Kodai - Mannavanur trek through Mathikettanshola Reserve forest
After a brief break from Vellayangiri trek we guys planned for a medium trek and want to break up the hot Chennai summer. Nine member team finally decided that includes my father-in-law's brother Mr.Nagu. Everyone in our team is wonderful and very cooperative. Few members in our team are first timers including Venky, Praveen, Sandeep and Nagu. Other team members are Sathya, Praveen alias Panju, Paa, Sheik alias PB and myslef (Aravind). Booked the tickets in SETC from Chennai to Dindugal and in KPN from Kodai to Chennai.
Friday 16th 2010
Everyone gathered in Koyembadu for the 8pm SETC bus towards Dindugal. After introduction session quickly we mingled with everyone, so everyone in the team fits perfect with others frequency. SETC service is very better then expected and especially air condition in the bus is above average.
Saturday 17th 2010
Reached Dindugal safely at sharp 6am and got the tickets to Kodai in the TNSTC counter there and had some refreshment. Bus started at 7 and reached Kodai around 10:20am. Even though journey tested our patience we realy enjoyed the climate and the outside Scenes. Thank God! Kodai is still alive with its own color and not like Ooty.
Our Guide Mani arrived soon and we bought Noodles, MTR Ready to Eat for Dinner and next day breakfast. Mani gave us packed Lunch and we started our trek from Caps valley around 12:30 in the afternoon.
At the moment we started rain also join its hands with us. Makes everyone scary and wet due to the heavy rains and with the risky path. But we steadily proceeded the trek and had our lunch around 2:45pm. The lunch is memorable. Just think with thousands of A/C surround you and you are wet having parotta with chicken chalna. yummy...After 3pm rain just stopped and we entered Mathikettan Shola Reserve forest.
Mathikettan Shola is merely like "Pandora" with dark wet green every where with tall trees and no source of light in the day time also. Its really thrilling and place is really beautiful. We finally reached Berijam Lake around 6pm and its dark.
We started pinching tents and it again started raining. We finished pinching tents and kept our valuables inside the tents and we are in the dinner mood. All the newcomers were completely helpful in all the aspects and they were in great Josh. We had hot noodles in the drizzling chilling weather and Edwin our helper prepared for "Camp fire". Every one really enjoyed Camp fire and Nagu started to sing nice old songs. Very aesthetic night with nice songs, chilling weather and with the warmness of the Campfire. Actually no proper words to explain the beauty and happiness we had.
Sunday 18th 2010
Next day morning everyone woke up around 6 in the morning after a adventerous sleep in the tents. Sathya and myself done Yoga for some time and its really refreshing in the beds of berijam. After yummy brekfast we started our trek towards Mannavanur thru Thalavetty falls. Climbing down Thalavetty falls is real adventure and scary. Sheik and Nagu has height sickness but they managed well with their confidence and of course sense of humor. Sandeep, Praveen, Venky cooperated with us very well and especially Sandeep with his weight he came along with us. Kudos to his confidence. Few of us had a deep shower in Thalavetty falls and ran away from the falls because of leaches!!! :).
As usual Panju and Paa rocks to the core with their high spirit and stamina. Sathya is the Silent bird in our team (Only during treks!!) tops the charts this time. With Paa, Panju, Sheik and Sathya i can do any treks for sure.
Finally we reached Mannavanur around 3pm in the afternoon after the tiresome trek for more then 7 hours. Every one hunted the meals in the small hotel and reached Kodai around 5:30pm. Our bus is at 6:30, so we done few shopping etc. and boarded the bus with nice and fun filled memories. Hope that cannot be recreated again without the same team.
Thanks to our Guide Kodai Mani and his helper Edwin for all the arrangements. Kudos to our team for their confidence level. See you guys with my next travelogue!!
Total Distance: Around 25 Kms.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Expenses: Rs. 2500 from Chennai to Chennai including all meals and Guide Charges (Rs. 1500/- per head).
