Athirapilly – Vazhachal - Peringalkuthu. Review on Athirappilly

11th April 2009, Saturday

Bikers:

1. Hero Honda Joy 100cc - Sterin, Roshan

   
   




2. Yamaha FZ16 150cc - Moon

   
   

Startup

My Orkut scrapbook read as “I bought a new bike FZ16 two months back, but couldn't go for any trip :(” . Comment was from my friend Moon with whom I shared a bike accident long back; and off course it was my mistake that time :). I suggested him a bike ride from Chalakudy to Athirappilly which was around 30 kms. Even though it is a short ride, I knew that the scenery and road condition awaiting were excellent. Thrissur has good roads now a days.

I was supposed to start from Thrissur and accompany Moon from Chalakudy. I called my friend Roshan for a company who was also available at Thrissur that time. No planning other than a couple of Orkut scraps and phone calls.

Poochinnipadam – Thrissur – Chalakudy

I met Roshan near Kuruppam road, Thrissur round (This is the place where Thrissur Pooram festival with lots of Elephants and fire works happens) and proceed to Chalakudy via Ollur, Thaloor, Amballor and Pudukkad. Road was generally good but sometimes we had to move from four lane to two lane as the four lane road construction was in progress at some places. As Hero honda Joy's maximum attainable speed is 85 km/hr, limitation of road conditions didn't affect us in a great deal. We took a break after Pudukkad for having a tea.

After reaching in Chalakudy, I called Moon and asked him to come to Chalakudy junction; After 15 mins, here comes Moon with FZ16 with all its fury. Look wise bike is good with big rear tyres and Moon's fancy number plate designs.

Chalakudy – Athirappilly

We were riding on narrow Chalakudy – Athirappilly road; which was a good zig zag road with flat tarring; ideal for a bike trip. Scenery and climatic condition there makes it very worthy to visit the place even in this hot summer.

Reached Athirapilly Tourism ticket counter after a good ride. Got the tickets for Athirappilly and vazhachaal. Proceed to Athirappilly waterfalls; but couldn't ignore the beauty of waterfalls from the view point on the way. We clicked some snaps and reviewed FZ16's performance and looks before proceeding further.

Athirappilly waterfalls

There was a short walk from gate to waterfalls and it was very cool and scenic with lots of trees and some monkeys on the way.

View of waterfalls was amazing and it was looking very fresh even in the peak summer. As you know, a typical waterfall during summer would be very dry with no water sometimes. We enjoyed the beauty of the waterfalls and its flow further for sometime. It was noon time and we started searching for boiled / fried Tapioca and fish curry which was the best Kerala dish for us that time. We had to walk back till the ticket counter to find a shop / stall with our diet ready.

Vaazhachaal waterfalls

Vaazhachaal was the next destination and we had too much time now to spend. It was only a 5 kms ride from Athirappilly. Road is still good but tarring is not so flat after some time; it was lonely with no vehicles as most of the people return after visiting Athirapilly. We saw a rock on the way with water marks which should be a small waterfall during rainy season. Reached Vaazhachaal to see a very few vehicles there.

View and sound of cascading Vaazhachaal waterfall was good enough to mark an impression. We walked further up following the river bank. We started sweating as a result of physical activity after heavy meal. Now we are in a mood to have a bath. Walking further we saw a small area in which water was blocked. Got the permission from security guard and jumped into the water; it was really good to escape from sweating and refresh again.

Time is around 3 PM and we have so much time in hand. If we want to push ourselves hard, ride to Sholayaar is the first option. Roshan was Ok with that but Moon played spoilsport. He don't want to take the risk of traveling to thick and dark forest area. Ya, Sholayaar has got very thick forest at a distance of 40 kms further from Vaazhachaal and very lonely road without any traffic. Now what is the option. Peringalkuthu at a distance of 17 kms further from Vaazhachaal. Good and safer option agreeable to all. Let us go !!!

Peringalkuthu Dam

I rode Joy with Roshan and Moon to follow on his FZ16. Roshan shot some snaps of FZ16 running beside. Ride was good but road is very narrow and has got some potholes here and there. It was only 3 PM but looked like 6 PM as sunlight couldn't get through the tree leaves. We rode for another 1 hour to reach at a junction. Peringalkuthu dam is towards right and straight is Sholayaar. Got the entry tickets and proceed further to the dam.

After reaching there we could see only one vehicle there with tourists. We got inside but it was written there that photography is prohibited, Damn !!! How can they do something like this ??? We carried our camera with us ignoring the warning. Both speed boat and normal boat riding was available there. Don't want any normal boat ride, but inquired about speed boat. Cost was 300/- … affordable but thought that it is not that worthy. Hence we dropped that idea and started walking towards water.

Sailing with fisherman's craft

Place was very lonely as nobody bother to come near the water by any chance. I was in a mood to jump into the water; swimming in the dam is always exciting. But Roshan and Moon don't know swimming and I will be the show man. What is the next possibility ? I noticed that there were two watercrafts made of wooden planks on the bank with fishing nets on them. In Malayalam they are known as “Changaadam”. Here we have an opportunity !!! Why can't we sail it for sometime and keep them as it is after sail ? I hoped that nobody will even know that we sailed it other than we three.

After some arguments I decided to check the depth of the water near that area. I walked and walked towards the water. After some time suddenly I lost my step and drowned, Oh God … it was very deep and I couldn't reach the bottom. I swam up and told that  water IS indeed deep.

After seeing me drowned once, Roshan became worried. Now Moon has got some edge in arguments. I decided to make a move; dragged the craft into water and attempted to sail it. Roshan is also intrested now. Things were fast then; there was no argument and we started sailing. At last the plan to sail the craft was executed successfully. I was really very happy like a successful project Manager.

Pringalkuthu – Chalakudy – Thrissur

It was 6 pm and no time for Sholayaar. May be next time :(. We rode back to Chalakudy faster. Had a tea break at Moon's house. We rode further to Thrissur; again two lanes and four lane switching. Reached Thrissur at around 8 PM and dropped Roshan. Safely reached home at 8.30 after finishing an adventurous bike cum sailing trip.

P.S:*

Next day I went to same places again but with my parents and cousins; Again I couldn't go to Sholayaar because this time my Mom didn't want to take risk even though my Dad was in favour of my suggestion. My cousin's were confused. Hence we got satisfied with a nice speed boat ride which I couldn't do earlier. Whenever you go to any tourist places you have something new to enjoy !!!!