Munnar Diaries [Part 1] - Backpacking to Munnar and spectacular Vattavada village

Travel Date: Saturday, 18-Jan-2020 Dawn, 4 AM

Wanted to take a tiny break from the mundane life. Much needed vacation

Whenever I feel to travel, I want to travel very next day, or maybe the very next available weekend. And once the travel idea, crawl into my mind, I’m literally screwed, I can’t sleep. I dream my entire nights about the trip destinations, the inner peace I’m gonna experience over there, the photos I’m gonna shoot over there.

And I will be like to the mind,

"Dude, What’s your problem. Stop the insane dreams and allow me to sleep!"

My mind,

“No bro, You are done. I’ve to be there before the body reaches there.”

And mesmerizing Munnar is always the first destination comes to my mind when I'm in Kochi, as I can experience the serene atmosphere, the clean and crisp air at the upper atmosphere. A tour to an abundant forest is always an enchanting experience. I dreamt and dreamt and dreamt and feels the goosebumps, lying in my couch. Dream about taking a slow ride through the zig-zag roads in the expanse of lush tea gardens, losing myself, Me and me only moment, the inner peace mode turns on. Dreaming is a difficult waiting time, I admit.

And for the very first time, I had a sudden feeling of a solo backpacking trip. I did a lot of trips, but never a solo. I don’t wanna drive a car all the way from Kochi to Munnar, I need to be the lazy-bum sitting in the KSRTC (Kerala State Transport Bus) [‘Anavandi’ – elephant ride for Keralites] and free up myself and the enjoy the uphill and voyage. Suddenly my friend called upon (the day before the trip day, ie: Friday evening and told me, he is also joining the Munnar trip. Despite my solo trip plan, I thought it could be a good idea of taking him with me, as he had been to Munnar a couple of weeks ago.

Trip mode: ON . Packed following items

1. 2 t-shirts

2. A sweater

3. Sunglass

4. Moisturizer

5. Mouth Wash

6. Tissues

7. Sunscreen

10. A travels pant [ you just need a travel pant for a weekend trip ]

11. Other mandatory accessories

12. Power bank

13. Chargers

14. Camera / Tripod

15. Sandals / Flip-Flops

16. Walking shoe for a short trek [ Leeches are waiting for you ;) ]

17. Cigarette lighter to attack the leeches

18. Cap / Hat

19. 1-2 plastic bags

We boarded 4 AM fast passenger bus from Kochi transport bus stand and find our seat on the driver side. Driver side has the best views. To our surprise, we found a lot of teenage tourists getting into the bus, as we were in an assumption that we would be the only backpacking folks, Lol. The bus fare is 125 INR for a person to Munnar. Despite the fact that I'm super excited, I couldn't win on my early morning sleepiness, my sleep always wins over me, so this time. Got up once the bus reached Adimali, a rest point on the way to Munnar, got down and had a delicious tea. Tea has to be good at Adimali /Munnar; If it’s bad, it's shameful, don’t it be?

Adimali KSRTC bus stand

KSRTC bus drivers are famous for their outstanding driving skills, if you haven’t never experienced the adrenaline rush of taking a trip in KSRTC (In a hill range roadway ), you must have it in your bucket list. A must-do! Even a lone tusker would not dare to meddle with an Anavandi :D. Our driver did a buttery smooth driving [being sarcastic :P) to the uphill of Munnar, and we finally reached about 9:30 AM at Munnar town. This bus last point is Vattavada, a remote serene village with stunning beauty. IMHO, Generally speaking, there is nothing to experience in Munnar town except the morning and dusk fog and mist, and the day time is groped by humid sunny climate.

Traffic block on the way to Munnar

We got down and found out the public toilet to freshen up. It's not easily visible, the public toilet is beneath the bridge and has to take downstairs. But the public restroom is pretty clean. Had a chit-chat with the auto chettanmar (brothers) over there and gained some knowledge about the places. And they suggested hotel Maharani located in the town centre itself to have breakfast. Had poori masala, Appam egg roast, didn’t disappoint us. Much better taste than expected in a tourist place and the tea is Ahha Ahha... Loved it.

We didn’t have any itinerary as such, and once our tummy is fully filled, we started thinking about the destinations and plans, called up a lot of 2-wheeler renting out agencies and none of them had 2-wheeler available as of Saturday, Sunday is full booked it seems. Next commuting option is obviously our tuk-tuk. Talked to a couple of auto chettanmar and finally settled down with a guy named Kanakaraj, He agreed to take us to Vattavada village valley for 1000 INR. The normal charge to Munnar - Vattavada (to and fro) auto-charge is 1000 -1200 INR.

Vattavada is a scenic village valley located 50 KM east to Munnar. On of the way to Vattavada, we waved our hands to Mattupetty dam, Kannan Devan Tea Factory, Museum and the top point and lot of photo points. Photo points are the most time-consuming stuff in a trip, People just go crazy at photo points, so my did my friend. He got some of my nice snaps as well :P. The best part about hiring a tuk-tuk is you are experiencing the backpacking trip (probability of hitchhiking is close to nil on these roads). we stopped off at the top point and at the echo points and took a couple of quick snaps and jumped back into the auto. On the way, took a glance of Mattupetty dam as well, nothing worth there to stop by. 

My mind was at VattaVada, the incredible sleeping beauty. Once the tuk-tuk started climbing more and more uphill, the mist on the tiny leaves and fog started gulping the upper sky. Oh, my friend, it’s surreal. We finally reached at the Vattavada village entry gate where the vehicle has to log the RC number and driver details. Once we stepped into the roadways, it was a never-ending forest of Pambadum shola national park, which looks like a different place altogether. Hardly you realize that you are now in Kerala, as it’s not the typical lush green Kerala landscape. The landscape on the sideways looks artistic with different colours of tree, the red, yellow and green forest took over the entire show. Don’t blame me, the scenic roadways and forest tranquillize you.

               

Pampadum Shola National Park

         I walked on those empty roads,

         Chirping of birds around me,

         I alone with my inner self,

         A cool breeze cuddled me, 

         With an eternal serene artistic forest around me,

         I and soul float like a puffy cloud…

         I wish I were the cloud…

 

And the landscape changes to pine forests, a row of pine forests started welcoming us, asking me “Oh my beloved, why you are so late to meet me, to hug me?”. Got down and calmly meditated on the lap of pine forests and captured the beauty of pine forest in different angles and moved on. Finally, by afternoon, we reached the famous captivating sleeping beauty, Vattavada village valley. Suddenly felt like we are somewhere in Kashmir or European countryside valley. Why do you want to travel all the way to Kashmir or Switzerland, when your home is much more scenic.

Pine forest on the way to Vattavada

Pine forest on the way to Vattavada

Vattavada is hailed as the organic farming hub of Kerala, known for growing strawberries and winter vegetables like cabbage, carrots, guava and some other unknown veggies to me. At Vattavada, treat yourself to fresh carrots, strawberries and fruits plucked right in front of your eyes from the orchards. Once we look down at the valley, we saw colourful houses in a layer of rows, standing on the slopes of the hills, presented a spectacular view.

Vattavada village valley

Vattavada village valley

We met an organic farmer, Babu chettan and replenished ourself with freshly picked strawberries, guava and strawberry syrup. Bought some half-ripe strawberries and aromatic guava back for home. Have to back in Vattavada in May-June season to see orchards of a fully grown bunch of strawberries.

We could ride all the way further uphill, camping tent and resort is available where we can stay and dilute into the beauty of Vattavada. But time didn’t allow us to do that, Adiós, amigo, We’re going to miss you, But promised I will be back soon to cuddle up to you.

We were running behind time and as we had to be at Munnar before 3 PM, to take a jeep and hurry to Suryanelli, where our jeep towards Kolukkumalai is waiting. Took a quick stop in the return journey and took couple of snaps of the forest, suddenly from nowhere a forest guard appeared and yelled at us that photography is prohibited. Wait? What? Photography is prohibited in a forest? He didn’t mention the reason though (Later came to know that stopping vehicles and photography is prohibited in Pambadum shola national park). 

not the end...

Image Gallery:

Snap with Organic farmer, Babu Chettan, VattaVada