Yes, the thirst to ken the astonishing landscape of Siruvani took its roots in bULLS from a mail sent by Manu. He suggested it as the next hangout destination. All were interested in the same. I started the search for Siruvani and the Banan fort.
University exams were over. All kept planning for a trip, but all in vain. At last Manu managed a night get together at Makku’s. Makku Manu KD Aswin and Makku’s friend Bimal enjoyed that night. That too didn’t end up in any plans. Few days later Visal landed.
As usual bULLS need someone to overdrive. Someone must necessarily overdrive to make plans bloom. This has been the habit of bULLS since the Vayanadu trip. This time MANU took the steering. He planned the trip in a short notice. 18th June afternoon was full of messages and phone calls. Everyone dropped all other assignments for the next two days and dedicated it to bULLS.
The plan was to go in bikes. But due to strong opposition from Makku’s Parents we decided to call a taxi. All ran around for a Vehicle. KD somehow arranged a Tavera. I phoned Kannan chetan and arranged his Tavera without rent, with the lowest running rate. So we decided to choose this one.
On 19th June morning by 6.30am we started our journey from Perumbavoor Oushady junction. Parthiv Manu KD Visal boarded the car from Perumbavoor. Makku and Aswin joined us from Kalady. Due to some reasons Arun Vishnu could not join us. On the way we had food from Hotel Aaryas. Then we started our discussion about the destination. This is because Siruvani was not given good explanation in the tourism map of Palakkad. There was no explanation about the Banan fort. We all feared if it would become the worst destination. We decided to stick to the former plan, Palakkad- Siruvani- Coimbatore. The stay at Coimbatore was proposed to be at Visal’s house.
Journey continued, we reached Palakkad. We took Palakkad Kozhikkode route. On the way Visal got a call telling that there was no one in his room and that both the keys were with his friend who stays in Alapuzha. This distressed all of us. All were sure that this trip is going to be the worst. We dropped Coimbatore from our plans. Decided to stay at Palakkad, Visal arranged room in Palakkad through his friend staying there. On the way we read a direction board written MEENVALLAM Waterfalls 9kms towards right. Manu insisted to go there as we had time and 9kms were not a big distance.
The road was not good at all, 9kms felt like 19kms. On the way car’s rear right tyre was punctured. We cursed our fate. KD helped Rupesh chettan to change the tyre. After changing the tyre we continued. We parked our car at the place marked and walked around half a kilometre to reach the waterfalls. It was so beautiful and we felt like we are inside forest. There was no one except us. The fall is not so big, but it was beautiful with crystal clear water pool. We felt to jump in but were reluctant as we were not prepared. But the nature’s beauty didn’t allow us to stand watching. We removed our clothes and started playing like children on Mother Nature’s lap. Swimming, somersaulting and so on. Rupesh chettan asked us to get back but we couldn’t. In-between Makku made Visal as he was born. He kept Visal’s cloths far on a rock. At last Visal was forced to come out of water and walk like a baby. Even rain couldn’t resist us from our play. A leach had bit me which drew my blood. It was around 2pm as we said good bye to that exotic wild beauty. Return journey was unforgettable by Manu’s English, “This seat belt is very good for health”
After a few minutes of ride by 2.30pm we reached Edakkurissi from where the journey to Siruvani begins. We decided to have food from a hotel there. After food our expedition began by 3pm. All were as thrilled as we were going to a place about which even inhabitants knew a little. Whomever we asked told that the forest guards won’t let us in due to rain. And that the road was blocked. Some told that it was risky as the forest is full of wild animals especially elephants. On the way it was written the road traffic through dam was prohibited. We still continued our journey. We were cautiously moving forward. The road was so hostile. We did not even see a human for a long time. On the road there were Elephant excreta which trembled us. We saw broken electrical wires on road which made us believe that something was happening. We even thought of returning home, but Aswin said ‘Lets go’. Sometime later a car followed us, we decided to go together.
By 4.15 we saw a forest office and the road traffic were blocked beyond that. We went outside and talked with the officers there. We showed them the pictures and the Banan fort, but they had no idea about it. They enquired with few experienced locals too, they too had not seen such place anywhere over there. From there we had to travel in the forest vehicle, a Tata Ace. We had to pay Rs 400 for the Ace, plus Rs 10 per head as entry fee. We were a little late as they would not allow visitors after 6pm. We 7 along with 3 people who came in car were allowed to visit the dam. The forest guard rushed us through the narrow forest road. We saw a wild bull (actual bull, not cyber bull) in the meadows. It was so big and terrifying. We stopped our vehicle at a check post and started walking up the hill. The guard walked up with ease, we all were gasping but did not sweat. He showed us Elephant’s foot print tiger’s excreta etc. Also there was a wild bee hive just reachable by hand. The clouds were rushing through us, we felt as though we are inside the clouds we went till the top, from there we could see the whole of Tamilnadu. In the nearby mountain clouds were stuck. Standing here we would feel that we are on top of clouds.
The wind was so strong that it was difficult to hold shirt in hand. We took few photos and came down the hill. We drank water from the guard’s room. It was so pure and tasty. Suddenly we found few leaches on our feet. KD’s feet were full of blood. While returning we saw fresh elephant excreta, everyone kept quiet for some time. And the guard said it would have left minutes before our arrival. Carefully he drove us till the office. We bid goodbye to them and those three tourists.
Return journey was full of thrilling stories of Rupesh chettan. He blasted a lot of dynamites. On the way KD had an eruption, he stopped the car and ran out with the water bottle. He ran around everywhere and at last he broke into a nearby house. He shouted for someone to come out. A lady came out, he asked permission to hear the nature’s call. We all waited in the car for him. He came back and we continued to Palakkad. Visal’s friend had arranged a fine lodge near the KSRTC bus stand. By that time I found a leach in my leg. It was dead and my leg was full of blood. I and KD cleaned our leg with Dettol and the blood clotted. We all became fresh, and went out to have food. We had food from a nearby hotel. While Manu Vishnu and myself were shopping few essentials. Two people came to us and asked whether we need ladies. Manu and I did not understand but Vishnu knew what they were talking about. We nicely scooted from them, they left us. We came back to the lodge. Enjoyed the whole night playing cards and having small fights. In-between fight between me and Makku became little serious but for a short while, we said sorry each other. We continued our play and gained our mood. Late at night we went to bed.
Next day we woke up by 7.30am and prepared the return journey. Had food from the nearby Indian Coffee House. Then Aswin had an eruption. Our return journey started by 9.30am. Rupesh chettan was driving drastically that everyone was holding our lives in hands. We reached Kalady by 12 noon, and Perumbavoor by 12.30. We settled the taxi bill.
The journey taught us that fortune happens for those who take risk. We had to face difficulties during journey, there were situations which broke our mood. But we decided to move forward, to face anything and we ended up in two beautiful destinations. We knew the taste of real nature. Such places are God’s gift, to show us how beautiful heaven is. Yes SIRUVANI is a heaven on earth, a real thrilling natural Paradise.
Cheers everyone........
