Anasuya Menon explains in an June 27, 2024 article in "The Hindu" how
Treks, trails and activities help you experience the monsoon in Kerala
The Kerala monsoon has a reputation that precedes it. Of beauty, romance, poetry and post 2018 flood, terror. But to a traveler, the monsoon in Kerala is still fascinating. Everything looks better during the season — the trees are greener, the rivers fuller, the skies grey and atop the hills, one can almost touch the clouds.
After a particularly harsh summer, this monsoon was eagerly awaited. Apart from the ‘red alert’ days, the season has been good so far, say travel companies, with enquiries pouring in on monsoon-related treks and activities. From kayaking to leisurely tea trails to an adventurous river trek, here is how you can experience the monsoon in different ways in Kerala.
For instance, on an overcast day, a walk through the emerald tea plantations of Munnar is rejuvenating, especially for city people, says Anagha Biju, of Munnarinfo.com that organizes a tea trail with a factory visit. The three-hour trail that culminates at the Lockhart Tea Museum at Devikulam is a popular to-do thing on the list of a monsoon traveler.
Mountain trek
Koonichi Mala, towards the end of the Western Ghats, in Vellarada, Thiruvananthapuram, is a favorite destination for trekkers in the monsoon, says Tomy John, director of Academy for Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (AMAS), who has been guiding enthusiastic trekkers to this spot almost every week since the start of the monsoon. With a set of trained and certified guides, AMAS takes trekkers through mountain trails that afford breathtaking views. “Trekking is a safe activity during the monsoon; we avoid all other adventure activities during rain. The terrain could be slippery, but we train the trekkers and educate them about the terrain, and the possible risks and how to alert the team in case they need help. We assess the route and make sure it is safe before we take people,” says Tomy.
(AMAS: 9446101056)
AMAS is affiliated with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. It conducts one-day programmes and camps, which includes programmes that club trekking with cleaning drives. The proceeds from the activities are used for organising similar treks for youngsters from the lesser-privileged communities, says Tomy.
Mangroves in the rain
More than 150 acres of mangrove forests in Kadamakkudy are a sight to behold during the rain in Kochi. You can go closer and explore the forests in a kayak, navigating through the waterways between their tangled roots. Kayaking is a fairly safe monsoon activity, as it is done on flatwater with the guidance of experienced trainers. Vishal Koshy of Kalypso Adventures in Kochi says that kayaking as a monsoon activity has picked up in the past two years and even novices enjoy the experience. “Except during extreme rainy weather or a cloud burst, we are fully booked on weekends. It is a great way to enjoy the rains and engage with it,” he says. The sessions are from 6.30am to 8.30pm and 4pm to 6pm and a longer three-hour session includes further exploration of mangrove forests, where the guides would help participants spot the waterbirds. A sunset view is also part of the package, if not overcast.
₹ 900 for two-hour package and ₹1,500 for three-hour package per person.
(Vishal Koshy: 9446005066)
Forest, falls and river
The way rain falls in a forest is different from the way it falls over a city. As you trek through a rainforest, wade through a river and find a hidden waterfall, expect stunning views and new sights, smells and sounds of the rain. “It is the best way to enjoy and experience how the rain falls over a forest,” says Anu Krishnan of Wayanad Trekking and Travel Company in Meppadi, in Wayanad, which offers three treks and a camping experience. “We have a team of three to four guides to accompany guests on the treks. It is extremely safe and we trek only through water that is knee-deep. We also use ropes for the river trek. We trek through the smaller tributaries of the Chaliyar,” says Anu. The treks are on through July.
₹1,800 per person.
(Anu Krishnan: 8281022348)
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