Fun in Waynaad

Waynaad! No, this is not the time to go there। It’ll be raining heavily there these days and you will not enjoy anything, so it is not advisable going there these days. We always got this reply whenever we asked anybody about Waynaad. We all (Me, Abhijeet, Arun and Vaibhav) tired of listening to these words as day by day our desire to visit Waynaad was getting at its peak and we were almost crazy to go there, since it had been more than 3 months thinking for this trip॥ So, finally we decide to gamble and take a risk on our luck and planned a trip to Waynaad. I and Arun did lot of goggling and gathered information and finally I booked hotel and taxi for the day in one week advance so that we there would not be any last moment hassle.

And finally the day came when we had to move for one of our dream destinations “Waynaad” in Kerala, the state which is known as “GODs own country”! 21’st July2007 was that day.



Day-1- 21’st July2007:
According to plan we had to start early in the morning so that we could see the sunrise in Bandi Pur National Park, that is on the way from Mysore to Waynaad. So, I and Arun awaked up in the morning at 4:30AM and got ready by 5:30 AM and left for Abhijeet’s home to pick him up, but rest two were not ready. Taxi came as the given time 6.00AM sharp but we were late and started at 6:45AM. I don’t think there is any need to say how much excited we were. Since it was rainy season we were all packed. We were having water proof jackets, umbrellas, floaters and other stuff along with medicines for any emergency.
Our first stop was at Nanjangud to have our breakfast and then we headed towards our destination. On the way there was town / village “GUDELPET”, this was the location we took our first snap. Road was clean and we good see great sceneries and we did not leave this opportunity. Our photo freak Mr. Abhijeet is always ready for such things. We were enjoying the beauty of Kerala. It’s really very green and that greenery is too dense also. We reached Kalpetta Town almost at 11:00 AM; here we had already booked our room. We checked in to the Hotel and left for our first site scean” BANASURA DAM”. This is supposed to be the largest earth dam in India. This is almost 20 Km from Kalpetta town. The site which is open for people to visit is mainly for boating but in rainy season it is not allowed. We can do Steamer/ Motor boating here. The water here is very quiet and clear and surrounding of the DAM are really awesome. It was completely covered by clouds. After spending about an hour we left for the town to have out lunch.



We had out lunch in the hotel itself and it was our one of the worst food experiences and on top of that it was too expensive 500 bucks for 5 people for a tasteless food. Then we headed towards “POOKOTE LAKE”, which is about 13 KMS from the centre of the town. We were there at the lake about 3:15 PM and as soon as we reached it started raining. This was the first rain for us in Waynaad. Initially it was looking like that rain will take long to stop but luck was with us and it stopped in 30 minutes. Then we did boating in the lake. This lake is a fresh water lake nested above wooded hills, is the only one of its kind in Kerala. A fresh water aquarium with large variety of fish is an added attraction. It is one of Waynaad's top visitor draws. Really water in side was quite clear and it was not stinky at all. View of the forest surrounding the lake was good enough to draw visitors’ attention and make them to take a round of it which is about 2 KMS in circumference. This we can do on foot, a horse ride or horse cart. No doubt place is worth visiting.



By the time we were done with boating and the forest visit of Pookote lake, it was 4:45 by our watch and we planned to see “LAKDDI”, a view point of a valley in Waynaad. View of valley was amazing from there. Since the rain just stopped and Sun was trying to throw out some of this shine and sky was full of black and milky clouds. Rays of Sun was increasing the beauty of this scenery by trying to come out of the clouds.

This was supposed to be the last site for the day as rest of the places were about 25 KMS far at least so we thought to visit them next day. Suddenly something freaking stroked in my mind and I said to Vaibhav,” Should we try for Kozhikode?” and answer was ‘YES”. Yes, Kozhikode is a beach in city Calicut and that was about 55-60 KMS from there and almost 20KMS in Hill. I asked a guy whether we should go or not. He told me it was not advisable to drive in that hill in night in rainy season as it was too risky but there was not restriction from Administration. This is always more than enough for four enthusiastic guys and again we decided to take a risk. Earlier where we were not ready to go for 25 KMS (one side) inside the town itself we changed our mind to go for 60 KMS (one side) outside the town and that too in night in hills. In this one condition was that we had to come back to kalpetta town in night as he had already paid for our hotel and more over stay in Calicut may spoil our next day. Really a strange /daring and might be foolish decision, but that time we all were in a passion to see the beach and had a faith that God was helping us.

We started for Calicut/ Kozhikode beach about 5:00 PM. We were going on our way to Calicut and enjoying the beauty of hill, that beauty which is not easy to describe in words, that just someone can see and feel. When we reached almost 50 KMS, I asked the way and distance for beach. I was sitting on front seat and rests were on back. I asked a man about the distance and then something happened that we could not believe at all and were shocked. We were blank for some time. The person told me the distance and the way he spoke it listened to be 80Km from that location. Imagine you just 5-6 hours to drive 120KMS out of which 40KMS in hills and visit a place you are dying to see and you are starting at 5:00 PM in a rainy season evening in Kerala and someone says your destination is 80Km far what will be the expression on face and will come in your mind. The back sitters thought to return back to Kalpetta and I was the one who was thinking to go another 10KMS to see the place which made us to be in this situation when we were nothing but big fools. But when we try to clarify the matters we came to know it was just 8KMS from there. Then we took a sigh of relief. Then we moved ahead and lost the way as it was a one way. Try to understand our situation, we are running very short of time , we are dying to see beach and that is just 1KM apart from us and we are not getting the clue of the way to reach there. But at least we reach there and out watch were showing 6:45PM.


The first word we did not say, we almost shouted was”WOW”, three of us (I. Arun and Vaibhav) were seeing the beach for the first time. Though this beach was not that great but seeing the beach for the first time was really an amazing experience. It was all surrounded by black clouds and looking awesome. Soon it became dark and we could just enjoy the sea for 30 minutes or so. But it was unforgettable. We did a video shoot there as well. After having BHEL PURI there now it was time to move back at clock was showing 7:45PM. We started and were on the right track and suddenly slightly it started raining but it was ok. By the time we reached in Hills we realized the advice we got. It was completely dark if we saw at back side. We were not able to see anything hardly 15-20 feet’s from us and front side. My God it was completely misty. Because of clouds it was completely invisible again even 10 feet’s was not to make out. Our driver was driving very carefully and we were helping him to make out the way and finally he decided to drive on the white/ yellow line on the road and to follow some vehicle.

We reached Kalpetta about 10Pm and again one more struggle was waiting of us. In Kerala, getting vegetarian food is not easy and that too in a small town and after 10PM, big task! After searching about 5 hotels (only that many were open and were wrapping up). But this time food was good and then we reached hotel at 11PM.
Next day it was the Birthday of Vaibhav on 22’nd July, so earlier we had a plan to give him a surprise party but that plan washed out as we got too late in Calicut , so we changed it to give him birthday bumps. By the time the clock gave a beep of 12:00 He got busy on phone and we were waiting for him, and finally when he came we were dead tired and could just wish him his birthday.

Day-2-22’nd July2007:
We thought to move early but again we could leave hotel by 9.00AM and then we had our breakfast. It was boiled eggs and dosa. This time it was good so we had heavy breakfast and headed for our next place, “SOOCHIPARA WATERFALLS” that’s 22 KMs from the town. We had to climb / walk about 1.5 KMs to reach this falls. The way was a little dangerous and slippery. Finally we reach the fall and it was surrounded by some rocks. It was a milky fall and too much noisy. Water was crystal clear and cold. Again this fall was completely surrounded by back clods. The view was really awesome. When we were returning from fall it again started raining and we went in to a shade and had some team and we were wet a little.

Now only one destination was left and that was “Edakkal Caves” that was about 26 KMs from town. It is at the height 4000 feet’s from sea level. These are natural cave. Edakaal means in between and by the name the caves are made of rock in which middle / covering rock in naturally sucked in between two vertical rocks. This was discovered in 1890 by some English army troops. We can see some pictures that show it is almost 4000 BC old cave. View from the cave is nice and thrilling. We could see huge area and jungle from there. The pain that we got in good steep climbing up about 1.5 KMs to reach at the top, got lost in a moment when we saw the scenery from there. At 4:15 PM we started back from the cave and at 5:00 PM we were on the Mysore road and Mysore was about 110 KMs from there.

On the way to Mysore in Bandi Pur , we got to see a group of elephants along with baby elephants. When they saw us they tried to hide themselves behind the trees. We took few snaps of them and started for our home. 8:15PM we were at our home in Mysore.
Really it was an amazing trip that can be never forgotten। It was supped to be a leisure trip that turned to a little thrilling / adventures trip. It was our luck and God grace even the thing that we going against us finally turned out to be beneficial for us. Thanks to God for such a wonderful trip.

Now at last the biggest thrill of the trip. We hired a taxi from Mysore. We all are from North India and none of us know any language other than Hindi and English (Abhijeet knows Marathi as he is from Mumbai). Our Mr. Driver, he was great. He was going first time to Waynaad and Calicut. He did not know Hindi and English both. On top of that Waynaad being a kind of hill station and a town you get hardly 2- 3 % people who understand English and about Hindi, forget it.
Advise:
Though people have different opinions, but we would suggest visiting Waynaad in winter or at the start of rainy season and when end of rainy season. If you are going in this time better make all preparation in some time advance. Please make sure that you have someone who can understand Malayalam. All the places in Waynaad are scattered, so please plan the route before leaving.
All the best and have a nice trip to Waynaad!!! I am still dreaming...

--- Amit 23/07/07