Kakkachi: The highest point inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

It is home to a colonial era golf course. It is part of the catchment area of the Thamirabharani river and its tributaries. It is a gorgeous mix of grasslands, tropical forests and tropical evergreen forests. It is one of the wettest places in Tamil Nadu and definitely part of the wettest region during the North East Monsoon in India. This remote hill station, located at an altitude of close to 5000 feet above MSL is the highest point in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. I am talking about Kakkachi that is located above the hill station of Manjolai in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.



Everything about Kakkachi screams remoteness and beauty. Should I talk about the narrow and bumpy forest road that leads to Kakkachi from Manjolai or should I mention that you hardly see any people here. May be, a few tea estate workers who commute between Oothu and Manjolai. But, apart from that, all you have for company is the gorgeous nature and the rich wildlife here.



If you happen to arrive here before 8 AM, you will most likely see this place enveloped in dense mist and only when the mist clears, will you get to see the rolling greens of the colonial era golf course and the beautiful man-made lake next to it. This golf course is not in use anymore as this place falls under the purview of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, but you will certainly find lots of leeches here especially during the wet season or close to the lake shore.
 


This highest point inside the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is your remote hill station in the Western Ghats that is full of natural beauty and charm. Thankfully, the forest department requires prior permission to visit Kakkachi. Else, lots of visitors will change the sanctity of this place. If you like this offbeat hill station inside a tiger reserve, do plan in advance and prepare yourself to be bowled over by its rich nature and gorgeous landscapes.



Other tourist attractions inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve:

1) Manimuthar Falls: The herbal waterfall inside a tiger reserve

2) Agastyar Falls: A gorgeous waterfall on the Thamirabharani river

3) Manjolai: The offbeat hill station of Tamil Nadu

4) Kudrevetty: The remote and windy hill station of Tamil Nadu

5) Nalumukku: The wettest place of India during the North East Monsoon

6) Oothu: A quiet hilly village inside a tiger reserve and surrounded by tea estates

7) Scenic Iron bridge of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Pristine nature overloaded

8) Karaiyar Dam: Offbeat wildlife and nature holiday destination in India’s deep south

9) Cycling through the backyards of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

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Dirang: Arunachal Pradesh’s Hidden Magical World

It is a paradise for nature lovers, trekkers, birdwatchers and photographers. It is home to orchards of apple, orange and apricot and farms of kiwi. It is one of those places that is perfect for a rustic, quiet and blissful time in the lower reaches of the Eastern Himalayas. I am talking about the village of Dirang in Western Arunachal Pradesh that is surrounded by lush forests and gorgeous mountains of the Eastern Himalayas.



Located at an altitude of 5,200 feet above MSL, Dirang is a picturesque valley between Bomdila and Tawang. It shares its traditions and heritage with Western Bhutan and it mainly comprises of the people from the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. In addition to its spectacular natural beauty, it is known for its hot water springs, apple orchards and Yak research center.



The top tourist attractions in Dirang include:

1) Dirang Dzong: A 19th century stone fort strategically located on the top of a hill and that is home to houses made of stone and wood

2) National Yak research center: for those who wish to see yaks up close and know more about them

3) Fruit orchards: Spread across Dirang are beautiful apple, apricot and orange orchards and kiwi farms that decorate the landscape with their fruits across the year

4) Hot water spring: Known for its curative properties, this medicinal sulphur bath is ideal for those seeking to relax

5) Sangti Valley: Seasonal home, feeding and breeding site of black-necked cranes that migrate to the valley in November and December from China before returning with their young ones in April and May every year

6) Madla Phudong: A fabulous trekking and birdwatching location

7) Kalachakra Gompa: A beautiful Buddhist monastery overlooking the valley



Dirang has all the ingredients to be called Arunachal Pradesh’s hidden magical world. Most tourists heading to Tawang either stop here for a brief pit stop or at most spend a night here. But, Dirang has so much more to offer to all nature lovers, birdwatchers, adventure enthusiasts and for those who seek solitude in a pristine ecosystem. Its indigenous tribal culture adds to the charm for those who wish to spend a longer time here. I cannot rave enough about this place. You will know when you see it for yourself up close and in real.



How to reach there:

The nearest airport with the best connectivity would be Guwahati (312 kms away). The nearest railway station with the best connectivity would be Chaparmukh junction (282 kms away) or Guwahati (312 kms away).

The best way to travel to Dirang would be through your own mode of transportation, but if you really want to get a local flavour, you can catch a bus to Tezpur –> Bomdila and then to Dirang. The journey will take you a long while, but it will be very cheap and you will get to spend time with the local people. For sightseeing around Dirang, you can hitchhike, rent a bike or hire a cab.



Best season to visit:

Dirang is beautiful to visit all year round as the temperatures stay fairly moderate.

If black necked cranes are on your agenda, visit between November and April.

If fruit orchards are on your mind, visit between August and December.

If you want a hill station like vibe, the summer months would be ideal.

And if you want the entire place to yourself, visit Dirang during the winter months.



Where to stay:

One of the oldest hotels in Dirang is Hotel Pemaling. It commands a great view and is a mid-range hotel. A hotel in a similar price range is Awoo resort. Both these properties are located a bit outside the town and command a good view. Hotel Sangeyla, Green valley lodge and Hotel snow lion located in the town are good budget options.



Where to eat:

One can either eat at the basic restaurants in Dirang town center or eat at your place of stay. Some places might want you to order in advance. Fruits and snacks can be easily bought from the markets of Dirang.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Sangti Valley: A gorgeous valley that is the also the breeding ground for the migratory black necked cranes

2) Bomdila: Headquarters of the West Kameng district and home to a massive Buddhist monastery

3) Sela Pass: A scenic high altitude pass located at 13,700 feet above MSL that is home to some exotic Himalayan birds

4) Tawang: India’s true Shangri-La and a 10,000 feet high hill station that is home to the largest Buddhist monastery in India

5) Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary: Birdwatcher’s paradise in the Himalayas

6) Nameri National Park: Assam’s wildlife haven

7) Bumla Pass: A high altitude mountain pass on the India-China border

8) Tongpen la view point: A 15,150 feet high panoramic mountain vista

9) Tak-Tsang Gompa: A remote Buddhist monastery located at 13,000 feet

10) Sangetsar Lake: A 12,000 feet high mountain lake that presents abundant mountain vistas

11) Jung Falls: A gorgeous waterfall located 35 kms before Tawang

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Nest in Vagamon Homestay: Simple Home for your Mountain Holiday

Vagamon is that offbeat hill station of Kerala where rolling hills meet tea estates. It is that mountain holiday destination where things are quiet, laidback and pristine and hence perfect for that truly unwinding holiday. In such a place, you do not want to stay in hotels or guest houses, but in homestays. During my visit there, I stayed at this newly opened homestay called Nest in Vagamon and it was simple, hospitable, a little bit away from the city center and blessed with great mountain views. Here is my detailed review of this property based on my recent experience.

1) The Nest in Vagamon homestay is your Kerala home where the family lives on the ground floor and there are a couple of rooms on the first floor with their own private balconies looking at the lush mountain landscape. One of the rooms, which is slightly larger than the other costs INR 1200 per night, while the other marginally smaller room costs INR 1000 per night. Each room comes with a double bed, some space for an extra bed, a few chairs, a fan and an attached bathroom with hot shower. The facilities are basic, but the atmosphere is fresh and is good value for the money we spend.

2) If informed beforehand, the Kerala family running this homestay can prepare hot beverages and traditional meals at an additional cost. The town center with all the restaurants is just a 10 minute walk away in case you wish for more options.



3) One of my favorite things to do at this homestay is to sit on the stone sills in the balcony with a hot cup of tea and watch the mountain life go by. This place is also great during the night to look at the star lit sky. This is also a great place to indulge in some reading.

4) If you like quiet mountain walks, Nest in Vagamon homestay offers quite a few options. As it is closer to the village than to the town, you can explore the various village trails. There is a small peak nearby that you can walk to for those early morning misty sunrise views. And then there is a lake about 10 minutes away for a quiet getaway. You can also embark on those long hikes over the rolling hills and through the pine forests, valley and streams.

5) If you hire a cycle or a motorcycle or even a local autorickshaw, you can head to the different view points and tourist attractions, which are about 6 to 10 kms from the homestay.



6) Phone connectivity is a bit poor at this place. BSNL works well, but Airtel is patchy. There is no wi-fi here, which is a blessing in disguise.

If you are looking for a simple budget home for your offbeat mountain holiday to Vagamon, look up Nest in Vagamon. Its charm lies in its simplicity. For booking the rooms, please call them at 94962 22796 or 94464 89459.

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Ponmudi: That Offbeat Hill Station of Kerala with a 360 Degree Mountain Panorama

22 gorgeous hairpin bends, a lush forest drive, stunning views of shola forests and a markedly cooler clime takes you to possibly one of the best panoramas in the Western Ghats. The winding drive filled with greenery and views is a treat for the motorcycle enthusiast and the road tripper. The tall mountains and the tropical forests are a treat for the trekker and the nature lover. It is the southern most hill station in the Western Ghats and rivals other popular ones like Munnar due to its richness and beauty.



I am talking about Ponmudi, the land of mountains, valleys, forests and plantations. It is a hotspot of biodiversity and is an essential cog for the survival of the people of South India. More than 50% of Western Ghats’ butterfly species are found here. More than 50% of Kerala’s bird species are found here. Likewise with reptiles and amphibians.



Running contiguous with the Agastyamalai biosphere reserve and the wildlife sanctuaries of Peppara, Neyyar and Shendurney, Ponmudi eco reserve along with these other biosphere regions is the birthplace of many rivers. It runs parallel to the Arabian Sea and it shares its borders with Agastyarkoodam, the highest peak South of the Cardamom hills and one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats.



Ponmudi, which literally means golden crown, is the place to be if you are a trekker, motorcycle enthusiast, camper, bird watcher, butterfly lover, wildlife enthusiast, ecology researcher, nature lover or simply a hill station lover. At just a few hours from Kerala’s capital, it offers easy access to avenues that are hardly found so close to a major Indian city.



You can head there if you feel like a whiff of fresh air. You can head there just for a short drive or a picnic. But, it is best, when you stay inside and explore its charms. Every season brings out different characters of the mountains and forests here. Some months are when you see millions of butterflies here. The monsoons liven up the atmosphere like no other and the shades of green in the Western Ghats during the monsoon months are legendary. Monsoons are also best for treks and for misty mountain top views. Winters are best to see the entire landscape and to enjoy the 360 degree panorama. And summers are great for watching rich wildlife like elephants, leopards, tigers, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs and others.



Ponmudi eco tourism zone is as pristine an environment as any. It is completely a plastic free zone and a lot of checks have been kept in place by the forest department to ensure that no trash or plastic is brought into this place. Offenders are dealt quite strictly if they are caught breaking the rules and I think this is a healthy sign in preserving this sensitive ecosystem.



So, if you are looking for an offbeat hill station for your next mountain holiday that is  a hotspot of biodiversity and that provides some of the best panoramic views in the Western Ghats, Kerala’s Ponmudi hill station is the place for you. It is one of those hidden charms of India’s deep south and definitely one of the lesser explored regions of Kerala.



How to reach Ponmudi:

At about 60 kms away, Thiruvanthapuram is the nearest domestic and international airport. It is also the nearest large railway station with good train connectivity from all over the country. It would also be the nearest hub for long distance buses.



Where to stay:

If you are opting for a day trip, you could stay at any of the hotels in Thiruvanathapuram or at any of the homestay options in the nearby countryside. If you have more time, I would recommend that you stay inside the Ponmudi eco tourism zone. Bookings can be made through the Ponmudi eco tourism forest department website.



What can you do here:

Apart from a road trip, relaxing and enjoying the views, one can go on treks here, chsse butterflies, indulge in birdwatching, wildlife spotting and play in the many waterbodies here.



Nearby Attractions:

1) The Cliff beach of Varkala, one of the popular beach destinations of Kerala

2) Punalur – Shenkottai mountain railways, the lesser known mountain railways of Kerala

3) Kanyakumari, India’s southern most destination

4) Poovar Island, a romantic gem in Kerala

5) Meenmutty waterfalls, Kalar river and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

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Vagamon: That off beat hill station of Kerala where rolling hills and tea estates meet

I have always felt blessed to be living close to the Western Ghats. My ancestral town of Kallidaikurichi is just 10 kms away from the Western Ghats and the city of Bangalore where I live is also only about 4 hours away from this biodiversity hotspot. This proximity has allowed me to do countless trips (treks, road trips and other vacations) to the world’s longest UNESCO world heritage site. Even then, every now and then, I discover amazing places in the Western Ghats that blow my mind away. Kerala’s Vagamon is one such place.



This hill station, which is a local’s favorite, is way quieter and off the beaten trail than the other popular hill stations in the Western Ghats like Munnar, Valparai, Ooty, Kodaikanal and Madikeri. Located close to Periyar tiger reserve and Idukki reservoir, Vagamon has all the ingredients of a gorgeous hill station. It has tea estates, rolling hills, view points, sunrise and sunset points, super cosy weather and a truly laidback Kerala lifestyle.



Vagamon, at 1,100 meters above sea level is not that high,  hence it does not get very cold. Instead, it enjoys the perfect combination of bright warm sunny days and cool evenings, making it the perfect place for those relaxed nature vacations that include nothing, but lots of sunshine, lots of walking, good food, rich nature and a supremely quiet environment.



Vagamon is not the kind of place where you have a lot to see and do. In my mind, that is the charm of this destination, but if you wish to see and do something, there are the famous rolling hills of Vagamon that are surrounded by pine forests and tea estates. These rolling hills, which are similar to Nagaland’s Dzukou valley and Philippines’ Bohol, pretty much sets the tone for this mountain landscape.



Pine forest and view point, Ayyampara sunset point, Maramala waterfalls, thangalpara sunset view point, Kurishumala church and a few lakes in the vicinity are places worth visiting in and around Vagamon. One can either drive to these places or opt for a more scenic walking route. This is for people who feel like seeing or doing things while holidaying at Vagamon. But, if you ask me, this is the place that you can make your mountain home and just go about your daily life.



Vagamon does not have a lot of infrastructure like other hill stations, but it does have a small number of resorts, hotels and home stays. If you are not eating where you are staying, there is a main road in Vagamon town that offers a choice of a few restaurants. The food at these places is simple and good, but do not expect anything out of the ordinary. In overall, Vagamon is your poor man’s hill station, that is insanely beautiful, but still very much off the beaten trail. If Kerala, mountains and pure relaxation is on your mind, I would recommend Vagamon in a jiffy!

Nearest Airport: Kochi, about 100 kms or 3 hours away.

Nearest Railway station: Kottayam, about 64 kms away or Erattupetta, about 26 kms away.

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