Attapadi diaries-Part 1

This trip can almost be called a

beginning to life in college.After all whats college without those

excursions or "Study trips"?Let me assure you they are nothing like what comes in movies..A luxury bus with a college banner strung on the back and most often with a creepy guy in a bike following it.19 of us students with five faculty from my college went on an Eco-trip

to Attapadi,a small district 3 hours away from Palakkad,Kerala which houses the famous silent valley.We were taken there by Prof. Rayson Alex who had writte

n one of our texts in Eco literature..almost all of us were in awe of him.We went to Attapadi to see the Silent Valley as well as study the Mudugar tribes who inhabit the area.The Trip was a two day one.

(ONE OF THE MANY SMALL WATERFALLS WE ENCOUNTERED ON OUR WAY)

The train journey was uneventful.Seriously what harm can a bunch of girls get into?(Hahaha so you think).At Palakkad we

were transferred to a bus which would take us to Attapadi and at three in the morning we did what sane students would do..promptly doze off.My friend and I thought it would be extremely wise to sit in the last seats of the bus...on an UPHILL drive.We were thrown about so much I swear some of my body parts fell off on the way.Amidst the excessive shaking we did manage to fall asleep an in an hour we were rudely woken up by weird noises the bus was making.Reason?We had come close to colliding with a wall on the way thanks to the zero visibility due to the mist.The next half hour saw all of us clutching our life in our hands as the bus driver made his way through thick mist and soon enough the day dawned.

(THE JEEP RIDE TO SV)

The way to attapadi was an absolutely beautiful one with extremely scenic locales.We reached and after a bath in ice cold water and a most delicious breakfast of Puttu-Kadala,we began our trip to the Silent valley.Beyond a point silent valley can be reached only by Jeep.The two hour jeep drive through the most amazing of deciduous and later Rain forests is one I will never forget.The trails were beautiful and the roads that our jeep had to go through were mind blowing!The continuous on and off rain proved to be the perfect foil for the setting.

We realized Attapadi has more to its name.Also known as "Home of the Leeches", the silent

(THE ENTRANCE TO SV IN THE RAIN)

valley in Attapadi is extremely leech infested thanks to its forest cover and heavy rain.The end of our jeep ride to the top was to a watchtower.When climbed you could see the valley all around you and the sight was beautiful.A museum that documented the rich flora and fauna that the valley hosted was also there.Most of us got leech bites and apparently, disgust apart, there was no need to worry as leeches sucked only the bad blood from your system.It was extremely windy and in true retro style almost all our umbrellas got turned upside down or was simply blown away by the wind

P.S:There was more to this trip.Coming up in Attapadi diaries Part 2!

(I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THESE TRAILS!)