8 jan 2012
I've been waiting for sometime to go to Parambikulam wildlife park.. But basically couldnt find anyone to accompany me.. This week i decided to go there come what may.. Whole week i researched on the subject and come sunday i was very excited.. And decided to ride out alone..
I started from home by 6.30 am. It was very cool morning. Had tucked up my jacket and slung up my camera.. I headed from palakkad to Pollachi route via Kinasseri, puthunagaram , chittur, vandithavalam, menakshipuram.. Very smooth road.. Hardly any traffic. Was speeding above 70kmph. Soon crossed over to Tamil Nadu.. At 10km frm Pollachi, turned right to head to Anamalai.. Anamalai is small nondescript tamil town. Had breakfast here.. It seems there is a Masaniammam Kovil where there is a huge rush of Ayyappa devotees. Made my way out of there and headed to Setumadai... Setumadai is a very small village.. Unfortunately i took a wrong turn here, headed up into some Sarkarpathy dam about 10km away.. It was a long, deserted forested route.. A good ride.. But had to come back to Sethumadai and head out to Topslip.. But on the way was a forest checkpoint. The guards said bikes are not allowed further.. Buses are available but its another 3 hours away.. Taxis take about 1500 bucks.. Damn.. Nevertheless i decided to turn back and come back another time.. Maybe a bad decision.. But i hate to wait...
So i headed back.. Was speeding at 80s in my disappointment.. I took a wrong turn and instead of going to Vandithavalam, i headed out to Muthalamada and Kollengode further. No problem its just a slight deviation.. And from there rode back to palakkad.. Reached palakkad by 10.15am...
Half an hour later rode out to Dhoni waterfalls, 10km from Palakkad, off Olavakkod... However when i reached to forest checkpoint they said waterfalls are closed for atleast 6 months as some people died there recently.. Talk about badluck..
But i wasn't about to give up.. Next destination Meenvellam waterfalls.. Dats abt 35 km frm palakkad.. 25 km on palakkad kozhikod highway. From Kalladikode, turn right and go for about 10km.. From kaladikode, the way was small and full of potholes.. Soon the way deteriorated to such a terrible extend that it was practically unmotorable.. The way was strewn with loose rocks and big potholes.. Going by bike even going on first gear was difficult.. It was the worst stretch of road i'd ever been in.. Unless you want to have your insides shaken uncontrollably go in a All Terrain Vehicle(ATV).. After a long bumpy journey i reached the checkpoint where they asked for 10rs coupon.. From there we have to ride up another 2.5km thats probably the worst stretch.. I seriously thought of stopping the bike and pushing it.. Finally reached the base point.. From there we'd have to walk up another 300ms.. After meandering through some construction sites i did reach the waterfall..
Waterfalls was a big let down.. It was a small affair.. Of course there was sufficient space to swim around and it was not too deep.. Dont think ladies could make it, didnt see any.. After taking one or two photos trudged home..
On the way back to the checkpoint, i saw an opening through a clearing. Thought i'd check it out.. The opening went down onto a amazingly beautiful and secluded green waterpond formed by 3 small gurgling streams.. This water body made of rocks which are max 2 feet deep led off into a big stream which gurgled down numerous small heights.. Overall it was so so quiet. I was so moved by its beauty i spend close to an hour there taking photos and taking in the scenic beauty. Just sat on a rock and let my feet be washed by the streaming water while enjoying the music of gurgling waters..If you ever go there dont miss this clearing, though its slightly secluded..
The journey back was uneventful and reached home by 4pm. Dats abt 250km done..
Overall, Meenvellam waterfalls, highly overrated.. Avoid if possible..
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