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Where the tuskers roam

You can sight elephants, leopards and tigers at close quarters

VERDANT SETTINGS Kochu Pampa

Kochu Pampa, in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, is a destination that most people are not aware of. Many do not even know of the existence of a road that connects Pathanamthitta to Vandiperiyar in Idukki. This may be because this road is primarily a service road for the various dams such as Moozhiyar, Kakki and Kochu Pampa. Moreover, the entry is restricted because the road passes through some dense forests of the State.

Koch Pampa is a small settlement near the dam. Earlier, the Kerala State Electricity Board had a strong presence here. There were many families which had settled down here in the Board's living quarters. But now only a minimum number of employees are here. Many of the quarters lie abandoned. Some of them are occupied and there is a rest house and canteen still functioning.

There is just one bus on this route servicing this settlement. It operates every evening from Vandiperiyar, halts for the night at Kochu Pampa and returns the following day. It was by this bus that we reached Kochu Pampa.

Kochu Pampa is situated at a distance of approximately 40 km from Vandiperiyar. About 6 km from Vandiperiyar we entered the forest passing through the check post at Vallakadaavu.

Sighting of wildlife

We had hardly moved two km when the bus came to a sudden halt. Peering out of the window, we saw a herd of six elephants and two calves crossing the road. There were about 12 passengers in the bus and they informed us that sighting of wild animals on the road was a regular feature. Leopards, bison, deer and elephants are regularly spotted on this route.

En route we stopped at the Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation settlement at Gavi. Here, the State-owned Kerala Forest Development Corporation maintains a forest lodge, a cardamom plantation and a cardamom-processing factory. At Kochu Pampa, we stayed at the KSEB rest house. We had carried our dinner with us and so did not have to venture out. Blissfully unaware of what was happening outside we slept through the night.

The next morning, we ventured out and headed for the canteen, which is run by a lady called Syamala. While serving us black coffee, she asked us whether the elephants had disturbed us at the rest house. On enquiring, she informed us that a herd of elephants had rampaged through the settlement the previous night and trampled the chicken shed behind the canteen.

Beautiful views

Accompanied by two local youths, Abey and Yogaraj, we set out to explore Kochu Pampa. The dam and its environs were beautiful but it was the lower reaches that were really breathtaking. The river Pampa flowed in all majesty and the forest lining the banks were dense. The boys took us to a tree called `Nirampalli'. This tree, which has the botanical name Boro Carpus, is said to be the only specimen of its kind in Asia. It is also said to be the Biblical Gopher wood tree from which Noah constructed his Ark.

Trekking through the forests and grasslands we spent a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day.

We were lucky to sight a mountain squirrel and a herd of elephants at a distance. During the course of our conversation, the boys informed us that leopards periodically raided the settlement and got away with cattle. Likewise, tigers too were sighted at night near the settlement. Tired but thrilled, we returned to the rest house and returned to Vandiperiyar the next day.

K. BALAKRISHNAN

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