I will start this story with a video. Would you go to a place, if you had seen a tiger in that place?
I saw this video, while on the way, like just 4 kms before to that place. But when I searched about this place last night, I saw many videos, many vloggers(Tamil Navigation, Payanapithan) had already gone here, explored this place and shared a lot of details about this. I thought this place is really safe, only until I saw this video DAMN :(
So, what we decided is, okay let’s go closer, if they allow us in or if many people are going in, we will go in. It would be stupid to cancel a plan, just by seeing a video, without checking the authenticity. But, it’s also the same stupidity to go to a place, after knowing there has been big grown Tiger in the trek route.
While we approach closer to this shenbagathoppu, we saw this beautiful mountains with straight clean roads. The only thing running in my mind is, if you have nice model and a 70–200mm lens or a drone with a skate board, one can make a aesthetically elegant grammable content here. This place got that level of potential. But what I had is a kit lens lol. Let’s stop anyway he he.
Remember this: On any trek trip, take as much as shots possible, while going in. Because when you return, you will have 0 energy.
I admit, this place would look even more pleasant, if the sun was little low. Usually in this time of winter season, this place is expected to be pleasant. But, it isn’t now. Ok, remember this, we are still not sure, if we are going to go to this trek. We have 4 problems at this point.
- Tiger.
- Are they allowing people in?
- Will there be water?
- Even if allowed, will it be able to climb?
One problem solved — They allowed us in with an entry ticket, which felt like it’s officially allowed inside. We also double checked, if people are going in. The locals responded ‘yes’. When we checked if there is any water, he showed that face ‘KONJAM’, which means the water is literally very less. But, with the amount of dryness we are at, even a little amount of water will chill us.
As we enter in the road, Senthil stopped car and rushed for the camera. It took me a while to figure out, that there is a deer just watching from far. I picked my cam as well and took that one shot. So, at this point, the presence of tiger evidence increases after seeing this deer. But, not sure.
In the end of road, there was a temple and many people had come there. As it did not feel lonely, we wanted to continue our journey. We again checked with the waterfall route and started walking. It was scorching hot.
Din’t the tiger video look like this spot?
At this point, we lost our phone signals.
As we walked in, it was lonely for sometime and also meeting other people walking in/back once in a while. So, it did not feel completely lonely, which pushes us to go even further in. And this route, this path was covered between electric fence to keep away from animals, I believe.
Sometimes, we were unsure, if we are inside electric fence or outside.
In our route, we saw some houses, some thoppu — some closed, some looked like shops closed due to no tourists, some looked like forest department houses. But everything was totally covered with electric fence, we could not even make knock knock joke here lol.
After the most tiring journey, due to this heat, dry weather, less water, no food and this lockdown lazyness, we finally reached this water fall spot.
Isn’t looking so disappointing?
But, trust me, it’s not that disappointing, after walking for 2 hours under dry sun like ‘Client Eastwood from Good Bad Ugly’, seeing even a drop of water can make anyone happy.
It’s not just water, it’s pure water, tasteful water. It did have fishes and tadpoles falling in the water. The people, who were there, were fishing in the waterfalls.
After waiting for them to leave, we picked our spot. Although it’s not that heavy waterfall like Courtallam, which massages your back, it’s definitely better than home shower. Also to mention that, there is a small pond like place, which is filled with 100s of Dr.Fishes, it bites/tickles you like anything.
I am so ashamed of sharing this photographs of FATTEST version of me. But, what I am sure is, if I become even fatter tomorrow, I would find these photographs as the most fittest person lol
I must get a Ramraj banyan soon.
We look like as if our fats are melting.
Do you see that bathtub like structure above me? I still regret that I did not climb up for a shot. The place was so slippery that I had to slip every single time to get down from that place. There is no safe way of coming down.
These are most favourite photographs of mine in this place.
First pic — my friend Senthil giving the best pose — he is slim and not married.
Second pic — The man filling the water, tells the story.
We spent our best 1 hour of that day, chilling us and decided to leave. The good news is we only have to climb down, which is easy. The bad news is, it’s so late that, we are so hungry and we only have some water filled from that waterfalls. While returning, we got this good view of this western ghat mountain, where some of the spots are nicely reflecting like a silver melting. It’s only with DSLR zoom, we could confirm that they are actually water, forming from mountains, forming a river.
Origin of water like a melting silver.
Soundar is very good with his 200mm lens for his macro shots as well. Even when the macro subject is flying.
At this point, we are dead tired. We spent trekking for many hours, with little water and still no food. We had to drive back to town for food.
While we packing, we noticed locals here celebrating their type of fun, cooking for their family. Glad they gave the most authentic pose. Then we returned to the city, phone signals came in, reached the same Hotel Kathiravan for the lunch. And that’s how the day ends happily.
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