" If you are an adventure lover with a short group, interested in exploring nature, but the days available are less (weekend may be), then sure you people should try Tentgram, Wayanad.. "
The plan starts
The plan started as soon as we heard about the program through one of our colleagues, and decided immediately we must visit there for sure. Since we are a group of 5 members, working together, and the program is of 2 days duration, our weekend was chosen and we booked at their website confirming the availability.
Though it's a 2 days program, since the event starts from 2 p.m of Day-1 (we must assemble there at that time) and ends by noon the next day, literally it's a 1 day event. Since your travel eats a lot of time (we started from Mettupalayam, Tamilnadu) you feel the 2 days completely occupied. But sure at the end you'll feel it worthy.
Day 1
We assembled at Mettupalayam by 9 a.m, got into our friend's car and the journey began.
The route is not complicated (just Google maps) as we passed through Coonoor, Ooty, Gudalur, Meppadi, Destination. The roads were decent. En route you may spend some time at Pykara river and take some photos.
We reached the destination by 4 p.m due to some unexpected delay and we informed the coordinators about it already. They asked us to park our vehicle at the tea shop / mini hotel (open parking) which is the parking spot for all visitors.
In a few moments, there comes the 'Jungle jeep' to pickup us. The drivers had some exceptional skills to drive in such narrow, inclined, muddy, rocky paths. Sure you'll enjoy the thrilling ride for some 3 to 4 kms.
They dropped us at the big typical kerala house located into the forest at an elevated location. We were allotted with a room sized enough for our group and provided with enough beds. After getting some refreshment another jeep came picking us to an isolated low-depth part of the river side. The guide shown the path, explained the depths & safety, and left us saying he'll come back and picking after an hour. I hope every group have such separate space and time and you can enjoy with your friends.
After getting back, it's almost night, we took a little rest. Then they served with some barbeque chicken dinner which was good and then we enjoyed a small camp fire in that cold environment before we slept. Take some winter clothings with you, since you may feel some cold into the forest.
Day-2 : The Adventure Begins
The second day made the entire trip worth as this is for what we came in. Morning after the breakfast the guides assembled the groups together at one spot and we started our march into the forest. Beware of leeches in the plants covering the path sides all the way. We walked through the ups and downs of the trail for some 2 k.m. and reached the river stream.
Here waits the adventurous experience, as you start hiking over the rocks throughout the river, called as "river stream hiking". Many of us sure had done some hikings but this one is quite different, as we hike opposite a river flow under the rocks. Many places were slippery and sometimes the rocks are completely submerged. Our senses should always be keen and careful while moving through every feet, which kept us thrilled.
Besides you may enjoy the true nature around you while passing through the stream into the forest. You'll enjoy the fresh, clean, cold, unpolluted water and fresh air right from the nature, and literally you can drink the fresh water.
It lasted for some 1.5 km i hope, and like a neat climax the stream led us to a small waterfall. Since we can't go further above, we stopped there and enjoyed the fresh fall. The cutest part is the naturally made swimming-pool like area under the falls (low depth) and can enjoy some swim too. We spent some 45 mins there and started back reluctantly, feeling freshness throughout the body.
Headed back downstream, though the trails again, reaching back the house again, but the freshness of the waterfall still left over the entire body. That was a wonderful experience.
We packed our things, took some rest and the jeep again picked us and we got dropped at our car by 3 PM appox.
The freshness of the trip resided in the body and the mind for many days, and during our break times we recalled and discussed about the experiences we had.
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Though it has been a year over since our visit, i can still feel the freshness back whenever i recall the highlight moments of the trip in my memory
• The Wild jeep experience
• The River hiking experience
• Freshness of the waterfall all over the body
• Those tall forest trees
• The barbeque chicken (lol)
A beautiful experience i would say...