17/08/2011 Parambikulam visit was an experience we’ll always cherish. It was so different from our usual trips. There was sense of fear and tension alongwith eagerness to live in the wild.We planned early about the trip as it needed early bookings and confirmations. A group of seven set out for the adventure trip from Madurai. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary lies in Palakkad and is a pristine forest area near the Nelliamapathy ranges. Before noon, we reached Vettakaran Puthur, the closest town (about 40 km) to the sanctuary. Here we turned towards Sethumada, the entry gate to the park. We entered the gate after paying the entry fee. We encountered two more check post on the way, one belonging to Tamil Nadu and the other to Kerala, We got a guide to accompany us from here. We reached Thunakkadavu and spent some time at the dam here. Our accommodation was booked at the forest bungalow here. We rested and had a late lunch. From Thunakkadavu, we started ahead. It was a singular stretch of teak plantations till we hit the road head at the next dam at Parambikulam. We were surprised to see a provision store here.we were told that this store was the lifeline the service staff, the forest staff, the water works staff, the electricity staff and even the tribals.
Most of Parambikkulam is a teak plantation. The forest supplied timber to merchants during colonial times. Top-slip, on the way to Parambikkulam, derives its name from the railroad, by which the wood was conveyed downhill. The forest also has a teak tree – the connemara – which is over 6 metres in girth and is believed to be one of the oldest living trees in the forest. We, who visited this spot for the sheer fancy of seeing the tree, were gifted with the bonus of sighting a flock of deer and a few bison.
Staying inside the jungle was very exciting. There were meager facilities and jungle calls kept us awake most of the night. Next morning we were determined to make most of the trip. We tried boating at the dam and also visited a couple of tribal settlements. Our Malayalam was in no way understood by them.
We were advised by our guide to return to the bungalow before nightfall but we go slightly late and on our way from Parambikkulam to Thunakkadavu, where our accommodation had been arranged, the road was blocked at a couple of places herds of bison and bucks. It seemed awesome at first but later when the block lingered on, we were a bit scared. However with the light of the jeep, they moved away. The jeep stopped all of a sudden, we got out to inspect. The engine had been overheated. We were distracted More roadblocks were in store, I was assured by Vasu and his friend Suresh, which was indeed by some stirring in the adjacent bushes. We held onto each others hand and held our breath. Suddenly, out of nowhere came a boar, holding between its teeth some underground crop. Thankfully, it headed in the opposite direction. Without anymore incidents, we reached the bungalow, had dinner and slept.
In the morning, we got up early, hoping to see some elephants come down for a drink of water or something similar and exciting. But nothing exciting happened. Today we decided to join the wildlife safari arranged by the forest department. The safari took about 3 hours and passed through Aanapaadi, Thoonakadavu Lake , Thoonakadavu Dam, Connemara Teak, Dam View point and the eco shop. From the view point, it was wonderful to see the fertile fields of Pollachi. That was the route we’d traveled from. Langurs were there in plenty and many of them helped themselves to the snacks packets in our hands.There were also a great number of birds here in the sanctuary. When the safari came to an end, it was time for us to leave the forest premises. We thanked our caretakers at the bungalow and drove onto Palakkad where we stayed for two days at the home of one of our friends in the group .Returned to Madurai, replenished after a great trip.