[Mrs&Mr_Shenu]

A name, Tag-Line and bunch of new memories.

At office, we code, develop, deliver projects. Though work gives you money, it necessarily don’t guarantee satisfaction. Eventually, WE, the colleagues, decided to have a rider group.

Beginning

Post Covid, many eager souls wanted fuel for mind. Idea was to ride to a local destination (which means a place from Kerala) along with team members, colleagues. Destinations are always like a nearby place, 3-4 hours ride.

Inaugural ride was to Mamalakandam, a place near to Kochi and a local destination for many bikers. We gradually moved to 2-day trips with a 500 – 600 km ride for 2-3 days.

It never progressed beyond the boundaries of Kerala. After couple of breakfast trips, finally the group decided to press more and thus emerged the idea of Kochi - Valparai – Munnar - Kochi ride.

Planning

The idea to have a group of riders was already in place. We ourselves consider a rider group after couple of rides. However, thing missing was the commonality of group. So enthusiastic group members took the challenge head on.

Target was a Group Name, Logo and Tag Line.

We designed a T-shirt to create the belongingness and wore it on this special ride.

Rider Group on this ride (Road was blocked so we decided to take pictures)



First Day

Idea was to set the wheels rolling from Kochi, gather at Athirapally OR Vazhachal waterfalls for Team picture. Then to gradually ride to Valparai through dense forest route and finally reach Pollachi for stay on Day 1.

Route was:

Kochi --> Athirapally --> Vazhachal --> Malakapara --> Enter Tamilnadu --> Sholayar Dam --> Valparai Hills --> Aliyar Dam --> Pollachi

Sometimes it is easy to say thousand words with pictures. In case, you have not travelled to Kerala or specifically in this route, please note that this one of the beautiful route to ride especially during Monsoon season. The view, feel and locations are unparallel.

Few Points to note, to cross to the forest, you have to take a challan from Vazhachal Check post and then submit back once you enter Tamilnadu. It was a hassle free experience for us. Another point is, do not try to use a vehicle with has modified silencers or noisy silencers. Lot of emphasis is given on this so that riders are not disturbing the wild life. Finally, there is a chance to meet wildlife in this route (Though we were not lucky enough).

I will share the pictures to tell the story.

Another Snap of the Riders



















Yours Truly on a scenic background



The Hairpin bends of Valparai to Pollachi are legendary for the view. The Aliyar dam reservoir gives a different beauty all together.

Second day



Start from Pollachi, move via Anamalai Tiger reserve, Eravikulam , Munnar and then to Kochi...

Route:

Pollachi --> Anamalai Tiger Reserve --> Chinnar --> Marayoor --> IraviKulam --> Munnar --> Kochi

It was a hurried drive back to home. Did not snap much on camera, but lot of views in mind...

Finally the logo / sticker for the ride.



Trip Meter



Lets stop here for now. I will try to cover the rides more often for this rider group to cherish the memories and share with forum.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by Mrs&Mr_Shenu

A name, Tag-Line and bunch of new memories.

Is the team open to new riders from Ernakulam too ?

[Mrs&Mr_Shenu]

Unfortunately not yet as it's a closed group for colleagues. Sorry for that.

[AKSO]

Well done. Brings back a lot of good memories from some of my Go-To destinations for a ride. Are the roads still in good conditions?

[Mrs&Mr_Shenu]

Originally Posted by AKSO

Well done. Brings back a lot of good memories from some of my Go-To destinations for a ride. Are the roads still in good conditions?

Thanks AKSO.

Road Conditions are similar and bit tricky due to Monsoon induced issues (Potholes). Heard from some fellow riders that, it is still okay. They did a Valparai ride in Mid June.

[bijims]

Great trip you had there and wonderful pictures as well, I see you are a close group of colleagues and must have had a wonderful time. Thanks for the travelogue and hope to see more from your group down the road

[Mrs&Mr_Shenu]

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

– Saint Augustine

Brief Overview:

Determined to do more than just ride, we set out on a different trail this time. We needed a day-long program that included a ride. However, the challenge was dealing with the monsoon in June, which is quite impactful in Kerala.

Motivation: A monsoon ride is mesmerizing and enthralling, evoking nostalgia with a mix of emotions. There’s even a humorous caption in Malayalam.

“Mazha, Chaya and Johnson Mash Songs”

(Translated To: Rain, Tea and songs of Songs of Johnson Master)

We got few input from fellow riders, following that, we stumbled on “Vazhachal Treking”.

The ride itself wasn’t too challenging, being around 80 km one way. However, the tricky part came later, involving a trek through the Perungalkuthu Dam reservoir. The dense forest had no specific trail, making it sound exciting. The plan was set, and the trek cost 1000 rupees, which seemed reasonable.

Details of booking number:



We initially thought many fellow riders wouldn’t show up. However, we were surprised by the overwhelming response from the group, which made us reconsider the program. The trek was limited to 24 members, but we exceeded that number by a large margin. Fortunately, thanks to our good relationship with the Kerala Forest Department, we were able to secure spots for additional members.

The Ride

As usual, we gathered at our regular meeting spot. This time, around 25 bikes were lined up, with a total of 36 riders, including pillions. Since the trek was through the forest, we made sure to fill up on fuel for the bikes and food for ourselves to be on the safe side..

Route: Edapally--> Aluva-->Angamaly--> Chalakudy --> Athirampally --> Vazhachal Forest Station



Planned our breakfast at Aryaas, near to Koratty. It is a nice South Indian Cuisine Vegetarian restaurant with ample parking area and located on NH-544 itself.

Link: https://g.co/kgs/Ztte2Cm



Scenic Views:

The route after Chalakudy is indescribably beautiful, with greenery on both sides and a tarmac road cutting through the lush landscape. We passed by the famous Athirampally Waterfall but didn’t stop due to the crowd and our tight schedule.



Spotted an elephant group.




Upon reaching the forest office, the bikes filled the open space, making it feel like a busy mall parking lot. Thankfully, they provided us with a room, which we quickly filled with our bags, jackets, and helmets. The Kerala Forest Department transported us to the starting point using vans and jeeps.

Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vjRTo6jQrj5WZ2bK8

The Trek

Trailhead: The starting point is on the other side of the Peringalkuthu Dam, where a forest official and three watchers, including one lady, awaited us. The jeep safari from the forest office took about 10 minutes to reach this point.

Starting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gW6bCkUFAdGNzYZ39

From this point, we began our trek towards the forest that houses the reservoir. The trek spans about 11 to 12 km and is divided into three major stops..

The first stop is nearly 4 km in. To reach it, we had to navigate through dense forest with barely any trail or road. We crossed water streams, jumped over fallen trees, climbed steep ascents until we were out of breath, and even slipped on rocks (yes, that really happened).





The initial excitement soon faded, giving way to a deep appreciation for the closeness to nature. With no mobile network and the sounds of the wild all around, we were truly immersed in the environment. Then, the leeches started clinging to us. We had to stop every 100 meters to spray sanitizer and clear any leeches from our shoes and pants.



After all this, we reached a river stream filled with stones and a variety of butterflies. These wild butterflies clung to our shoes, perhaps attracted by their colors. The watcher group gave us ‘illayappam,’ which tasted incredibly delicious after our strenuous trek. The stream’s water was so cold that we soaked our feet in it, enjoying the blissful relief.







Along the way, the watcher pointed out a wild viper, coiled up and about the size of a betel leaf. These venomous snakes are fully capable of killing a person.



After a 20-minute break, we resumed our trek to the next stop. This next location was cozier, featuring a permanent hut where our lunch awaited. However, this time, there was no discernible road or trail. We didn’t dare lift our heads due to the challenging terrain underfoot. Leeches feasted on our blood, and we occasionally fought back with sanitizer.





The trail inside this part of the forest was tricky, as wet leaves have covered the whole way, trees were fallen on the trail which needed to be jumped over. In between, our guide told us that an allegator jumped to the water in front of us. Though we did not see it, the situation was bit scary. To boost our morale, the guide even told us that there is chance to meet wild boar or elephant too as if we know what to do in such situation. Huh?

It’s funny how the sense of time and distance fades so quickly in the jungle. The guide kept telling us that we had covered around 5 km and would reach the point in another 20 minutes. We heard this for almost 45 minutes before realizing it was a futile exercise. By the way, this was our idea, right?

After about 3 hours, we finally reached the hut, which was surrounded by trenches, with a river on one side and forest on the other. They served us the best black tea I’ve ever tasted. Then, we took our revenge on the leeches clinging to us, using sanitizer and salt in a massacre. Many of us had bleeding feet, and some leeches even jumped back onto other people.

Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/S9j4YE8qS1DARJVY7

We spent about 60-90 minutes here, including time for lunch. By now, our knees were aching, socks were wet, and shoes were dirty. But our interest grew as each member started sharing their stories. It was amusing to hear that, despite being in the same group, everyone had different encounters to talk about. Some discussed leeches (almost everyone, by the way), while others talked about snakes and scorpions. It was fascinating how we transformed from a group using Instagram and Facebook to an instant chatter group, just like in ancient times!









After lunch and the arrival of the next group, we prepared for our return. We were assured the road would be better, as it was a semi-paved road used by jeeps. We hoped this was true. However, as soon as we started, the route turned into a steep ascent where we spotted vipers again, scorpions, crabs (yes, crabs!), and slippery rocks to cross. This challenging stretch was about 1 km, according to the guide, before we finally reached the better road. From there, the experience changed. We saw a group of five loud Long hornbills, langurs jumping over the trees, wild squirrels, and various unknown birds. The walk became much easier with a clear road ahead.

On the final leg of about 4 km, Mother Nature decided to bathe us with heavy rain. By this point, no one was concerned about wet shoes or leeches sucking blood; it all became part of the journey and our experience. We encountered vipers clinging to the side of the road, which required a keen eye to spot (luckily, our team included a couple of members with a snake phobia who were particularly vigilant)..



Our clothes, shoes, and socks were drenched with sweat or rain, but the feeling was exhilarating. Despite our exhaustion, we didn’t want the trip to end as we savored every bit of nature. The couples in our group seemed to enjoy it even more. By around 4:15 PM, we reached the starting point. We jumped into the van, soaked with water and filled with a refreshing feeling rarely experienced in our daily lives..











We reached the forest office, changed into fresh clothes, and dealt with a few more leeches while waiting for our second group. They arrived after almost an hour and went through the same steps we did. In the end, we all regained our strength and took a group video together.


Along the way, we stopped at Vetillapara Bridge for an evening snack. Everyone was so hungry that we devoured over 100 snacks, including bajji, bonda, noodles, tea, and coffee. The shop owners must have been grateful for our visit!.

With around 25,000 steps logged on our activity trackers, snacks in our tummies, and loads of memories in our minds, our group traveled back home. By 9 PM, almost everyone had reached home.

Trail Description:

The difficulty level of this trek might be considered medium for those with some experience walking 4-6 km. The overall stretch was around 12 km, with a terrain that is predominantly slippery forest, filled with stones and wild creatures..



Flora and Fauna: We saw many birds in their natural habitat, along with monkeys and squirrels. There were different types of trees and wild fruits, and we even found rudraksha and wild berries. Snakes and leeches were also plentiful.



Challenges: This trek is definitely challenging for kids, and I wouldn’t recommend it even for high school students. Snakes are everywhere, so be cautious with every step you take. The same goes for leeches.



Key Highlights

Packing List:

Finally, if you are venturing for this trip,

1. A good trekking shoes is a must. Do carry umbrella rather than raincoat as it prevents leeches (As per the forest officials)
2. A bottle of sanitizer is always handy.
3. Small snacks to energize.
4. A good camera preferably an Action camera like Go-pro.
5. A walking stick as per your convenience.
6. Spare set of dress to change (This you can keep in the forest office and change into them once back)

Safety Tips: Take the trek at a slow pace. It can feel quite long, especially with the ascents and descents on slippery rocks. Be vigilant for snakes and other wild animals. Leeches will cling to you, so be prepared for that.

Best Time to Visit: Monsoon itself brings a different atmosphere. So it is absolutely a good time to visit.

Final Thoughts: In case there is a plan for Valparai visit, do take some time to explore this. Worth every moment.





Do share your thoughts and similar experience.

[KolaFreakenKL40]

Well written blog and looking forward for many rides like this with you!!!

[Mrs&Mr_Shenu]

Originally Posted by KolaFreakenKL40

Well written blog and looking forward for many rides like this with you!!!

Thanks for the support and will be looking forward to your experience on rides and drives too..

Safe rides ahead.

Nice name by the way.