Thusharagiri - feel mother nature and her warmth

Thusharagiri- an unplanned adventure trip

24^th Dec 2010, was actually working from home since that was a compensatory holiday for Xmas. By around 11.30am, hit with one of my earlier colleagues update in FB about Thusharagiri with a wonderful picture and the trek it offers. My Mind as usual just got ready to go, saw around, Pravi (my room mate) was around. Shot him this idea to go to this fabulous place, his plan was to work” atleast this day” of the week . Pravi was in doldrums, a week piled work on one side and nature calling the other side.

Atlast after enough pestering, Pravi got on toes. Googled Thusharagiri for the route, and we were on our Dzire by 2.30 pm. We had to rush and cover as fast as possible to reach there before dark. After a fantastic Dzire cruise for about 4.5 hrs, we were at Adivaram( below the Thamaraseery high range route) . Enquired about Thusharagiri, that was a deviation from the main route to the high range. 22km from Adviaram at around 9.30pm we were going through the terrain road, deep dark and getting more chill,bit concerned since we couldn’t find any humans after taking the Adivaram deviation.

Just got out of the car for a break in the midway, that was so chill outside and could see the vehicles in the ghat road from far away and the songs of X’mas Carols around. We were actually climbing a mountain parallel to the Thamarassery high range. Found 2-3 inhabitants around, found that we were on the right track. After few more uphills through the terrain road we found a small tea shop, which is about to shut down for the night. Barged out of the car to ask them about any accommodation or food.., They were just finishing their Christmas celebration with few pegs. We could hear the big sound of waterfalls in the background . Unni was the shop man there, a very good guy, who offered us rabbit fry , tapioca boiled and a special dates pickles, with a stomach full of hunger, we really enjoyed the feast which was offered to us. Unni also offered us a place to sleep, by then it was chilling cold outside, he was also sharing us the story of how dangerous is the river, the water falls and about the wild elephants which play a havoc in that place.…. we just hit the bed and slept so fast, with the water fall lullaby from the behind, we found ourselves as toddlers…

They sweet sounds of the birds woke me up that xmas morning, it was again very chilling cold , the water fall humming still around, the place looks so lovely. That was a spices estates, we couldn’t see anything since it was dark when we reached there. Fragrance of spices around and an early morning fog has placed its reminiscence water molecules in the leaves. I felt so lovely and had already fallen in romance with this nature.

Back to Unni’s teashop, by around 7.30 am, Unni was ready with a special dish called Christmas Appam made of rice n toddy.., that was tasting good. By the time forest guards have arrived and unni got us the snacks ready for a full day trek. The forest guards first refused for a long day trek, we had to make them convinced through their “own way”. Guard Josephettan was ready with his sickle for the trek. Here starts our journey exploring the dense green jungle.

The Trek

That was a dangerous slip, pravi should have fallen in to the deep valley down, its been around 2 hrs since we have started walking infact climbing from the base. Bitten wiht leaches, and hit with sharp stemmed plants, we were actually making our own way through the deep jungle. Josephettan turns to be the most energetic and well stamina guy in our team. Jospehetan was taking us through the geography of forest. We have actually covered the wet land, the soil so moist and the tress covered it from the sun. Leaches were in abundance to drink our blood. The sharp stems of plants have already made their mark on our body bruising across. But our excitement just overtook all these pains

HONEY ROCK

After a 4hr trek ( 6km) we have reach a dead end of the forest, that was a big slanting rock before of us. Josephettan said to climb on, reaching the top, we just can’t believe what we could see . we were on top of a mountain…deep dense jungle valley down and with other big mountain around. you need to see it for your self to experience it. see the pic. It s the honey rock. fabulous site and scenery from here. this rock was named so after a big bee comb, which get collected in the side of this mountain and the tribes just climb down with the forest creepers to collect the honey every time. Was amazed how they go vertically down to collect the honey.

AVINJITHODU FALLS

Enjoyed the nature and took few snaps and videos for about an hour there. Josephettan was pushing us, he said we need to walk more to see the water falls and return back before dark. Now we were on a descending mode from this mountain, was very dangerous, with trees and shrubs around , we had fallen many time. its was steep slant. Our ankles were paining due to the pressure. after about 3 hrs of walk, reached to see a fabolous water falls AVINIJITHODY water falls. Awesome site. I just named it the double decker falls, since its one. Each deck itself is massive height. The water was chilling at around 3pm. fantastic bath come massage by this waterfalls tooks all our tiredness. we just don’t want to come from there.. by the time it was getting dark after spending 2 hrs there.

We didn’t carry any mineral water, whats the need, when you have the nature’s mouth savouring red bull around. This water 100% salt free, very delicate and a sober sweet to and chill if you have mouthful of it, you are back in your energy.

Had a small nap in the lap of one of the stream on our way back. That was superb with the water flowing sound like a lullaby. You will never come to know when you have fallen to sleep. Increases your concentration levels and relaxes your mind.,

On our way back, we found a tree, quite big enough, but the surprising thing is that its hollow inside, still with life.

Reached back the base, we were surprised when josephettan said we have done around 14km in the last 8hrs.

After telling bbye to Josephettan , we headed to Unni’s shop. hit with hunger., Unni was ready with a good meal with Fish fry, Duck roast ..waooh the food was giving us a feel of heaven.

Thusharagiri is just super for adventure enthusiasts. Don’t miss this location, for its nature’s splendid scenic excellence. We are taking back the great memories nature offered us, the body pain of the trek and the bruises in our body marked by the jungle….waoh…love you nature…