Kambamala, Thirunelli, Kuruva (Kerala) Dec 08-09, 2012

On December 07 left Chennai by Mangalore Express at 17:00 hrs.

Reached Calicut (Kozhikode) around 04:15 hrs and auto-rickshaw dropped us (Kesavan, Krishna MP-organiser & me) just in time to take bus heading to Mananthavady about 3 hrs journey. We had Puttu with Kadala curry for breakfast and 

took another bus from Mananthavady to Thalapuzha. Reached Thalapuzha in 15min where a waiting Jeep dropped us to Kambamala Guest House of Kerala Tourism.
Kambamala is located in Wayanad district. 

Jitesh welcomed us. After a quick refresh along with our guide Kenjan (local tribe)
we started to trek. Within 30min of trekking, we met Mohanan -another local tribe.
Along with Mohanan, Krishna MP & me reached the hill-top and climb-down was a cake walk. The entire trek and walking while returning took about 3 hrs. After which there was a small stream falling from the rocks where we spent some time and then reached Guest house around 15:3Ohrs. Lunch was chapati and kappa with Salad, chicken curry. Then we took a nap cos of the heat outside. In the evening we had a chat with Jitesh - caretaker of Guest house until dinner time and as requested they served rice with tomato curry with Pappadam, chapati, chicken curry and salad. 
Krishna MP & me kept talking till 01:00 AM. 

Kambamala was really fascinating with peaks all over filled with Tea plantation.
December 08, we left guest house around 7AM, Jeep dropped us at Thalapuzha from where we took couple of buses to reach Thirunelly - Maha Vishnu temple. Spent some time inside the temple and took stunning pictures around the temple. We left Thirunelly by 10:30 AM. 

Our journey countinued at 10:45 AM until another bus dropped us at Kuruva Island.
We had lunch at 12:20 PM - rice with fried fish, fish curry along with sambar, buttermilk. Kuruvadeep is another name. It was nice being inside Kuruva with lot of trees and loads of shade with people being transported in rafts between small islands. 

We left Kuruva by 02:30 PM or so and reached Mananthavady around 03:25 PM.
Took a bus to Calicut which left Mananthavady around 4PM and dropped us around 7PM in Calicut (Kozhikode). Krishna MP got vegetable fried rice and I had parata with egg masala. Reached home sweet home at 8 AM on December 10.

Thanks to Krishna MP -my Infinite co-worker who organised everything for this trip.
It was travel trip for me with few hours of trekking. Glad that I was able to trek in Kerala. We have plans to visit the place in March 2013 and spend over-night in hill-top.
Lets see how things unfold. 

Nagalapuram to Tada trek October 26-28, 2012

Its been over 8 months of trekking as cycling has taken a front-seat. 

After attending a cousin's wedding in Koduru, Andhra Pradesh on October 25

went to work and was picked up by Jayanthan (organiser) of End-End Nagala Tada Trek.

We reached Pichatur around 07:00 AM had Tea & Idlies for breakfast in an eat-out just before Pichatur dam-lake. Trek started at 09:00 AM crossed 1st and 2nd pool our destination was to reach camp-site which is the Picnic pool. Due to the pace of the group and I deviated from the group during a descent to reach stream - group got delayed and we stopped much ahead of picnic pool to spend the night. Soup was served - missed to have soup cos I dozed off. Stayed awake with great difficulty to have noodles after which entered sleeping bag to sleep. I slept very well inspite of having couple of punctures on my bum which occured during the day.


Woke-up next morning to cover-up the distance which our group was lagging to reach picnic pool. In 2 hours or so finally managed to reach picnic pool. Had Tea and corn-flakes for breakfast. After an hour, Trekking resumed about 10:00AM  from picnic pool to touch historical trail for camp site. After couple of hours by noon, 7 of 17 guys decided to get back to base via dead-end pool. After brief discussion, 10 guys including organiser Jayanthan, Alappan, Girish, Gopi, Kalyan, Sandeep, Saraang, Shankar, Varaprasad & me proceeded forward to reach our camp-site for 2nd day. We trekked beyond day-light using torches until 09:30 PM. After reaching a peak-top, were there was enough place for 10 guys. We gulped little bit of whatever water was left with the group. Most of them slept without having dinner. There was slight drizzle for about 5-10 minutes or so.
Me, Girish, Jayanthan & Varaprasad were talking for a long time much after most guys had slept. 2nd night was not soo good as I had distured sleep.

Got up early next day soon after day-light appeared, watched sun-rise with some cloud-cover. Trekking started on Day 3 with a lot of ascends and descends eventually we reached our next camp-site near statue where we had Tea with rusks. We resumed our trekking by 10:00AM reached Tada plateau and finally crossed Tada falls and were stuck at 06:30 PM not sure of how to reach base of Tada(Ubulamadugu falls). 3 days of thorns tickling, creepers cutting, stones slipping and rocks hitting-hurting ankles ended.

Finally Girish, Jayanthan & Saraang seeked Peter's advice and eventually reached parking area of Tada falls around 09:15 PM. 2 autos dropped 7 guys until VaradhayaPalem at 11PM.
Got a bus to Koyambedu within minutes after we got off the autos. Bus stopped at an eat-out before Tada where we had dinner and said good-bye to Sandeep at Tada. I got-off at Padi Junction and reached home at 02:00AM.

Trek info: 3days and 2 nights
Distance: around 40km

Special Thanks to Jayanthan for his appauling navigating skills which made it possible for the group to cross the line. Saraang & Girish assisted Jayanthan and Kudos to all other members of the group who stayed together and supported each other at all times.
Super Sandeep should be really appreciated to complete the trek with a bee-sting.
Thank you all Shankar, Gopi, Varaprasad, Kalyan, Alagappan. Hope to see you all in some CTC event sooner or later. 


fotos to follow