Thekkady is located near to Kerala-Tamil
Nadu border.
The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen,
semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass
lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread
across 777 sq km , of which 360 sq km is thick
evergreen forest. The wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978.
The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar
Dam across the Periyar River adds to
the charm of the park. The greatest attractions of Periyar are the herds of
wild elephants, deer and bison that come down to drink in the lake. The
sanctuary can be accessed through a trekking, boating or jeep safari. Periyar is one of the 48 tiger reserves in India.
Zealously guarded and efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare,
endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two
important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta in Kerala,
India. It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve.
Ok now let’s
start.My bus was at 7 PM form majestic to Kumily.Luckily I had booked my room
at the Hornbill cottage a week ago.I reached kumily bus station @ 7.30 AM the
next day(8th).My hotel guy picked me up from the bus station to the
hotel.I got freshed up and the auto was ready to take me to Periyar tiger
reserve bamboo rafting half day program which I had booked online through the
help of Jamal(hotel manager).Here’s the link - http://www.periyarfoundation.online/home.html . I was taken to a hotel nearby for
the breakfast.It was a Jain hotel and I had yummy poori baaji.Then I was taken
to the Bamboo rafting center.I had some conversation with the local guides in
the office.
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| The office at the entrance |
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| Museum next to office |
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| Museum |
They said that there was another person joining me on the same day.I
had to fill up a form.Later my partner arrived ! Marcia was from Switzerland !
We started @9.30 introducing about ourselves and exchanged information about
our countries.We were given a bag which had lunch box,water bottle and an apple
and were accompanied by a police and 2 forest guides who guided us about the
forest and animals all the way.We spotted some wild monkeys,squirrels and some
birds.Sounds of the animals and birds all the way was spectacular.We also found
some huts and were informed by the guides that they were forest tribals and
were allowed only for fishing,plucking cardamom,cinnamon etc…
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| Wild Squirrel |
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| My Swiss mate with the 2 forest officers behind |
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| Wild forest flower |
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| Bison Skull |
It was a 4
km walk and then we reached a beautiful spot where we had to start our
rafting.We were taken to the balcony of a small building where we had our lunch
which consisted of a chapathi rolled with vegetables,cakes,puffs,buns etc,,,we
also drank the fruit juice. I retained the apple for my evening snack.Now, the
fun part.Bamboo rafting. For 2 hrs.It just began and it was damn peaceful.I
just didn’t want to come out of the lake at all..We could spot variety of birds
and it was pin drop silence around ! What a day it was.I was thrilled and my
brain was energized 100 times more.That’s what I wanted.A complete changed
weekend….
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| The lunch |
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| All set for the bamboo ride |
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| We enjoying. |
We now had to walk again for 4 km…I also found a forest mango and
Bison skull ! We reached back to the forest office at 2.30 PM…I had to say good
bye to Marcia and thank her for the wonderful day.My auto was ready Which took
me to the room.After a long rest till the evening, I decided to take a stroll
in the city.So headed out at 6 PM to the local market.Had my dinner in a hotel
and purchased a T-Shirt,a fridge magnet and off course the famous Kerala banana
chips.Later reached room at 8 PM and had a good night sleep.
The next day
morning Jamal arranged home made idlis and tea for breakfast .After discussing
with him for a while , he suggested me to visit the spice garden and later to
periyar boating.he arranged me an auto.It was a topless auto where I could
stand and watch all the spice garden and hills along my way through the spice
Garden.he also took me to a view pont which was amazing.
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| Idlis |
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| View point |
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| Me at the view point |
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| Topless auto |
From there we moved to
the Spice garden which followed with a lot of information about the spice
plantation in Kerala.
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| Spice Route ! |
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| Me in the spice garden |
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| Spice and herbal plants |
From there we headed toward the boating area.I had to
purchase the ticket and wait for the motor boats to arrive.The boats were very
neatly maintained and guide was awesome.After a while it was my lucky day since
we could spot the forest elephants drinking water near the lake side..Boat was
almost near the Elephants..It was just splendid.The entire ride was full of
bird watching …All worth it !
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| Elephants |
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| Birds |
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| Me in the boat |
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| Another bird |
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| That's the boat ! |
I was taken to my hotel with some packed puffs
and cakes near the bus stand for my lunch.I had to pack my bags since the bus
back to Bangalore was @ 7 PM.After a long nap, finally I had to say bye to
Jamal and his family and thank them for the wonderful hospitality.Jamal is a
Police SI in Kumly Police station and alos had travelled to Europe.He took me
till the bus and then I reached Bangalore the next day at 7.30 AM.
What an
awesome weekend.Just the way I wanted…peaceful !
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