Mr.Sudhakar and Mr.Sivalingam belonging to Tourist Information Center, Yelagiri Hills guided us along the trekking route. We started from the Tourist Information Center at Athanavoor(Yelagiri) at about 7:45 AM and drove by car up to the village Puthur (about 8 km). After parking the car there, we started trekking at about 8:10 AM. As no tourists reportedly came forward to take this arduous trekking route in the last few months, Mr.Sivalingam came forearmed with a sickle to clear any wild growth along the trekking route.
After less than a kilometer of walking on a decently wide mud road, the hilly forest area began. As we progressed into the forest more and more, the passage became narrower and narrower. As we went deeper into the forest, the flora around us was breathtaking. A thick jungle, with a variety of trees and thorny bushes surrounded us and the continuous chirping of birds was a constant company throughout the journey.
After another half a kilometer, the sound of the continuous flow of water through the rocks was audible. It was precisely the same stream of water which is going to culminate as the beautiful water falls that we were to visit. A narrow path sideways to about 20 feet down, lead us to the stream. The locale was perfect with very thick foliage and trees surrounding us, allowing filtered sunlight to illuminate the area in little patches, for taking a few photographs.
The journey continued, sometimes down the hill, some time up the hill, all along a rocky foot path, that we had to maneuver avoiding thorny bushes at the left and a sloping hill terrain at the right.
We were told that if we were lucky , we can sight a few snakes residing comfortably at the anthills dotting along the trekking path! We were also told that bears reside in that jungle and generally we may not be able to sight them. After negotiating several bends along dangerously sloping rocks and slipping soil under the feet, we traveled for about one and a half hours, catching our breath here, gulping bottles of water there, enjoying the breathtaking hill views here and worrying about the likelihood of crossing a snake there!
The sound of the water falls was getting louder and louder, but nothing visible amidst the thick jungle. After negotiating a few rocky bends and descending about 30 feet near the end of journey, lo, the Perumadu water falls was in front of us!
The water was flowing down from about 40 feet height, with bends and breaks here and there and the final fall was between two rocks for a height of about 15 feet! Though the volume of flow was not too great and is nothing comparable to Courtalam falls, it was a nice scenario alright, the arduous journey to reach it making it all the more attractive and worthy!
While some in the group proceeded straight away to have their bath, we decided to finish our breakfast first, to recoup the energy first before enjoying a good bath. Thanks to the the tasty idlies and dosas nicely backed by sambar and chutney that the caretakers of our resort Resort had meticulously prepared and packed for us, we could enjoy our breakfast that we rightly deserved!.
After finishing our bath, drying our clothes and taking pictures and videos of the scenery around us, we decided to start our return journey. It was when our driver announced his sighting of a huge snake, that has caught a iguana and trying to swallow it. He snatched the camera from us, descended a few rocks along the stream and came back like a warrior in all grins to show us the photos of the ill fated snake, who had bitten an iguana too large to enter his mouth!
The blue colored snake with stripes and its over sized catch became the instant attraction for several of the youngsters who had the guts to go and see the scenario, but the vast majority was content to see the snake just in the digital camera screen!
We packed and bid good bye to the waterfalls and started our return journey at 11:30AM. The sun had moved up the sky; the return was more uphill and naturally, it was more demanding and tiresome under the hot sun. Many in the other group had done a grave mistake of not bringing drinking water with them and they had to suffer the consequences.
The water that we had brought too got exhausted after sharing it with the rest who could at the best get just a gulp each from the stock. My daughter, for a change, felt very energetic (!) on that day and she was amidst the first group that returned briskly to Puthur village where we had parked the car! The guide in their group was shrewd enough to know the plight of the rest who were suffering from thirst. He had collected a two-liter bottle full of water from the stream and kept on a rock clearly visible to us on our way. We all gulped the water that tasted like nectar for our parched throats.
After lots of grunting, sweating and swearing, we all reached the village, dead tired. But, that’s the real charm of trekking. The wondrous scenario, the refreshing bath at the water Perumadu falls, the fun, frolic and the jokes we shared all through the journey all these made all the physical strain we went through, quite worthy!
Do you feel tempted to visit Yelagiri Hills and trek to Perumadu falls?
Here are some guidelines:
» Trekking distance : 3 + 3 kilometers
» Approx. time required : 5+ hours total
