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ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
On golden pond
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For a lazy day's outing, writes PANKAJA SRINIVASAN
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PHOTOS: K. ANANTHAN
A PICTURE OF UNHURRIED CALM Ponnuthu
A beautiful name is a great inspiration to go on any RLT. And what could be prettier than Ponnuthu — literally translating into golden spring. It is a perennial spring; the water never dries no matter how much the mercury soars. The surroundings are picturesque. Best of all, visiting Ponnuthu requires no climbing, which immediately wins it any number of brownie points.
If it is thundering waterfalls, majestic gorges and spectacular views you are looking for, then look elsewhere. Ponnuthu is about peaceful ambience and pleasant picnic spots. A gurgling stream on one side and trees and plants everywhere and just that occasional birdcall complete the picture of unhurried quiet.
After you cross the forest check post, you drive along till you come to Chinnampathy village. Kids rush out to take stock of the `outsiders'— some a little more bashfully than the others. A black goat nudges you politely to get you out of its way and a cackling of chicken rushes off for an appointment somewhere. On one side, under a makeshift roof, a television has the rapt attention of a few villagers embroiled in a movie plot. Quite idyllic, and the impression intensifies as you cross over fields and little groves to reach Ponnuthu.
Air of mystery
A huge boulder stands in isolation. It was washed down the mountains during torrential rains many years ago. Today, it is a great place to lean on or perch atop. From there, as you look up, in a leafy glade, is an old temple. Karuppurayan is the residing deity, we are told. And, no one seems to know how long the temple has been there. That immediately lends it an air of mystery and fascination.
Women are not allowed there. So, one can only gaze at it from a distance and wonder. This area is not without its thrills.
"Just yesterday, a herd of elephants came here to drink water," says Sivaswamy, who stays at Chinnampathy. Proof is in the fresh elephant dung nearby.
"Don't drink the water, you might catch a chill," he warns, as he glug-glugs the water from a nearby spring. (He feels city folks are not made of sterner stuff; he may be right). We obey and fastidiously drink warm, tasteless water from plastic bottles.
Chinnampathy nestles in the foothills of the Coimbatore range and there are forested slopes stretching towards the sky — a beautiful sight, more so since one doesn't have to climb them.
For that unexpected holiday when you want to do something different, but don't have too much time or energy, Ponnuthu is a great place to visit with some packed puliyodarai and thayir saadam, with or without company.
How to get there:
Chinnampathy lies off the Coimbatore-Palakkad Road. Just before the Walayar Bridge, take the road going right. Drive on till you reach the forest check post (approximately one km from the main road). From this point, Ponnuthu is six km away.
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Metro Plus
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