Wayanad - No one can match you (Unna pola vera yarum illa) ! ! Day 1

    Ever since Rajesh and Peri joined our gang,  they make some regular outdoor events with our gang (Be it IPL match, Movie shows, dinner,..).  We (My office colleagues : Rajesh, Madhan, Peri, Sambath, Murugan, Vijay, Kamesh) used to walk to Shanti mess (Though this mess runs in a dilapidated building, I like its taste, service and cost.) to have our Lunch.  After the sweating walk, We used to discuss the necessity of a trip to some coolest hill stations nearby :-).  Some options in hand are : Yelagiri, Tirupati Venkateswara park, Coorg, Wayanad, Alapey, Yercaud, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar...Except Alapey and Tirupati, I roamed around in other places in this list.  My last trip to Wayanad is so green in my mind and I want to see this place again. I felt that Wayanad is an ideal weekend getaway to Chennai.  Rajesh initiated a mail thread, and Murugan replied 'quickly', '*Definitely* we need a trip this summer'. We don't know what made Murugan to put the word 'Definitely' :-).
 
Trip Initial Plan :
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Participants : Rajesh*, Peri*, Mad, Murugan*, Sam, Zhakir*, Senthil*, Prabhakar, and Me.
Plan            : Catch Mangalore Express train in Chennai Central at 5 PM (Friday Evening - June 4, 2010)
                    Reach Calicut at Saturday morning 4 PM.
                    Roam around in Calicut, Wayanad...Checkin Green gates hotel in Kalpetta [Capital of Wayanad district] by 1 PM Saturday.
                    Use the facilities to the maximum there (Swimming pool,  Buffet :-) )
                    Checkout the hotel by Sunday afternoon 12 PM,
                    Catch the Chennai Express return train by 8 PM in Calicut.
 [* : Camera holders. It is an empirical estimate that if number of persons having a camera in a trip is more than 50 % of the total gang size, the time wasted in posing for the photos (especially Solo) will increase exponentially. :-).  Enakke mokkainu theriyum. Very sorry :-)]

   Since it is office group, We already informed our managers about the trip and our unavailability during that weekend :-).  From the start to end, Mad (Madhan) and Rajesh anchored the trip in high enthusiasm with their comic performances.  Senthipa (Senthil) asked lot of questions like a curious child(ish), and Prabhakar had a tough time in answering his doubts :-).  Murugan fed the camera with his solo photos (Of course, I also joined him).  Peri tried different photographic options with his high-end camera and snaps did come out well.  Shakir allowed us merrily to make fun of him.  Sambath, simply enjoyed the trip with his favorite activities, reading books, listening Ravana songs, making fun..:-).

  
June 5, 2010, Saturday :
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     We already booked Tempo Traveller through Wayanad tourism, and we started our sightseeing rightaway after getting down the train in Calicut.

First we went to a Tea shop,

and then to Beypore port, Calicut to see the sunrise.  There is a nice walking track to the stretch of 2 KMs and the atmosphere is simply superb.

         We spotted dolphins there and took some wonderful snaps.

      One of my favorite photos, Thanks Rajesh !

 
         Playing with sunrise    

and its reflection in a marble. (Zoom the photo. Spot the granite stone in which reflection is seen, sea water. We were also seen in the distance point. Good work Rajesh again !)

Typical Arabian sea beachside.

      We left the beach by 7 AM, and found a hotel for breakfast in Kunnamangalam (on the way to Kalpetta).
      Since Fish is cheap and easily available in Kerala hotels, Non-veg eaters in our group took full advantage of it (and paid the price for that, you can see in coming snaps :-)).

Then, we started to the place Chembara peak.  We reached Chembara estate by 10:30 AM.  After paying the entry fee of Rs. 500 (for 10 members group), We were accompanied by a guide to trek the Chembara peak.

Though the environment was greenery, I wouldn't say atmosphere was chill. Temparature was around 30 degree Celsius.  The trekking distance is around 9 Kms and it would take around 6 hrs to complete the trek (Both onward and return.).

On the way to Chembara Peak.

                           
        In the Chembara peak WatchTower

We walked till the foothill of the peak, and take photos near the 'heart shaped' pond there, and took U turn due to our time constraints.

Chembara peak from the distance view point and Walking trail :

Estate workers plucking tea leaves :

    We left Chembara by 2 PM, skipped lunch (Managed with snax and Nenthiram palam (Famous banana in Kerala)).  Then, We went to Suchipara falls and rain started by that time.  So, no cameras, no photos there.
Peri told that Meenmutti falls is better than Suchipara falls, as Meenmutty has less rocks and water is pooled naturally so that we can take bath easily.  We can not stand against the smacking waterfall for not more  than 15 seconds continuously.  After the refreshing bath, rain stopped and we did some shopping there.
   We reached Green gates (3 star) hotel by 6 PM. It took approximately Rs. 12K for 9 persons for one night stay (12 PM to 11 AM) including dinner, and breakfast, swimming pool facilities).  Though We can find some good, economic accomadations in Kalpetta, We just decided to stay in some big hotel.  Shakir enjoyed another bath in bath tub.  We watched TV, played cards, and just sat idle in the balcony.  After heavy dinner, We slept by 10 PM.  The rain drizzled outside.

Click the below link to see the second day of this trip :

Wayanad June 6, 2010 - (Day 2) Sunday