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Old 19th July 2013, 22:12   #91
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 04
25th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Pallikkunnu Church - Banasura Sagar Dam - Karald Lake - Pookode Lake - Chain Tree - Vythiri - Soochippara Falls - Sunrise Valley - Sultan Battery

We decided to take a walk along the lake
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Some clicks from around the lake
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We saw a Malabar Giant Squirrel
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And this scary fellow
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By 14:15PM we were out of Pookode lake, well that was a a short 15minute stint at the lake. Unimpressive again!


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Old 19th July 2013, 22:22   #92
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 04
25th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Pallikkunnu Church - Banasura Sagar Dam - Karald Lake - Pookode Lake - Chain Tree - Vythiri - Soochippara Falls - Sunrise Valley - Sultan Battery

We then visited the Chain Tree at Lakkidi
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Quote:
Chain tree Wayanad has an interesting story behind it. Chain tree is a fascinating tourist spot. This chain tree is neighboring to Vythiri. You need to visit this chain tree to know the myth behind this spot. Chain tree Wayanad is a large Ficus tree.

The scientific name of Ficus tree is Ficus benjamina which is commonly referred as the Benjamin's Fig or Weeping Fig. Ficus tree is native to Asia and Australia. It is Bangkok’s (Thailand) official tree. Ficus tree, which is a Topiary tree, reaches up to 98 feet tall under natural conditions. Ficus tree has elegantly drooping branch lets and silky leaves. Since its small fruit is a favorite food for some birds, it attracts lots of beautiful birds.

The specialty about the large Ficus tree in Wayanad is that it is bound by a prominent chain. This serves as a source of a dramatic local myth. As per the myth, Karinthandan, an adivasi youth guided a British Engineer to the perilous mountain region to Wayanad. But in order to take the full credit for the discovery, it seems that the Engineer murdered Karinthandan. After his death his soul haunted the subsequent visitors to Wayanad. It seems that a priest chained the bothersome spirit into this tree.
By 16:00 hours we reached the ticket counter of Soochippara Falls
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The roads were pathetic and i stopped at-least a kilometer before the Ticket counter and walked.

Some information for you
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After the tickets were taken we walked ahead of this check post

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Here the tickets were checked and we were checked if we were carrying any plastics
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There were many interesting boards along the path to the waterfall
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There was indeed a little bit of a walk and the last bit was a treacherous descend. With the crowds both ways it was a nightmare to get down nor come up!!


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Old 19th July 2013, 22:29   #93
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 04
25th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Pallikkunnu Church - Banasura Sagar Dam - Karald Lake - Pookode Lake - Chain Tree - Vythiri - Soochippara Falls - Sunrise Valley - Sultan Battery

Soochippara falls
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It was all crowded

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One for the album
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We decided to leave immediately as it made no sense to be there in the crowd.

The return path

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Quite unimpressive again, the surroundings has lost all that natural warmth. Disappointed again!

We saw some more hills around
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Tea estates were plenty

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Old 19th July 2013, 22:32   #94
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 04
25th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Pallikkunnu Church - Banasura Sagar Dam - Karald Lake - Pookode Lake - Chain Tree - Vythiri - Soochippara Falls - Sunrise Valley - Sultan Battery

We then visited the Sunrise Valley.
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A father daughter moment

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We were a bit late, and we missed the setting sun

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Old 19th July 2013, 22:38   #95
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 04
25th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Pallikkunnu Church - Banasura Sagar Dam - Karald Lake - Pookode Lake - Chain Tree - Vythiri - Soochippara Falls - Sunrise Valley - Sultan Battery

The setting sun painted the sky
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Me amidst the riot of colours

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Wifey trying to capture the beauty
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The place was very nice and we decided to come back if we get some time again for witnessing the sun set.

By 18:30 we were at the small shop near the viewpoint. They were selling pineapples and gooseberries dipped in a spicy solution. We almost cleared around 20 gooseberries and 3 pineapples. They were very happy with us and gifted us some more. Finally with a tummy full we drove back to our hotel. We reached back by around 20:00 hours. We waited till 22:00 hours for our light dinner and later we retired for the day.
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Old 20th July 2013, 10:52   #96
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery


We had planned this day to be a day near waterfalls and water bodies. So the plan was to visit Meenmutty falls, which had a small trek and then visit Kanthanpara falls and return via Karapuzha visiting the Dam and reservoir.


But that was not to be, some one suicided at Meenmutty falls - so the District Collector orders a shutdown of the location. Same was the case with Kanthanpara falls, District collectors orders made that too out of bounds. Well that is definitely the price to pay for uncontrolled tourism

So we were left with almost the full day, so we decided to check out the Chembra peak trekking details, to relax near the beautiful tea estates en route Soochippara falls and to visit Phantom Rock and Edakkal Caves!

The drive plan for Day 05

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This day also turns out to be a 100KM drive in the end!

Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls around 27KMs
Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls around 14KMs
Kanthanpara - Tea Estates en route Soochippara Falls around 12KMs
Tea Estates - Chembra Peak Office around 6KMs
Chembra - Karapuzha Reservoir around 10KMs
Karapuzha Reservoir - Karapuzha Dam around 10KMs
Karapuzha Dam - Phantom Rock around 6KMs
Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves around 6KMs
Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery around 13KMS

Another loop drive
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Old 20th July 2013, 11:19   #97
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

After a light breakfast we started our drive for the day. We drove directly to Meenmutty waterfalls first, since there was a trek involved and the rest of the day will progress only as per the time remaining after the trek in hand.

But, the waterfalls was out of bounds
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Some one suicided there, making the authorities to close the point down
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The roads to Meenmutty Falls

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So by 09:45AM, Meenmutty Falls was knocked of the list, and we had the full day in hand to explore other places! We turned back immediately.

A few moments later I see a board
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I saw a jeep going that side

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On checking out what was there, I was told that we can see Meenmutty Falls in full from there. The road was not motorable for normal cars, so we decided to take a jeep and go up there. It was around 2KM of jeep and another 1KM of trek. All costed Rs 400.

Jr. PPG enjoying the roller coaster jeep ride!
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It was time to start the small 1KM trek

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It was a narrow path
, it was the path to the tribal village in the valley
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It was amazing
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Suddenly we started hearing the roar of the falls

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Through the haze it was difficult to see

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But the trek still continued...
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Quote:
Meenmutty Falls (മീന്മുട്ടി വെള്ളച്ചാട്ടം) is located 29 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad District in the state of Kerala, India. It is a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres. The Meenmutty word says it is where fish gets blocked. Meenmutty is a combination of malayalam words Meen (fish) and Mutty (blocked). Meenmutty Falls, the largest and most spectacular waterfall in the Wayanad District, is a 2 km hike though the jungle from the main Ooty Road. It is Kerala's second largest waterfall and the one most unspoiled in its natural setting. Each of its three tiers requires a separate hike through a moist, deciduous forest. The path is quiet dangerous and tiresome, but the waterfalls are worth it. There are various Meenmutty falls in Wayanad. One of them is present in the property of a resort called Banasura Hill Resort. One has to take a deviation at Vellamunda village and go via Pulinjal to reach the Meenmutty falls present there.
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Old 20th July 2013, 11:49   #98
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

The real trail starts from here
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You need a guide with you here, not because you will get lost, but because this is a restricted area. And to add to it this is a slippery trail with deep valleys to add to it. We had a nice guide with us from where we took the jeep. He had advised us for a bare foot trek, and we were jut happy to follow his guideline.

Jr. PPG on her first ever bare foot trek
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After about 15 to 20 minutes of slow trek we reached Neelimala view point.

PPGs at Neelimala Viewpoint
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Sr. PPG capture the beauty for her memories

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Wifey was so happy to be there

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Our guide explaining the area to me, and the direction in which the river (Chaliyar) was flowing
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The Cliff was scary
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Haze played spoil sport
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But you get to see Meenmutty Falls in full
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A panorama
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The place was beautiful, and a visit here will be ideal in the evenings when the haze will be less and sun will be lighting the waterfall

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Old 20th July 2013, 12:12   #99
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

After spending some relaxing time at this beautiful place it was time for us to turn back
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I was quite reluctant to leave this place

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A few clicks of the waterfall
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Wifey found it hard to climb back the slippery steep trial

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Finally we reached back the trail starting point

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We went ahead a bit to see the other side of the valleys where the tribal village was

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Some views of the valley there
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It was time for some refreshments, fresh buttermilk
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Wifey says, if my li'l finger is up like an antenna when I drink something, then it is like I am enjoying it to the hilt . Well yes, I was. What a buttermilk with all that green chillies, ginger, curry leaves and that small onions. Just for that glass of buttermilk I'll drive back now!!

Absolute bliss!
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It was time for us to get back
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We walked through the narrow trail
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Finally we reached our jeep
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By 11:00AM we reached our Civvy and started toward the next location for the day.

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Old 20th July 2013, 12:58   #100
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

We then visited Kanthanpara Falls
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The main falls which is just 100m from this place was out of bounds since another gentleman decided to suicide there forcing District Collector to order an out of bounds order for the place.

We took one picture for the album and moved on disappointed at the state of all waterfalls in Wayanad!

One for the album

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We then reached the AVT tea estates en route Soochippara Falls
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It was so beautiful

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I walked through the private road of the estate enjoying the beauty
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The peak behind is Chembra Peak
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Civvy waited for me to get back
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After spending some nice time there we decided to move on
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Old 20th July 2013, 13:17   #101
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

We went towards the office which will give us details of the trek.

The office is 2KMs from Meppadi.
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The trek is 3.5KMs one way from the Watch Tower
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We drove till the office through some tea estates
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Chembra peak at the background
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We reached the office
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I spoke to an elderly gentleman there. He said the trek is moderate and our PPGs will do just fine. He said the best time to start the trek is by 07:00AM. The permission to trek is issued all the way till 14:30 hours so that the last team can be back to base by 18:30 latest. We thanked him and decided to do the trek next day.

Standing tall
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A narrow path

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Red Rooster
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Old 20th July 2013, 13:43   #102
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

We then visited Karapuzha Reservoir
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A panorama
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Civvy near Karapuzha
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We then reached the Dam
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Some views of Karapuzha Dam
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Old 20th July 2013, 13:48   #103
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

Some more pictures from Karapuzha Dam
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Civvy was waiting for us near a Blue House

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It was already 14:30 hours, none of us were hungry. So we decided to refresh ourselves with liberal doses of Lime Soda and we moved on.

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Old 20th July 2013, 13:52   #104
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

We then visited Sacred Heart Church at Ambalavayal
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Old 20th July 2013, 14:02   #105
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Re: Civved : Wayanad

Day 05
26th December 2012
Sultan Battery - Meenmutty Falls - Kanthanpara Falls - Tea estates - Chembra - Karapuzha - Phantom Rock - Edakkal Caves - Sultan Battery

We then visited Phantom Rock
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Phantom Rock
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We climbed up

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We could get such a view

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Nothing much to do there, we returned back
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Civvy waited for us
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Civvy battered and bruised in the run
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