Jun 18, 2012 01:07 PM
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(Updated Jun 18, 2012 02:38 PM)
When we speak of travelling, It's all hill stations and beaches as far off as we can afford. If you are from Cochin in Kerala, generally people prefer as a get away hill stations like Munnar, Ponmudi, Wynad, Ooty, kodai etc or Plain tourist destinations like wildlife park in Thekkady, Back waters of Kumarakom or Alapuzha. Or many of the myriad resorts and home stays dotting the entire landscape of Kerala.
Most people never ever care to visit the exotic locales near them. The deciding factor being - What can you boast of ..when you meet you friends, Somebody you know has been there.. etc. Leisure has become a commodity to be marketed..The tourism sellers exploiting the need of a man or woman to bloat and boast of having been to these places.
Well do we actually derive any real pleasure out of it for the money spent. Of course we do ...a silly pleasure of having 'been there'.
Coming back to the topic, I decided to take family to a place just 30 Km from my wife's ancestral home in Trichur District of Kerala. It was not borne out of any of those great thoughts shared above. Rather a practical decision arising out of restricted time and plain curiosity. The Chimmini Dam and the forest reserve. It is built on the Chimmini river originating in the western ghats and flowing through the Thissur district of Kerala and joining the Karuvannur river. It is 20 Km from Amballur junction, just before Thrissur on NH 47 towards east.
The path was scenic through plantations of rubber and teak and what not. You need to take a pass from the forest check post before entering the forest area. The dam in itself is not much to say about. A rather old construction. However the whole place had a lonely feel to it.
You could trek through the wooded area around the dam and come to the other side of the reservoir. We had bought lunch from home and had it in midst of the forest. Mind you there are no restaurants in the area and only small shops providing snacks and soft drinks. The loneliness of the area was breathtaking. I took some really good pictures with a cheap Sony digital camera. The credit goes to the locale alone by photography skills being nothing more than click..click. Pictures speak more than words and I dont seem to be much good at words too. Since only two pics could be attached to the article, I have uploaded few others to my profile.
Since my travel partners included two less than 5 year olds and a senior lady - mom in law, the idea of a long trek into the forest was abandoned. Still it was good fun. But couple of friends had been to the forest reserve a week before for trekking which was great fun and little terrifying when they got lost though they had a forest guide with them. But not to worry the forest officials will seek you out and return you back. Only you will have to listen to an earful from them. So sayeth they.
Am going to be back in Chimmini next time prepared for THE TREK...Hope the forest dept has helicopters !
Cheers !!!
Have a great day !
Luv, Rajat
