வெள்ளயங்கிரி மலை..
ஏழாம் மலையில் வீற்று இருக்கும் சிவனே..
இருளோடு எங்கள் பயணம்
உன்னை நோக்கி..காடு மலை தெரியவில்லை
போகும் வழியின் கடினமோ புரியவில்லை
எங்கு இருக்கிறாய் நீ ?..
வழியெல்லாம் உடல்
வலி கொண்ட போது..உணர்ந்தோம்..
நீ எங்கும் இருக்கிறாய் என்று..
The above statement is completely true. We never got such a experience in our previous treks. We planned this trek on January. Because of lot of mixed reviews about permission inside the hill we postponed the trek to February 12th. that is on the occasion of Maha Sivarathri. Initially the team strength is 3 (Myself, Sathya and Paa) and final head count increased to 9. We planned to start the trek by night and reach the top around 4. Wait until the sunrise and return climb down to foot hill.
Priya packed breakfast for all and she dropped me in Nungambakam railway station. Thanks to her. Myself, Sathya, Paa, Karthik and Rajesh Mannai (Friend of mine) got the morning train on Feb 12th Friday towards Coimbatore. Nadraj also joined with us in the train. We reached Coimbatore in the afternoon and reached my Sithhis home. She prepared pakka lunch for us and had it thoroughly. She also packed dinner for us. My lovable cousins Palani and Senthil joined with us for the trek and Saravana my friend he also joined the trek from Coimbatore.
We took the bus to Poondi from Town hall Coimbatore. Its been a one hour travel and we reached Poondi around 8pm. There is a Vellyangiri andavar temple in foot hills and huge crowd was there for the occasion of Sivarathri. We got bamboo sticks for our trek. Its highly mandatory for this trek. Whom you want to try this trek please get a bamboo stick or otherwise you will be in serious trouble!!!.
We started our trek around 8:30pm and the first hill is full of rough steps around 2000!. It makes the first time trekkers (3 in our team) exhausted and we keep on taking breaks. One more unfortunate thing is we had only three powerful torch lights for 9 members. We bought four torches during the trek, each for 15rs. it works only for and hour!!. It gave us real hard time but we are in the motto of reaching the top at any cost.
Totally there are seven hills. First and second are foot steps, as third and fourth are shola vegetation. Fifth is the thick forest as sixth hill is the Climbing down trek. Again seventh will be the uphill and its somewhat hard to climb because of the steepness and strong current of the freezing wind.
In the sixth hill we took bath in a small stream and its frezzing cold. Do not miss the "Karupetti kappi" in the sixth hill. The total uphill trek took us around 6hrs. and we reached the top around 3am in the morning. Its been a very very tough time staying uphill because of the very strong and freezing air flow. But the experience in the seventh hill with Lord Shiva's presence is like we are in the heaven. No word to explain the beauty of the place as we are above the clouds and the stars seems to be very close and sometimes it feels like hitting our head.
Finally sunrise happens at sharp 6:48am in the morning and everyone begins to pray the sunrise. Its been a memorable sunrise for everyone there. We started our downhill trek at 7 am and reached the foothill around 11:30am. In the morning we got stunned with the beauty of the nature. Its been a real nice experience as the uphill trek is full of darkness, exhausting and we climbed with the help of cute stars around us in the freezing wind. The down hill trek is warm and scenic.
Reached Coimbatore junction around 1:45pm and our train is at 2:20pm Kovai Express. My Sister Uma packed lunch for everyone again and we had it stomach full and started to sleep like hell because of the tiredness. Reached Chennai around 10pm in the night and our pitty legs needs rest and the total body needs sound sleep.
After every trek our hearts need more and its planning for the next one. We planned next trek for Kumaraparvatha in Karnataka. Experience makes human better.
நாடோடிகள் நங்கள்..
அனுபவம் தேடும் பதர்கள் நாங்கள்
சிற்றின்பத்தில் நாட்டம் இல்லை..
பேரின்பம் தேடி அலைகிறோம்
பேரின்பம் பெண்கள் இல்லை..
மனிதம் கண்டுபிடித்த கருவியில் இல்லை..
எவராவது கண்டு பிடித்தால் கண்டு சொல்லுங்கள்
அது வரை இந்த பதர்கள் அலைந்து கொண்டு இருக்கும்
அடர்ந்த காட்டிலோ இல்லை மலை மேட்டிலோ..!!
Mandatory things:
- Torch light.
- Alternate dress.
- Pain healer lime Amrutanjan, Moov or releif sprays.
- Glove for hands and jerkin for managing cold in the uphill
- Energy bars and instant energy foods like dry fruits, glucose etc.
- The trek was allowed only on special occasions like Chitra pournami and for Maha Sivarathris. I heard that its also opened for other Pournamis. But its closed from July to December because of heavy Rainfall and the total paths are slippery.
- Ladies are not allowed. Above 50 are allowed.
- Difficulty Level : More then Medium to Difficult
- Trek duration : 5hrs uphill and 4hrs downhill.
- Travel expenses from Chennai to Chennai : 280 rs
- Food expenses from Chennai to Chennai : Around 250rs
- Total Expenses : 500rs
Catch you soon with my next trek folio..
