Thenmala Tales – (Part 2)

We would be cut off from all means of communication with the outside world for a whole day! No phone, no internet, no neighbours, no sound, no pollution, no nothing… Just the wild, wild, forest!

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River Kallada in Thenmala

Of Resorts and Forest Camps…

The majestic Range Rover pulled into Kandamath Resorts in Thenmala, the place where our stay had been booked. It had been a long travel of more than 7 hours, and after being sick all the way, my sole aim was to get into a bed and make myself invisible. But something in Sharmila’s voice made me open my eyes and look around.

A telephonic conversation with the resort manager a few days back had given us the impression that this was an exclusive private property located in a river bank, nestled among tall, dense trees, providing total seclusion from the hustle and bustle of life. Kandamath Resorts consisted of 4 small cottages, with the beautiful river Kallada flowing peacefully behind it. But unfortunately, it was situated bang on the side of the busy main road which made it impossible to escape noise from ongoing traffic. The property had quite a few trees, but instead of the wildly growing, dense ones that we had imagined, these were Rubber trees planted in the utmost scientific manner. Moreover, the weather was really hot, worsening our dispositions, and as Shaji ettan, the caretaker cum manager cum receptionist cum everything showed us our allotted cottage, we couldn’t hide our disappointment because it did not come anywhere close to the picture that was given. Moreover, the room was situated right next to the kitchen too.

Compromise is not exactly Sharmila’s middle name, and she immediately got to the task of finding out if there were any other place of stay where we would get a better ambience. Mr Shaji, sensing our discontent, suggested getting in touch with the Forest information centre nearby, citing the possibility of availing a package deal which would enable us to spend a day in the forest. That was the opening we were waiting for, and as luck would have it, a family who had booked the said forest package opted out at the last moment. We were asked to arrive at the forest office at 12 PM the following day, where we could complete the required formalities and get transported to a cottage maintained by the Eco tourism department inside the forest. A guard, a cook, and an assistant would accompany us and would be at our service throughout the period of stay. Now that was what we were looking for.

It was an excited trio who went to sleep that night. Not having any prior experience of staying inside a forest, it certainly gave us a heightened sense of adventure, especially knowing that we would be spending a whole day inside the thick forest that predictably was not electrified nor had any telephone or mobile tower range. In essence, we would be cut off from all means of communication with the outside world for a whole day! No phone, no internet, no neighbours, no sound, no pollution, no nothing… Just the wild, wild, forest!

We woke up early in the morning and got out to enjoy the pristine beauty of the Kallada River that was flowing calmly behind the resort. It was truly magnificent and I was delighted to see Shaji ettan bring in our morning tea to the river bank. After a sumptuous breakfast, it was the forest office where we had to complete the formalities of our forest stay. The Forester in charge, Mr Prabhat, a very loquacious and jovial character, offered to take us to a protected area of the Shendurney dam, an amazing place offering a breathtaking view.

Post lunch, we eagerly trooped into the rugged forest vehicle, a Mahendra Thar, chauffeured by the cheerful and talkative driver, Babu. Enroute, we needed to pick up Maneesh, the forest guard who would be with us throughout our stay in the forest, the cook and an assistant. Mr. Prabhat, cheerfully waved us goodbye, wishing us a pleasant stay. It would take us about one and half hours of bumpy, off road drive through rough, uphill pathways, before we reached Rockwood – our destination, situated deep inside the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.

(to be contd…)

River Kallada