| Kalrayan Hills: if you have an open mind and can set your own pace, says PRINCE FREDERICK |
As I take the lonely steps that lead towards the Gomukhi Dam, the dim silhouette of the Kalrayan hills is visible against an inky black sky. The rippling waters are lit only by a thin crescent moon and a couple of winking stars. I am not really sure why I chose to visit the dam site at dead of night. RLTs after all are for day-trippers. But the effect the stillness of the dark has on me is puzzling — an enigmatic mix of calm and fear.
I take the bus to Kallakuruchi, a bustling town that lies 20 km from the dam and do what I should perhaps have done in the first place — find a lodge to spend the night.
Another bus to Vellimalai the next morning on a road that runs uphill like a coiled cable. On someone's advice, I check out the Periyar Falls first, which lies just short of the village. But all there is, is a disappointing trickle of water; apparently, this becomes a veritable flood during the monsoon season. The assurance that walking another few kilometres would take me to the Pudur Megan Falls and make up for this non-show keep my spirits up. But the narrow 4-km pathway and warnings that it would be foolish to venture alone dissuade me from making the journey.
At an altitude that ranges from 315 metres to 1190 metres, the Kalrayan hills roll out like an uneven carpet across Villupuram and Salem districts. Covering an area of 600 sq. km, these hills provide an expansive space for wandering about. However, there are not many places of tourist interest in this area, the few hamlets being far from appealing. This leaves any tourist who wants to come to these parts with only one option — exploring the area with an open mind and at his or her own pace. There are forested patches here which are unspoilt and good for trekking, the weather is invariably pleasant and there are a great many dormant waterfalls that spring to life in the monsoon months.
How to get there From Chennai, you may take a direct bus to Kallakurichi or via Villupuram. From Kallakurichi, there are buses that will take you all over the hills but these are infrequent. Hiring a cab from Kallakurichi is a better option, though the best bet would be to set out in your own conveyance from Chennai.
Courtesy: http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/08/28/stories/2004082800310100.htm
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