Sholayar Rainforest

It’s a refreshing morning to wakeup early to sense the moister ambiance and to visible the fog masked mountains. The great energy sprinkles in me like those dews on lawn and flowers, even though little stressed physically in lack of bearing cold. As said before cold was not much though at night, but till sunshine warms, I am unable to hold anything properly. This is something I am experiencing every time more on initial days of my visit to hill stations. It was something consent when the numb skin face the sun light in recharging energy. Our first day plan was to check Athirapally Falls in Kerala, which is about 100km from Valparai. Indeed it’s just a destination I loved to travel in-between dense rainforest! It was such an experience ever in my life travel across a massive rainforest into deep, where mystery dumped forever. The woods covered completely leaving little space to vehicles, where we can’t find anything conceals beside those thick and nearly bush. The SUV strikes those bush and tough hardly ride on that road less. The ghat was narrow and carries many ditches to store liters of water! Though there wasn’t rain in early past and current, so the path visible clearly nor would it have been the worst drive through this uncertain trail – a relative who come along said!

On the way we come across Sholayar Dam 1 – 30km away from Valparai, and two check posts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. One need to sign and mark the reason to cross the boarder, because it was highly dense forest and haven to endanger animals, woods and shoals. It was just another dream come true for me, next to Valparai. As we’re unaware about the forest, animals and poisonous insects, we weren’t allowed to wander by my parents. Throughout the way we visible elephants dung on middle of the road and broken branches where provide a sign of elephants just crossed. We peeked far long the way; thought we can’t find any animals including a elephant is a great disappointment. We stopped in between to listen to the strange sounds and twitters the forest provides! The lion tailed monkeys leap across those high woods, by creeping branches to strike and dismantle to turn our attention. From a distance we find something moving on the road, when getting near we were at surprise to find a crab stretching its mass! On the middle of the rainforest, we stopped to sight the Sholayar Dam 2, around thick bush and shoals. This is some place I wish to visit again in future to experience some more to memories. This is a route that is highway, links Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On this stretch not many vehicles are visible, and even the Tamil Nadu state govt. leaves bus only twice – one in morning and evening. To travel on this rainforest is up to our courage and strength – of drivers!

The remaining pictures will be updated soon, here and in Flickr.

A view and wish

I am still in thought of counting how many months have passed on and could not feel certainly the year have ended. I truly miss the spirit of New Year begins, when everyone celebrating the night with dreams and wishes I was sluggish and felt asleep in cold fever. I really struggle to get over the laziness and return to normal after experiencing the different environment and feeling surprise. I am back from traveling on Monday night, but felt lonely when leaving everyone at there place and these days thinking about the pleasant experience in week journey couldn’t let me out. Ever plans never gone perfect, though I carry some disappointment and it wasn’t the only thing to think in dream travelling. My travel through this 7th heaven terrain is new and never visited, but felt like well known though incomplete. I need some more time to explore the heavenly places in-around Valparai and Pollachi again in next chance. Even though I make it calm and forbearance traveling what I think exist’ isn’t exactly, but I learnt lessons for my future traveling. I realize how helpful people are; even strange enough each others. Anyhow no one is like how we think about, it’s only our thoughts to distinguish once we begin to share, we became too closer and harder to distance.

Soon we planned traveling I get to thought about a friendly driver, who could drive to my comfort. Raja anna, who was part of my past travels comes to mind easily, at our first meet itself we developed a good relationship as brothers. Gladly it was Christmas holyday for him; so he took off from his drive to school bus and joins our fun ride. It’s a pending preplan waited for my cousins’ vacation and the climate I chose is winter, but surprising its all untouched sunny days giving way to cold atmosphere and the blue sky to give a perfect background to pictures. For what I chose visiting valparai is after the state monsoons, so the nature could be at its best in green. Exactly it’s the best time for visiting Valparai, but somehow the mist hides to my disappointment, and cold in its surface sense pleasant what is compared to England’s weather. Throughout the years it receives rain at any moment, but the weather is enjoyable however. Our traveling happens in and around dams and falls with thick forest to stories of animal strikes, but we were so eager sighting any animals to only see some elephants and Lion tailed monkeys in distance.

Thanks so much for your dear wishes and travelogue blogs that helps in traveling. I hope u all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration. Will read your blogs soon, take care.

Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Amaravathi division

Back on my travel experience to Munnar, and like I told in my earlier post on same it was drizzling or slowly showering as we moved out of the Udumalapet guest house. As we loved the taste of the dinner from Hotel Ariya Bhavan there, we hadn’t anything to choose for breakfast and as I want to be around the Tiger Reserve as early possible we took parcel from the hotel and ate before we enter the forest area. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve here comes under Amaravathi division, which is a part of the Anamalai Hills, a range of mountains in the southern part of Western Ghats.

I have been to the other parts of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, including the tourist attracts Topslip and Valparai and I have even went to Amaravathi Dam and Crocodile park adjoining the Tiger Reserve. A ranger whom we met here took us on a brief ride into the forest when checking Amaravathi Nagar in 2008, but since I know the road from here goes to Munnar, I wanted to take this road when I travel to same. Actually it become a dream for me to take this road, as it passes through two wildlife sanctuaries, it would be a great opportunity to see wild animals at their abode.

Herd of deer staring at us through bushes (all pics can be enlarged)

I want to be there early in morning so that more animals could be sighted, but we couldn’t make up before 9 am, the time we reached the forest check post. While dad went to sign the register, the guard who came checking the car protested for taking our pet dog into the tiger reserve and he insist for veterinary certificate to give permit. We are told that allowing outside animals have a risk of spreading disease to other wild animals, if the one have any and the veterinary certificate is must to ensure the dog is healthy. But his higher officer just instructed to not let down the dog anywhere until moved out of the tiger reserve.

The traffic free forest road though Anamalai Tiger Reserve, and the border check post near Chinnar wildlife sanctuary

We could understand why they are strict with outside animals but we haven’t faced anything like this earlier even though we have stayed in Topslip (one of the core area), Valparai and Cloud Mountain with high fauna. We aren’t complaining anyway but rather happy that forest department is conscious in preserving the wild animals and this would help us be cautious in future travels with dog. The entire stretch of tiger reserve was wet and drizzling with haze, though the weather was pleasant it don’t give hand in spotting wild animals, perhaps they too don’t like dampness or hideaway in absence  of sunlight.

They told only in evening animals come into sight mostly or should be early in morning, but this unusual weather of showering and fog kept away the little opportunities. We encountered only couple of vehicles in opposite and few overtaking us, as we drove slowly, the road was far empty. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is a blend of wet evergreen forest, marshes and grass lands covering a total area of 1479 sq. km includes a core area of 958. Sq. km and Amaravathi cover 172.5 sq. km.

Within few kms into the forest we saw a herd of Chital, aka spotted deer, staying and staring from the thicket. My cousin has keen eyes for deer, and alike many a time; he spotted the deer which could be easily missed. It looked like a family of deer, from fawns to well gown with big antlers. They stared at us for few seconds before turn their attention somewhere and marched forward. Where there’s lot of deer means a favourable circumstance for tigers, while deer’s are there favourite prey and according to the census the tiger reserve is home to 32-36 tigers. 

Few kms from there the backwaters of Amaravathi reservoir come to sight. Perhaps due to less water, it looked like swamp and guess animals would come visiting this place to drink water or feed on vegetation.

Vultures on prey

Our next stop was an encounter of vultures prey on some flesh at distance. First thought it was peahens but they haven’t look alike and this is the first time seeing vultures in wild. As we near the border check post (between Tamil Nadu and Kerala) found some peahens around grazing buffaloes, which we though was wild ones but realized soon it should belong to the people around check post. The Chinnar River that crosses here marks the border between the two states, from where the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary begins – which could be my later post. 

My Tea Travel

Tea and rain are often combined to create an ideal time for a tea break! 

Tea has become inevitable in our daily lives, and many of us have become obsessed with its flavor and the refreshment it offers with every cup. The monsoon we are going through (right now) has become a favorite time and reason to have some hot cups of tea.

The weather in Chennai is unusually cool for the last few days, thanks to a depression in the sea that's moving slowly, and it's impossible not to compare it to the weather in hill stations or highlands; I'm mildly shivering in the open. I turn off the ceiling fans, something I rarely do in Chennai unless the weather is cool enough. A cup of hot tea would feel great. 

Actually, I was and still am a coffee enthusiast; tea came into my life in 2013 when I was bedridden for nearly two months owing to a femur fracture and cast. I sipped tea and coffee between breakfast and lunch and also took that as an advantage to sit on the bed -   I hate lying down for a long. Tea became my regular beverage.

Not that I hadn't sipped tea before, and I shouldn't forget that I'd been traveling with tea since childhood because my grandfather owned a tea shop, and my first tea may have been at his stall. I remember drinking tea solely to dip butter biscuits in; however, I liked tea when my grandfather made it personal. Tea and butter biscuits are my favorite combo.

I'm always looking for good tea, but that doesn't imply home-brewed tea is poor. When I travel, I prefer to explore different tea shops to acquire a varied taste of tea since I believe the flavor of tea varies from person to person, perhaps which is why someone who brews good tea is called a tea master. But if I see Kumbakonam degree coffee, I would land there!  

The Kumbakonam-degree coffee and Filter coffee are my favorites. If I were given a choice between tea and coffee - of the type mentioned above, I would go for coffee.

I attempted to recall some of my favorite teas, but I could think of a couple. The tea at the Waterfall Estate outlet in Valparai was one of them. Among the three journeys I took to Valparai, south India, no trip is complete without tea at the outlet. I also enjoyed a tea I drank in the Nilgiris village of Yedappalli, and the Chamraj Tea Estate outlet has the best tea. 

(Waterfall Estate's cute little hut tea outlet.)

More than a month ago, I only drank milk-made tea, which is still the same I enjoy most of the time. I'm always looking for the finest tea and the best among them. My parents drink a specific brand of tea, but I used to switch brands to taste something better and better, but after a few cups, the taste returns to the same, regardless of the brand. 

When I visited Munnar in Kerala, I made it a point to visit the Tata Tea Museum and factory - which I will write about in a separate post. I tried a different tea at their store and bought a couple of packets of KannanDevan Tea, but what I tasted there was not the same as what I tasted at home. So I understand that the method of brewing tea makes a difference. 

Some time ago, I  tried Assam Masala Tea, or Chai as it is known in other regions of India. I enjoyed the aroma of the tea, which had a little spicy flavor. And we don't make it daily because it takes time to brew, unlike the traditional approach of tea powder dropped in boiling milk. I recently bought Darjeeling tea, which I had been planning to taste for quite some time. 

I learned Darjeeling tea is the finest tea in the world, and it was even a favorite of the late Queen of England, the great Elizabeth. Darjeeling tea is organic and hand-picked to be distinct for its label, and it tastes best when made with hot water rather than milk. I ordered Darjeeling black tea from Amazon, and because it was my first time, I chose tea bags over tea leaves.

I looked for an excellent Darjeeling tea on Amazon and chose Typhoo Darjeeling Black Tea Bags, whose price seemed reasonable and dependable after reading the reviews. I'm not sure which varieties are the best because this is my first time tasting this type of tea, but I'm happy with the flavor. I always want to taste the true essence of tea, and Typho's Black Tea is delivered on that front within a few minutes of dipping the tea bag.  

Typhoo Darjeeling Black Tea Bags came with an offer of two boxes of tea bags, each containing 25 tea bags. I was hesitant to buy it at first, but after taking a sip, I couldn't think of anything else except savor. 

PAP – Best Water Resource Development

Water, the chief ingredient of life is reliance upon rain. We can live even without eating for few days or a week but no life is survived without drinking or sucking water fall as rain. Life becomes trouble in case we took refrain drinking water for whatever reason such as hunger strike; though however noble it might be. Today obesity has drive people to drink plenty of water – which eases digestion and helps removing toxin from body. The advance technology in desalination has made alter routes for getting drinking water from sea, but the natural rainwater still holds lot of benefit on health enhancement.

It’s apparent that no life exists in earth without water and it’s a cycling process where trees help producing rain and rain as its resource. We man disrupt either by placing our self in front row, driving others as much possible aside by building endless homes and business to extreme anti-environment and producing immense population shrinking our  sources. The water was sought not only as a life source or health benefit but also to gain trust of vote in election. The politicians bear water as a vital element to score higher in election, no matter how people suffer or fought for life.

In Tamil Nadu the best water resources developments took place during the Kamaraj’s administrative – the former chief minister of TN; who widely known as Kingmaker in Indian politics, who’s tri-tenure or the nine years administrative (1954-1963) as CM of TN were considered as golden period. During his regime witnessed number of dams built across the state and each one of them were an engineering marvel. The uneducated genius - Kamaraj - plays a pioneer on interconnecting rivers and his head of administration has dug number of tunnels diverting the water to utilize fully.

Among the many major plots he charted on irrigation front, feeding thousands of acres of lands across the state, the 'Prambikulam Aliyar Project' is notable! Carried out on the state boarders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, PAP is a multipurpose and interstate river valley project diverting and integrating the eight west flowing rivers to the east side to the then drought pone area of the Coimbatore and Erode districts of TN and Palghat of Kerala.  The irrigation network consist of seven major canals, comprising one diversion weir,  seven storage reservoirs, conveyance system and interconnecting tunnels to divert water impound to the plains of Coimbatore and Erode.

Except the three reservoirs slip into the Kerala state, I have drawn to five of the seven reservoirs lie at various elevations ranging from  +3800 feet and +1050 feet across the Anamalai Hills. Lying at difference in elevation has also made it possible for these reservoirs to generate hydro-power. The Aliyar Reservoir built across the Aliyar River at the foothills of Valparai has its source in the Anamalai Hills. Apart its own catchment area of about 76 Sq. Miles, water to this reservoir is diverted through the Aliyar Feeder canal and the Contour canal from the Parambikulam group of reservoirs.

What you see in these photos is the Contour canal rode from Parambikulam, which is one of the major canals running for a total length of about 250 km. apart various branch canals, distributaries and minors through which about 4.25 Lakhs acres of lands get irrigated. About 5 km from Aliyar Dam, we saw the contour canal crossing the road to Valparai, and this canal carries water to Thirumoorthi reservoir about 35 km from here. The water was at its full fledged during our uphill ride and we stopped there for a while, while our relative explaining its progress. It felt something wonderful when looking at the fresh water rushing through the canal and fact that they pass number of tunnels lasting certain kms into hills. 

It seems one of the best sharing projects so far between the states with no major issue based on sharing. To note a point, the PAP project had carried out quite throughout IndiraGandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park which beholds number of endanger and wild animals. It doesn't sound easy for me to dug deep tunnels into the haven of wild animals and infectious insect bites… and in time when everything was suppose to done manually. I couldn't stop praising those heroes involved in this project and the engineers with amazing talent on finding routes. 

RGB Monday

Here is a kind of line houses in Valparai, what is just a piece of what was washed off in the recent landslides and flash flood in the high mountain ranges of Munnar; killing nearly 50 people belong to the families of tea labourers. The southwest monsoon is smashing around the Western Ghats Mountains of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and many a places are flooded and Munnar, a beautiful hill station in the Idukki district of Kerala is one of the top producers of tea and many a labours work here are from the plains of Tamil Nadu.

The landslide turned into a major disaster, where rescue operations are still underway as people are being dug out of the mud. The disaster location being close to the Anamudi, the highest peak of south India and the popular tourist spot (Eravikulam National Park) for Thar goat sighting, exposed to cold winds and rain to extend the rescue operation. Valparai is nothing less to Munnar, and these two places are bordered by a valley that separates the two states. And their living conditions were also similar and the workers were all settlers from the plains to work in the tea plantations. It’s the workers of Rajamalai tea estate went to grave before buried really. While the covid eradicating away the lives in plenty, the plane crash and landslides were doing their better half. Nature has its own plans and no one can predict its move and we could only mourn for those died.  

Nallamudi Poonjolai – Valparai

day4: Dec 27, 2008

Before reaching the Nallamudi valley view, we head to the Sidhi VinayakarTemple at Sholaiyar Estate. Been some specific day and my cousin bro’s birthday, parents want to visit the temple and it was also one of the tourist attraction in valparai. The idol in the temple was carved in a single marble stone at 7 feet, which brought here through helicopter and the temple was built by Birla – a largest group in India. Near the temple I found a board words ‘world’s first ISO 9002, Sholayar and Kallyar tea plantations and factories’. The temple has some tens of steps to climb, and amidst private tea estates and nearby factories, since it was morning time, people where busy at hunting tea leaves and guys loading tea packages into Lorries.

Along the way and around Nallamudi Poonjolai are forever tea estates. There were cluster of hills just like the overturn of bottom vessels, and a relative whom guide us told in uncertain those are ones existed by volcanic condition. The valley is invisible until reach the place and I have no idea about a valley there, and noted this name when searching places that attracts. The vehicles are stopped a km before the valley, as one have to walk through the tea gardens pathway and we were allowed further to reach by my wheels. It was an experience ride with a 3ft unequal path, and some ones threatening of anytime cheetah attack from the intense tea gardens, my power wheels proved it is a wonder. Even at near valley point, the leftover elephant dung makes us wonder how came elephants here, taking the risk at electric fencing and the deepest valley.

It was an interesting view point to sight the Anaimudi - South India’s highest peak, counting 8842ft. The valley covers almost dense forest, with little encroachment of tea gardens at far left and tribal settlement villages below the valley. The anaimudi was not clearly visible, except the shape like elephants back at far distance. The valley holds couple of waterfalls, and I could remember one of the names as Idlyaaru (idly river). This valley separates the states Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the other side of the hills or anaimudi is Munnar. A piece of information was give by a priest like person living there, bringing a sign board ‘Seen God’ and a small temple atop – the thing what he says was he saw the god at this valley. Everyone calls him samy (god) and our driver went ahead to get bless by touching his foot, but he stretched his hand across valley showing that nature is god. Somehow he impressed us with his wisdom and mind kind saying ‘salute the nature, its all. He was a govt. staff before he got to visible something he believes god and he began to stay there. But the tea estate owners what to remove him from there, but he manages to live around threaten of animals.

Some questioning, what’s being wonder about Poonjolai and disbelief at the height of peak. I felt why people come here, just not for exploring the nature and beauty; something that could not replace cities, than questioning what gains by visiting valleys flipped my ear. It was a sunny day and back to vehicle it was such hot response from seats, but the heat was something warm to the cold atmosphere. I asked for Number Parai(rock) what is more exotic I heard, but we missed the opportunity that the path lead to that valley was improper that time.

Nallamudi means good hair and poonjolai is wild garden.
Anai mudi, the Tamil words mean to elephant hair/brow.

Merry Christmas

Christmas is the most celebrated festival in the world, and I always like to take part of this festival. Other than faith, I like the fun shared through this festival all along the decorations and mood that I also celebrate the world festival.

Last year I was in valparai on the occasion of Christmas, and the churches in the municipality are decorated with lights, trees and rhymes of Christmas. It was a beautiful evening with sun setting down behind the hills and a pleasant atmosphere to sense; we were playing around the lawn even after night dawn.

Against our cottage there was a small church decorated quite simply and beautifully, and in nights the lights continued to blink. The setting of the birth of Christ still exists in my view and the whole evening was just fun. I took varies pictures of the decoration, but somehow it was erased from my cam. It certainly happened to be a winter festival and like never before.

Scared heart church, Valparai

Now, I’m driving myself into the mood of festival and trying much I can do to celebrate the festival. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope u all have fun. Take care :)

Something about travelling and Great Hornbill

If you know I’m a travel enthusiastic, travelling is my passion which I like to have often. Lately I have strong emotions to go out in seek of some remedy to my insane and it works well when I was in travelling and resting in hills. I was forced to leave home and see people as a consolation to my insane, and I am somehow comfortable now, with various moments gripping my mind and sweeping or hiding away those injurious thoughts.

Though whatever I planned hasn’t happened quite, I tried to enjoy a lot of things that came in as surprise and felt that more than expecting, enjoying the thing that comes in hand does not disappoint. It was a wonderful journey into Anaimalai hills of pollachi and sighting some rare and wild animals, forest atmosphere and pleasing weather in hill tops, while bright sunshine and farm houses and flowing canals in-between coconut groves and tea estates of valparai are few more resumes again.

Except pollachi IB – the one we stayed last time also, the various places we stayed may be more or less in comfort, but has something to wonder at its structure and surrounding. The nights are embraced in moderate cold and pleasant inside, and the sustain silence makes easier in listing to birds chirping and hornbills singing. Just opposite to our bison lodge in topslip, the great hornbills have build there nests in the large number of trees and makes clear and loud vocal at night.

One afternoon, while wandering without heading to lodge, we’re glad to meet an old man, who was a guide in topslip, taking visitors into the forest by foot and in van. He was taking rest under a bus stop opposite to our lodge and we get to chat with him for sometime about the forest and animals, and thus he says that this is the time hornbill’s nest and breed chicks. So the visitors are not allowed to go inside the large clumps of trees.

As we’re interested about the great hornbills, and liked to know something about it and he says they make unique sweet noises while flying above and makes it louder in breeding season to call the male, and later they sing in unison. The female bird builds the nests in hollows of large trees and imprisons itself with a plaster made up by feces, leaving a slit and lives until the chicks partially grow. During this time the male brings food and feed female through the slit and the chicks follow the same method and seal it again, ones the female comes out.

It was a surprising sight on the Sholayar dam - Valparai, where I saw a great hornbill for the first time, chased by crows to sit and go on by a nearby tree. First looking at its mass I thought it was a huge crane, but only seeing its long colorful curved beak I find it was a hornbill. While staring at the beauty, I went wow… at moment looking at its magnificent and being late in capture, the gorgeous was chased away by crows, but somehow I manned to click few shots that came out here.

While traveling somewhere around anaimalai, I thought are we illegal to this land and when I think back it sense me right. We just go in seek of nature and in love, but not almost realize we’re entering someone’s home and just lost our space in urban development. Many years age we have been sharing the similar amount of space and greenery, but we destroyed everything for our comfort and development and go in seek of nature which is pure and pristine left over at forest and mountains terrain. Sometimes we have to acknowledge the mistake about not controlling our desire and should always keep in mind that our existence should not disturb any nature resources, as we’re like thieves at that present and should follow the universal rule of maintaining silent and let no marks exists. We can’t keep much distance from the nature resources and it has something for every one of us to live and we also have to keep in mind that we let live the resource as it is for our future to exist. Its nature, we always crave for what we don’t have.

Topslip – travel account

The day begin for us at Pollachi – the coconut country. Topslip is about 35km from here and 80 km from Coimbatore, can be called as the capital of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a part of Indira Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, on the Anamalai range of Western Ghats Mountains. Our relative from Valparai received us in the morning, directed us towards Topslip and he also accompanied us throughout our week-long journey across Topsip and Valparai, more than since he’s familiar with places and routes. Hence reached early at night and stayed at Pollachi Govt. guest house booked by my cousin brother, we moved leisurely at morning after breakfast taking the scenic countryside road of Pollachi, which are filmmaker’s favorite shooting spots.

The road passed almost either side with coconut groves and looking at the green and orange tender coconuts kept for sale on a roadside inspired us not to miss, relish upon the enriched natural tender drink. We also passed beautiful village towns like Anamalai, Vettaikaranpudur and Sethumadai. What interesting was, these town villages are almost pained in white and we also come across a group hassle at Anamalai, where people kept flowing from nowhere like blocking the road, and before something happens we moved quickly. It was like watching a scene from a regional movie and I hear from our relative, such things are casual in these areas.  At the foot of Anamalai hills, the Tiger reserve arch welcomed us and we climbed on after sign in form at the forest check post.

Glasshouse above grassland

Sethumadai is the last village on the road lead to Topslip, the winding road all the way took us through crushed dry leaves shattered everywhere amid I looking for animals. It was the same month of Feb. then, the dry season was encouraging the fall of leaves and reaching the Topslip I was surprise to see dry grasslands instead of evergreen I saw in internet.  Topslip offers different accommodations as per we wish, there are tree house, lodges, dormant and glasshouses as limited enough. We sought for the glass house (Ambuli Illam) sits on top of all with vast views and all side glass panes to sight animals that come grazing on grasslands around. But due to some renovation work, they refused to allow us and suggested to take the Bison Lodge on the main lane with no other option we took it on basis of comfort.

Being controlled by Forest Department, Topslip also arranges for food on three bases on pre-order. Since it took an hour for us to settle down rooms and arrived only by noon we couldn't go for an order, so adjusted with the available of rice, sambar and appalam. Topslip being restricted to sound, we enjoyed a quite silent reserved around unless for leaves crushed to wind, and huge pigs creating terror by chasing one another. The silence flourished outside doesn't want me to go inside the room and even it was a sunny afternoon, the breeze put everything under a cozy weather, I and my cousin were alone wandered around.

Me at top of topslip (glasshouse is behind

Taking the road on power wheel chair, we find the tree houses and bamboo huts on the other side of the lane and checking the grasslands by moving up to glasshouse, I got a panoramic view on the forest  grasslands. It would have been a great pleasure if I got chance to stay on one of the wood or glasshouses atop. I don’t want to miss another chance if future allowed visiting Topslip, I wanted to stay there and watch animals. During our roaming phase we met an old man (not so old) sitting under a bus shelter opposite to our Bison Lodge and I must say he’s wise about wild since he works as a guide in Topslip, taking tourist inside the forest. He shared some of his experience and knowledge about the Anamalai Tiger reserve and he had seen almost animals in the wild, except Lion which is the only animal missing at Anamalai. He told there are about 55 tigers in Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Coming from a tribal community, he had been born and brought up in Anamalai hills and when the government declared it as wildlife sanctuary; some of their members were employed as guides in forest department and activities based on Topslip tourism development. The forest department also runs a primary school for the tribe children. Pointing at the grassland he told he has seen tigers encounters deer and wild elephants and bison grazing at evergreen time… and sighting deer’s at regular. Questioning him let us know more about this place and also the neighborhood Parambikulam – which is another wildlife sanctuary inside the Kerala border.

[To be continued…] 

From this moment on...

There are innumerable moments in life but remembering one particular moment where I took oath to do or not something is pretty hard to recollect. I haven’t took anything serious to remember a moment but there are certain places, in the journey of life, the collection of phases from different time moment converts me to be like this and that. I love traveling from the beginning and I could not sleep well (in the excitement) whenever I know I’m going to travel by next day but until 2006 or before started bogging I wasn’t passionate on traveling. I bought internet connection in 2003-04 mainly for learning about places and checking it virtually as I could not go to see all the places due to my immobility, at least let me explore the places online.

Pic by Jeevan

In Dec 2005, we bought an apartment flat and moved out of our native house, and during that event my uncle captured some photos with his digital camera which I uploaded in my computer and shared on the blog. This was the turning point and the feel I got by sharing photos and friend’s feedback inspired me to show more interest on photography. Then on I kept looking forward for a camera to shoot and share. At this moment, understanding my interest, my cousin’s conveyed my desire to his father who in return giveaway his camera to me and thus began the journey, the inspiration for the travel. The May 2006 Kodaikanal vacation ignites both the interest and rather taking portraits and group photos my passion for nature shoot began there.

But the real excitement of photography and traveling begin in year 2008, when I upgraded to 8 megapixel camera from the mere 3 mp and the micro mode in that makes feel delight shooting items on close distance and getting enriched detail. The Valparai visit on the same year was my first adventure travel and wild shooting. And writing about my experience and narrating the stories of traveling was another exciting phase I always look forward to relive the moments through words and photos. To say from this moment on, photography and traveling has transformed my intention of living and my blogging style also become different from just knowledge and facts based posts. And to say from this moment on, blogging has changed me so much and gave some hope to look forward in life. 

For A Week for Writing: Prompt 97 - From this moment on

My grandfather

The health condition of my grandpa worries me lately more as he’s losing his physical ability slowly and internal problem due to old age he’s in need to take care by someone now. Less than half a decade ago he was healthy and normal alike anyone in his age and only retired a decade before from his own café after we all forced him to take rest, which he was running for more than 2 decades after leaving his job as a cab driver and lorry driver early.

(with my grandparents, taken in our last year’s visit to Valparai.)

Unlike earlier who was in his wheels always around touring South India as a cab driver, never out of town except seldom attending functions like grandma, their lives revolved around the café and bull shed which are adjacent to home. Only with the income of driving car and later with cattle and café he grows his four children – mom among one as a elder child, putting elder two into English medium and other two in state language, only my aunt (mom’s sister) went to college to do her B.sc and uncles did their diploma in automobile.

With the income of thus, he get my mom married by building her a new home replacing dad’s hut along with the savings among him, put everyone at surprise since my grandma and dad are siblings. Next he gets my aunt married in an enhancing manner with the help of uncle who had began his own garage in the land of great grandmother’s – dad’s mom, who’s also mother to my grandma.

Later it was uncles’ marriages, with our lives at almost comfort and welfare brings a lot of things unimagined to realize and it continues still with the realization of our dreams and wishes by exist. It’s quite nearly almost happens because of him and no one can deny that and I won’t allow anybody rejecting him and if he’s the director of our family then my uncle is the hero who did magic in our lives with the wand of love and affection towards us.

Today we miss him very badly and a place which never replaceable by anyone and I wish everyone gets such uncles in their lives to help in succeed and support in unconditional love and care. Sometimes grandpa recall the moment of me going out with him in childhood, pointing out the buildings we come across to express him my wish to built something like that one day and how I call him by nickname ‘thathu’ – which is a Tamil word for grandpa with least change in pronunciation.

I always like to have him around and take him wherever we go or he likes to go… but considering his troublesome health at judicious we haven’t did a long trip along with him after nearly a year before, now I willing to have him at home. Our homes about 2kms in distance, it wasn’t a problem checking with him and this time the grandma who take care of him is on a trip to Gujarat for 10 days is suppose to give us chance to have him along with us, but grandpa who doesn’t want to give us trouble thinking he might be adding burden to my parents who take care of me indeed, avoid to be.

I’m in need to convey he’s someone significant to me and more than anything, he’s my sweet grandfather who shows me lot of intense care, love and hazard free life. My heart craves for him to be stable good always and wish us everyone at our each step to success.

Fragrance of love, life & flower

Life is a lovely flower
where love is a fragrance

Life is a blooming flower
where heart opens for love

Life is a peaceful flower
where insects test patience

Life is a thorns bed
where we bear like a flower

Life is a petal
where our family is a flower

Love is an essence of life
which we share with others

Love has an inherent like a flower
which attracts each other

Love has the nectar
which makes life sweeter

Love is a bond creeper
where we breathe like a flower

Love makes life beautiful
like a flower to a plant

p.s.I'm back from vacation on sunday and the flower in the picture above is Champaca – popularly known as Shenbagam in tamil. The flower that belongs to a large evergreen tree Michelia Champaca - native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, is best known for its strongly fragrant yellow or white flowers. and the flower was captured in valparai

Wow Women!

What I think about women is right or wrong but I have thoughts to share with u about women who’s our profound desire and without women no man can survive in this world and they are our source of life which dwells around them. First as a mother we couldn’t compare any other relationship parallel to her and what made women so special was because being womanhood and thus becoming motherhood is consider to be so scared and venerable and according to a child she’s a livelihood.

There is no way a man could live without women and he need to come across her at every instance as a mother, sister, wife, daughter and overall as a friend man lives depend on women and of course women to men. Just being a son I could only talk about mother, who’s behind and in front of my life to keep me sustain and I couldn’t think a world with my mother and even in my dream I couldn’t survive without her, because she’s my life and no one could part me from her in this inevitable world.

(A women worker in valparai estate near Coimbatore.)

As a brother I don’t have a sister, except cousin sisters I don’t have someone to communicate personally or consider to be my sister. Whose fault is this I don’t know! Lol. With often or sometime communicating with them I understand the sweetest essence exist through their abundant and exuberating concern and love and desire is consider to be never adjutant to any other relationship in this world. Being in there care and concern is rejuvenate and I always love to be along with them and they behalf consider me as a friend and fellow brother to share things that excite and enthusiasm them.

About wife, it’s not in the list of my concern or wish and never desire for a woman except dream, imagination and crushes which consider being common among men and women and inspires lot of attitude to write poem or create characters unrealistic despite concern. I too dream a lot about women and never take it too serious or concern to get disturbed or depressed later to struggle with mind, but I have obvious reasons to be like that which is in our genes and gender to be so.

I have a sweet and cute daughter in my dream with who I play and grow up according to my knowledge and trend with my special concern for her to be on my interest and how I like to see my daughter grow up unaffected by her character and giving quite freedom to realize her dreams. I never think women is lesser to man and I realize that women is more sufficient than man and incredibly mysterious and bear unbearable trouble and pain we fail to realize or tried to understand!

I had and have some friends in schools and blog whom were so close to me than men and I really treat them as my dear sisters and friend and rarely consider to be fun loving and liberal related to reliable of knowledge and sense. I see women as an equal phase of society and growing at rapid speed of development in knowledge and profession and in many fields according to their immense ability and create a Wow (world of women) where they could stand on their own and fight for their rights and amendment, not alone for themselves and also for their wow community.

Wow… what a species women! Congrats women for being there as our well wishers and hope the world will realize your individual freedom and treat u as a fellow human being and considering your facts and knowledge you were at the furthermost advanced in education and professional wise and continue to grow furthermost defeating man in every column they ruled the organization. Whatever knowledge or ability wise we praise you, you are the most wanted women where our hope for future is defined and design by you and no one could forget this easily so as uneasy to say in few words here. Love you dear women!

Travel through Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

A continuation of travel to Munnar…

Following Anamalai Tiger Reserve, we entered the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the state of Kerala crossing the border check posts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is facilitated with ecotourism where tourist can stay and enjoy wildlife from their rest houses and take safaris and hiking through forest. The Chinnar got its name from the river Chinnar, meaning small river, which travels long the northern edge of the sanctuary defining the state boundary of Tamil Nadu/Kerala by East-West.

(the monkey leaped on our car bonnet and we're force to roll up the windows)

It continues to be cloudy and slightly drizzle to keep environment wet as we travel for about 13km through the sanctuary and few kms from check post the Pambar River joins for company along the left side of the road and as we continue to elevate through hills the river travelled against us as gorge. We stopped at few places to watch the river flowing amid the wild forest and hills and at some places making beautiful waterfalls. Near the check post of the Sanctuary we are attracted to the handing bridges made for monkeys to cross the road, and we find couple of monkeys using the bridges, which remind me Valparai, where I saw the bridges made for same to the endangered Lion tailed macaques.  

With Eravikulam National Park to the south and Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary (Anamalai Tiger Reserve) to north and Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary to east, Chinnar forms an integral part of 1187 sq. km of protected forests. The road from Udumalpet-Munnar passes though the sanctuary, divides it into nearly equal portions and the Chinnar and Pambar rivers being a perennial of the sanctuary leads to Amaravati Dam after merging at the interstate boundary. The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to 34 species of mammals including Tigers, Panthers, Elephants and Nilgiri Tahr and Indian star tortoise and mugger crocodiles live largely in the sanctuary.

A forest camp site is down the valley and close to the Pambar river

The Ecoregion of the sanctuary comprises mostly grassland and wet grasslands vegetation with 965 species of flowering plants and some South Western Ghats montane rain forest and moist deciduous forest and high sholas. The Maraoor sandalwood forest or reserve is located close to the sanctuary and Thoovanam waterfalls is a must watch for anyone on this route. More on later…

Pambar river creating little falls like flow

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Gonna miss you, Achu!

Just a year back Achu’s family shifted to the house behind us (as we reside in row house) and within a couple of months we become familiar and friends later. Though Achu become my best friend, I really wonder how I miss writing or sharing photos (except on Instagram) of him here, but I think we become too close to write something specific about him and he was there even at times unexpected. He’s very special to me in many ways and he’s someone always knock at the door with pristine love and he becomes so attached to me only lately but now he’s supposed to move on L

Achu’s father was transferred to Bangalore and he will be leaving us in a week or some time. For about a year I have been watching him (and now he’s 2 ½ age), he’s been growing though best parenting I could say for sure. He’s very quiet and approach things at easy and patience. I really amaze at his attitude even at this little age, which is indeed comes from his parents who has been friendly and down to earth. He never took anything from others and even as friends he refuses to take anything from us unless showing it to his mom and we never discouraged him on this front.

His parent’s trust us, as well as Achu agree to be carried away only by mom. He developed an attachment very soon with mom and even our puppy Maya become familiar with his sounds and smell; almost maintain silence whenever he enters our home freely.  We even unlock the little gate when Maya is tied so that he don’t find difficult in opening and  he is fearless coming close to Maya and she’s also forceless. Achu is a great observer and watches things patiently and try to apply it through his innocent pace. Even my relative’s kids who has the rights to call me mama (uncle) doesn’t calling or visiting me but each time he utter the word,  with sheer innocent, I quite feel connected and content. I actually feel Achu’s approach fills the crave for a kid at home and we treat him as our own kid and he keeps calling mom (as grandma) and take her to his house and ask to sit-down.

The entire scene used to be sweet and his parents watch his attitude with admiration, and if my wheelchair ramp is laid at the doorstep he call me to come down to play with him. He likes seeing me coming up/down the ramp (and he calls this swwing, the sound of sliding) and then he used to bring his cycle and try the same. He note how I put into the wheelchair and how footrest and board is placed and try to do same. He likes bison (Indian guar) which he had seen during his trip to Valparai and he wants me to show bison on laptop and leaning on me he keeps asking for other animals and birds. The way he takes rights on me truly make me feel happy and thinking now, that he will be away soon I would really miss him, as well as my family.

On  his  little bike

His innocent giggle, smile and cry for silly things make me watch light-hearted. And something very sweet about his cry was he sound like a newly born.  Absolutely he’s a gifted child and I am really glad to share his giftedness though their stay as next door resident. Like I said above, Achu’s parents are very friendly and used to share their happiness and grief with us and only because of their pressure (to the landlords) a ramp was built in front of the house to prevent water entering the house. It was an unexpected move even for them and they too feel unhappy for gonna be parted. I know nothing is stable in this world; and this move too will have something better for both. Let’s hope. 

Achu's  sketching around mom's kolam

Pollachi to Chennai

Day: Dec29, 2008

It was inseparable morning, like as usual ever time I go on trips, leaving this coconut country Pollachi. Not because this is a place I have ever seen this much coconut groves and that I couldn’t make up to Top slip and Parambikulam, because I felt I need some more time to experience the change as the time was little brief. Since six months I visited pollachi, I could recollect something on my way back to Chennai by just withdrawing on the same route we took ahead. And it was morning time that I got to disclose the views around that get concealed in darkness while arriving at night.

There’re many coconut groves along the way until far from Pollachi and it was great thing to see many windmills, to stand and rotate gentle towards wind. After awhile came the Tirupur Corporation, with dust spreading across to some maintenance of road work and raised building as fence on both sides, we stopped somewhere to purchase clothes in this renowned banian city. It seems Tirupur is busy always and clothes are nothing cheaper like we thought and only those experts in textile industry could approach the right shop to purchase quality clothes in the confusing state of uncountable shops. Though we brought something, but couldn’t agree completely on its stability.

We had our lunch in Bhavani, and I found a long banner inviting even strangers to someone’s marriage, with a big picture of bride-groom, and faces of those seem to be relatives to the couple are pasted around the banner. And we stopped somewhere near Mettur, to find a village beside roadside with pretty paddy and sugarcane fields, and to move further to see a Ayyanar statue with some others and a horse nearby, which I was looking forward to see for long time in real. Throughout the way from Bhavani to Mettur it was green paddy fields and Cauvery running along.

For the third time, I’m coming across Mettur dam and this time I saw a whirlpool on the reservoir. It was swirling with an uncertain sign of neither dragging nor motion on the surface of the water in a different shade. Doesn’t know whether the whirlpool sustain minutes before we arrive or it’s existing for long time, where a man was drawing his coracle against the whirlpool to escape nor I better not know is he fishing at safe distance. The other side, water was opened to flow from dam, where people sweeping clothes and vehicle, with a man and other sending there coracle.

After met with NH7 and as we move further climbing the little ghat, we found many monkey beside the road, which is a common sight here, and as we dropped some food stuffs, they came around collecting by staring for pictures, and more than adults there’re many cute little ones. Along the way there’re clusters of coconuts dropped for sale and we brought a dozen to home, and the sun was hiding its face behind the hills by evening around Krishnagiri, it was such brightness in crimson to blind someone for moment to staring. And it was time running uncontrollable to the movement of vehicle and it was night 10pm we reach home. I conclude my travelogue here which I begin to write six months ago about my travel to valparai and its surrounding.