Kodaikanal To Munnar

Perumal Kovil in the middle of mountains.














mphasis guys and us :

There were a set of guys from mphasis who shared the room with us at the first basecamp and hence had become comfortable with us over the days. The fact that couple of them were able to speak and understand tamil made it even more better.



And you have to remember its not just Mphasis, its "Mphasis, an HP company". :-)

Lunch point :






Assistant Director Ponkumaran

After 2 days into the trek, at kavunji, we heard that a new person Ponkumarn had joined the trek and he was an assistant director of KS Ravikumar from Kollywood.

After lunch when we were near the end of the days trek and near the german farm, ponkumaran pointed out 2 burnt out trees and told that the "Maasi Maasi" song from Surya film Aadhavan was shot in that place with a huge set constructed there. Though I could never believe it fully at that time, now I have verified that he was indeed speaking the truth. When I saw the Aadhavan movie, the entire "maasi massi" song is shot in the place and even ponkumaran has played a small role in the movie.



The following is the photo I took of the place.



the following is the scene from the song.



Now its clearly proved beyond doubt that the "Maasi maasi" song was shot here. :-)

In the Nilgiris Trek, It was climax location of "Roja".
In the Goa Trek, it was the Dona paula beach which figured in "Puthu Puthu Arthangal".
And now, in the kodai trek, it is the "maasi maasi" song from Aadhavan.

Kodaikanal To Munnar Trek - Day3

Today is Day 3 of the trek and todays agenda is to trek from Berijam to Kavunji.

Have a look at the previous days.

Day1

Day 2

Day 3 - Berijam lake

Berijam camp :



British time building:

There was a road from Kodaikanal to Munnar constructed by the british, which was named as the Escape road because it was constructed to help the british escape via cochin in case of a japanese invasion. Berijam lake is right on the road.



Extent of civilisation







Konalaru river :





Kavunji village :

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Kodaikanal To Munnar Trek - Day3 - Berijam lake

Have a look at the photos from the previous days here.

Day1

Day 2

Morning walk in Berijam Lake :

We had reached Berijam lake from Kodaikanal the previous evening and today our plan is to trek from Berijam to Kavunji village. But before the main trek, we had a morning walk along the Berijam lake and it turned out be one of the most beautiful place. Amongst the 50 who were part of the trek, we 4 of us were the only ones who visited this place at the right time and I was the only one with a working camera when we went. Hence I got to click the most beautiful place in the trek without any competition. And below are those photos.






























Srini was the only one and hence the most lucky one to get himself photographed at this place.



After the morning walk came to an end, we readied ourselves to start the days trek.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Kodaikanal To Munnar Trek - Day2

2009 YHAI Kodaikanal to Munnar Trekking - Day 2

See the photos from Day 1 here .

Day 1

Morning :

At the youth hostel, There were some very good views when we woke up in the morning with the sun spreading light allover the place.



Start of the trek :

By 9.30 we were packed up and ready to start the trek. The group was very big with 50 people.



Amidst the clouds :

I have never seen clouds like these when walking on land. This is the reason why Kodaikanal is called as "Mist Valley".



Gnanasekar amidst the clouds





Pambar Waterfalls

After walking for a couple of hours, we reached the pambar waterfalls and spent some time there.




This is an image everyone must have seen in many movies. Nevertheless it looks good. Though I lacked the imagination to take an image like this, Gnanasekar took it.



And by evening we reached the next camp at Berijam lake.