Mood:
a-okHey guys....after the plans for Brahmagiri was canceled, myself and Raghu started making plans for Waynaad, a biking trip and our first destination was Chembra Peak, the highest peak in Waynaad district. He stayed at my place in Mysore on Saturday night and we started early morning the next day. It was a cool ride for me as i enjoy going on bike rides often. We took a short break as soon as we crossed the border check post and then proceeded to our destination.
We had to ask for the route from the localites who could only talk Malayalam and which we could barely understand. Somehow we managed to cross Kalpetta and reached Meppadi and got permission from the Forest Range Officer (please dont forget). Again we had to drive our way uphill for abt 7 km from the base of Chembra. The drive was pretty difficult due to potholes and very narrow road, though Raghu was enjoying as we went through the tea estates. At last we reached the actual base of Chembra Peak from where we had to start our trek. We booked a guide who could obviously only speak Malayalam and for our grace, he had hearing problem too.
All the way long, we 3 started the trek. We had taken some food packets at Meppadi and had only one bag to carry which i did, thinking it would help for my Darjeling trek.
After almost a km away from where we started we got a watch tower which actually is the starting point of the trek. Raghu just moved with the ipod on, and nothing to talk abt Saithuvel (guide), he just scooted as smooth as he could. I was almost pulled by my heavy bag from behind...though often taking rest, we crossed a small area filled with trees and tall plants making our way. After climbing for sometime, we cud see the watch tower, and i was amazed seeing it as we had climbed pretty high. We got some good views from there.
After moving still further we got some plane land to walk on...which had a small pond...people say its a lake..The water was fresh and the cool breeze i could feel soothed my pain. Taking snaps along the way, we moved. I was wondering how could Saithuvel just move so quickly, of course it was not the bag i had to carry. We had no idea if we had completed at least half our way up...Talking to Saithu in broken Malayalam (mixed with all other southindian languages), i could make a rough idea that we indeed had reached more than half our way up.
From here on we enjoyed the climb as it was very picturesque, visualizing the other peaks covered with clouds. Oh man, just saw the leeches on my leg...god damm...too many...we had not taken any precautionary measures. Wasnt too much worried as we only lost some blood, no pain. Though we were watching at our legs again and again for some time, later on we dint mind if it climbed till our knees. We were so much exhausted and also enjoying the serene beauty of the nature.
Man O' Man, now we had reached the much talked about heart-shaped (love symbol) lake (pond), The water was so cooool and clear and it really was a wonder that it was in the shape of ♥. After some rest and some pics, moved on towards the peak. As we moved on, we could see clouds at a distance below us. As Raghu was often thinking of the rain, i said it wont rain here as the clouds are below us...Now we could see the foggy peak which was more steeper than we had climbed until now. By then we had also met a local group of arnd 10 people...until then no signs of animals or human beings.
I was too much exhausted which went without sign as soon as we reached the peak. I was really thrilled. We were all of a sudden covered with thick mist and could barely see others..Had some biscuits relaxed for some time, and i am really finding it difficult to explain the beauty of the nature in words. Awesome is just not the word. But then, we had to get back down before it was dark...so left the peak thinking we would be there again.
On our way back downhill, i just cudnt believe that i had climbed that steep. It was more slippery now to climb down for me, as i had a hard sole in a wet land. But somehow managed to climb down, no other options left...hehe...As we were reaching the base, my hip joint started showing signs of pain, and we had to slow down. The rain started to pour heavily this time and we had to rush but carefully. And at last, we were back to the base. As Raghu was still intersted in taking snaps, i rested with some leeches in my legs...At last i came to know i had at least 8 to 10 leech bites..excluding two in my back, cudnt imagine how it got there..Raghu also had 3 to 5 bites.. It was indeed a great achievement for us...We halted at Meppadi that night.
