Warning for the people who has the habit of working in office- THIS IS A LONG POST.
We reached Kurungani at 8, it is a small village from where the trekking to Top station starts. Immediately after getting down the bus our first photo session started. There is a bridge near bus stop and few got down the bridge and got fresh up there, meanwhile JK took parcels of Idly for breakfast.
Last trekking i did was to Nagalapuram in October 2014, and after that i went to the same place three four times as none of my friends were ready for a long trip. During this time i used to ask my friend Bala about the next trip, two weeks back he told me that his friend JK is organizing a trek from Kurangani to Top station on Feb 14 and 15 and asked whether i am interested, like that i ended up in the group of 17 people.
Chennai to Kurangani:
We all gathered at Porur toll gate and got into the bus to Bodinayakanur at 8 pm, all introductions happened in the bus and our journey started. Fortunately i got a good sleep and woke up only at Bodi. Bus reached Bodi at early morning 6.30 on Saturday, the climate was so cool. After having a hot tea in that cool weather we took the next bus to Kurangani at 7.30. The road from Bodi to Kurungani is so beautiful and slowly introduced us to the Kurangani hills. Hills covered with mist, valleys with coconut trees, hair pin bends, suddenly we were in different world and started to feel the western ghats and enjoy its chillness. |
We reached Kurungani at 8, it is a small village from where the trekking to Top station starts. Immediately after getting down the bus our first photo session started. There is a bridge near bus stop and few got down the bridge and got fresh up there, meanwhile JK took parcels of Idly for breakfast.
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| From left to right: JK, Shaan(in lungi), Karthik, Manoj, Me, Shiva, Karhik, Idhaya, Sathish, Arul, Naresh, Shankar, Kabilan, Tarshiq, Jalal, Bala and Vignesh |
Kurungani to Middle station:
Finally around 8.30 we started our trekking, Idhaya and JK have already done this trekking, so they guided us the way. It was not sunny, the trail was wide, not that much steep and within an hour we reached the stream.
For this one hour i didn't attend the call from nature, once we reached the stream immediately i finished my poo poo. In an open place, inside the forest, water running under my feet, birds giving background score(encouraging), actually i enjoyed my poo poooing and it was a great experience, sorry i am getting carried away here.
After that we took bath in a small pool there, the water was so cool and refreshing. After taking the bath we had Idly and Vadai as break fast.
From the stream we started at 10.30 am to middle station and the trek was some what difficult. Almost the entire way is a stone laid path with hair pin bends. Here my friend Satish found a technique to take rest instead of directly asking to wait- whenever he felt tired he used to ask us to pose for a photo saying 'the view is so beautiful macha', after one snap he would ask to pose for one more and then one more until he felt ok.
After two hours we reached middle station also called central station, it is a beautiful place with some 30 to 40 houses and a small shop, almost every one there work in coffee estate. We stopped at the shop and had a nice sharbat there.
Yes the climb was little difficult but the beauty of the place deserves it. Here we saw horses, you can rent them for 300 to climb from middle station to top station. Finally around 3.30 we reached our destination- Top station.
We reached the hotel by 5.30, climate became so cool(almost equal to ooty climate).
Here comes the funniest part of the trip, after taking some rest, we had camp fire. We started talking, Tarshiq started discussion on one topic which we young people always think, this made the star of the evening SHAAN to interrupt and give his PERCEPTION on the topic through some memorable songs, it was so hilarious and those four five songs made our day. After that some dance vance happened, there was another group of four people who came from Cochin by car, they started dancing to tamil songs, we also joined them. Then we had dinner and slept.
For this one hour i didn't attend the call from nature, once we reached the stream immediately i finished my poo poo. In an open place, inside the forest, water running under my feet, birds giving background score(encouraging), actually i enjoyed my poo poooing and it was a great experience, sorry i am getting carried away here.
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| near the stream |
After that we took bath in a small pool there, the water was so cool and refreshing. After taking the bath we had Idly and Vadai as break fast.
From the stream we started at 10.30 am to middle station and the trek was some what difficult. Almost the entire way is a stone laid path with hair pin bends. Here my friend Satish found a technique to take rest instead of directly asking to wait- whenever he felt tired he used to ask us to pose for a photo saying 'the view is so beautiful macha', after one snap he would ask to pose for one more and then one more until he felt ok.
After two hours we reached middle station also called central station, it is a beautiful place with some 30 to 40 houses and a small shop, almost every one there work in coffee estate. We stopped at the shop and had a nice sharbat there.
Middle station to Top station:
This part of the trekking was the most scenic one, you want to put your every snap as your profile pic in Facebook, it was that much beautiful. You walk through the plain grasslands with beautiful hills surrounding you giving a breathtaking view.Yes the climb was little difficult but the beauty of the place deserves it. Here we saw horses, you can rent them for 300 to climb from middle station to top station. Finally around 3.30 we reached our destination- Top station.
Top station:
Top station is located near Munnar, some 5 km away from Kerala, the main attraction here is the view point, where you can have a good view of the hills. After reaching the top we went to a nearby hotel and had food, then we went to the resorts by jeep where we booked the rooms. Our resort is in Koviloor, Kerala state near vattavada village, it was a 20 minutes ride from Top station. The route was really good, a typical Idukki district route, Jeep driver started playing the love songs of A R Rahman. Feb 14, evening time, AR love songs in Gods own country- perfect combination. We stopped at Vattavada village to take photos, the village is so beautiful, everywhere there are farms of carrot, strawberry and coffee. |
| Vattavada village |
We reached the hotel by 5.30, climate became so cool(almost equal to ooty climate).
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| our resort |
Here comes the funniest part of the trip, after taking some rest, we had camp fire. We started talking, Tarshiq started discussion on one topic which we young people always think, this made the star of the evening SHAAN to interrupt and give his PERCEPTION on the topic through some memorable songs, it was so hilarious and those four five songs made our day. After that some dance vance happened, there was another group of four people who came from Cochin by car, they started dancing to tamil songs, we also joined them. Then we had dinner and slept.
Return Journey:
It was Feb 15, India vs Pakistan match, so we got ready by 8.30 and sat before T.V. We watched the match until the jeeps came.
Same 20 minutes ride to Top station, but this time jeep driver played old Ilayaraja songs. Morning time, jeep ride in western ghats, Ilayaraja songs- old combination, but old is gold.
We climbed down in the same path which we climbed up, near middle station there is a small masjid which we didnt notice while climbing up, we went there, one can have a good view of the hills from the top of the masjid.
We reached Bodi at 5, our bus to Chennai was at 8, so we sat before a closed shop near bus stand and started playing dumb charades, it was fun. If this game gets included in Olympics, Idhaya will win gold medal for our country, every film name was on his lips.
All good things must come to an end and so this trip. It was a nice trek, people with average fitness level can easily complete this trek. If you haven't gone to this place, go with your friends and enjoy the real beauty.
Trek details:
Distance is 12km(one way), not difficult, if you get tired in between you can rent a horse.
Starting point is Kurangani village (Theni dist, Tamilnadu)
Accomodation: There are lot of hotels on Top station.
Same 20 minutes ride to Top station, but this time jeep driver played old Ilayaraja songs. Morning time, jeep ride in western ghats, Ilayaraja songs- old combination, but old is gold.
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| These puppies gave pose for photographs in front of a house in Top station |
We climbed down in the same path which we climbed up, near middle station there is a small masjid which we didnt notice while climbing up, we went there, one can have a good view of the hills from the top of the masjid.
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| Middle station and the houses at the bottom are at Kurangani |
We reached Bodi at 5, our bus to Chennai was at 8, so we sat before a closed shop near bus stand and started playing dumb charades, it was fun. If this game gets included in Olympics, Idhaya will win gold medal for our country, every film name was on his lips.
All good things must come to an end and so this trip. It was a nice trek, people with average fitness level can easily complete this trek. If you haven't gone to this place, go with your friends and enjoy the real beauty.
Trek details:
Distance is 12km(one way), not difficult, if you get tired in between you can rent a horse.
Starting point is Kurangani village (Theni dist, Tamilnadu)
Accomodation: There are lot of hotels on Top station.
