Embarking on yet another camping adventure with my favorite people, we set our sights on Kerala's Vagamon and Thekkady. This post will be a lengthy one, so buckle up.
Having been to Kerala several times before, this was my second visit to Thekkady. We began our journey on an air-conditioned sleeper bus, which took us 10 hours to reach Kumily. The ride up the mountain roads was treacherous, with sharp needle pin bends that required skillful driving from our bus driver. Despite encountering a stranded bus blocking our path, our driver deftly navigated the turns and safely delivered us to our first destination, Thekkady.
Upon reaching the Kumily bus stand, we refreshed ourselves with some of Kerala's signature dishes, including Appam and Channa.
Our initial stop was the Periyar Tiger Reserve, but I would advise against visiting this location. In my opinion, it's not worth the money spent, as all you'll encounter are insects and leeches that will crawl all over your body. I won't delve into too much detail here.
While it may have been a letdown, I firmly believe that if your first experience is a disappointment, it doesn't necessarily mean that all subsequent adventures will be failures as well.
Afterward, we hopped onto a jeep that transported us to our designated camping location, which turned out to be a large farmhouse. This trip was also organized by Exoticamp, and the bungalow was looked after by an elderly couple who had retired there.
While exploring the estate, we stumbled upon a Rottweiler dog that was kept in a cage and fed a diet consisting of heavy meat and rice. This canine was unlike any other dog we had seen before.
The estate owner informed us that this particular Rottweiler was the most aggressive dog he had ever owned, and they fed him a specific diet to ensure he was strong enough to apprehend any intruders who dared to enter the estate. According to them, the dog weighed roughly 75 kgs and went for a walk every night.After storing our bags in a nearby cottage, we were instructed to set up our tents on our own. We each grabbed our tents and headed to a magnificent viewpoint where we were to erect them.
My companions and I chose a central location among the row of tents to ensure we had the best view come morning. This campsite was aptly named Camp Cloudscape.
Once we had finished setting up our tents, we made our way to the infinity swimming pool, which was situated near another stunning viewpoint. We spent the afternoon frolicking in the water, playfully pushing and splashing each other. It was a delightfully enjoyable experience.
As the evening descended, a cool mist settled onto our skin, creating a refreshing sensation. We changed out of our swimming gear and mingled with the other campers who had joined us at the site.
Following a satisfying dinner, we retired to our tents and basked in the breathtaking night city view illuminated solely by the moon. As a wolf enthusiast, I couldn't help but feel tempted to howl and await a response.
We woke up early around 5 AM and were greeted by the most spectacularly cloudy sky, creating the sensation of floating above it all. The view was stunning, with no visible land in sight, only massive, bright white clouds resembling cotton.
After taking in the magnificent scenery, we headed back to our tents for breakfast before setting off to Vagamon. Along the way, we stopped for a quick shower at a nearby waterfall. The power of the water currents was intense, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for my friends' presence, which prevented me from being washed away to an unknown shore.
Following our refreshing shower, we changed our clothes and continued our journey to Vagamon, where we arrived at another breathtaking campsite and settled into our tents.
After a satisfying lunch, we embarked on a sunset hike to the hilltop. The view was nothing short of spectacular, with breathtaking scenery that left me in awe. As the sun began to set, tears of joy welled up in my eyes, and I knew that this was the most beautiful sunset I had ever witnessed.
Picture this: sitting on the edge of a cliff, gazing out at a valley of mountains with dark, cloudy skies overhead. The sun was slowly peeking out from behind the clouds, casting a reddish glow to your right and illuminating a Lilac plus grey colored sky to your left, with streaks of lightning bolts on and off.
As the temperature cooled, the sun suddenly emerged, bathing the entire valley in abundant light and transforming the previously gloomy atmosphere into a vibrant one. The Tyndall effect from the sun's powerful rays was so crystal clear that it felt like we were being blessed by the sun itself. Even though the experience was only for a brief 10-20 seconds of Sun Darshan, it left an indelible impression on me.
As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the surroundings grew darker and darker. We relished the opportunity to snap photos, capturing the amazing color palette displayed by the sky. It felt like the mountains were performing a salsa dance under the sky, creating a mesmerizing scene.
I turned around and was greeted by a multitude of yellowish lights, which initially startled me. Upon closer inspection, I realized they were fireflies! As a butterfly enthusiast, I love fireflies too. However, rather than catching and trapping them, we refrained from doing so, knowing that their lifespan is just a day.
I managed to catch one in my hand, but unfortunately, I was unable to capture it on camera. As the firefly crawled on my finger and stood there for a while, I couldn't help but ponder its remarkable ability to generate a fire in its belly for survival. It made me wonder why we don't have that same level of fire in our bellies to pursue our wildest dreams.
As we made our way down, the lights from nearby restaurants and buildings began to take on a creepy vibe, reminiscent of a scene from a 1960s horror movie.
We eventually arrived at the campsite, where everyone was gearing up for the bonfire. The atmosphere was electric, and we had an absolute blast. I danced to my heart's content and lost track of time, unsure of how long I had been on the dance floor.
After dinner, we retired to our tents to get some much-needed rest. Surprisingly, the following morning was a bit warmer inside the tent. We took numerous pictures, capturing the tranquil scenery around us. I wished the day could last longer, but unfortunately, we had to face reality and head back. As we journeyed back, heavy rain poured down, preventing us from stopping at the Vagamon Meadows and Pine Forest. It was a shame, as I had heard such great things about these sites.
After three nights of sleeplessness due to the excitement of the trip, exhaustion had finally caught up with me. I found myself dozing off at the pizza place in Kumily, still feeling the effects of the incredible experiences we had over the past few days.
Before heading home, we did some shopping, taking home souvenirs and mementos to remind us of this unforgettable trip. As we boarded the same bus we had arrived in, a sense of nostalgia and longing for the trip overtook me.
Reflecting on the journey, I could confidently say that it was one of the best trips I had ever been on, rivaling even my trip to Kashmir. The sunset we witnessed had been so stunning that it brought tears to my eyes. I felt grateful to the Lord for creating such a beautiful world for us to live in and to experience such incredible moments. It was a journey that I would always cherish.
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