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PHOTO: SOMA BASU

TAKE IT EASY By the Chittar River

Through the grilled gate, all I can see is a field of brambles, a pebbled track fallen out of alignment and a few old buildings overgrown with weeds and their yellow plaster peeling off. Before long, an old man emerges from one of the buildings and informs me that there is nothing much except for some unkempt beds of wild grass and tall trees by the banks of the Chittar river here.

I refuse to leave, and after a few minutes of explanation and flashing my I-card, I am in. I walk past empty concrete benches laden with dust and encircled by prickly shrubs. A British-style building stands forgotten in the middle. It faces a beautiful side of the Chittar reservoir.

A mere three-minute walk down a sandy track lined by eucalyptus and neem trees takes me straight to the placid waters. The rippling water glistens against the sunlight and clouds kiss the peaks of the rolling hills in the background while a rich green foliage carpet ground zero.

A strong breeze hits my face and barely am I able to take my eyes of this picture postcard setting of Chittar that a little blue bird catches my attention. About the size of a sparrow, it has a striking turquoise back that sparkles against the sunshine. The bird flits in and out of the trees and soon I spot its companions sitting in a row on a mud plank at the water’s edge. It requires a good zoom camera to shoot these birds because at the slightest of rustle, they fly away only to return after a while. The old man informs that these are oriental pied wagtails, searching for insects in the dry leaves. At the corner where the water curves, a group of ducks waddle by. He tells me this place or rather the whole of Kanyakaumari district, full off fresh water ponds and wetlands, is a flyway of water birds. I am amazed by his knowledge as he rattles off how the tall trees and other bushes along with surrounding aquatic vegetation attract darters, cormorants and egrets.

I sit by the bank dipping my feet into the really cold water of Chittar, and he points at teals, coots and wabblers diving for a catch.

On the other side of the river, is the Mahendragiri Hills with step cultivation. At a height of 4,000 feet above sea level, it is a good bet for adventurous trekking. Bucks and deers roam around freely in the private estates there.

The cool water and the cool air, both induce me to sit longer than planned at Chittar. It is a beautiful place to carry your camera and pay attention to the merry gurgling of water and the birdsongs.

The suspicious old keeper turns chatty and fills me in on the history of Chittar.

The Chittar River, which has its source in the mountains in Kamala Reserve Forest, at an elevation of about 2,300 feet above sea level, has two dams constructed across it. Though Chittar means little river, it is nature’s big gift to the district. Along in its 80 km length, the river causes many splendid cascades, including the famous Courtallam waterfalls.

The Chittar originates in the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and joins Kodayar in the North and Tamiraparani in the East after tumbling down for about six km. Together with its tributaries and streams, the Chittar river serves as an important source of irrigation for the region. As most of its extensive catchments areas lay in the Western Ghats, Chittar gets both south-west and north-east monsoon rains, which makes the river perennial.

Chittar is recommended for the day you want to laze around in enchanting scenery.

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