This was my first trek with YHAI . There were 43 heads in the batch. 50%
were from Maharashtra and a good composition southern states. Atleast 80% of the gents were above 40 and all ladies were above 35. Mostly retired people and central govt employees who get special
casual leave for these treks. I was the youngest.
Day 1 ( 24 October 2013 ) :
Reported at the base camp in the afternoon after a long ghat travel via Cumbum to the National Adventure academy at Devikulam near Munnar. A kerala State govt. maintained institute. The brochure claimed pucca accomodation and sanitation facilities were missing.Many werent mentally prepared to this like me.It
was raining too. Then somehow tamed the comfort longing mind to fit the
place.
By 4.00PM we went for a acclimatisation walk in the Lockhart Estate area.The moment we were on the full mist covered road, it started raining heavily. We walked and hiked small steep slopes for a long time till sunset and later came to know that it was a 8 km stretch
When the walk ended rain too stopped.Then dinner and sleep.
Day 2 (25 October 2013)
Early morning warm up walk/sprint jog and exercises again in rain.
After breakfast, there were some official formalities like a small talk , flagging off session by some cheif guest etc.Then we were taken in jeeps to a village called Yelapatti which is the base of a hill. 40- 50 minutes journey.
The actual trekking started from there. We hiked around 8 kms to a place called Top station. The path was full of leeches waiting to suck blood.
Though many in the batch were experienced trekkers on Himalayas, all were screaming and jumping around when they see leeches climbing their pants. Many leeches were successful quenching their thirst.
One of Western ghats notables is leech prone moist soil. The keep wobbling their body
like worms in 3D sticking on to us. Even shoes or pants doesn't matter,they somehow find ways inside.The person going in front will disturb it from rest under leaves and people behind feed them.
We reached Top station by Lunch. That falls under Tamil Nadu , actually a mountain view point. Food was arranged at a hotel there.
Then climbed down ~8 kms to middle or central station on the other side of the hill.
This was a
terrain down hill with spectacular view of a green majestic massive
chain of mountain range in the oppsite which we would climb the day after.
The clouds floating over the peak with sun setting behind was just a priceless view.
Deep in the jungle was our campsite.A small blue concrete house could accommodate 12-15 ppl for a days stay.Maximum were packed inside and remaining in tents put outside.
Staying
in tent was a new experience. Felt so good. That house had cook who
prepares food if we take things with us. They plant coffee nearby and have a small grinding
machine. The stay was awesome. Needless to say how calm it would be and how glittering the sky will be with stars.
Climbing down a hill is presumed easy but the fact is fingers hit shoe walls often and create pain.
That too i have a broad foot with no appropriate type of shoe to fit, got my fingers injured. More than tired it was pain..
Day 3 (26th October 2013)
Starting in the morning we climbed another ~8 kms to the hill base cvillage named Korangani. That was our camp too.Carried packed lunches and had them in the banks of a stream we crossed. We reached there late afternoon. Stay in forest guard quarters.
About
the village, one must be lucky to be in a place surrounded by green
peaks with floating clouds, clear water stream fairly big enough filling a
dam. It is a 400 + houses village 16 kms away from Bodinayakanur
Bus comes one and an half hour once. No mobile signals. Paddy fields n coconut trees around
They said only a staff nurse will be there in the hospital for day hours.Any emergency they take jeeps to Bodi.
We talked to a
boy there and found ways to play and bath in the stream inspite being tired. He took us to a nice place. That evening was fun again.
That village is was where kumki/Gajaraju was shot. That elaphant and village sets. The elephant watch tower place all were korangani.
Had a tired sleep and everybody was warned the subsequent day's trek will be toughest.
Some left to base camp in morning and we sent our unwanted luggage with them.
8
km rough terrain 50% of which was so hot at a 65 degree slope. Sweating like
hell. Everyone ran out of water. I There was a time difference of at least 20 mins for the first and last
person moving in the group
Half way we got a news that one diabetic person is being carried in shoulders down to korangani by our sweeper guide as he could not climb.
By Noon we found a very small stream just a leak through rocks.Had lunch there and filled bottles.
It became dense from there.
The
path was very narrow slippery moving in zigzag on mountain.Not to mention that the trekking view was again majestic to see the top - middle - base station hill range which we climbed down a day back.
It was evening and 8 hrs since morning a sudden view came in to picture when tall trees ended.A beautiful tea estate and village called kolukkumalai.
Worlds highest tea plantation processing the organic way.Tea leaves are generally plucked then weathered and then oxidised , dried and ground.This estate factory does them without adding any chemicals
Had a garden fresh milk tea there. We saw the tea processing machine.Then a view point nearby
Then had travel downhill in four jeeps back to our base camp at Devikulam.
Our guide Shaju Lawrence was a Munnar
localite and a naturalist.
It was 7.30 PM we stopped at a view point to see Munnar .It was spectacular to see a town from a height
Just looking above i was like WOW! Never saw so many stars at night anywhere.A light trace of milky way was visible with naked eyes. Venus looked like a LED bulb
Reached Base camp and left to home immediately.
That was an experience.Four days. Simply ones city and so called decent or cultured mask will peel off
with less resources.Far from home.No connectivity. That was a sense of accomplishment in spite of problem , pain faced.
200 years of Munnar history in short.
Our guide was telling all about flowers plants birds vegetation weather geography economy etc during the treks.
Britishers started tea plantations and took people from TN through the top station trek route for work
Let stay there and trained them at a place they called "Oozhiyaan chathiram" ஊழியான்சத்திரம்
Then keralites joined. This trek route was first historical gateway to munnar from East. Transported tea down from hills
though rope transport with facilities in 3 stations named Top, Middle and Bottom stations.
1930s the rope transport system destroyed by some calamity. We saw the remnants
After Independence the Tea estates sold to private companies.
Now only 3 companies own the whole tea estates there
* Harrison malayalam,a cochin based company owning all estates named lockhart
* Kannan devan hills tea planters association
* TATA tea
All
hill areas are owned by government but leased to companies like these
in a damn cheap rate for price in paisas per year for an acre
for 100s of years.
Most of the time we were in rain or just below or into the clouds. No much Photos but I just loved clicking than ever.
Other Photos can be found here
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