Nalumukku: The Wettest place of India during the North East Monsoon

This region is home to some of the most pristine forests in the Western Ghats. It’s climate is influenced by the winds coming from all the three oceans surrounding the Indian mainland – Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. It receives rains from both the South West and the North East monsoons, but since most of its valleys are facing the east, it receives bountiful rains during the North East monsoon. Such is the abundance of rains that it receives between October and December that it rivals most of the monsoon giants of the Western Ghats like Talacauvery, Chinakallar, Agumbe, Masthikatte, Castle Rock, Amboli, Malshej and Chorla. It receives between 3000 mm to 5000 mm of rain during the North East monsoon and between 5000 mm to 7000 mm for the whole year. I am talking about the relatively unknown village of Nalumukku that is located in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of South Tamil Nadu. It is located at at elevation of about 4600 feet above MSL in the Western Ghats. It is part of the catchment area of the Thamirabharani river and its tributaries.


 
Nalumukku enjoys a typical Western Ghats hill station like weather. It is is lush, it is misty, it is wet and it enjoys some of the most well preserved forests in the region. Nalumukku is a tiny village that consists of a few houses and a post office. The village limit ends a few hundred metres from its start. At Nalumukku, the road forks into three, one going towards Oothu and Kudrevetty, one going towards Kakkachi and Manjolai and the other going towards Kodayar Dam. Dense mist almost always envelops the tea estates and forests surrounding this village and thus giving it a dreamy look and feel. Nalumukku and its surroundings are home to umpteen mountain streams and waterfalls each carrying some of the sweetest water in the region and that holds medicinal value too as it flows through medicinal herbs and plants. In simple words, if there was a tropical forest paradise that is untouched by the bursting population of India, it has to be Nalumukku and its surroundings. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and the connected Agasthyamalai biosphere is one of Western Ghat’s most well preserved secrets and Nalumukku happens to be bang in the centre of it. It might be tough to access this place, but it is worth all the hassle. I cannot stop raving enough about the raw beauty of mother nature here.

     
    
Best season to visit:

Nalumukku is open all year round and can be visited in all seasons. Summers are incredibly pleasant and are a far cry from the hot plains below. The rainy season between October and December is magical here and this is when close to 3000 to 5000 mm of rain precipitates in three months and dresses up the surroundings in fresh green with full water bodies and waterfalls.January and February offer clearer weather with low humidity and this allows for clear views of the spectacular landscape that includes tea estates, forests, mountains and dams. June to August is when Nalumukku is at its windiest best due to the winds coming during the South West monsoon.
   
     
    
How to reach there:

If you are traveling from Tirunelveli, head towards Cheranmadevi and Kallidaikurichi. Just before Kallidaikurichi railway station, turn left and take the road leading towards Manimuthar. You will cross Golden nagar, Thekku Pappankulam, Tamil Nadu special force IX battalion and Manimuthar village. If you head straight from Manimuthar village, climb the narrow road and you will reach the forest check post at Manimuthar Dam. You will have to get your permits checked here, pay the necessary fees and then drive onwards towards Manimuthar Falls, Manjolai, Kakkachi, Nalumukku, Oothu and then onto Kudrevetty.     
   
     
     
How to get permits for this place in KMTR:

To travel to Manjolai, Kakkachi, Nalumukku, Oothu and/pr Kudrevetty, you will have to get permits in advance from the forest department at Ambasamudram. The permit costs INR 200 at Ambasamudram and you will have to pay vehicle fee and per person charge at the Manimuthar forest check post. The forest check post opens at 7 AM and closes at 6 AM.

If you book a room at the forest rest house in Kudrevetty, then that booking is good enough and you don’t need to get the permits in advance.
   
     
    
Where to stay:

If you wish to stay within the tiger reserve, you can book the forest rest house at Kudrevetty through the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve website.

If you wish to stay in traditional Brahmin agraharam houses, you can try the home stays and guest houses at Kallidaikurichi village.

If simple, yet modern hotels are your thing, you can try Hotel Ambai Grand at Ambasamudram.

If you wish for a wide variety of hotels, you will have to try looking at the hotels in Tirunelveli.
   
     
    
Where to eat:

The forest rest house at Kudrevetty will prepare food for you if you happen to be staying with them. They will buy basic supplies once your booking is confirmed. However, if you have any specific requirements like country eggs, country chicken or any other requirements, you will have to inform them at least a day in advance.

There are a few family run restaurants at Oothu where you can get some local meals along with some tea and coffee. However, you need to order your meals at least a day in advance so that the people can arrange the ration and vegetables.

There are a few tea shops at Manjolai where you can find basic snacks along with tea/coffee, but if you order in advance, you can get some food.

There are a few shack-like restaurants at Manimuthar village before the forest check post. Here, you can get basic meals and a decent array of tiffin items.     
   


Other tourist attractions inside KMTR:

1) Kudrevetty: The gorgeous windy station of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

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

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

4) Manjolai: The offbeat hill station of Tamil Nadu

5) Oothu: The quaint little hill station of Tamil Nadu

6) Kakkachi: The highest point inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

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

10) Hidden pristine waterfall inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
   


Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Mekkarai to Achankovil to Konni: Heavenly motorcycling route through pristine forest

2) Mekkarai: One of Tamil Nadu’s prettiest villages

3) Courtallam: The herbal bath holiday destination of Tamil Nadu

4) Sunderapandiapuram: Of lovely brahmin agraharam houses, sunflower fields, windmills and mountain views

5) Puliyarai View Point: Scenic pit stop on the Tenkasi – Kerala highway

6) Sivasailam Temple: 1000 year old temple surrounded by the lush mountains of the Western Ghats

7) Sivasailam: One of the wettest places during the North East monsoon in India

8) 13th century Kasi Visvanathar temple at Tenkasi

9) Manalar Falls: The gorgeous forest waterfall perfect for a family getaway

10) Kambhavurutty Falls: Pristine jungle waterfall in the middle of dense forest



11) Thenmala Forest: Offbeat nature and wildlife getaway

12) Vintage Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge: Colonial charm of the Indian Railways

13) Punalur Suspension Bridge: Historical gem of Kerala

14) Lesser Known Kerala Mountain Railways: Treat for nature lovers

15) Achankovil Saastha Temple: That happy Lord Ayyappa in the middle of pristine jungle

16) Palaruvi Falls: Kerala’s herbal waterfall that drops like milk from the sky

17) Thenmala Dam: A monsoon pit stop view

18) Aryankavu Saastha Temple: Ancient temple located in the sacred forests of the Western Ghats

19) Rosemala: Spectacular view point of the Thenmala reservoir

20) Mannarkoil Rajagopalaswamy Temple: Magnificent 10th century temple with an ashtanga vimana



21) 10th century Brahmadesam Kailasanathar Temple: Lesser known architectural marvel of South India

22) 1000 year old Papanasanathar Temple: Where you can wash all your sins away

23) Kallidaikurichi: The village of the saaral season

24) Iruttu Kadai Halwa: Icon of Tirunelveli

25) Nellaiappar Temple: A 7th century cosmic dance wonder

26) Pattamadai Pai: GI Tagged beautiful handwoven mats from a tiny Tamil Nadu village

27) Thamirabharani river delta: A motorcycle route full of rustic gorgeousness

28) 10th century Valiswara Temple at Thiruvaliswaram: Hidden Chola gem in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu

29) Tiruchendur Murugan Temple: Sea Shore Magic

30) Kallidaikurichi to Manimuthar Dam: A top scenic and rustic cycling route



31) Garuda Sevai from the agraharams of Kallidaikurichi

32) Festival of Thiruvathirai from a traditional Tamil Nadu village

33) The Festival of Karthigai Deepam from a traditional Tamil Nadu village

34) The exotic tropical fruit shops of Puliyarai

35) Kallidaikurichi Adi Varaha Temple Chariot Festival: Grand cultural spectacle in rural Tamil Nadu

36) Kallidaikurichi Anaicut: Gorgeous picnic spot nestled in the lap of nature

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Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Gorgeousness Overloaded - A Photo Story

Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is that hidden offbeat beauty of nature in the extreme south of India. It’s pristine ecosystem gives birth to many rivers, waterfalls, dams and canals. It is the catchment area for the Thamirabharani, Manimuthar and Kodayar rivers that are the lifeline of most of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. It’s tropical evergreen and deciduous forests are a treat for the senses and are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna that include elephants, tigers, sloth bears, gaurs, leopards, king cobra and so much more. This tiger reserve is also home to a British era tea estate whose lease gets over in the next three years. It is the wettest region of India during the North East Monsoon. As it has both east and west facing valleys, it receives copious rainfall from both the South West and the North East monsoons. This photo story aims at showing you the overloaded gorgeousness of this place, which is a far cry from our cities and even the plains down below the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR). I hope you enjoy it. Do comment below in case you have any questions regarding this hidden destination.

Above photo: The Manjolai tea estate, managed by Bombah Burmah Trading company, was created during the British rule. In another 3 years, the original lease gets over and this place will become a part of the tiger reserve. Pretty soon, nature will take it into its fold. Till then, you can enjoy these misty views around the tea gardens.



Above photo: Ferns show the health of a ecosystem and at KMTR, you can see it everywhere. These gorgeous ferns can be seen adorning the forest road from Kakkachi to Nalumukku.



Above photo: This is the windiest location inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. This place is called Kudrevetty and it is home to a watch tower that offers a beautiful views of the surrounding dense forests and the Karaiyar, Servalar and Manimuthar Dams down below. The forest guest house is also located close to this watch tower.



Above photo: This location happens to one of the most scenic pit stops on the route between Manjolai hill station and Kudrevetty. It is called Irumbu Palam or Iron bridge and is a favorite location for the elephants here as the love the bamboo forest in this area. The nature is as pristine as it can be here.



Above photo: This is the Manimuthar Falls, the first pit stop once you cross the forest check post and begin your drive inside the forest. This herbal waterfall carries water all year round and is hugely popular with the locals. This is how it looks on a rainy day.



Above photo: At close to 5000 feet above MSL, this is Kakkachi, the highest point inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. It is home to a British era golf course and a few man made lakes. Thankfully, today, there is a lot of wild nature here.



Above photo: One of the things that I love about this region are the ever smiling people. It is unfortunate that they have to relocate to the plains below once the lease gets over. Most of these people have been living and working here for decades. These ladies were seen picking tea leaves at the Nalumukku tea estate and they were kind enough to pose for me.



Above photo: Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is full of untouched, hidden and pristine gems. One such gem is this beautiful forest waterfall that flows through medicinal herbs and plants and whose water is deliciously sweet and cold. This waterfall is part of the catchment area of the Thamirabharani river and its water empty out into the Manimuthar dam.



Above photo: Most locals working at the tea estates stay at Manjolai and a few live at Nalumukku and Oothu. Beyond Oothu, there are hardly any people living and you can see that in the nature beyond Oothu as the forest has slowly started to reclaim its land. The road between Oothu and Kudrevetty is lush and dense and is a treat for very nature enthusiast.



Above photo: The green rolling hills of the Western Ghats as seen from one of the viewpoints between Manjolai and Kakkachi. This view includes small houses, tea estates, forests, hills and more.



Above photo: Here is another shot of Manimuthar Falls, the stunning forest waterfall of Tamil Nadu. It is just 12 kms from Kallidaikurichi village and is my favorite route for a Sunday morning cycle ride.



Above photo: Here is another shot of the Iron Bridge of KMTR. These bamboo forests that you see on both sides of the forest road are loved by the elephants and hence it is one of the more dangerous zones to drive through especially during the early morning and late evening time. And more so during cloudy, misty and/or rainy days when elephants descend to this place in huge numbers.



Above photo: This is the picturesque hill station of Manjolai as seen from one of the view points between Manjolai and Kakkachi. It is one of the prettiest hill stations of Tamil Nadu. Many people refer to this offbeat hill station as ‘Poor Man’s Ooty’.



Above photo: The route between Oothu and Kudrevetty is absolutely scenic. Here you can see tea estates, forests and dense mist as you make your way from Oothu to Kudrevetty via the forest road.



Above photo: This quaint little hill station of Tamil Nadu called Oothu is home to no more than twenty houses. Along with Nalumukku and Kakkachi, it is one of the wettest regions of India during the North East Monsoon. Time stands still here.



Above photo: Monsoon in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is never short of stunning views. This is the view of the mist covered tea estates at Manjolai during the North East Monsoon. Nothing like a hot cup of tea/coffee in such gorgeous weather.



Above photo: This is a crested serpent eagle perched on a tree somewhere between Manjolai and Kakkachi. It was very misty and there was a steady drizzle, but the crested serpent eagle seemed to be enjoying this weather.

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