Trek to Thekkady

Perched along the Kerala- Tamil Nadu border, Thekkady credits itself of being as close to nature as possible along with being the harbinger of culture. A nights journey from Chennai, this place is obvious to make to the to do list of enthusiasts and tourists alike. The real essence of the trip starts once you reach Cumbum. Well connected with Kumily, Cumbum is the best place to have breakfast and to recrank yourself with a cup of steaming coffee.
The best of travelling is brought out by the ability to blend with the local populace and to get the taste of local culture. And what would be better than hopping into one of the state run buses bustling with activity. And then began the journey on roads winding around paddy and sugarcane fields dotted with few thatched roofed villages. Early morning breeze with soothing old melodies on the public bus along with joy of having saved money was more than enough to make me forget that I have been travelling for last 12 hours.
With images seen in Google painted in my eyes, I landed in a not so happening town of Kumily looking for a hotel. But a town was obviously not what brought me all the way here. Breakfast done, bath taken and off I went to explore.
The day started with a jeep Safari, riding through the bumpy tracks hardly anywhere close to being called a road. Guess that's where Jeeps come so handy and perhaps that explains the hefty fare charged, given that there is no other way to reach there. We were brushing along the elephant tracks, couldn't see any Jumbo's though.

The next destination was Theni grape orchards called "Munthiri thoppu " in the local dialect. Now this was interesting, for a city dweller like me who is accustomed to seeing grapes only in boxes, the sight of grapes in the vineyard is a rarity. Perhaps the first time ever in my life.

I concluded the day with elephant Safari and a sinking feeling deep inside me that I shouldn't have been a part of the system that troubles these gentle giants. All said and done, they are still wild animals.
As sun sets on Kumily, the town wakes up to a different treat altogether. A tourist hub turns into a cultural one, with Kathakali and Kalaripayatu shows at various places. I made my way to one such place where Kalaripayatu was being displayed. It's place where I came face to face with the ancient martial art of kerala.  One just goes off to think and appreciate the kind of effort which would have gone into such a performance. No words can bring out the way it's done, be there to witness the best of it.

One of the special features of Thekkady is Mangla Devi temple that opens only once yearly and draws devotees from far and near. Accessible from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the temple is located on one of the highest point of eastern ghat with spectacular views enroute.  What add to the charm of the place is that the temple is in midst of a reserve forest and is under strict control of forest department.

The best of the trip was yet to come. The last leg of the trip had to be the famed boating expedition. Located in the periyar tiger reserve, the lake is surrounded by dense forests with avid wildlife. Spotting wild animals including elephants, bisons and foxes is common as the lake serves as source of water for the wild.

In addition to all these, Thekkady has other attractions like border treks, bamboo rafting and spice garden. On a whole, Thekkady was an exuberating experience, one which lived up to its name and expectations