Trip To Valparai & Silent Valley Part - 2

To reach Pollachi from Valparai one has to travel 55 Km from this junction in winding Ghat section which contains 40 hairpin bend with spectacular view, in the life time one must travel on this route. 

 Mountain view

 Tea shop

If you cont the turn definitely it will cross 100 Nos. but these includes 40 hairpin bends. After visiting Balaji Temple reached this junction around 3:30PM and start to descend the Ghat section. After riding few kilometers found a small beautiful Tea stall after tasty tea brake continued on winding roads.  

 Clouds and sunlight gives good view

View from the road 

 Winding ghat section

When cursing the hairpin bend found a wild boar family eating grass on road side, but unable to shoot a good picture. Nilagiri Thar was common on this route, but bad luck no one found here.

 On middle of the ghat section stopped for photography, many cars and motorcycles also parked on the road side to click a picture, suddenly a Tamilnadu forest Department jeep arrived from Pollachi direction they shouted  ""Move don't block the road"" every body escaped from that point.

 After crossing hairpin bend a small falls called 'Monkeys Falls' reached, just took a photographs from outside headed towards Pollachi.

 Here onward straight road took us to Pollachi city, around 6:30 PM able to check in the good lodge and took rest.

Third Day 24th December 2013

This day is important to because we have to reach Silent valley safari camp by 8 AM, 15 days back booked Jungle safari at Mukkali it starts by 8:30 A.M, So at sharp 4:30AM kick started the ride from Pollachi. Total distance between Pollachi and Palakkad 46kms. from Palakkad to Mannarakkad 36 and to Silent valley 18km.

Sunrise in near Mannarakkad

As soon as reached outskirt of Pollachi Tamilnadu Police barricades welcomed us.. Petrol persons stopped and noted Motorcycle registration number and start to ask questions 'Where are you come from? where were you going?Purpose etc. After getting satisfactory answer  gave green signal to us. 

 Around 5:30AM reached Palakkad and took a cup of hot tea on roadside. Chill wind was blowing heavily and continued on Palakkad - Feroke - Kozhikode Highway. Around 6:30 reached Mannarakkad and dumped luggage at lodge and enquirred about Hotel. Locals told us Hotels are yet to be opened on the way to Mukkalli we will get hotels.

 Way to Mukkalli

 Mukkalli Town

On the way a small Hotel was opened took Delicious Dosa and red chilly chutney and continued towards Mukkalli the base of Silent valley. On the way got forest check post while asking the guard he told us another 10km left to reach Mukkalli.

 Photograph found at Mukkalli forest office

 Flowers at Mukkalli forest office

 Around 8 AM reached Mukkalli forest office and parked the 'Brid under the shade of huge tree, we are the first persons to reached for safari, and safari starts at 8:30AM. Around 8:15 Office employees came and called us and entered all the details and also told that If we would like to share the jeep with other tourist we can share, because maximum capacity of the jeep 5 tourist, at the same time Mr. Anup Nair from Bangalore came with his family they are 3 persons willing to share our jeep.

Forest gate

So the first batch of 23rd December 2013 started at sharp 8:45AM. As soon as crossing the Mukkalli Village forest gate welcomed us after paper formalities gate opened and entered the forest area.

 Most of the safari goes between buffer area of the Silent valley, first few kilometers both the side covered with coffee plantations. All the income coming from these plantation goes to Govt. and these plants comes under the control of District collector of Palakkad, main reason behind maintaining  these plantation to give employment to the Tribal people.

Tribal colony 

While cornering in the jeep guide cum driver explained about every fruits, plants and flowers with great interest. One forest department personnel also traveling with us he has to travel another camp which was located 8km from Sirandri. On the way we got to see langur's, after passing few km stopped the jeep near a small steam and took 5 minutes rest and continued.

Jungle Jack fruit

The Jeep

Core area entrance 

At last jeep entered the Core area of National park, and traveled approximate 2km inside the core are and stopped near the watch tower which built near the Sairandri forest camp. Forest department personnel get off from the jeep and waved his hand to us and disappeared inside forest, from that place he has to walk 8km in the forest to reach his destination. 

Malabar giant squirrel 

Tiger marked on the tree

After clicking few snaps form the top of the watch tower started trek 1.5km route with the our guide cum driver. It was easy rote on the way he explained about many plants and their nature. 

Bridge over Kunti River (View from watch tower)

One type of Tobacco found in forest

Medicine flower

View from the Bridge

After visiting Kunti River returned to the base camp and around 1:45 PM reached to Mukkalli by jeep took our 'Bird from parking lot and headed towards Mannarakkad and took lunch, after half an hour sleep ready to explore the Malampuzha Dam, which is located near Palakkad.

Langur

Ant's nest

Tourist jeep parking at Sairandri camp

 Malampuzha Dam is the largest receive in Kerala, Western ghat hills gives good scenic back drop to the receiver. Around 4:30 reached over there and spent 2 hours in the Garden and returned to Mannarakkad.

 Ravi my ride mate

 Receiver

 Garden view from top of the dam

 Yakshi statue 

Sun set

Fourth Day 25th December 2013

Nothing to say much about the day, started early morning 5 and reached home by 2:45 the same busy road, loaded trucks, honking Sabarimala pilgrims Tempo traveler, dust etc.