Elaveezha poonchira……….
The pond of flowers where leaves never fall…
It was a quiet Saturday evening… we were taking rest after a heavy holiday meal and thinking were to roam in the evening. I look at the Sky, it was so clear …. yes, it is the best time to go to ‘elaveezhapoonchira’…the place which I longed to see...
Started at 3pm from our house …. ...we reached kanjar by 3:10, where the board shows…
7 Km to elaveezhapoonchira. We travelled the narrow beautiful hill road to ‘chakkikavu’.
From there we hired a 4 wheel drive….. jumping from one stone to onother…If we walk, we could reach before the jeep !!
I looked around….. the colourful valley surrounded by three enchanting hillocks - Mankunnu, Kodayathoor vindhyan and Thonippara each above 3200fts from sea level…. There are no trees to fall the leaves….…that’s why it named “Elaveezha poonchira.
Evening light paints beautiful shades over the hill and valley.
Evening light paints beautiful shades over the hill and valley.
There is a police outpost on the top. Jeep way ends here. If we want to explore further we have to find our way amidst bushes and pigmy palms, climbing small rocks to reach the top of Kudayathur vindhyan (It is not safe to visit the place during rain due to heavy lightning).
The plant we can see all around is “Chittenth - the dwarf mountain date palms having small trunk, long leaves and cluster fruits , widely distributed in Western Ghats
My husband told he and his sister had trekked the foot hill and steep rocks behind our house in their child hood to come here for collecting these dates. At that time even jeep road was not available ,so a whole day to and fro trekking was needed
Some people collect the leaves of this palm for making brooms, which destroy this beautiful plant. Rare flora here is to be retained for future generations
View from top of Kudayathur vindhyan was so fascinating……
On the edge of sunset; sky was gorgeous with rainbow colours….Scenic beauty of Malankara Dam Reservoir ……
we could never forget the view of kanjar and muthiyanmala from kudayathur vindhyan…
I heard of this place for the first time when I was a teacher in University college. One fine morning just before going to the class ,my final year students told “ Miss, we are going to Elaveezhapoonchira, we got permission from HOD”- I was surprised but allowed them knowing how much they wanted to enjoy the last days of their college life. When they came back and showed me the pictures I too wished to see that beauty….But when I got my new job I left the place without seeing poonchira
Now I am so glad ..it got me back to spend rest of my life in the shadows of this great mountain range.. our priceless heritage
Sun is slowly going down …sky turned golden red…..
Jeep is waiting for us… we bid farewell to the cool embracing breeze sadly saying we will come back…
-The end-
Excellent narration with awesome pictures.!
ReplyDeleteExcellent narration with awesome pictures.!
ReplyDelete