Call of the Wild !

Nature beckoned me after a very long span of time on the 22nd of Jan 2006. It was a day of sheer adventure into the forests of the Blue Mountains, the Nilgiris . .
A one-day trekking to the scintilating Porthimund (gimme a better adjective !) was planned by the CAP and Nature Club of our college . I had been fortunate enough to join the 40 member team just in time. A day prior to the trip was full of anticipations and growing expectations.
We had glanced at the posters planted for the event. It said "Porthimund , Manirathnam's paradise !". The latter words added fuel to our excitement.

So, we began at 6.30 am, 40 of us in our college bus destined to Porthimund, a spot in the heart of the Nilgiris, an hour's drive from the Ootacamund . The chill wind started , right from our college preparing us for the impending weather on the way . . .
There was an unusual air (all of us had seen those documentaries on the National Geographic) around with hopes of catching glimpses of a few wild creatures on the way !

We reached Ooty at noon and then proceeded to Porthimund . The weather was already quite cool and pleasant. Crossing Ooty, we entered the wood of the Nilgiris and behold ! then onwards we had heaven in front of us . . . The vegetation around us took rapid turns providing us a blend of different flavors of it , it started with mere dark brown tall tress slowly growing denser with our road cutting through. Then little green bushes popped up, with beautiful mountains standing around, and not far from there we could see scanty reservoirs of water with silverly water cascading into streams from the lush vegetation. We lost no time in capturing these scenic spectacles in out camera , that we would cherish forever !

After an hour of drive , something bluish beneath the thick forests caught our attention . It was the glorious Porthimund lake that we were going to descend upon. As time progressed the view grew clearer and we neared the lake. Our bus halted few metres away from the lake and we got down with our camera, to tread rest of the journey on foot. Finished our lunch here and set out to glance at the lake waters. I must admit that the looks of it were mersmerizing ! So clear was the water, you could see all that lied beneath . . .

After a brief stay there, we then walked towards the Porthimund Dam that lay few kilometres away. Two forest officials escorted us from there right through the day in the forest. The dam was a huge one with a rich store of water, both sides of it flanked by mountains of distinct beauties. Some photographs at the dam and then we crossed over walking into the forest in a single file. The forest officials warned that only on being silent we could meet some wild animals on the way. But this was difficult, not a single soul there had seen kind of wild stuff like that before . The excitement set out whispers and conversation all around !

We climbed the forests and then took a shortcut. The darkness and denseness multiplied with every mile that we travelled ! Few of us picked up sticks to aid us in the ascent. We crawled through bushes, bent under broken branches, crouched under the thorny creepers and made our way amidst the scanty sunlight falling on us. With every move , we were greeted with something new. Right then, something at the bushes moved . . . and this was our first animal at the Porthimund - The Wild Fox ! Not a moment to lose, we captured it into our lens . . Then we continued and came across a narrow waterfall , that came as a boon in disguise right in time for most of us were overcome with thirst. The water was very cold, fresh and to add to this we could see the rainbow piercing through the sprinkling water.

After a brief stop there, we walked on for another two miles . We had begun into the forest at 2.30 pm and it was now 4 pm. There was another halt for us at a hut someway on the top. Then gathering our senses we travelled forth. Few bends and turns led us into the final destination for us that was the most beautiful part of our entire trip. All of a sudden , the narrow path opened its way into the beautiful Porthimund lake. The view this time was fascinating !
And i remembered my Thekkadi trip in the school-days ! I find no words in me to describe all that i saw. Thick wild forested mountains lay all around and there was a huge stretch of water collected in the lake. The water-level had receded to an extend and we could therefore move around pretty well in the space around the lake, viewing the scenic surrounding . Some people got into pranks of drenching their friends with splashes of water. Most of us began pelting stones into the water, challenging a game as to how many times it bounced on the water. Time passed on and we took all possible snaps we could, to remember the occasion. A Group Photo followed, a team of spirited PSG-Techians who made the trekking a memorable ordeal . . .
Spending an hour there, we returned the same way following a longer route this time . It was 5.30 pm when we started back and we passed by all those spots we encountered while we came.
The forest officials told us scores of stories and incidents of the wild animals they had seen, cases of drug-plantations they had caught in the hills and lots more !

We climbed downhill and it was ripe sunset the time we reached Porthimund dam . Had few photos of ourselves, engulfed into the sunset . Then we returned to the bus after a brief stop-over to have a tea at a nearby shop. The weather had turned dark and cold over then, and we found ourselves cozy and comfortable in our bus, discussing all the moments we spent in the wild !

Thought this was the end of it ?? . . Never! there was more to come . . .
We had hardly passed half a mile when a herd of wild bisons blocked our way. We rushed to have a look at them. Frightened, these animals ran helter-skelter, but we were smart enough to get them into our camera !

That signalled the end, we bid adieu to Porthimund, a heavenly place that enchanted us for a day and shall reign in our hearts forever !

P.S. Do have a look at the gallery, after all Pictures speak more than words !

Follow the link : http://www.porthimund-trekking.blogspot.com/