A Parambikulam Trek

 

A wild escape to deflect stress!

I am a final year engineering student with millions of desires to experience dark in 2020 nevertheless they were looted by Corona and it is hard for a student from a family home to plan an outing during the holidays.

Me!

Of course, I am a guy in a diminished and perennial set of people who are like-minded and dislike hanging out with a large group and I never mind even if I have only one likely minded rather than a herd of diversions, which might also be the reasons for me to skip outings.

I believe a minimal budget-based travel with public transportation, and exploring the wild can make a best day.

So, this time at the end of my student phase, I badly wanted to have a trip and importantly, with the ones who love exploring the wild.

Hardly, I could catch only two.

Travel with a minimal budget and plenty of experience, is what we wanted.

Quickly grabbing a laptop, and connecting to the internet we found Parambikulam, a Tiger Reserve governed by the Government of Kerala next to Pollachi was our destination.

With no delays, we quickly booked for a jungle trek and got the ticket.

Here is our experience in the wild of about 600 square kilometers area with sparely populated humans of about 2000 to 3000.

Parambikulam is located at a distance of 83 km (as per G Maps) from Coimbatore. The modes to reach this paradise can be by bike, car, or bus. We preferred the bus as it is cheaper and timely boarding it, is the real challenge behind the adventurous experience.

Parmabikulam was uncharted territory for us. No guidance, just a number for the elusive info center. The lady on the line spoke in a Malayalam-Tamil blend, leaving us clueless.

Dawn broke, and we gathered whatever snacks we had, and dashed to Ukkadam Bus Stand. Occupied a 3-seater at 4 AM. Bus roared to life heading for Pollachi — no direct bus to Parambikulam.

Important note for everybody: It is advised to pick up this bus.

As expected, we reached Pollachi around a quarter past five in the morning. Sipping strong filter coffee, surrounded by random Tamil songs and bits of masala gossip in Pollachi’s cold air, felt nothing short of bliss.

Racing against time, we barely secured seats on the 6:15 AM bus to Parambikulam; missing it would’ve derailed our entire plan. Fortunately, the bus was empty on a weekday, and we sat on the front seats, relishing cool breezes and breathtaking views.

Finally, we arrived at Parambikulam’s paradise around 7:40 AM, a good one and a half hours early. Hunger pangs hit, and we devoured the last bread slices, eagerly awaiting our trek guide.

Mr. Sreenidhasan, our guide, led us into the lush Western Ghats Forest. Pointing out wild creatures and sharing Parambikulam tales, he infused excitement into our trek. Each step unveiled the raw beauty of nature. As we trekked through the lush terrain, we spotted a variety of flora and fauna, and luck favored us when we encountered a wild elephant just 50 meters ahead. Fuelled by the excitement of possibly spotting big cats, we embarked on the 8-kilometer trek into the heart of the deep forest. Beginning at 10 AM, the trek unfolded with a herbal breeze, offering a refreshing vibe and, more importantly, acting as a stress buster.

Lush Greens of Parambikulam

The trek was a blast! We were pumped up, bonding, and totally into the lush green vibe. Tracking footprints and big cat signs got our hearts racing. Although we missed the big cat, the trek was an eye-opener. It taught us that the real thrill is in connecting with nature and feeling the love and peace it brings. It wasn’t just a wildlife adventure; it was a wild journey teaching us the joy of being in sync with nature.

Pugmarks of a Tiger

By 1 PM, we wrapped up the trek. Quickly asking Chetan at the information center canteen to serve us a Kerala Thaali to refuel our energy. The anticipation of a hearty meal added a satisfying twist to our adventure-filled day.


However, it was only 1:30 PM, and our bus back to Pollachi wasn’t until 6 PM. What to do for the next four and a half hours? Well, we decided to book a Gypsy ride back into the wild. This time, we had 10 more adventurous souls joining us on the expedition. The thrill continued as we geared up for another wild ride.

Safari Route

At 3 PM, the Gypsy roared to life, its engine echoing the thrill that awaited. The safari promised two hours and thirty minutes of wild exploration. The driver secured his seat belts, and off we went. The excitement skyrocketed when we realized Mr. Sreenidhasan was our guide again — a man with an unmatched ability to unfold the secrets of the forest. This safari spanned 30 kilometers, from the information center to Parambikulam town, showcasing two crucial dams supplying drinking water to Kerala towns, breathtaking viewpoints, and the legendary Kanimara teak. Mr. Sreenidhasan’s vivid explanations added a fascinating layer to the history and physical features of the reserve along the way

Jungle Safari Route Map
Kanimara Teak — The Virgin Tree
Parambikulam Dam

Amidst the safari’s thrill, spotting wild gaurs, sambar deer, and lion-tailed macaques, time slipped away, and catching that bus became a real nail-biter. Missing it meant forking out 6000 bucks for an overnight stay we weren’t up for. We begged the driver to help us make it to the bus, and thankfully, he came through. We hopped on that bus just in the nick of time at the information center, dodging an unplanned night in the wild. What a wild ride, from spotting animals to racing against the clock!

After all the excitement, we made it to Pollachi. Had a fantastic dinner at Hotel Ashok, and then caught one of the regular buses to Coimbatore!

What an exhilarating and meticulously planned adventure it unfolded into!

Here’s a simple guide for anyone looking to have an exciting one-day trip like ours.

Parambikulam offers various activities such as trekking, gypsy rides, and bamboo rafting. To make the most of your adventure, I recommend booking online tickets for trekking and the gypsy ride to reach the information center (I don’t have information on bamboo rafting as we didn’t try it).

There are three types of trekking trails:

Important Notes:

1. The first two treks start at 9 AM (though it may start at 10 AM, like ours) and usually finish by 1 PM. The latter starts by 9 AM and is completed by 4 PM.

2. The minimum number of participants for all types of trekking is five. If there aren’t five people, the fare for five individuals must be paid at the information desk. (Example: In our case, only three people were available, so we paid an additional ₹600 at the Information Desk, on top of the ₹900 we already paid.)

3. The gypsy ride is not time-based but count-based. A minimum of 15 people is required, but sometimes it can be adjusted to 10. The cost is ₹400/person.

Parambikulam Adventure Guide

1. Early Start: Kick off your adventure by reaching Pollachi by 5 AM. Take a moment to enjoy coffee and tune in to some radio songs.

2. Bus Essentials: The first bus to Parambikulam departs at 6:15 AM, so don’t miss it! The next one isn’t until 11 AM.

3. Information Center: Arrive at Parambikulam’s information center between 7:40 to 8 AM. You can grab breakfast at the cafe or enjoy your own slices of bread and report to the receptionist.

4. Trekking Time: The trek begins at 9 AM according to the website, but expect it to finish around the displayed time with a possible one-hour extension.

5. Bus Back: Catch the last bus back to Pollachi at 6 PM from the Parambikulam info center. You’ll be back in Pollachi by 8 PM.

Trip Budget Breakdown

1. Pollachi to Parambikulam Bus: ₹60/person

2. Trekking Charges: ₹300 to ₹1500/person (for small and medium treks)

3. Lunch at Parambikulam Cafe: ₹80 to ₹150 (try the Kerala thali with add-ons like egg and juice)

4. Gypsy Ride: ₹400/person

5. Parambikulam to Pollachi Bus: ₹45/person (unexpectedly reduced, I don’t know the reason)

Total Adventure Cost: ₹885 to ₹2155/person, delivering heart-filled joy and satisfaction.

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