Kodai to Muunar Trek - Not exact "Escape Road Trek"!!

Kodaikanal to Munnar!! Its one of my dream come true trek. I bet you cannot see these kind of landscapes, valleys in any of the treks. Priya went to Delhi to meet her parents and i am all alone in Chennai for 3 weeks. According to me December is the month the whole world is beautiful and climate will be cold throughout the world. For trekking its the best time and i don't want to miss December month and when searching internet i got the idea of trekking Kodaikanal to Munnar.

But i didn't have a proper company to join along with me and i contacted Guide Mr.Mani in Kodai regarding the cost for the trek. He quoted little bit higher and i am not in the position to spend that much money. He says if you guys come along as group i will give reductions. I got the reduced price from him and in the mean time i searched company to trek along with me. One more sad thing happened was the date we asked Mani was already booked by a group. My friends also not interested i thought the plan was going to drop.

And i made up my mind to trek alone and negotiated again with Mani and got a good quote of Rs.2200/- for 5 days trek along with food and sleeping bag!! :) :). But one condition is i have to trek along with a the group he already committed. I said a great "YES" and i covered Christmas Shift in my office and started my journey towards Kodaikanal on 25th night with lot of dreams and questions!!.  I did not know any one in the group, even i am not familiar with the place or guide!!. Landed in Kodaikanal around 8am and refreshed in a Hotel's restroom and called my guide. He told the trek is going to start from Kodiakanals Youth hostel and i came to know the group which he is going to lead is from Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI).

When i reached there the lead of YHAI said No to me to join with the group and he is keep on telling about the rules and regulations of YHAI. Mani who is very close to the forest officials supported me and he says i am to going to join the trek as the treks volunteer and finally he got permission for me. Thanks to Mani!!.

While these drama is happening the trek is been started and they climbed down inside the forest. After 30 minutes i joined the trek and everyone was new to me and i got introduced to everyone before the lunch break.

The trek plan is :

Day 1: Kodaikanal to Berijam lake
Day 2: Berijam Lake to Kavnji
Day 3: Kavunji to Mannavanaur
Day 4: Mannavanur to Kadavarai
Day 5: Kadavarai to Top station and i trekked from Top station to Kurangani (to catch the bus from Dindigul to Chennai, i done the last part of trek that is from Top stat. to Kurangani)
   

The first day trek was good, but simple and we reached Berijam lake for staying the night. Nights are cold like hell and we are not able to resist the chillness and slept for 2 hours hardly. Berijam we saw bison's roaming like goats.

                                      

Next day morning we started towards Kavnji and its been trekking towards Shola reserve forests and we had a nice break in Konalar. Trekking is been medium for the regular trekkers and the only problem is leeches. It screwed the happiness of first timers and regular trekkers we had a smile at leeches. Kavnji camp is better and it accommodates all of us. that is around 46 members. We laid tents also and managed the night with as usual songs by girls and we used to listen and enjoy it!!.

Third day trek is through grass lands and we received rains while trekking and we are all wet and finished the trek to Mannavanaur around 4 in the evening. IN the shivering cold we had few cups of tea and a hot dinner made by the volunteers.

      
                           

Fourth day trek is been from Mannavanur to Kadavarai or Killavarai and its been a total climb and stayed in middle of the forest. that is at the check post of Tamilnadu and kerala. that road is previously used by British soldiers and called it as "Escape road".

Fifth day the trek starts from kedavarai to Top station and its been a 2 hours hectic climb and 2 hours easy trek and we reached Top station. And i said a big bye bye to the trekkers and i rushed towards Top station to Kuarangani. Its been a 2 and half hours trek and i am the hurry of catching the bus at dindigul. The other trekkers went to Munnar from Top station ( by bus) and finished their trek.

Finally i reached Kurangani and got bus to Bodi and from Bodi the Theni and then from Theni to Dindigul and reached Dindigul at 8:30pm. My bus is at 10pm, so had a nice dinner and got in to the bus. Slept like anything and the next few days my legs pains like hell!!. But the things i experienced is heaven.

I am sure this blog is not enough to share my thoughts i gained in this trek and personalities i met during the trek. The whole team is very friendly and i had pakka fun with them. Lovely couple Alpa and Jay, Brave and sweet advocate Nassem, friendly Anand and his pakka team from Bangalore, Always smiling Radha and Padmini :) Aunty, brave souls Apurva and Priyanka from Sangli, Our helpline and "dynamic" Vijaykumar and priya from Thirupuur, My favorite Chennai team that includes Mega, Sarvana, Gnana and Srini, 45 year old eligilble bachelor Kothari, So sweet Madhu and Sachin from Managlore, Aparana an environmental advocate, Real trekker Prashanth from Karwar and etc..etc..I apologize if is missed some names and i am thankful to Volunteers who helped my guide Kodai Mani.

I lost three kg during this trek because of less intake of food and water. Climate makes us mad and a final thanks to YHAI and we guys in Fat pipe are going to join YHAI for doing Sarpass and some himlayan treks in future.

See you guys in my next blog with lot more interesting places.

Trek Details:

Date: Dec 26th to Dec 30th 2009
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium

Distance Covered – 38 kms approx

Contact Details – Kodai Mani, Phone no : +91 9894048493

Trek Start Point – Kodaikanal Youth Hostel

Trek End Point – Top station, Kerala

Total Expenses: 3300/- Approx including Transportation from Chennai to Chennai