Sunita Raghu
After criss-crossing acres and acres of rubber plantations, that give way to tree-capped mountains and
winding curves, our driver hollers “Chimmoni” and plonks us in front of the Chimmoni Wildlife Sanctuary check post. From there, a jeep driven with a similar abandon, takes us to the forest bungalow. A quick perusal of the place and we’re totally won over. Stretching in the distance ahead is a scene of unparalleled beauty — mountains thick with greenery overlook the clear blue waters of the Chimmoni dam, while fleecy clouds remain suspended over the mountaintops.
The forest bungalow is the perfect vantage point and we have it all to ourselves! The forest guard Salim makes sure we are comfortable and promises to take us around in the evening. We fortify ourselves with a hearty lunch and a shuteye and then begin our stroll with Salim.
Leaving the tarred road, we follow a narrow trail cutting through tall teak trees and watch the antics of crimson butterflies. We walk leisurely as Salim points out various trees and their uses. The uneven road that we are walking along suddenly gives rise to a flat grassy path and, lo and behold, right in front of us lies the Chimmoni reservoir, as if cradled in the mountain’s arms.
In the distance, we see a lone person fishing from a catamaran. We soak in the solitude; not a soul crosses us. The sanctuary, explains Salim, rests on the slopes of the Nelliyampathi hills. Turning right, we see foaming milky white water crashing merrily to the ground below and we stand and admire it for some time.
Dusk starts to set in and we walk back slowly, only to encounter a woodpecker go tak-tak-tak on one of the rubber trees and jungle fowl fleeing into the thickets.
Back at the bungalow, Kuttan, the caretaker, plies us with lemon tea. As we sip the comforting brew, talk revolve around politics, movies and literature. Salim surprises us with the news that he is also a poet and short storywriter, as well as a failed farmer (growing vanilla proved his downfall). Post-dinner, armed with powerful torches, we go ‘frogging’ with Kuttan near the dam, but not a single amphibian crosses our path.
Next morning, a Whistling Thrush wakes us with its melodious tune. Sleepy-eyed, we emerge from our room to see clouds billowing across the mountains, recreating the magic of the day before. The task of escorting us into the forest falls to Kuttan and, after breakfast, we set out on a trail that winds its way to the other side of the reservoir, on the edge of which grow shrubs and trees. At one point, we stop to dip our feet into the cool water. In the forest, Kuttan calls out the names of the trees and we make the acquaintance of the pretty Yedambiri bloom. We come to a stream and stop to take a breather. Dipping our legs into the water, we get ourselves a free fish pedicure! A few millipedes cross our path as we set off again while a forest skink looks at us inquisitively. Suddenly, the wafting aromas of food comes to us and we see two persons preparing a huge meal by the side of the stream. That reminds us of the lunch that awaits us back at the forest bungalow and that’s all the motivation we need to head back.
Fact File
How to reach:
Chimmoni Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, is easily accessible
from Thrissur, the nearest railway station, around 34 km away. One can also reach the
sanctuary from Amballur on
the Ernakulam-Thrissur road (NH 47). The nearest airport
is Cochin International
Airport, about 75 km away.
Whom to contact:
Asst. Wildlife Warden,
Chimmoni Wild Life
Sanctuary, Chimmoni
Dam P.O., Kerala
Phone: 0480-3209234
http://expressbuzz.com/magazine/frogging-with-kuttan-at-chimmoni/364077.html
After criss-crossing acres and acres of rubber plantations, that give way to tree-capped mountains and
 |
| Photo: N.A.Nazeer |
The forest bungalow is the perfect vantage point and we have it all to ourselves! The forest guard Salim makes sure we are comfortable and promises to take us around in the evening. We fortify ourselves with a hearty lunch and a shuteye and then begin our stroll with Salim.
Leaving the tarred road, we follow a narrow trail cutting through tall teak trees and watch the antics of crimson butterflies. We walk leisurely as Salim points out various trees and their uses. The uneven road that we are walking along suddenly gives rise to a flat grassy path and, lo and behold, right in front of us lies the Chimmoni reservoir, as if cradled in the mountain’s arms.
In the distance, we see a lone person fishing from a catamaran. We soak in the solitude; not a soul crosses us. The sanctuary, explains Salim, rests on the slopes of the Nelliyampathi hills. Turning right, we see foaming milky white water crashing merrily to the ground below and we stand and admire it for some time.
Dusk starts to set in and we walk back slowly, only to encounter a woodpecker go tak-tak-tak on one of the rubber trees and jungle fowl fleeing into the thickets.
Back at the bungalow, Kuttan, the caretaker, plies us with lemon tea. As we sip the comforting brew, talk revolve around politics, movies and literature. Salim surprises us with the news that he is also a poet and short storywriter, as well as a failed farmer (growing vanilla proved his downfall). Post-dinner, armed with powerful torches, we go ‘frogging’ with Kuttan near the dam, but not a single amphibian crosses our path.
Next morning, a Whistling Thrush wakes us with its melodious tune. Sleepy-eyed, we emerge from our room to see clouds billowing across the mountains, recreating the magic of the day before. The task of escorting us into the forest falls to Kuttan and, after breakfast, we set out on a trail that winds its way to the other side of the reservoir, on the edge of which grow shrubs and trees. At one point, we stop to dip our feet into the cool water. In the forest, Kuttan calls out the names of the trees and we make the acquaintance of the pretty Yedambiri bloom. We come to a stream and stop to take a breather. Dipping our legs into the water, we get ourselves a free fish pedicure! A few millipedes cross our path as we set off again while a forest skink looks at us inquisitively. Suddenly, the wafting aromas of food comes to us and we see two persons preparing a huge meal by the side of the stream. That reminds us of the lunch that awaits us back at the forest bungalow and that’s all the motivation we need to head back.
Fact File
How to reach:
Chimmoni Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, is easily accessible
from Thrissur, the nearest railway station, around 34 km away. One can also reach the
sanctuary from Amballur on
the Ernakulam-Thrissur road (NH 47). The nearest airport
is Cochin International
Airport, about 75 km away.
Whom to contact:
Asst. Wildlife Warden,
Chimmoni Wild Life
Sanctuary, Chimmoni
Dam P.O., Kerala
Phone: 0480-3209234
http://expressbuzz.com/magazine/frogging-with-kuttan-at-chimmoni/364077.html
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