Agasthyakoodam-Trivandrum( A Trekkers Paradise)

Some Facts about Agasthyakoodam:
Agasthyarkoodam , the tallest peak in the south at 1868 meters, is famous for its abundant ayurvedic herbs and medicinal plants. It is about 50 km south-east from Nedumangad.
About 32 km from Nedumangad en route to Ponmudi , the rightly famous hill station, lays the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary which is a big attraction for wildlife enthusiasts and
Ornithologists. It is a spectacular peak in the Western Ghats that rises to a majestic height of about 1890 m )in the form of a sharp cone. It is is part of the Sahyadri mountains and is the second highest peak in Kerala, after Anamudi. A bird watcher's paradise, this legendary mountain is accessible by foot from Kottoor, near Neyyar Dam and also from Bonacaud tea estate, on the road to Ponmudi. Teeming with wild life Agathyarkoodam is a haven of rare herbs and medicinal plants and the slopes offer a breathtaking view. Agasthyarkoodam (‘the abode of Agasthya’) is famous for its legendary connection to Sage Agasthya, who had a good knowledge in medicines. Women are normally not allowed on the Peak. Many rivers have their origins in the peak, some like Neyyar flowing west and others like Tamraparni flowing east to Tamil Nadu.

Trekking:
Trekking is permitted only in the months of December, January, February and March.Trekking in small small groups is allowed only for one month starting from January to February for a nominal entry free. In the other months it is on special request and more costly.A distance of 28km need to be covered to reach the top from the office.Reached Bonacaud
office around 9am in the morning.In the forest office, it is required to show the documents and the photo. There will be a checking on the contents of our bag too.People were sent as batches of 20.There is small canteen near this office.The trekking started. On the way there were trees and shrubs in various colours.The Colour change can be noticed in each area. After two and a half kilometer of trekking we reach a place called Lathimotta.There is guides there.They will accompany you. Around 12:30 reached a place called Attayar. There was a stream over there.Had lunch from there.Downstream of Attayar there is a falls called the Bona falls.The next trekking consists of passing through large number of big grasses.Saw a green snake on the way. After some time thick forests started and it was a steep climb upwards.Reached the Base Camp, Athirumala by around 4 in the evening. There were dormitories arranged there. From the dormitory there is a wonderful view of the Agasthyakoodam peak.There is a small canteen which serves rice gruel and puttu.Slept in the dormitory and got up early morning. Had breakfast around 6:30 am in the morning.Left the baggage at the dormitory and the trekking resumed. There is a steep climb until we reach a rock, through the thick forest .Cold wind was brushing our face as we climbed to the top.A small fog was also there. Arrows were drawn on the rocks indicating the path. After the climb we again entered the frorest area.Saw may plants on the way. Climbed the rock using the rope which was hanging down.After the climb there was some normal paths, after that also rocks were there to climb. Nearly 3 steep rocks have to be climbed in order to reach the top. Finally reached top of the Agasthya Mala. A statue of Agasthya Muni is there.And cold wind was blowing very roughly. Here snowflakes come and gets cleared fast.It was a breathtaking view from the top. After spending some time on the top started climbing downwards. Rested near a waterfall for some time. Reached the dormitory around 2. People are not allowed to go from that point to go down if we reach the dormitory after 2.The people who reach after 2 can resume their journey only next day. We got lunch as parcel and started climbing downwards with our baggage. On our way down we sat near a river and had our lunch. Reached Attayar and then finally Lathimotta. We reached the office by around 6:30 pm. By that time it was pitch dark. Had a tea and headed back home. The Agasthyakoodam trekking is a must go trekking for all trekking lovers. Hope you have a wonderful time out there.

It will be good if certain Points are taken into consideration
1.Do not wear colourful cloths. It is always better to wear clothes suiting the jungle.
2. Carry bottles to store water as the water can be refilled on the way from rivers. Also carry some snacks and fruits along.
3 Do not disturb animals.
4 Use a good pair of shoes .
5 Carry medicines for common ailments.
6 Do not travel alone.
7 Do not take away anything from the Biosphere Reserve.
8 Do not use liquor.

How to Obtain Permission:

Pass can be obtained from the following Wild Life Office :
Address:
The wild life Warden, Forest Department, PTP Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram,

Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary-Chennai

Vedanthangal Water Birds Sanctuary is the oldest and the most spectacular breeding grounds for birds in India. The sanctuary is spread over 73 acres .Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary is 90 minutes journey from Chennai. The sanctuary is the nest for various local and migratory birds. The vegetation, the pool and the ambience attracts birds and make them to stay in this place.The pools contains large number of water fowls and ducks. The sanctuary was established by the British government in the year 1798 to protect these birds from being extinct. Every year, a large number of migratory birds approximately around 40,000 in number like the Grey Heron, Cormorant, Egrets, Darter, Open-billed Stork, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Grebes, Night Herons and Grey Pelican visit this Sanctuary.It is very fascinating to watch the behaviour of these birds.We can spot a Cormorant or a Snake Bird dive under the water to gobble up fishes.After that the Cormorant must comes up to the shore dry its feathers. The Spot-Billed Grey Pelican always moves in groups and drives the fishes to a corner for gobbling them in the end.The Spoon Bill feasts on frogs and insects in the muddy water . This is a small sanctuary which is spread at about 2 square kms. This small sanctuary is the ideal place to walk and spot birds in their natural habitat. There are two watch towers from where the stretched area can be seen and experienced.You can have a good view with the binoculars. It will be better to have a binocular, but even if you don’t have one you can borrow them for rent.
How to get there : Chennai is the nearest airport .The nearest railway station is is Chinglepet (26 km). You can also reach there by boarding a bus from Chinglepet also.
When to visit : The best season to visit is from November to January.
Where to stay : Accommodation is available at the Forest Department Rest House or Hotel Tamil Nadu of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation

Explore Gavi Ecotourism - Pathanamthitta

Gavi which forms part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve lies in the Pathanamthitta district.We decided to take the path through the forest from Pathanamthitta.From Pathanamthitta, we deviated to Vadesserikkara-Chittar-Agnamozhi.From Agnamozhi the Forest Path Starts.Passed the Angamoozhi checkpost at 8am .On the way we passed the Sabarigiri Hydel Project.and some dams like the Kakki dam, Anathodu Dam and Pamba Dam.In Kakki we can a find an Echo Rock. It is actually a cliff formed due to removal of rocks for the dam construction in 1966.Tried out the echo experiment and we reached the Ananthodu Dam .We passed by the Pampa Dam and finally reached Gavi.On the way to Gavi we could spot many monkeys.

We reached the Gavi Eco tourism quarters by 12:30 PM and we checked in to the Green Mansion .One guide was allotted to us. The Rooms were small and neat.After having lunch and a small rest, we went for a Boat Ride across the Lake. There was a good waterfall point in the lake. We stopped there and had a good time. The Boat Ride was a good one. Could spot some birds and different types of dragon flies of varied colours like red,blue,yellow etc.In the evening we went for trekking with our legs covered with Socks to avoid the Leeches.Sat on one of the hills to watch the animals. Could spot some birds like the Malabar Paraqeet.Could spot 2 herds of bison and some sambar deers.Ended the day after a good dinner and finally slept.Got up early morning to set out for the Jeep Safari around 6am.On the way we could see a tree called Nirampalli.This tree is said to be the Gopher Wood tree from which Noah Constructed his Arc and the only specimen available in Asia.

After returning Back from the Jeep safari through the Jungle,we had our breakfast.Went for a small trekking .Could spot an elephant.We could spot Sambars lining up on the hillocks, feeding on the sprouting grass.After we went for a visit to the Cardamom Plantation.The Cardamoms are harvested once in 40 days.There is also one cardamom factory.The workers were mostly Srilankan Tamil Rehabilitee People. We could see how the Cardamom was processed.These Cardamoms were first washed .The water was drained and the sifted .Then heated in various degrees with an increase or decrease in the temperature.These are taken and the waste is removed.The first quality cardamoms are send to shops.The second quality cardamoms are used for ayurvedic purposes.Could see some Animal Horns, Various Animal Skulls, Different types of Barks of Trees and Finally an Ant Nest in the Museum. By about noon we checked out from our room. The Return Trip was a less adventurous one. From Gavi,towards Vandiperiyar and finally Pathanamthitta.On the way we halted at a place called Pambanar which offers a good Panoramic view.The Trip Finally Ended.

For the more adventurous type of people ,instead of the rooms they are offered Camping inside the Forests in tents.It will be a beautiful wildlife night experience.This Package is available only during some months of the year.The Tree Top Stay Package is also there.
For booking the stay you can log on to the official site which is http://www.gaviecotourism.com/
Hope everyone can enjoy the wonderful experience in Gavi.

Golconda Fort -Hyderabad

The Golconda Fort is located about 11 Kms away, on the Western outskirts of Hyderabad city. It is located on a granite hill having a height of 120m.The ruins of Golconda Fort is as old as 800 years. Golconda means Shepherd Hill was built consecutively by three dynasties, the Kakatiyas, the Brahmins and the Qutub Shahis. Golconda is more than just the Fort; it's a little city in itself. The Huge gates of the fort are decorated with large pointed iron spikes. These spikes prevented Elephants from damaging the fort. The fort of Golconda is encircled by an 11-km long outer wall. The width of the wall ranges from 17 to 34 feet broken by 87 semi-circular bastions, 50 to 60 feet high. Enter the gates to explore the architecture splendor of Golconda Fort. Clapping of the hands can be done to understand the acoustic nature of the Fort. On the ascent to the top, we come across the Durbar Hall where we get a magnificent view of the city. The design of the Fort was very useful for communication. Golconda’s mines were famous for its diamonds. It is said that the famous Kohinoor diamond has been unearthed from here. We can view the Charminar from the terrace of the Durbar Hall. The Durbar Hall was where the commoners were met by the royal people. There are eight gates of which four of the gates are in use. Now tourists enter through the Bala Hissar gate. The buildings inside which were constructed by the Qutub Shahi kings are decorated with various floral designs and decorations which falls in synchronization with the Qutb Shahi style. On top of the fort is the Baradari, which can be reached by climbing the stairway.

On the way up, the tourist can see what seems to be part of the plumbing system during the ancient days. The ventilation of the fort is absolutely fabulous having exotic designs. Ventilations were designed so that the cool breeze could reach the interiors of the fort. The highest point of the fort is the 'Bala Hissar' which offers and excellent view of the city. The Rahban cannon are seen within the fort. There is a secret underground tunnel which leads from the Durbar Hall and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.. The tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans lie about one kilometer north of Golkonda’s outer wall.. These tombs follow the Islamic architecture .These tombs are surrounded by beautiful gardens and beautifully carved stones. There are two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golconda. The Kala Mandir can be viewed from the Durbar Hall which was on top of the Golconda Fort. There is a light and sound show which is hosted daily which last around one hour. With a spectacular interplay of audio and visual effects, the story of Golconda unfolds over centuries of splendor. This audio visual extravaganza is worth watching.

My Lakshadweep Trip:First Day

Finally the trip to Lakshadweep came as a reality after months of planning. There are two type of trips to Lakshadweep.One is offered by SPORTS(of Lakshadweep Tourism) and the second one is offered by private resorts, one at Agatti and the other at Bangaram.SPORTS have a variety of packages catering to different category of tourists, like the one meant only for divers or water sport lovers. They also had a package in which you spend the day on the beaches and night on the ship. The Package Availed was called "Coral Reef". It was a 5 day / 4 night trip covering 3 islands, Capital Kavaratti, Minicoy and Kalpeni. We reached the SPORTS office on Wellington Island by 9:00 am. Got the boarding pass and a small kit containing tee shirts, caps and a brochure about Lakshadweep from the SPORTS office. There was a small checking before we boarded the ship. Our ship was M.V.Kavaratti.It was a comparatively new ship. The cabins had two bunkers, a desk, chairs and an attached bathroom. There was a small speaker which served as a mode of announcement to the tourist’s .It was my Maiden travel on a ship .We had a stroll in and around the ship. Since our cabins were on the fifth floor, it was easy for us to go to the helm of the ship. We had to climb just one stair. The ship started its voyage towards Lakshadweep by 12:30 in the afternoon. The dining room had long tables and chairs. We had our lunch from there. There were both vegetarian and non vegetarian foods available in the canteen. Had the dinner also from the canteen. Had a good sleep in the cabins.

Second Day:Kavaratti

Got up early morning to view the sunrise from the ship. It was wonderful view. Had the breakfast and disembarked to a boat which took us to the shore. The beach was made up of pure white sand, amazingly clean, and the water was light green and almost transparent. The tourists were given a welcome drink of tender coconuts. Spend some time kayaking in the beach. After that we were taken on glass boats for a ride .We could see corals, sea anemones etc.through the glass boat. A large number of fishes in different colours were also spotted through the glass boat. Could see the butterfly fish, sword fish etc.After the boat ride we were simply lazing in the beach. Many were playing volley ball in the beach. Marine life exhibits can be seen at the new Marine aquarium which has excellent collection like fishes, sea anemones, corals, sea potatoes etc. The Skelton of a sperm whale was a variety item in the Museum. We were also taken to the desalination plant in Kavaratti which provided water to entire Kavaratti.Here water is salinated into fresh cold water for consumption.Lunch was followed by Kolkali and Parichamuttu kali performed for the tourists.

Thrid Day:Minicoy

Minicoy:Minicoy is the southernmost and the second largest island. The island is crescent shaped and has one of the largest lagoons. Minicoy islanders are employed as seamen in ocean going vessels the world over. While the rest of the islands speak a customized Malayalam, Minicoy speaks Mahl, a dialect of Divehi, the language of the Maldives. It has its own script written from right to left.Minicoy women stand out in their colourful gowns and stitched headscarf in Minicoy.The water in Minicoy is greenish. Had a good time bathing in the sea. The water was only Knee deep and we could walk kilometers through the sea. We waded out a long, long way, sometimes walking, sometimes crawling, but it never got any deeper than mid-thigh depth. After that we were taken for a village visit. We were taken in tempo autos which is the mode of transport in Minicoy.There we could see the processing of the Tuna Fish.The Tuna Fish gets cleaned, steamed in huge steamers, cooled overnight and cut into small pieces by women, weighed ,placed in cans with 3 grams of salt,vacuumed,sealed,sterilised for an hour and labeled. Tuna fish is boiled, smoked till dry and then exported. The Women in Minicoy enjoy a high position in the SocietyAfter that we were taken to the light house which was constructed in the year 1885.There were 215 steps to climb. To reach till the top. After that there was a metal ladder to climb. The view from the top was breathtaking. On one side, there was the sea in its greenish with a beautiful beach, along with the huge number of coconut grooves. After the light house visit, we were taken to another beach where we had some kayaking and sea bathing. I spent some time picking shells on the beaches. The usual dance and music were arranged for the tourists in this Island too. Local girls presented traditional Minicoy dance with plastic pots. They threw in two more items, Oppana and Daf Muttu.Most of the tourists joined in the dancing towards the end. By evening ,after the snacks we boarded the boat which took as to our ship. The boat ride from the boat to the ship was comparatively lengthy. The sea was a bit rough on the way back .Was very tired and slept after watching the beautiful sunset from the deck of the ship.