Oru yathrakkurippu....

Orupadu nalukal manasil kondu nadanna oragrahamanu mookambika yilekkulla yathra.Yathrakal ellayppolum enne kothippikkarundu. Angane irikkumbolanu harthalukalkku panjamillatha nadayathukondu oru harthal veenukittiyathu. Pinne onnum aalochichilla mookambikayilekkulla yathra thane. Athinayi Indian railway yude site-il ninnum train-te vivarangal kandethi.avidekkulla route map-um visadamayi manasilakki. Pularcheyanu train-Verval exp.-ravilethanne ethippedanulla thidukkam-enne nerathe thane unarthi.kuliyokke kazhinju 3.30 nu railway station-il ethi. Adhikam kathunilkkendi vanilla.train ethi. Yathrakkarkku kuravonnum illayirunnu.oru seat kandethi irunnu.byndoor aanu lakshyam. Mookambika kshetherathinte aettavum aduthulla station aanu byndoor or Mookambikatample road.mangalapuram kazhinjappol pinne irikkan thonniyilla,kazhchakal kanndu doorinte aduthu thane ninnu.neram pularnnu varunnu,mattoru state-loode yanu yathacheyyonnathu ennu thonnunathupolum undayilla,athramathram familiyarayirunnu kazhchakal.keralathiloode pokunnathupole!mattu bhasha kal samsarikkunnathozhichal bhakki thani keralam.jananglakkokke cheriya aakara vyathyasamundu.
7.30 yode train byndoor ethi,oru vikasanavum ethippedatha konkan railwayilulla pavappetta station ! track-nu iru vasavum kuttichedukal valarnnu niranjunilkkunnu,plat form ennu parayanayi onnum illa. Trackilekku mannu veezhathirikkanayi nirmicha 1 meter veethiyil cheriyoru plat form. Pinne sthalam thirichariyanayi board vachittundu’Mookambika Road’!! sarikkum oru natural friendly station! Irangi nadannu.mookambikayilekku thane yulla orupadu per undayirunnu.athukondu ottaykkanu ennu thonniyilla.randu ‘mahe’swadesikalkkoppam koodi yathra thudarnnu.parisarathengum oru bus stando,kettidangalo kanan kazhinjilla.aake kurachu taxi-kal mathram.avar yathrakkare pratheekshichu nilkkunnu.oru omni vanil kurachuper kayari irikkunnundayirunnu,njangalu kayari.van purappettu.approximately 20-km undu ennu koodeyollavar paranju.avar edakku vararullavaranu....
..Poornnamayum oru malampradesamanu. Veethi kuranja road-iloode van vegathil pakunnudu. 15 varsham munpathe nelliyampathi roadine yanu athu anusmarippichathu.edakku nallaroadilekku kadannu.8.45 nu mookambikayilethi. Sowparnikayil kulikkanayi nadannu. Neerozhukkukuranja cheriyoru nadhi.idakku thadayana ketti nirthiyittundu. Dharalam theerthadakar avide ethiyittundu.koode vannavar avide vachu pirinju pinneedu kandathe illa.vasthram mari vellathilekku irangi, nalla thanuppundayirunnu. Kudajadriye thazhukiyethunna kattum theerthadakarude sadhanangalum bhakshanavasishttavum thattiyedukkanayi pediyillathe nookkinilkkunna kuranganmarum aayi neendu kidakkukayanu sowparnika.veethi tharathamyena kuravanu. Veendum mattoru sthiram yathrikanumayi koodi kshethrathilekku nadannu. Aduthu oru school kanan kazhinju. Mookambika kshethathinte thanu. Avide kshethra thintethayi dharalam vidhyabhyasa sthapanangalum mattum undu. Kayyilulla kavaril mariya vasthrangal undayirunnu koodeundayirunna aalkku parichayamull sthalamanennu paranju aviduthe oru veettil vaykkanyi poyi.aa veedinumunnil aarum thane undayirunnilla pariyalesamanye ayal sadhanangal avide vachu, njanum. Aa veettile vyakthi kshethrathile aro purohithananu. Uthsavathinu devi yude thidambu edukkunnathu ayalanu. Kshethrathinu chuttum kettidangalum loadgukalum mattumayi dharalam kachavada sthapanangalundu. Koode vannayal avide vachu pirinju. Njan kshethrathilekku kadannu. Valiya padippura,munnil oru cheriya pidiyana nilkkunnundu. Ividuthe janangalkku aanaye kananulla avasaram there kuravanennu thonnunnu. Athine chutti ppatti kurachuper avide nilkkunnudu.Akathukadannappol munpundayirunna nigamanangalokke mari.pratheekshichaathrayum valuppam kshethrathinnila. Sameepathulla purayilninnum homam kazhikkunnathinte gandham parakkunnudu. Kshethra darsanathinu iniyum akathu kadakkanam athinu samanyam bhedhappetta oru Q undu.njamum athil kayari.kshethrathe valam vachanu Q nilkkunnathu.pathukke akathu pravesichu...
Chuttum manoharamaya chithrappanikal nadathiyittulla thoonukalum kavadavum.athinu naduvil cheriyoru sreekovil chaithanyamulloru devi-prathishtta.engum neyyude vasana!!.kurachu per sreekoviline chuttiyulla nalambalathil kayari nilkkunnu. Pathukke darsanam kandu nalamalathinu purathukadannu. Oru thoni avide irikkunnudu.uthsavanalil devikku aarattinu pokanullathanu. Chuttilum cheriya dharalam prathishttakal, ayyappan,vinayakan,angane perariyatha kurachuperum. Chuttikkarangumbol oru swarnna radham sradhayil pettu. Poornnamayum swarnnathil theertha manoharamaya radham,pazhaniyilethinu samanamanu ithum. 10 roopayude tokkaneduthu oru ladu vangi nallaswadundu. Kurachuneram kshethrathinakathu irunnu. Pinne pathukke irangi nadannu. Bag-um mattum edukkanayi athu vacha veettilekku chennu. Appol avide alundu,poyi njanathu edukkanuvadhm chothichu appol ayal karyangal thirakki,avide vaykkanundaya karanavum paranju. Oru malayaliyanu ennodu samsarichathu.ayal aviduthe sahayiyanennu thonnunnu. Palakkattukaranaya oru vayodhikan! Njanavidunnu irangi aduthu valla bhakshanavu kittumo ennu anweshikkanayi nadannu thirichu pokanulla bus-station num ariyanam. Oru cheriya hotel upole thonnicha ‘restaurantil ninnu bhaksham kazhichu ratum super restaurant inu thulyamanu! Bus standum manasilakki nadannu.kandal oru sadharana pradesavasiyude look undo ennu samsayam ariyavunna kanndayil aasayavinimayam nadathiyanu yatha.
Bus stand il ethiyappol magalapurathekkulla oru bus aalukale vilichu kayattunnundu athilkayari irunnu.bus neengi thudangi ,avide commission vyavasthayilanu aale kayattunnathu ennu thonnunnu.aalukale vilichu kayattiya aal cashum collect cheythu,ayalude commission um vangi irangi. Nibhidamaya yvanathiloode yanu aa road kadannu pokunnathu. Kundhapurathekkulla mookambika sanctuaryiloode yanu yathra chuttilu vyathyastha swabhavamulla vanangal kuracu neegiyapol bus nirthi. Chaya kudikkanayi nirthiyathanu. Njan avide irangi ente kavi maranulla sthalam nokki ,avideyull abus waiting sheddil kayari vasthram mari. Vandi pathukke neengi....
Valiya speedonnum undayirunnilla bus,yathra valya rasamundayirunnilla. 5 hr journey!!!back born shek aayi, Visappum rasamillaymakku oru karanamayirunnu 4.30 kazhinjanu mangalapurathethiyathu. Avide irangi railway station ilekku nadannu. 5.30-nanu train. Nadakkumbol aduthulla churchil x-mas-new year stage undakkiyirikkunnathu kandu. Manoharamaya portrait! Kurachuneram athu aaswathichu ninnu,veendum yathra thudangi. Railway stationil nalla Q undu.njanum Qvil ninnu.valanju pulanjanu Q vinte kidappu.pathukke neengunnudu purakil dharalamper vannu nilkkunnude thottu purakilulla sisters nu oru madiyum illathe idakku backkilekku chari nilkkunnu. Enikkulla train purappedan thudangi –Q iniyum ethiyittilla- adutha train-nu veendum 1.5hr nilkkanam.ohhh onnum aalochichilla, Njan Q vil ninnum oodi trainil kayarippatti.nalla thirakkundayirunnu. Kayarunnathinidayil oruvan oodi kkayaran sramichu traininu pani kodukkan nokki- pakshe avan thottu avide veenu, bhagyathinu traininu onnum pattiyilla.train avidannu pokukayum cheythu. Ella station nilum niruthi aaswadichanu train neegunnathu.athukondu ella station num kanan patti.6.30 nu train kasaragod ethi.njan pathukke irangi ticket examiner illennu urappakki nadannu neengi…………….. 

Nelliyampathy

Nelliyampathi is situated in the western ghat region followed by the palakkad gap in the palakkad district of Kerala. From the town of Nemmara(32km from the district head quarters), the nearest  town before the entrance, came to seen the cloud piercing peaks of of the Nelliyampathy hill ranges .The height of the ranges from 463m to 1570m.To reach Nelliyampathy, one has to take the road starting from Nemmara that proceeds to the Pothundy Dam.
   
      view of Nelliyampathy hill ranges from Pothundy dam 
Nelliyampathi is a popular hill station 60 km away from Palakkad in Kerala a small state in south India. It is surrounded by tea and coffee plantations and has excellent weather conditions. The journey to Nelliampathi itself is an experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where the first town of Nelliampathi, namely Kaikatty junction, is at a distance of 26 km. At the 9th kilometer is the Pothundi Dam, a small irrigation dam which provides water for the rice fields in the surrounding area. The dam is at the foot of the Nelliampathi hills. From here, the road winds up for the next 17 km, with many hairpin turns on the way. Immediately after Pothundy dam, comes the government forest, where one can see massive teak trees. On the way, one can see wild animals like monkey, deer and porcupine. The view of the Pothundy dam from the height is a breathtaking sight. There will be many waterfalls by the roadside during the rainy season.

 Travel to Nelliyampathy through the ranges provide a different experience to all. Pothundy dam was constructed in the 19th century. The dam is unusual in being constructed without a conventional concrete core, which is employed in most earth dams to counteract the force exerted by high water pressure. The core is, instead, an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime.It is the second dam in Asia constructed without using cement mixture. The dam is located about 8 km from Nemmara and 42 km from Palakkad.
 
   There are many places worth seeing near Kaikatty. One such place is Kesavanpara, which offers a panoramic view of the land below. The tea producer A.V.Thomas & Company has a large tea garden under its Manalaroo Estate nearby. Manalaroo Estate is the highest yielding Tea estate in India. One can buy fresh tea from their garden outlet in their factory. The Orange and Vegetable Farm, run by the Government of Kerala has its office and farm in Pulayanpara. The Farm sells squashes and jams of fruits like pineapple, orange, passion fruit and guava. Vegetables like brinjal, bean, chilly and spinach are also sold,and now there an anthurium garden for the production of anthurium commercially. Further ahead, there is another tea garden and factory owned by Veekay Tea Company under its Chandramala Estate, Poabs Organic Farm at seetharkund,Palagappandy,etc.
 
In Seethakundu one can have a fantastic valley view, and a 100 m high waterfall providing an added attraction. From Palagapandy, one can trek or go by jeep to reach Manpara;                         
                       View of Manpara...
another breathtaking vantage point at Nelliyampathy. 
The area in and around Palagapandy estate has tea, cardamom and coffee plantations with adjoining hills allowing one to catch a glimpse of the wildlife in the form of Indian gaur, elephants, leopards, giant squirrel etc. and is also a paradise for birdwatchers.All the tea and coffee plantations were originally started by the British. These were later on sold to the natives. The British were very conscious and responsible about the ecology of the area, utilizing the natural resources and only what was absolutely necessary.
 
The houses built by the British for themselves and their managers were constructed taking into consideration, the cold climate of the region. The walls and floors are wood lined to provide insulation, with fireplace to provide heating. They also maintained good gardens in front of these houses.
Another famous tourist attraction is the Seetharkundu. It is believed that Rama, Lakshmana and Sita of the epic Ramayana had lived in the place and Sita used to offer worship with the water from a small stream. This is the Seetarkundu, which can be viewed from the top of the mountains. At a distance, the Chulliyar dam, the Meenkara dam and the town of Kollengode can be seen.
THE NELLIYAMPATHY HILLS :
Located at the southern tip of the Palakkad gap, the Nelliyampathi hills are known for their exquisite fauna. About 215 species of birds and 90 species of butterflies have been recorded in these hills. Some of the rare species of birds include Grey-breasted Laughing Thrush, Great Pied Hornbill, Jerdon's Baza, Great Black Woodpecker, Oriental Broad-billed Roller, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Broad-tailed Grassbird and Nilgiri Pipit. Primates including Lion-tailed Macaque, Bonnet Macaque and Nilgiri Langur are seen here. A small population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr is also seen in the grassy peaks.

How to reach there:

Nearest Airports: Cochin International Airport and Coimbatore Airport
From Cochin Airport: Come to Thrissur - 30 km; take a taxi or bus from Thrissur bus stand to Nemmara - 48 km. From Coimbatore Airport: Come to Palakkad - 50 km; take a taxi or bus to Nemmara - 30 km. From Nemmara you can take a taxi or a four wheeler vehicle (jeep) to Neliiampathi.
Nearest main railway stations: Palakkad, Thrissur and Coimbatore

Ente gramam-(എന്റെ ഗ്രാമം)

പാലക്കാട്‌ ജില്ലയുടെ അരികുചെര്‍ന്നു കാടും  മലകളും  അരുവികളും  കട്ട് ചോലകളും  ചോലവനങ്ങളും നിറഞ്ഞ മഴയും,മഞ്ഞും, വെയിലും,കാറ്റും,എന്നുവേണ്ട ഋതുക്കള്‍ ആവോളം അനുഗ്രഹിച്ച ഹരിതാഭമായ സുന്ദര ഭുമി. പശ്ചിമ ഘട്ട മലനിരകളുടെ അവസാനമായി പാലക്കാട്‌ ജില്ലയില്‍ ഉള്‍പെട്ട മലബ്രെടെസം. കാണും തോറും കൂടുതല്‍ മോഹിപ്പിക്കുന്ന പുത്തന്‍ അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ പ്രദാനം ചെയ്യുന്ന എന്റെമാനസ്സിനെ എന്നും പുലകിതമാക്കുന്ന വനമെഘല,”നെല്ലിയാമ്പതി”….
മനുഷ്യന്‍ വെട്ടിപ്പിടിച്ച വനഭുമികള്‍ കൃഷി-സ്ധലങ്ങല്‍ക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോള്‍ നെല്ലിയാമ്പതിയും അതില്‍ ഉള്‍പെട്ടു. വിദേശികള്‍ വന്നു തേയിലയും കാപ്പിയും ഓറഞ്ച്ഉം,എന്നുവേണ്ട മലനിരകളില്‍ വിളയുന്ന വിളകള്‍ ഇറക്കി പോന്നു വിളയിച്ച ഭുഊപ്രടെസം.

മൂകമായി നമ്മെ മാടി വിളിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്ന സ്വപ്നഭൂമി.മൂകതയെ കീറി പറിക്കുന്ന ചീവീടുകളുടെ കൂട്ട നിലവിളി എങ്ങും വിഹരിക്കുന്ന നിഭിട വനഭൂമി.കടും മലകളും പുത്തന്‍ അനുഭവങ്ങലുമായി കാത്തുനില്‍ക്കുന്ന, അവയില്‍ പലതും എനിക്ക് പകര്‍ന്നു തന്ന എന്റെ പ്രകൃതി പഠനസാല അതാണ് നെല്ലിയാമ്പതി. കട്ടരുവികളുടെ ഈണത്തില്‍ കിളികളുടെ ഗാനലപനവും വന്നയ മ്രിഘങ്ങളുടെ ഭീതിതമായ പക്കമെലവും വിക്രുതിക്കുറങ്ങാന്‍ മാരുടെ കളികളും പെടമാനുകളുടെ സല്ലാപവും നരിച്ചീരുകളുടെ പ്രയാണവും ചെന്നായ്ക്കളുടെ നിലവിളിയും-ആകെപ്പാടെ മനസ്സിനെ ഒരു പുട് ലോകത്തിലേക്ക്‌ എത്തിക്കുന്ന മന്ദ്രികത എനിക്ക് നുകര്‍ന്ന് തന്ന കലാക്ഷേത്രം.

പാലക്കാട്‌ നഗരത്തില്‍ നിന്നും32km യഥാചെയ്തല്‍ നെമ്മാരയിലെതം അവിടെനിന്നു 7km യാത്ര ചെയ്തു പോതുന്ദ്യ്ടമില്‍ നിന്നും  the GreatNelliyampathiy ഇലേക്ക്  പ്രേവേസിക്കം .26km വനത്തിലൂടെയുള്ള യാത്ര. നെല്ലിയാമ്പതി എന്നാ ഭൂമിക എത്തിക്കഴിഞ്ഞു.
മനസ്സിന് കുളിര്‍ നല്‍കുന്ന എന്ധോക്കെയോ അവിടെ നമ്മെ കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നുട്.അത് ചിലപ്പോള്‍ തനുപ്പാകം, കടുകാലകം വന്നയ മൃഗങ്ങലകം,മലകലകം തെയിലതോട്ടങ്ങലകം,ദൂരക്കാഴ്ചകലകഅം - ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു നോക്കൂ നമ്മുടെ മനസ്സ് ഏട് തരമാണോ അതിനായി ,ആ വിധത്തില്‍ നെല്ലിയാമ്പതി നമുക്ക് എന്ധേങ്ങിലും ഒരുക്കി ഒരുങ്ങിയിരിപ്പുടകും…തീര്‍ച്ച..ചുരം കയറിവരുന്ന കാറ്റിനു നമ്മോടു  എന്ധോക്കെയോ പറയാനുണ്ടാകും...മത്രുവല്സല്യത്തോടെ നമ്മെ അവള്‍ സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യും ....ഗൃഹതുരതം തുളുമ്പുന്ന മനസ്സുമായി യാത്ര തുടരാം.........