Long ago after reading Kannada short story in one of the Udayavani Sunday Magazien which described about the tea plantation workers life of Kodanad I was dreaming about to visit this beautiful place at last my dream comes true.
Day One 23rd January 2021
Usually I starts trip at early morning but this trip was planned differently, after finishing lunch at Hotel Udupi, Melparamba which is located near to my office, journey was begin at sharp 1400hrs Planned stay was at Perinthalmanna, Kerala, but till Kannur everything was fine, traffic was moderate so easily crossed Kannur city around 1630hrs once reached Thalassery the real traffic mess started. Two wheelers, autos, buses, trucks, road rollers everything started to crawl like a snail, its hard to shift even to second gear in NH 66. When reached to Koyilandy a Policemen said to take diversion due to some maintenance work going on the Highway, so it took little bit longer time to reach again to Highway A long caravan like traffic lead by a heavy Bharat Benz truck took too much time through travel the narrow road.
Day One 194Km took 7hours to ride
So at last 2100hrs reached Kozhikode and decided to stay there, after roaming around the town to locate a budget lodge got a decent lodge near KSRTC bust stand, finished tasty dinner at Hotel Aryabhavan and went to bed.
Plain Rost and Bhatura
DAY TWO 24th JANYARY 2021
As per schedule wake up at early morning 0315hrs and by 0430hrs left the lodge, from Kozhikode next destination was Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu via Attappadi, Metupalayam route which goes through thick forest. So took Palakkad Highway and headed towards Mannarakkad, there was no much traffic only few trucks, passenger cars and milk vans are playing on the road, weather also cold so no much tiredness.
Distance between Kozhikode and Mannarakkad is around 100km so easily passed Mannarakkad town around 0730hrs. On the way I have observed one thing in this region many fish selling shops are open at early morning and so many found on the way, I don't understand how these are supplied early morning.
After crossing crossing Annamooli forest check post started to climb beautiful Ghat section of Attapadi, there is a very low traffic in this area, huge mountains surrounded by green thick forest gives pleasure to eyes and soul. At Annamooli check post a forest department person who was wearing combat uniform was holding arms in his hand, may be it was due to Naxal affected area.
Just before Annamooly forest Check post
Beautiful church on the way
Empty winding road
While climbing the Attapady ghat section stopped at a beautiful view point, from there one can watch attapady valley and forest its breathtaking view.
Bullock cart climbing the ghat section
KSRTC Climbing the Ghat road
Attapady
Around 0830 reached Attapadi village located in Palakkad district of Kerala, it was nestled below the Nilagiri mountains of Tamil Nadu and shares its boarder with Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. This place was inhabited by Tribal people.
Since morning didn't eat anything so stomach starts to give signal😆 decided to take breakfast brake here.
Typical Kerala style thick Dosa served with RedChutney and Kadala curry (Chickpeas curry)
Herbs mix boiled hot water to drink
View as soon as cross Attapady
Areca nut field
After finishing breakfast headed towards Agali the next village on the route, but before that one must see place is Malleshwaran Temple Attappady, which located just 1.5 km far from the village on Attapady - Anakkatty Road.
Church just before the temple
Before reaching the temple took three stops within a kilometer to enjoy the beautiful scenery, its breath taking experience to travel on this rote, one must travel this route to explore the nature.
Entrance of Sri Malleswaran Temple Attappady
Around 0900hrs reached entrance of Sri Malleswaran Temple, parker motorcycle at outside and enter the beautifully maintained small temple.
The main Deity of the temple is Shiva and Parvati, just behind the temple there is a Moolasthanam of temple. from inside the temple compound one can enjoy the beautiful view of Attapady hills.
Sri Malleswaran Temple
Main Deity
There are two legends there about this temple. According to one Shiva and Parvathy reached Attapady while roaming, locals realised that they are Shiva and Parvathy and prayed them to stay on their village, but Parvathi put one condition they must lit thelamp everyday but Shiva said there is no need to lit the lamp every day instead of that once in a year is enough.
Another story says Shiva was born as a Malla in Irula tribe and Parvathy as Malli in a daughter of the chief of Muduga tribe as per their custom Mall met Muduga chief but he denied to give his daughter. Hence both of them went to Kurumba tribes but they didn't give shelter, dejected Malli was vanished so Shiva launched a Penance on the bank of River Bhavani, his mane grew and turned into a hill. One day Muduga chief Devine dream in that Shiva and Parvati told him to take Shivarati fasting and climb the hill henceforth these tribes are worshiping the Shiva at every Shivaratri.
Lord Ganesha
Moola Sthanam
View from back side of the temple
Gopuram
Attapady hill range, view from inside the temple
After visiting the temple continued the journey, After crossing Agali and Mattathukadu crossed a small river after that got a Tamil Nadu Check post. They noted down the Name, Mobile Number and Vehicle number let us to ride through the route.
Water crossing
Unpaved road after water crossing
Tamil Nadu
Once rached Tamil Nadu landscape was completely changed, plain straight road going between fields, Farmers, cattle herds, large mountains etc.
Nilagiri Mountain range
After crossing Mettupalayam start to climb the Ghat section to reach Kotagir it was around 1230hrs. When we reach almost top of the Ghat section Nilagiri Police put barricade on the road and stopped all the vehicles, they are assisted by Health department people, to enter inside Nilagiri all outsiders including who travel other district of Tamil Nadu also required Pass. I am not aware of that, they simply say if you hold a Nilagiri Adhaar card or Pass you can enter the Niligiri district otherwise go back or login to Tamil Nadu E Pass website and get pass.
Ascending Kotagir Ghat Section
I have tried to get the pass at spot but bad luck, due to weak mobile signal unable to took the pass at last called my friend Karthik and he made it and sent the same. So half an hour wasted to take the pass.
That health department lady askes every tourist to get pass or Nilagiri Adhaar if they don't have says "VANDI THIRUMPU" but a friendly policemen and other health staff guided and assisted to get the pass. Once got the pass enter our details on check post and collected Rs.10 and allowed to enter the Nilagiri District.
At last around1330hrs reached Kotagiri town and able to find a decent lodge Named Ramesh Vihar Lodge and dumped luggage and finished lunch at downstairs.
Kotagiri
Tasty Sambar Sada (Lunch)
