[darklord]

By now, the second safari bus was coming our way.

Our guide spotted a monitor lizard resting on a rotting log:



Three trees later, this Jungle owlet was resting under the shade of this leaf:



This white-throated kingfisher was watching something keenly:



We didn't have much spotting until we saw this Greater racket-tailed drongo near the exit gate:



We will, for a lengthy one:



We exited the ecotourism zone at 1 noon. Soon after exiting is the souvenir shop. I bought a t-shirt for ₹275. It also had a collection of hats and various forest produce and handicrafts.

This spotted dove was spotted in front of the shop:



The parking area was near full and safari buses were preparing to leave. We bid farewell to our guide and promised there will be a next time. There were no stops to make and no tickets to take now. We aimed to reach Thrissur by evening.

Near Top Slip, safari elephants were resting:



Top Slip reception area:



We saw another herd of spotted deer near the Top Slip check post:





The road leading us down now:



Sometimes, it was better to drive on the shoulder:



Summer colours:





We exited the Sethumadai check post just after 1:45:



The superb road towards Pollachi:





The rail line crossing, Anamalai Road station at a distance:



The excellent Pollachi-Vadakkencherry road:





There was not much of a traffic or blocks, except near Vallanghi, and we reached Vadakkencherry pretty quick.

The still under construction, but likely to be the best in Kerala, Vadakkencherry-Mannuthi section:



We reached Thrissur and decided to stay for the night before going our separate ways in the morning.



It was a memorable trip and we enjoyed it immensely. In my opinion though, one should stay for a night inside the reserve and that will be an experience on its own.

We did not see a tiger, but I did remember reading Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright by Ruskin Bond and hope the conservation efforts like Parambikulam pay off because if it does not, then:

“The tiger is the very soul of India, and when the last tiger has gone, so will the soul of the country.”

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by darklord

The excellent Pollachi-Vadakkencherry road:

There was not much of a traffic or blocks, except near Vallanghi, and we reached Vadakkencherry pretty quick.

I am planning a trip to Parambikulam with family. We are coming from Chalakkudy side.

Google shows the route as Vadakkenchery - Alathur - Kunishery - Kollengode - Muthalamada (Turn off right at Muthalamada) - Chulliyar Dam - Annanagar (small checkpost entry to TN) - Vettaikararanpudur - Sethumadai - Parambikulam

• Is this the best route?
• From vadakkenchery, isn't it better to take mudappallur - Nenmara - kollengode?
• Is the road shown from Muthalamada to vettakaranpudur good? Or, is it better to proceed on Pollachi route via govindapuram checkpost and turn right at Ambarampalayam?

[darklord]

Originally Posted by MSAneesh

• Is this the best route?
• From vadakkenchery, isn't it better to take mudappallur - Nenmara - kollengode?
• Is the road shown from Muthalamada to vettakaranpudur good? Or, is it better to proceed on Pollachi route via govindapuram checkpost and turn right at Ambarampalayam?

Sorry. We just used Google Maps and took the route it suggested. I have no knowledge about the routes mentioned to give an objective reply. Probably you should query in a relevant thread in Route Queries section to get an answer.