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ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

A jacuzzi in the jungle!

With birds and bamboo trees for company, writes SUBHA J RAO

PHOTO: K. ANANTHAN

LUXURIATE IN THE WILD Rock falls in Masinagudi

Statutory warning: Proceed only if you are willing to punish your body. And, you will be banking on your hands innumerable times during the 90-minute trek to keep you from falling into crevices hitherto unexplored even by residents of the jungle.

Now, the positives. You are guaranteed the sight of a lifetime.

Add-ons include traversing through virgin forest, a rare sighting of a dead elephant's pelvic bone, a view point from where you can see the entire Masinagudi plains ... Need more? There's plenty to keep the adrenalin racing.

Our destination is a natural rock formation and waterfall that the locals call `Rock Falls'.

The name is very innocuous for a spot of such scenic beauty nestled deep inside the forest.

We first walk to our destination on a semblance of a road. Dogs from homes in the vicinity bark in chorus and the chirping of birds rent the air. Then, the forest takes over. Led by David, our guide, we trudge through grass and slush, cleared patches in the forest and then, a portion of an elephant's skeleton zooms into view.

Bleached white from years of exposure to the elements, it hides numerous tales of a pachyderm that once strode majestically on this land.

Wealth of wildlife

It is almost 45 minutes since we hit the road and the sun is beating down hard. "Look at the rock face there. Just a little distance more," encourages David.

The rock face seems eons away. What David conveniently does not tell us is that to get to that rock face you have to first climb another one, farther away.

A chameleon scampers past, changing colours by the minute even as the colour slowly drains from our faces.

Providing temporary relief is the viewpoint from where you can see entire villages.

And, a wealth of wildlife. Provided you reach this spot before dawn or dusk. Regulars claim to have sighted frolicking elephants, deer, bison and leopards from here.

I, for sure, know that an elephant was here. Right where I am perched. It has balanced itself on the ledge, the viewpoint, to reach the juicy leaves of a cactus plant below.

A leafless plant stands testimony.

From here, the waterfall is a 15-minute walk. A path meanders through bramble and other jungle shrubs.

We ignore a clearing in the bushes and walk merrily on without missing a step.

Experienced David stops, peering to see if any animals are lurking near the waterhole.

"Any sudden clearing in the bushes means an animal has just made its way through it," he explains to us. Lesson learnt: Once inside the forest, follow the instructions of your guide. He knows best.

He gives the `all-clear' and we move on. Finally, the clearing to the cataract.

By now, the legs are too tired to move. David eggs us on. We slide down a slope and enter one of the forest's well-kept secrets. Nature's own Jacuzzi. A jungle stream empties itself from a height into a bathtub-like cylindrical rock formation.

To reach the rock tub, you need to wade through a shallow pool.

Once there, six people can comfortably stretch out and feel all the aches and pains vanish as the water sluices down. Luxuriate in the lap of Nature with just birdcall and the rustling of bamboo for company!

How to go

The forest is about two km from Bokkapuram temple.

To reach Bokkapuram temple, drive down four km from Masinagudi. Masinagudi is approximately 35 km from Ooty and a 45-minute drive.

For guides, contact the resorts in the area.

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