Rainforest trek at Athirapally
In the interiors of Kerala, the rhythm of life remains much as it had in days gone by. A
coastline dotted with boats, rustic villages, and a horizon that twinkles with the
brilliance of a thousand stars at dusk. Nowhere is more apparent than in a cape on
the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Athrirapally (pronounced athira-palli) - a scenic and
untouched enclave nestled in the shade of luxuriant bamboo groves, palm trees and
thick jungles full of giant mahogany, teak and oak trees. And here lies the Vazhachal
forest guest house - a quaint little abode fringing the long, magnificent Chalakudy
River that leads to the clear, cool waters of the Athrirapally and Vazhachal waterfalls.
Spread over 2000 acres and landscaped by nature, Athrirapally offers one the unique
combination of the most basic comforts encased in an oyster of peace and
surrounded by blue thick evergreen rainforests and verdant hills. One wakes up each
morning listening to the sweet songs emanating from the beaks of innumerable
mynahs who have sought sanctuary under the huge trees that surround this
picturesque guest-house.
One is writing this from ones tree-house at Athrirapally in Thrissur District in Kerala
State. Thrissur is derived from the word Thri Shiva Perur in Malayalam which means
abode of three eyed Lord Shiva. Several species of macaques inhabit this forest
along with wild elephants, Malabar Hornbills, Giant Malabar Squirrels and wild boar
and which is a three hour drive from the nearest international airport which is at
Kochi... It is advisable to stay overnight at Athirapally for at least for one night if not
more to explore the wonders of nature which abound this jungle paradise. Athirapally
consists of isolated coves, tropical rainforests, scattered paddy fields and giant
bamboo and teak forests. Athiraplly is known as the Niagara Falls of Asia, but is more
spectacular in August after the monsoon hits Kerala. Athirapally is located on the
western ghats on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. With a geological history stretching
back to 5000 years, Kerala boasts of emerald waters, secluded caves, rock
formations and idyllic beaches.
One of the must see attractions after the novelty of the waterfalls have worn off is an
early morning trek along the bamboo groves to spot golden tailed macaques that live
alongside the bamboo groves. Located on the Athirapally-Vazhachal route these
bamboo forests can be reached by a gentle trek in about an hour. The total distance
from Athirapally waterfalls to Vazhachal should not exceed 3 km. and the return trek
can be completed in 120 minutes at a leisurely pace. Do not take a vehicle if you
want to enjoy a calm walk, through thick evergreen rainforests, with the buzzing
sound of the waterfall and the sounds of the rainforest in the background. Every step
taken in this trek is meditation in its truest sense. In ZeNLP, we have a meditation
termed walking meditation, which is a technique to remain in the present moment.
Relax every muscle in your body and become aware of every step you take. Mentally
count the number of steps you take bringing awareness to every cell of your being.
Become aware of the sights, sounds and feelings like sponge absorbing water.
Increase your awareness of your surroundings with every step, so that all that exists
is the present moment and the sounds of nature are the only sounds your ears can
hear and the lush greenery. The wild-life at Athrirapally is a rich treasure trove and a
fascinating window on the rainforests. Home to innumerable varieties of macaques
and other animals Athirapally is a destination where elephant sightings are certain at
dawn and dusk. I spotted elephants both during my trek as well as during my drive to
and from Athirapally. Thousands of species of trees carpet the hills of Athirapally.
Each tree represents a living proof of being sculpted by natures hidden hand. As you
trek alongside the gushing mountain streams of the Chalakudy river as it gushes
down the Sholayar hills to meet the Arabian Sea. One peers at the bamboo groves
which have remained undisturbed since centuries, and which offer a safe sanctuary
for these delicate darlings, As one treks alongside the bamboo forests that flank both
sides of ones bridle path, searching for micro-movements among the branches to
spot macaques, one hears rustling bushes, which indicate the presence of these
golden tailed macaques.
However, spotting one is not so easy. They scatter away in defence at the sound of
the approaching footsteps. A more relaxed technique to spot these gentle creatures
is to rest under the canopy of the bamboo, on the edge of the hill and wait for the
macaques to appear. Nature always rewards patience. One can wait for their arrival
which is signaled by squeaks, shouts and shrill cries of these playful mammals.
Feeding of wild monkeys is neither advisable nor expected. Soon, one of the more
adventurous ones lands on the branches of the nearest tree. After keenly observing
the environment, it squeaks and signals his mates. Soon, out of nowhere seven to
eight golden tailed macaques land alongside us and swing wildly from one branch to
the other. One gets to spot a mother feeding her new-born at regular intervals too.
There are ancient species of palms that are endemic to these rainforests around
these swamps. One might see the Giant Malabar Squirrel, if one is fortunate enough.
The sounds of the Malabar Hornbill can be heard at regular intervals during the trek.
One returns to the comfort of the Ayurvedic spa at Thrissur for a rejuvenating
massage after the trek. Staffed by kalari and traditional masseurs from Kerala, the
shirodhara, is an extremely rejuvenating experience. Gallons of lukewarm herbal oil
are gently poured on the forehead exactly four fingers above the point where the
eyebrows meet. The body and head are gently massaged after an hour of shirodhara.
Then one gets a body scrub with a green gram paste and a warm water bath after a
back massage with hot compress massage with herbal bags.
This aromatherapy massage is extremely effective in relaxing all the muscles of
ones body. One feels waves of relaxation ripple through every muscle of ones body
as the masseur works on all the muscles of the body with scientific precision. The
herbal oil used during this massage stimulates all the five senses, resulting in an
extraordinary experience.
The Kerala eye massage or netradhara is an extremely effective way to find oneself a
new pair of eyes. One feels coolness in ones eyes after water is poured into the eyes,
to remove all traces of dust and other impurities from ones eyes.
How to get there:
By air:
The nearest international airport to reach Athirapally is Kochi. There are direct flights
to Kochi from all major Indian cities.
By car:
From Bengaluru drive to Kochi via Mangalore. Athirapally is 25km. away from Kochi.
By bus:
Buses leave Ernakulam KSRTC Bus Terminal regularly. The trip takes about 30 to 40
minutes.
By train:
Ernakulam is connected to all State Capitals by trains
Where to stay:
Homestays, are the only option for budget tourists to stay around Athirapally. The
other option is to stay at the Forest Guest House at Vazhachal or the nearest PWD
guest-house. The hotels and resorts around Athirapally are extremely expensive and
do not offer value for money.
Where to eat:
There are a very few pure vegetarian joints at Athirapally. Mahaveer Vegetarian
Restaurant opposite the Athirapally Bus Stand offers good North Indian vegetarian
food. Fresh cabbage, cauliflower and carrots are available from the farms around
Thrissur. Vegans can get fresh tropical fruits including papayas, water-melons and
musk-melons at the local market.
________________________________________________________________________
Photo caption: Close up of one of the more adventurous one.
________________________________________________________________________
Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and author based at
Ahmedabad, India. He is the author of "ZeNLP-Learning through stories" published by
The Written Word Publications, "ZeNLP-the power to succeed" published by Sage
publications and ZeNLP-the power to relax by New Dawn Press. He can be reached
at ceo@tips4ceos.com
_____________________________________________________________________________
Courier payments/published magazine author copies to:
Murli Menon
E/503, Borsali Apt;
Khanpur
Ahmedabad-380001
Phone:079-25600269
________________________________________________________________________High
resolution digital photographs attached with caption.
The following article and photographs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No
part of this article or the accompanying photographs may be reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without written
permission from the author by emailing us at ceo@tips4ceos.com
________________________________________________________________________
Courier payments/published magazine author copies to:
Murli Menon
E/503, Borsali Apt;
Khanpur
Ahmedabad-380001
Phone:079-25600269
________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Photo caption: The white water cascade at Athirapally is a delight to watch
Photo caption: A family photo of long tailed macaques at Athirapally
Photo caption: A view of the Chalakudy river at Athirapally
Photo caption: Golden tailed macaques resting inside the thick bamboo groves
The following article and photographs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. No
part of this article or the accompanying photographs may be reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without written
permission from the author by emailing us at ceo@tips4ceos.com
Also,
Please mail us two copies of your magazine with our articles and payments to:
Murli Menon
E/503, Borsali Apt;
Khanpur,
Ahmedabad-380001
India
Phone:00-91-79-25600269
