11/08/2010
With the exam season over, all friends were in for adventure… Our first trip was to the much heard of hill station of Wagamon. Six of us were in the group and we met at Kottayam and started off to Wagamon. We went via Kuttikanam as we wanted to visit Parunthumpara. From Kuttikanam, there is a diversion to this beautiful spot.The bare rock exuded an ambience of mystery, the deep gorges below looked scary enough but the view to next hillock was wonderful.We came back to Kuttikanam and took the Elapara route.The road deviates from here to Wagamon. Wow, it was wonderful, with winding roads and greenery around, a not- to-miss drive. And as rains started, the visibility was poor and mist enveloped. Our driver drove with lights on and kept blasting the horn at the curves throughout.And we could hear the horn of a bus from the opposite side, only option was to stop the car and give way.The road was indeed narrow….. And within half an hour, we reached the resort. It was 4 pm and we had started off at 11 am, the visit to Parunthumpara took long as all enjoyed the view and of course the stop en route for lunch. After refreshing ourselves we went to the meadows, the green pastures were so inviting. All of us climbed up and down the small hillocks. The mist was so thick that on reaching the next hillock, the first one was not visible. Our driver told us to keep the pine forests for the next day as leeches might be there and with evening setting in, might be difficult to see. Next morning, we visited the Pine forests and then went for the trek to Kurishumala.The mountainous terrain and dairy farms, honey bee keeping all were a novel experience.The 14 stations of the cross on the way was also wonderful. We trekked back after a wonderful afternoon and returned to Kottayam, this time via Erattupetta. The drive on the narrow, winding roads was equally nice and we stopped awhile at Teekoy, a beautiful plantation village and even visited the Maramala waterfalls situated amidst a rubber estate.After the motorable road ends, we trekked it to reach the spot. It was an untouched natural wonder.The waterfall is about 60m in height and gushes forth to join the river. The scenic views all changed on reaching Erattupetta and it was then we realized that 2 days in the midst of nature’s best had come to an end. On the way, we visited the Shrine of St Alphonsa at Bharananganam and the return Pala-Kottaym trip was uneventful.

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