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From heaven's lake
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Reclaimed by Nature, says SOMA BASU
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. Photo: name dummy.
Munnar may have emerged into a full-fledged tourist resort but the area is full of wonderful places that are tucked away and less frequently visited. One such is Devikulam, situated at an elevation of 5,940 feet, and accessible via a muddy pebble-strewn track and on a sturdy jeep that grumbles and moans as it makes its way up.
It takes some persuasion from a tea estate manager to enter Devikulam, which literally means the Lake of the Goddess. Legend has it that Rama's wife Sita stayed here for a few days and bathed in the lake. And the sacred water is believed to have curative and rejuvenating powers.
It is a 40-minute ride from Munnar town, but once you reach the lake, the silence is almost threatening. It is like everything has come to a halt and that something is waiting to happen. The grass by the lake is overgrown and the water is less than transparent, but the mountain air is wonderfully crisp, carrying the fragrance of the forest. Silent clusters of gum trees, eucalyptus and conifers stand sentinel and sun peeps through them, its mild rays turning the lake into a glistening sheet of gold. Suddenly, the skies open up and I am forced to take shelter under what appears to have once been a boat house. The drizzle lets up just as unexpectedly and the fragrance of the wild flowers becomes stronger and lake and its environs look even more fresh and verdant.
A few years ago, Devikulam was apparently a spot on the tourist map, but dwindling patronage and the estate management's problems in maintaining the area turned it back to what it was. Having been reclaimed by Nature, it is now a reclusive spot. The reduction in biotic interference has given wild animals a greater freedom and confidence to move around. Elephants are common visitors, perhaps because this area provides a corridor to Thekkady. Trout fishing is a pastime here and occasional adventure seekers come here to trek, camp or just picnic.
How to get there
Hire a jeep from Munnar (a flat rate of Rs.1,000 is usually quoted, but this is negotiable). Devikulam is just off the NH49 from Munnar to Cochin and seven kms if on Thekkady route. Good shoes, a pair of binoculars, a camera and a food hamper are recommended for a day's excursion.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Pondicherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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