2,3,4 Oct 2015

From the day we planned this trip I knew it is going to be one of the best of my life, all because of the people I was going with. These are Siva (my fitness freak friend), Ashvini (one of my closest friend and an inspiring nature lover), Ryetika (the crazy cat, another nature lover), Koushik (the inspiring leader, an entrepreneur). One thing common in all of us, we admire nature from our hearts and are willing to contribute towards it, wherever possible.

Yercaud is a small hill station in Salem district, Tamil Nadu. The last stretch of eastern ghats forest towards southern India is a great getaway for nature lovers. We were in Salem on 2^nd Oct morning of 2015. Siva helped to make all arrangements for us, his father being in forest department since long time as a DFO. At the VasanthBhavan in Salem, our day started with the best south indian breakfast of all times (cannot forget the amazing vada and Pongal we had here). The Balero from forest department waited outside which took us to Yercaud guest house in no time. It was a peaceful morning at this basic facility on the hill top, surrounded by a simplistic landscape of green cover.

Visitors of Yercaud. From left Siva, Ashvini, Ryetika, Koushik and Me :)

While all refreshed in the room, I was already out with my camera to look out for the birds that chirped around. Me, Ashvini and Siva went to terrace and the red-whiskered bulbuls hopped on the branches of the huge flowered tree in the front yard of guest house. The plum headed parakeets and lot of mynas flew around breaking the silence every now and then.

 

A red whiskered bulbul enjoying nectar of flowers

Today we were to sight see the surrounding areas. But Before everything, me and Siva were too eager to savor a tea as early. Thankfully there was a tea point with amazing tea, very close to our guest house. It was good to have another crazy tea fan along in the trip.

We headed to our first view point in the Jeep that we booked for the day. It stopped at a secluded place from where we had to stroll on the track for a while to reach the point. The silence of the forest around already made it a great start for us. While we observed the lizards and flowers around (the touch-me-nots and others alike), I wanted to go deeper into the surrounding patches. I saw few rocks on a side. We all started to go to sit on them, I suddenly spotted some movement on the leaves under a rock. It was a snake just slithered under the rock. I could still see its head in the dark crack from where it looked back. We all one by one had a glance of the same. Not sure of the species it was, without disturbing more we all went back to the trail towards the view-point.

If you can see those eyes

The view point was indeed a worth place to visit. We climbed the hut overlooking the vast valley beyond. Unlike the coffee plantations and silver-oak trees, the monoculture I was cribbing about all the way, this was a pristine untouched patch of forest spread across thousands of acres. I was really happy to see this and wondered what all species it must be sustaining. An eagle then just flew over this expanse, then another one. Species hard to identify for the raptors.

An eagle flew across

We all were crazily happy here enjoying the wind gush and the view of valley. I asked all if we want to check out another view point somewhere secluded, where we can meditate. All agreed so we trailed back to search for another trail.

Another reptile

After a couple of failure attempts to some trails, we finally found a trail leading to some unknown spot. Walking for 15min we finally reached the point of seclusion. Something ran in my nerves at that time, this was love! My love to forests, to nature and to all its wonders I could connect at that moment, sitting on the rock with my eyes closed, the wind blew and an expanse of forest in front, I breathed the air so fresh!

Meditation

I could stay here all day but we had to head back for the rest of the day plan. Next was the temple and another view point where we enjoyed some local bhel.

 

some local bhel

We had a good lunch at another good restaurant, Malar and then we headed to another view point, which was quite crowded. I was now little frustrated. Do not know how to put precisely, but I was here to stay away from people and pollution and litter. I asked about the ladies/gents seat (whatever!) and the waterfall that we were supposed to visit in evening. Supposedly other crowdy places only, so I was getting disappointed (which I clearly conveyed to Siva :P). Still I was happy to be among the best people I know, so the giggles continued ;)

The ‘ladies seat’ was a garden only where we found a peaceful spot to try our hands on our Frisbee. We played for a while and then headed to waterfall. Full of naked people here, my idea to shower under was also gone :( I did try to drag people to an alternate and abandoned trail but it was filthy and smelly. Ha, couldn’t find the peaceful spot but luckily my eye went to a trail in the plantation opposite to the falls. I knew Ashvini will not say no and Siva also agreed to explore. We had to cross the smelly n filthy spot again but it was worth for the solace in woods we got for the next one hour. At a magical spot we all sat looking at the woods, listening to the cracks of toads, the calls of birds from distance and the water flowing somewhere below.

explorers

Ashvini’s notebook was out and she scribbled few more lines “”.

The sun was setting down as we could see through the forest, so we started back. Not wanting to cross the filth spot again we climbed an alternate way which made us reach directly to the road where our vehicle was parked. Kou and Ritz also came and we headed back to the guest house. Me and Siva were dying for tea so we stopped at the tea spot, also got some mirchi and kanda bhajji to snack up. The dinner was at a place (some AnnaLaxmi restaurant) where we all attacked each plate that came on table, served one by one. From here starts another side of this trip, the puzzles! Cant list all here but Siva started to put some amazing puzzles on the table which we attempted to solve (a cute video of two nerds attempting to solve a puzzle. I had no clue what Ritz was calculating :P)

This continued as we walked back to our room, followed by the game of 21 (card game where u are supposed to have minimum total in your hand). It was the most funny part of the trip as the game turned around from one winner to another. We played till 1am and slept under the giggles that continued till don’t know what time.

Day2 was a casual start as we all took leisure time to get ready and pack our stuff. I was anxious to look around our guest house, as always. I went for my first walk but the natural phenomenon forced me to return back early :P. Time for another walk, but I should fill all water bottles first (I was responsible for water for all for entire trip, no plastics!). This time me and Rytz went around. It was a nice walk around, checking out the green patches spread here and there on this hill top. Few babblers, mynas and bulbuls were ubiquitous. A grey wagtail crossed our way as we walked around through trees of eucalyptus, discussing about nature.

A grey wagtail

A curious babbler

We tried another restaurant for our breakfast which we discovered during our morning walk. This guy was happy to have us there as we ordered one round after other of Pongal, wada and idli. We dint realized when we ended up playing the game of RST and were actually blocking his other customers. It was not a polite way to send us out when he said “no more breakfast” on our next order :P

On our way we packed some local stuff, the egg rich kutha parota and few dosas. At about 12.15PM we were at a ‘middle of nowhere’ place where we got down from our jeep. We ate some food and then embarked for this trail that lead through trees.

I was getting excited but just a few meters later we were in teak woods, surely human plantation. Not expecting much diversity here we kept walking for some time and then asked our forest guide, ‘will we be actually going through a forest patch later’. Disappointed by his response, we kept walking. But it was not so disappointing experience overall. The occasional toads and pedes made It interesting, and interesting were the bird calls around us.

Among the teaks

Perfectly camouflaged toad

These were huge trees and the air was fresh and fresh were our talks.

Sometime later we found a pit, mostly a leftover of a dried up stream. We jumped in and walked further to find this place of silence where we sat for a while. Later we found an even better spot close to a slow and silent water stream. We finished the food we brought before losing ourselves to nature. I slept in her lap for a while. I was the most peaceful nap I had in long time.

Back to our trail me and Ashvini became super curious hearing the calls of these birds. Committed to spot them, we kept searching and finally spotted these green colored birds chirping happily on a tree canopy. They were really hard to locate due to their color. Later we discovered these were the blue winged leafbirds.

A blue winged leafbird

The trail ended and we hopped into our jeep that arrived just in time on the road. We head back to our guest house. It was around 4pm when after a round of tea and freshen up we headed to Malar for some food.

On return we checked out a garden on our way.The mist that had enveloped the surrounding made me feel the experience in woods would be great. Dissapointed again, most part of garden that we saw from outside was inaccessible. Nevertheless, we had a good session of Frisbee throws.

During the evening walk

Back to guest house, it was time to packup as next day is a 5hour trek through forest (we made sure we have one exclusive experience for this trip). At around 8, we headed to Malar for some more food and tea and our talks. The most fun filled session I would say, trying tongue twisters, RST and PJs.

Our favorite, Malar

The walk back was fabulous. It was dense mist all around us, low visibility and a light drizzle. The roads were empty and we had our torches on to figure out our way. We were soon back to our room.

















The night was last, so there was no hurry. While people were packing, I took help of Rytz for a new hairstyle.

crazy me

We leisurely played till 1am our game of 21. Today was not Siva’s day as we screwed him badly. The fun and laughter continued infinitely! My stomach ached due to that and the sleep was hard to catch :P

Day3

We all were up in time. Me and Ritz went for another walk while others were using the bathroom. As was the night, the morning was also full of mist covering the hills and the tree tops around us. It was a very silent morning. We came back after a while to get ready. The idea was to pack a small day pack for the trek. The primary bag we will leave in jeep. My day pack had the torch, first aid, water, camera and rain cover. We were all ready to leave by 8am when the jeep arrived, much later than we anticipated. Thankfully our forest guide got some food for us. A quick tea and an hour later we were at the same view point we were two days earlier. I couldn’t imagine we will be traversing the exact same patch of forest that I was appreciating two days earlier.

A blood red millipede

We started our journey and moments later we were in dense shrubs all around us. The forest seemed untouched from what the trees around said. Every second of being there was making me content. I was charged and excited, and also I would say blessed to be with the best set of people I know. There were tricky steep sections every now and then where people were realizing their true instincts to balance. While I was with Kou and Ritz, following from back, I was surprised to see how Ashvini was happily leading through the tricky trail as if she belonged here.

Ashvini, at home :)

Not any wildlife spotted though, we walked for about 2-3hrs to reach this amazing spot where a stream fell as a waterfall. It was one of really unexplored part of this area. I got rid of my shoes to dip them in the stream which massaged it naturally. The sound of flowing water always mesmerizes me somehow. I was again lost as I closed my eyes to listen to the sounds around me. Later I saw Ashvini and Siva went to a more adventurous point where I also headed to. The view of the fall was fantastic from here and this became my spot of meditation. It stopped all the thoughts in my mind and I was totally zoned out.

meditation again

Those buttefly always selected a stinky spot

We have to continue now as there was still an equal distance to trek further. The jam and bread, and the peanuts were a great combination for the little munch we did. The water from the stream was shady, but it was really tasty. Trusting my taste buds, I galloped a lot of it to remain hydrated.

The walk further was along the edge of a hill. Not so tricky though, till we reach the point to cross the stream. Again surprised when Ashvini happily crossed it without any problem. Siva also went and then I wanted to demo for Ritz and Kou to use all limbs. Bad idea as I had a huge camera hanging in my neck. I better decided to walk over the rocks.

A hammerhead worm, first time I saw in life and it is venomous

After a while we crossed another stream and now we were almost in plains walking on flat ground. What we studied in books was evident here. The trees made a dense canopy at top only allowing a fraction of light to reach below leaving the forest floor mostly bare. I time and again looked up to the huge green ceiling of nature to awe myself. Further we saw a small place where stones were arranged. A small religious spot for locals which I could foresee turning into a temple few decades later :P

As the trail was ending we could see huge spider webs, some expanse from one tree to another. The spiders themselves were huge and scary. Even scarier were the golden ants that were sitting on a plant, we narrowly escaped.

The wood spider

Trail ended near a man made dam (the dead trees told the tale). We were welcomed by the forest officers and fellow guards. We were already down in plains to now just have a short drive till Salem. We could see the view point far somewhere on hill top, from where we started our trek today.

About an hour of drive, our discussions about next trip and our puzzles continued. The lunch today was at a special restaurant in Salem, the Anandabhavan. It was I think the most authentic and the tastiest south Indian food I ever ate. On a banana leaf were served atleast 5 different curries, rasam, apalam, rice, podi and sweets. We were neck full eating that amazing meal.

AnandaBhavan Thali

The visit to Koushik’s house in Salem was a bonus. Among their hospitality, we had the luxury to freshen ourselves from the day trek followed by amazing tea, sweets and Bhajji. I still remember the sad side of it when Kou mentioned about the huge lake besides his house that was encroached for by local builders.

Evening Snacks at Koushik's house :)

Time to catch our bus from the stop where we got chance to meet Siva’s father. We were so grateful to him for arranging a once in a lifetime experience for we all. I especially thanked him and also discussed about other forests that we can explore. I got a lot of insights from him.

We boarded the bus and after a small tea break we all were deep asleep during our entire journey to Hyderabad. Truly the best experience of lifetime into the wild. Thanks to the wonderful people I was with! :)