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ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

PHOTO: SOMA BASU

HARD TREK The woods are lovely; dark and deep

Beyond that neither a route exists nor is it safe to go without permission and help from the Forest Department. Nevertheless, Ayyanar Falls offers an excellent opportunity for mountain climbing. It took me a good three hours to trudge along the laid out track that cuts across the dense forest. I started early because I was serious about following at least one advice — that I should descend by 4 p.m.

While no animals are sighted during the day, as the sun sets one can spot Indian wild gaurs and elephants. Located on the Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, it is during the North East monsoon that Ayyanar Falls is at its peak. The ideal time to visit is from September to January. The Ayyanar Falls gets its name from a small forest temple named after Ayyanar, at its base. A mild sun penetrates the canopy of deep and dark green forest trees. For the most part of it, the trekking route runs parallel to a beautiful jungle stream meandering its way over and between rocks. I am told the falls no longer originates from where it used to. It has shifted position and now drops from a height of 15 feet but continues to be the main source of water for drinking and irrigation purposes for the people of Rajapalayam.

Geographically protected by verdant hills on all sides, the falls is located in the midst of scenic green vegetation and is off-limits for the public. But several spots on the way to the falls appear to be popular picnic locations. My walk through the forest turns out to be a class in botany. Many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna are found along the mountain slopes here. The faint twitter of some forest birds revs up the natural orchestra. Barring the group of monkeys playfully engaged in an acrobatic session that creates a rustle, the only other sound is that of the gurgling stream. At a distance, occasionally I also spot a few giant-sized grey grizzled squirrels scurrying all over the ground and then vanishing in no time.

Once the track disappears, I try to break through a variety of shrubs and plants, twisted, hanging and fallen branches of various trees and bamboo thickets. I walk for almost another two hours entertained by pairs of colourful butterflies.

A little later, through the mesh of green cover, I spot the white sheet of water rolling down from over a wall of rock, which still appears pretty far and even more difficult to reach. The natural frothy shower, now visible does not appear very big. The falls is hidden by trees. Neither can I reach the falls nor can I capture it on my camera. So I return with pictures of the jungle stream.

Somehow the fact of not making it to the falls does not make me cringe. The walk in the wilderness is compensation enough.