A Two Days' Trip to Remember for Ever: Nov 8th & 9th, 2012

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
                            -Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

We all were very thrilled about our study tour to Munnar, Thekkady and Vagamon. We had heard much about these places. 34 students from second year VHSE class and 6 teachers were in the group. It was a two day trip. All participants assembled at the school compound by 9.15 p.m on 7 th November.It was a night journey. We had great expectation and we were going to enjoy. The Pompi luxury coach was ready to take us. The journey began right at 10.15.

As soon as we entered the main road loud music began to play. The boys and girls started to dance. Music coupled with dance gave a special kind of rhythm to the movement of the bus . At dawn reached Adimali and freshen up. Unexpectedly we got a chance to visit Rasmi teacher’s house. There teacher’s father and mother gave us a warm reception. We enjoyed hot tea with unniappam.

The journey from Adimali to Munnar was really thrilling and inspiring. The well arrayed tea plantations covered with snow, mountains, waterfalls and exquisite resorts attracted our minds. Around 9 O’ clock we reached Munnar and from a restaurant we had our breakfast. The tea and dosai energized us.

At Eravikulam National Park

The park was our first destination at Munnar.The Park with its hidden mystery, charm and beauty was waiting for us. Nilgiri Thar and NeelaKurinchi are the chief attractions of Rajamalai. It were now time for trekking. On the way there were a lot of tourists representing different nations. Slowly we walked observing different plants and flowers. We were able to identify NeelaKurinchi and Kattu thumba. Even though the sight of Rajamalai was a feast to our eyes, we were disappointed as we didn’t get a single glimpse of Nilgiri Goats. Quite unexpectedly, as we reached at the top, a group of thars appeared for us. They were grazing at the meadows. Meanwhile they paused for photos. The top of the Malai seemed like a piece land separated from the Paradise. We took some photos and started to descend. Also watched the photo exhibition showing the photographs of varied animals and plants of the Park. While returning our mind was still at the hill top.

Kundala-Mattupetty dams and Echopoint

Kundala dam is a small one. Facilities for boating and horse riding are available here. We spent half an hour at the dam site. There were special fruits at the shops and some of us tasted Kiwi fruits. From there we headed to Mattupetty. On the way we stopped to visit Echo point. We walked leisurely on the lake shore and shopped also enjoyed echoing of our loud voice. We had our lunch from Echo-point. As we went to the nearby stream to wash hands, some of us ‘enjoyed” the leach bite. It was really a funny scene to watch the dancing with Attas on their feet.

Indo-Swiss project cattle farm is on the way. But we couldn’t visit the farm as tourists were not permitted to enter the farm.

Mattupetty dam site was so pretty to watch. There were some speed boats on the lake. We wandered here and there and tasted homemade chocolates and masala tea. By evening there began a shower rain and we said bye to Munnar with fresh and cherishable memories in our minds.

To Thekkady-a journey through Orange plantations

The travelling to thekkady was exciting and wonderful. A herd of elephants caught our attention. It was an unbelievable scene! They were very near to the road. We could do nothing but to take some snaps. As we progressed, we noticed many Orange trees carrying fruits and a few tea estates. Then a deep and wide waterfall became visible to us. It was coming from the top of the mountain and crossed the road by which we were passing. We wished to have a bath in the moving water. Even though it was a night journey we enjoyed it. By 10.pm bus came to a hault at Lakeshore hotel, Kumily.

Periyar tiger reserve

Next day we started early morning to the reserve. As we reached there many of us rushed to get tickets for boating and we got tickets earlier. Then we waited a few minutes to get the boat. By that time we watched monkeys jumping over the trees. Time passed and then was the most expected and enjoyable part of the tour- a two hour boat ride.

We get into the boat named “Periyar”. Some other tourists were also with us. Before starting, we were instructed to wear life jackets. Each one of us found a place from where we could enjoy the sights and sounds of the backwaters.

We could see fish flocking in water and birds roaming above to catch the fish. Thekkady is indeed an ecstatic place where nature showered its blessings lavishly.

At 9 we returned to our room and had our breakfast. After buying some spices we moved to Vagamon.

Vagamon

Grassy meadows, hills, waterfalls, pine valley, thangal para and kurisumala are afew among the chief attractions of Vagamon. When we watched hills covered with green grass we were compelled to stop there. We climbed up the hill and had a wonderful sight from the top. Some of us lost their control and sprawled on the green grass.

Then we had a sight of a water fall. We spent a few minutes in the pine valley, an area covered with tall and deep pine trees.