Since Appooppanthaadi completed 6 journeys with 30 lady nomads who already joined in our multiple trips and formed in our WhatsApp group was demanding a Monsoon walk in the month of Monsoon. Those who loved to join was stucked with Ramzan fasting, especially Amina who was with us on our Chikmanglore trip. But Azbara teacher was the first one who get in first in the que!
As usual the preparation started and people gathered at WhatsApp group and meeting and introducing each other and waiting for the day to go hand in hand.
We have 5 hour journey but still we started around 10PM day before as our driver sahib wanted to get sleep in later or might ask rest in between. When we started, our first pick up point was Infosys campus, Where 2 techies of UST was waiting near by after their duty - Reshma and Dayana. Coming directly from Office with their back pack and ofcourse their lap top. Next one was Gayathri who was working with D+H in Technopark and mother of 2 kids and top of all who was eating my head since the plan was started with titty-bitty questions. She was waiting with her husband on the way when we headed to pick Azbara teacher and her 11year old son. Next was our Susan teacher with her 20 year old daughter and Jyothi who joined at Susan teacher's home for this trip. This both characters are very familiar for those who joined our trips and read our blog before. Jyothi - Energy bomb got in the vehicle and started her blah-blah and she was a perfect match for Gayathri who was turning down by age and not better than our Azbara teacher.
Our next pick up point was Railway station where Nidhi and Nitha was waiting. Nitha who was continuously in touch with me since I know here from one of my friend and finally turned up for a trip, coming all the way from Calicut. Nidhi also was the same who joined on last minute and on leave from an NRI life.
This time Azbara teacher dragged one foot of her friend, thats Mrs. Shini and she was all set at her stop with her husband to wave off for a wonderful trip. Everyone was packed to Vehicle by 10.30PM and the journey began with a scary movie - Conjuring 2. Jyothi bought it but our player in the vehicle was not supporting it. But our driver got a better copy and when it started playing, those who was scared to watch (I didn't mentioned you Gayathri :P ) was fallen asleep and finally me and Jyothi was the one who was watching till the end.
We took breaks in between and it was dawn by the time when our vehicles started climbing up the tea plantations. In between a Porcupine crossed our way and this excitement made the sleepy heads to wake up and waiting for the next gift which early dawn will bring, but unfortunately there was nothing left.
Google was our guide but it has a very wrong way shows to Ramakkalmedu where all travelers get confused, so we also got the wrong path. But by 7AM we gathered at Vinayak's home stay and allotted rooms and announced to get fresh at the earliest. Me and Azbara teacher was fasting so after fresh up we have nothing to do till others have their breakfast.
Soon after the breakfast we headed towards Wind mills fields. To be true- we were not expecting the wind gonna be this strong when it said this is the place in India where Wind blew to its strongest form. Yes, it was Ramakkalmedu and we enjoyed till next day we live the place.
Girls were having fun in the wind and no body could get a good photo without their hair being a real mess. And at times it was hard to stand properly but still spent quite a lot of time there. Next destination was Aamakkallu which we need a off-road drive. We said bye to our Traveler for a while and started heading to the hills in two jeeps.
It was first time seeing and experiencing such a hard core off road drive, our jeeps were literally climbing over rocks. We took two break points, one is to view the Theni's outskirts and next is near by a small pool which is formed by the Monsoon. Next was the real point where the rocks are formed like a Tortoise and obviously thats the reason to call it "Tortoise hills". But the real fun was scrolling inches below the rocks to reach the others side. Everyone's dress got dirty while scrolling through the recently rained mud, and few got their sandals broken. Jyothi was one among that main stream victim :P
Reshma was the spoiled brat in that pack, who was supporting and dragging everyone to the adventure spirit of the trip. Spent quite alot of time there clicking snaps and posing photos. As it was reaching Lunch time and everyone was getting down on energy, we slowly packed back to the home stay. The return journey was much amazing as we were climbing down the hill in through a steep off-road in Jeep. yes, I told you it was one of the best jeep ride ever!
Everyone was rushing to lunch table when we reached home stay and ready in one hour for the next ride to near by waterfalls which was not much explored. So the expectations were high but still few, including me, was dozing off on the way in that one hour journey. We parked our jeep near by and walked again few meters to see the source of sound which is coming from the near by running water. Finally when we found it, we were dumbstruck to see the height and the beauty of the untouch water. Thankfully it was not polluted with plastics as it was hidden from the outskirts. Next task was finding a way to get a bath in the falls, when our driver and the owner of Homestay, Vinayak gone to explore the way, we patiently waited at down near the stream but not idle ;) Yes offourse dipping our foot in that icy cold water.
Vinayak came out to see the way to the top but warned us not to get in water, as the water level was high. But still we could manage to get few good clicks and bath at down streams. Time was flying like anything and it was soon 6.15PM. Nitha- who was in the water initiated to get out of it first and following her Reshma. Dressed up and gathered things around and headed towards the jeep in few minutes one by one.
On the way Gayathri bought us fruits and it was me and Azbara teacher's Ifthar along with the food which was waiting Home stay's dining table. Others dinner was also served before 8PM when everyone changed the damp clothes and ready for a camp fire.
Electricity was coming and going in between due to the wind and it was adding up the cold in the air. When we gathered around the fire, those who were joined 3 trips before us shared their experience - Susan-Azbara Teachers and Jyothi. Those who were coming for the first time shared their experience too. But this time wind came as a villain to our fire which we have stop in few minutes. Then it was Jyothi who demanding an early morning sunrise next day morning. I asked her whether she will wake up at this temperature that early but she said she will wake up and wake up others too.
And Jyothi was right when the alarm ran at 5.15AM, she sprung up in the bed and started calling others names. Nithi and Nidha was the last one in the row but still we started to the peak- Ramakkalmedu by 5.45AM. Shivering in the morning air and following the foot steps of our guide- we reached the mountain top in half an hour. Sun was already up when we reached there but the fun was getting on the top. Nidhi was about to give up all the way and very scared of heights. But she too made it! Offcourse this time our driver and Reshma was the mentors to give her support to reach the top rock where Lord Rama's foot was marked under a concrete binding. Rama – kal – medu literally means "Land of Rama’s Stone" or "Land where Rama kept his leg" (Rama is a Hindu God in the epic Ramayana). One story says that Lord Rama kept his feet at the tip of Ramakkalmedu to search Ravana the King of Lanka, who abducted his wife Sita. We, Appooppanthaadi's sat there facing the waking sun and enjoying the spreading mist-ic beauty down. I announced to stop selfi when Jyothi was not stopping with a single click and she got paid by one click as her hat blew off in the wind.
We were the first one in that morning to reach that top, and by the time of another gang started climbing from downhills, we climbed down and started exploring the other side of the hills. It all took almost two hours and we rushed back to home stay to get fresh and pack up for the next destination.
When we check out of the homestay our next destination was Kuravan-Kurathi statue of Ramakkalmedu. The large statue that depicts the Sangam Period and Sangam landscape of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The monument provides a panoramic view of Tamil Nadu villages and towns, including Cumbum, Theni, Kombe, Thevaram, Uthamapalayam, Bodinaykannor and Vaiga. Rolling green hills and the fresh mountain air make Ramakalmedu an enchanting retreat. Few minutes we roamed around the statue and then in few minutes we bid our bye to Ramakkalmedu and its vigorous winds.
Next destination was Idukki. Yes offcourse the one of the highest arch dams in asia. But something was awaiting on the way and that was Calvary mount and its Panoramic view. We reached around noon and then explored around to view the reservoir view. It was lunch time when we hit by the view of Arch dam and we parked our vehicle near by the spot where film "Maheshinte Prathikaram"'s climax scene was shooted. Photography inside the dam was prohibited and this made our wanderers stepping speed little higher. The same entrance ticket can be used to visit the bottom of the dam. We were close to the time when we reached the bottom of the dam but there was some restriction stopped us few meters ahead and the restriction was good as we cant predict what will fall from the top to our head. Even a small stone can cause death. It was a long conversation with the security staff of the dam and then by 5.30PM we started packing the bags back to home.
At that time someone in the group noticed the family living near the entrance. 3 little girls and their sick mom who was suffering from heart disease and not able to speak to us. They were showing us the paperclip which was printed in some news paper for her treatment cost. My Appooppanthaadi's without even a request shared the sum in their wallet and all together give them an amount and Azbara Teacher's son initiated to pack the snacks for the kids which we brought in trip. There was a boy too in the family, 7 year old and twins to other girls.
It was their faces in the mind when headed back to home, we did our best and they still need other's support. Next day early morning 3AM every one was back to their nest expect me, Nitha and Nidhi who were heading to their home towns.
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