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ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Where the water falls!

Photos: K. Ananthan

Beauty to behold The Cauvery at Jedarpalayam Bed Regulator

Lush groves on either side, wayside tea stalls that break the monotony of the landscape, and a traffic-free road. Heaven! And, then, we see groups of people huddled on the road, animatedly discussing something – the rising water level of the Ca uvery, which flows through innumerable villages in the Kongu region.

Driving back as we are from another village by the river, we are not exactly inclined to visit yet another gushing river, but they hard-sell the water body at Karanampalayam, near Kolanalli (“Films used to be shot there, the water falls from a height, and you can see lots of eels and huge fish”). Convinced, we drive on to Kullanalli, on the Erode-Karur Road.

A little girl with some packets in her hand waves us down. She sells tart navapazhams that have fallen off the roadside trees. Nearby, another shack sells freshly plucked yellow-green plantains. Indulge!

Bird’s handiwork

And, then, we see the dainty nests of weaverbirds hanging from treetops, swaying in whatever direction the wind beckons. Do stop to admire its handiwork before you proceed.

The entrance to the Jedarpalayam Bed Regulator (a mechanism to regulate the flow of the river), as the place is technically called, is not all that grand. The road leading to it belongs to the PWD, and so, vehicles are not allowed. Park on the road, and enter through a gap between two gates. A group of college boys is also walking to the dam, shirts in hand. We soon realise why.

The roar of the river as it falls down from a height resounds long before you actually see it. The first sight is mesmerising. For as long as the eye can see, near-white water thunders down, before fanning out to cover as much area as it can. This is how the check dam will be till January, after which the water starts trickling down.

A weaver bird’s nest

Walking past a banana and coconut grove, we sight some fishermen beaming at their bountiful catch. Elsewhere, families of fisher folk sit under a tree, patching up nets, and getting ready for the next day’s outing in the river. A local goddess sits nearby, her forehead smeared with vermillion and turmeric. The soolam (trident) in front of the temple is decorated with a lemon, and snorkels and fishing nets hang from its sides.

Nearby, someone is busy slicing hard bamboo stems as if it were a potato – a new coracle in the making. His friend stitches together plastic sacks, another weaves the bamboo together, a third stitches them together, and the fourth plasters it with a coat of tar.

Cross them all, and walk up a couple of steps and a bridge, and you can see the regulator unburden itself of all water with a fury. Watch intently, and you can see unsuspecting water plants coasting, and then gathering sudden speed before they are flung down the dam. The foamy water devours all. Sometimes, even careless bathers.

On one bank, fresh fish is being traded. The shallow waters there provide temporary hope for the netted fish before they reach someone’s dining table. Eels are common in this spot, and they hide between the rocks underwater. This is where we find the boys. They use their shirts to get a grip on the wriggling beauties, and pose for photographs, before flinging them back into the water.

A little distance away, tens of coracles that have returned after the early morning catch are tied to stakes dug into the ground.

Stone steps lead you close to the water. Since the flow is heavy, we are content sitting on the steps, and watching the water carry on its merry dance.

How to go

Kolanalli is 33 km from Erode, and 13 km from the Ganapathipalayam Pirivu.

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