Stars Coming Down Or Are We Reaching Out For The Clouds? Riveting Meesapulimala Trek

My every morning starts with the glimpsing of Facebook posts and videos. The routine continued and on one very fine morning, when I swiped some Facebook posts, my eyes got clang in a post forwarded by one of my friends. On further clicks, I found that he was interested in an event and was going for the same. What interested me was the place where he was going. The event he mentioned was a trekking to a hill named Meesapulimala. Suddenly I recollected a dialogue in the movie, Charlie delivered by Dulquer Salman. What he explained was the beauty of the hills. Apart from the movie, I have heard the name before but didn’t know where it was. I was also interested in the event and contacted my friend who was going. Unfortunately, the number has got filled and the expedition was planned for the coming weekend which was not compatible with me as I was having some commitments. I dropped the idea and planned the same trek with my wife for next time. I waited for many days when we both will be free and finally we fixed it on Onam holidays.

Actually, to add more fun to the tour, we decided to include my wife’s brother and family. More information was provided by my friend who had gone for trekking. As per his advice, we booked the permission and stay from KFDC. Our stay was arranged at sky cottage. We were from Alleppey and reaching the trekking site was easy according to the distance calculated by Google map. We further checked many tour packages in various sites in Kerala itself to add some more locations if the time permits but what we could add was just Munnar. There were many attractions listed in the tour packages itinerary of Kerala. We checked the Kerala tourism packages with the price to get an idea of the travel destinations in Kerala. But if we pick that it would be a loss for us as due to the time limit, we won’t be able to complete the tour. Thus we finalized our itinerary with a trekking in Meesapulimala, and Eravikulam national park in Munnar to watch the Nilgiri Tahrs.

Meesapulimala is located in Munnar and is the second highest peak in south India after Anamudi. Even the site was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO and we were planning to conquer that, how cool! We have started our journey early morning about 5:30 am on September 1 st Friday packing our breakfasts so as to have it on the way. We knew there are hotels but having food together amidst a tour on the way is a different feeling. We picked brother and his wife on the way and headed to Munnar. Our chatter could overcome our morning sleepiness and don’t know how we reached till Adimali. The hairpin curves were there to test the driving skills and on one side a huge valley could be seen. Slowly chillness started conquering us. We stopped at a space having a great scenic view on the way and had our breakfast. It was idli with chutney and sambar. In this chilly climate having a wonderful breakfast is really thrilling.

We continued our journey and on the way stopped at Cheeyapara waterfalls just for 10 minutes. There we took some pictures and again continued. Our first destination was the Eravikulam National park and we need to collect the tickets for bus safari to Rajamalai. Google map helped us to reach the location where the safari would start. The climate was really chilly and there were occasional drizzles. Tea gardens seemed like a green carpet welcoming us. Finally, we reached the base location for parking prior to our bus safari. While I parked the car, brother ran to enter the queue and take tickets, the queue was a bit lengthy and after 1 hour of waiting, we got the tickets.

Eravikulam National park is the most desired attraction in Munnar as after a tedious bus safari, what we explore is really riveting. Tourists from major parts of the world would visit Rajamalai after the calving seasons to watch the baby goats. Kerala tourism gets really benefitted at that time as the number is uncountable. Rajamalai is the prominent attraction of a Kerala tour package and we were about to see that. Even it was not possible during our honeymoon as it was calving season. The bus started along the rugged terrain where the private vehicle was not allowed. Anamudi peak which is the highest peak of south India was visible. Finally, we reached the top and inhaled the fresh air. The peak was so beautiful and Nilgiri Tahrs or the wild goats were seen roaming in the grasslands. They were really shy and never came to us. We took as many pictures as we could. There was a small shrine where mediation was possible. After spending some time there we returned back. After reaching the base when we looked at our watch, it was 12:30 and time for lunch. Our plan was to have a delicious lunch at any hotel at Munnar town and do some shopping afterwards as we had to reach Meesapulimala at evening only but before sunset. Thus our trip was not tight actually. After the lunch, we strolled down the lane and done some shopping. Plenty of homemade chocolates were available. We bought some to have on the course of our journey.

It was 3:15 pm when we left Munnar town and headed to Meesapulimala, the tiger moustache shaped mountain. Finally, after covering 15 kilometers from Munnar, we reached KFDC office to get the permission letter. It was about 4:45 pm then and our permission letter was already ready. Next, we needed to reach the base camp and only four-wheelers were comfortable to go. At last, we reached the base camp where our car was parked. The sky cottage is almost 400 meters above the hilltop from there. We could see it from the base and here there were care takers who were guides also. They asked about our native, job and family. We befriended with them easily. Aneesh and Sabu, as their names were, helped us a lot and showed us the base camp in full. It had a big kitchen, store room, hall for serving food with campfire facility. This was actually the dining area for guests, and apart from us, there were other guests too. After having tea and snacks, they escorted us to the location of sky cottage where our stay was arranged. The travel to the top seemed a little bit tough and after covering 2- kilometers with great effort and unloading our partners. They were made to walk half way because the car didn’t take too much load. At last inside the cottage, we felt cozy. All the three sides were made with glass windows. Of which through one, a waterfall was seen. It was actually an abandoned area and we felt somewhat unsafe. Slowly our fear shed away when we talked with Aneesh and Sabu. They reminded us of the dinner which will be at 7:30 pm. After refreshing up in the chilly water, we took some rest. At sharp 7:30 pm, we went to the base camp for having dinner which was arranged with a campfire. There were other families too and the whole area turned into a festive mood when all started exhibiting their talent in a small way. Around 10:00 pm, we returned back to the camp and soon fell to sleep. On next morning, we woke up at 6:30 am and although it was very difficult for us to take a bath in cold water, we have no other option.

Our first intention was to reach Rhodovalley. The name was quite interesting and Sabu told us that the name was given due to the presence of Rhododendron trees in large numbers. Actually, Kerala and its places are really amazing and we can boast of having such miracles of nature. There were honeymoon couples for trekking and was in another group for trekking. Unlike us, they had to cover many attractions in Kerala and Meesapulimala trekking was one among them. They told that by picking the honeymoon packages in Kerala, it is a chance to watch almost all popular places in Kerala and that too with great ease. They had a guide with them and after Meesapulimala, their next destination was Thekkady. Several adventures were waiting for them. Then I fixed something that when next holiday comes, definitely I will pick a tour package that would cover almost all the destination. Keeping this in mind, our trek began around 8:30 am after the breakfast. Actually, it is a series of 8 hills and the trek is long but we were taking the average one. To reach Rhodovalley, we had to cross a mud road or take the shortest route. We took the shortest one and I could see my wife gasping half the way. I told her that this is going to be your ultimate adventure in life. Within 30 minutes, we reached the Rhodovalley and at last at the top of the falls. Since our trek was through the marshy land, leeches were more in number and we were actually having a salt water war with them. After covering 8 kilometres of a trek, we reached the grasslands were numerous Rhododendron trees were seen.

At the top, we saw Meesapulimala and even though we were exhausted, the sight of the massive hill made us take the next step. Watching many flora and fauna, we continued our walk, our descent was through Anayirangal dam and the far way some herds of deer were seen. Our camera clicks sounds were echoing the valley. After covering 20 minutes, we reached the base of Meesapulimala. The whole of my breakfast drained and I was stamina less. I asked Sabu to allow us to take a break. Then our repose continued for another 20 minutes. Thus we gained some energy and continued our walk. About 12:10 pm we touched the top of Meesapulimala. I really can’t explain the view it offers and was breath taking. From there, all other hills seemed like little dwarfs and far away, Kolukkumalai hills, Kurangini area and the Yellappaly top station was seen. I feared our cameras would drain. Although there was no mobile coverage, television, parks or any other entertainment the nature here can entertain us. Then we descended back to Rhodovalley and on the way and each time I descended the steep I was planning for another Kerala trip where there will be adventure more than that of here. If time permits, I would definitely, take a round trip in Kerala. Thinking this, I didn’t realised when we reached Rhodovalley. We halted near to a stream and far away, Neelakurinji flower blooming location was seen. We had our lunch at that point and washed our face with chilly water of the rivulet. After descending through, around 5:00 pm we reached the cottage and went for refreshing. Saying good bye to our dear care takers, we departed from the camp. This trek was really awesome and I will not suggest this trek to first timers and weak ones as it is a little bit difficult. On our way back, my wife and her sister in law went to sleep and I never imagined my wife had the stamina to complete a trek. I could find an adventurer inside me after completing Meesapulimala trek.

More info: seasonzindia.com

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