while. Suddenly, the driver
pulled the breaks on seeing something dark and about 10 feet tall. It was a
massive tusker confronting a car ahead of us. It was accompanied by its calf
and both of them were not ready to leave the road. We took a quick reverse and
waited till a bus crossed us. The elephants had moved towards the hedge
alongside the road and allowed the vehicles to pass freely. We could see the
humongous silhouettes of the wild creatures with the dimmed lights of the
passing vehicles.
The rapid surge of adrenaline made me search for a
restroom. We found a facility after much difficulty and I was finally feeling
relieved. As it was the first day of night lockdown in Tamilnadu, we grabbed our
dinner on the way before 10 pm. We were sound asleep when we arrived home. We
exchanged some of the beautiful moments captured on our cameras. We soon drifted
into sleep, nurturing the memories of an enthralling trip.
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