The trip I almost missed - Kanthloor and Kolukkumalai

Finally, after two long years things looked normal when I finally went on a trip. It all started with a simple forward in our WhatsApp group to remind us about our earlier trip and I replied "next trip when" without any intention of even going to a trip, but to my surprise everyone said yes. It was my previous company's gang, where no one is working there and few people are not even in Chennai now. But, everyone immediately said yes and I didn't even expect it.

The best pic of this trip was clicked by a random person - Kolukkumalai Sunrise Spot

We decided to go to Kanthaloor and Kolukkumalai, the Kolukkumalai Sunrise spot is the only place we all wanted to see. Actually I didn't even care about the places we are going to visit, I just want this get-together to take place since haven't seen most of these people since the lockdown. Unfortunately one person had to drop out at the last minute so 7 members were on for the trip. Everyone was coming to Coimbatore from Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore on Saturday morning and we planned to start as early as 4 to 4:30 from Coimbatore to Udumalpet, where we will be picked by a jeep arranged by our travel agent. 

The Twist: Then comes the twist that I was expecting since the start, since everything was going smooth since the start, on Friday night I got a back pain and become so severe. When everyone arrived here at CBE, I was on the way to hospital. And, after getting some injection and in half mind I asked them to come and pick me up. I was in no position to even sit in that car and even my wife wanted to ask me to stay back, but since I was preparing for this trip for almost a month she didn't say anything. Our next stop was to stop and pick another guy which was some 10kms from my home. And, after reaching there I decided to come back home and took a call taxi. I know I am going to regret missing this since it won't be easy to get everyone together for another trip in near future, but my pain was unbearable. Right after reaching home I felt better, before even dropping the bag, I was like I would like to go back and join them again. My wife who couldn't even process that I came back was totally confused when I asked should I go back :D. Then, after thinking for about 2 mins, I decided to go back and join them at Udumalpet and asked my gang to wait. Luckily the calltaxi I came home was waiting in front of my home itself and asked him itself to drop me at Udumelpet, hoping I wont get the pain again since this trip has some trekking and off road rides.

Thoovanam Waterfalls

Day 1 - Thoovanam Waterfalls: Finally, I joined back with my gang in Udumelpet and they were also refreshed and waiting for our pickup in a Jeep. I was just in time as well. And, our first stop was at Thoovanam waterfalls. It needed a 3 km trekking, I was skeptical, but decided to go on. It was mildly difficult, mostly due to my weight :D.  But, it was all worth it, the waterfalls was too good to miss. It looked exactly like what we saw in the google. Once we reached, as usual after clicking some pics, we all went in to bath and luckily it was only us until we finished. Then, after another long session of photoshoot, we decided to go back since it started raining. The return wasn't as difficult for almost 80%, we took a shortcut to reach the road, which was steep and drained all of our energy. The first spot itself was the best and it was more than I expected from this trip. We didn't plan anything for the day other than reaching our stay at Kanthaloor, mud house. And, in the night we went on a most boring night safari after enjoying camp fire and barbecue, we were expecting them to take us into the forest, but we just rode in the same road we came and returned without seeing any animal. A lorry driver warned us there was an elephant while we were returning, but we didn't witness any.

Day 2 - The Otha Malai Spot: The next day we all got up fairly early and decided to go to see a spot instead of a waterfall. And, we packed our breakfast as well to have it there in a scenic view. Our jeep got stuck and so we were made to walk little extra than it was needed and decided to have our breakfast. That was not a good spot, it was full of leeches and we all were jumping and hopping and constantly checking each other legs to spot the leeches. Then, we walked even further to get to the spot and the view was spectacular. As usual no one came there, spent a little time there and we got back to our room and packed to go to our next spot Suriyanelli. And, we all tasted Passion fruit for the first time before leaving our room, it was too good. We stopped at Munnar town and it was freaking cold, had bajji, bought a jerkin. And, also stopped some of the spots on the way to take some pictures, like Lakham falls, and we reached our place, tent stay in the middle of a tea estate it was almost dark. Two more groups were with us for a common camp fire, but it was ruined because of the wind and after dinner we all went to sleep early by 10:30 into our tent, which wasn't good, so that we can all get up by 3:30 and proceed to the Sunrise spot.

Day 3 - Kolukkumalai Sunrise Spot: We all did actually getup at 3 and got into the jeeps by 4:30, which was really unbelievable in that freaking cold. Then, we proceeded towards that Kolukkumalai spot in an off road ride, which was easily the most off road I have ever traveled compared to my other jeep rides. It was literally just rocks and we reached the spot before 5:30 and had to walk a little to reach that Jaguar rock peak and we all waited and witnessed the Sunrise, this is the first time I have ever visited any Sunrise spot. The view was excellent and a little scary as well. We spent most of the time there in and around that spot and some photoshoots and videos, yes a newly added DJI Pocket Osmo from this trip for the videos. Then, came back to our tent, again took some pics and videos and left. We thought we could visit one more spot before leaving, but after reaching Munnar and finishing our purchase we didn't have much time. So, we all proceeded straight to the Coimbatore Railway station earlier than their train departure. We all had our last supper in a hotel and gave piriyavidai to everyone. 

Mud House Stay at Kanthaloor

Tent Stay @ Suriyanelli

Lakham Falls

Last Supper :D

I still can't believe what I started as just a text "next trip when" in a WhatsApp group actually ended up as a trip. Thanks to everyone who made from Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore. And, I was glad I did go back and join them to this trip. Both Thoovanam Waterfalls and Kolukkumalai Sunrise Spot are not to be missed in our lifetime, especially the Kolukkumalai Sunrise spot.

Now, among the 123524513 clicks few of my favorites