A College Tour - Chennai=>Kochi=>Munnar=>Athirappilly=>Chennai

This was the most splendid tour, experienced during my under graduate program. We were 54 people including 3 college staffs, went on a well organised 6days tour to Kochi, Munnar and Athirappilly falls.

 

 





Day 1:

 

20:00Hrs: Chennai to Ernakulam by Alleppey express,our journey started. Three-fourth of the people were occupied in one coach and one-fourth of the people were occupied in the other coach. Fun and excitement went through till 2:00hrs in the mid night of day2.

Day 2:
 

We slept for three or four hours.The rays of sun woke us at 7:00hrs and the day began with making fun on one another. Ernakulam Junction arrived at 9:30hrs and by the time we reached there, a bus was waiting to take us to the hotel.

 

Kochi:Kochi, formerly Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea and is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala.The city of Kochi (pop. 601,574) is the most densely populated city in the state and is part of an extended metropolitan region (pop. 2.1 million), which is the largest urban agglomeration in Kerala.Kochi city is also a part of Greater Cochin region and is classified as a B-1 grade city by the Government of India, making it the highest graded city in the state. Kochi ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala. Kochi has been ranked the sixth best tourist destination in India according to a survey conducted by the Nielsen Company on behalf of the "Outlook Traveller magazine".Heralded as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Kochi was an important spice trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century. Occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503, Kochi was the first of the European colonies in India. It remained the main seat of Portuguese India until 1530, when Goa was chosen instead. The city was later occupied by the Dutch and the British, with the Kingdom of Cochin becoming a princely state.Kochi is home to the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy and the state headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard with an attached air squadron, named Air Squadron 747.Commercial maritime facilities of the city include the Port of Kochi, an International Container Transshipment Terminal, the Cochin Shipyard, offshore SPM of the Kochi Refineries and the Kochi Marina. Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India at 9°58′N 76°13′E, spanning an area of 94.88 square kilometres (36.63 sq mi). The city straddles the backwaters, encompassing the northern end of a peninsula, several islands and a portion of the mainland. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, and to the east is the urbanized region in the rest of the mainland area. Much of Kochi lies at sea level, with a coastline of 48 kms.Kochi features a tropical monsoon climate. Kochi's proximity to the equator along with its coastal location results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 23 and 31 °C (73–88 °F) with the
record high being 38 °C (100 °F), and record low 17 °C (63 °F).[36] From June to September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains  as Kochi lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Kochi receives lighter (yet significant) rain from the northeast monsoon,  as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is 3,228.3 mm (127.10 in),[37] with an annual average of 132 rainy days.

 

Ernakulam Junction to hotel Star Lagoon was three-fourth of an hour's drive. Star Lagoon was a splendid apartment hotel where one part of the apartment was made as a hotel. We got consequtive apartments in seventh or eighth floor and 4 to 8 people were accomodated in each, according to the size of the apartment.

 

 

Watch showed 10:30hrs and every once checked-in to their apartments.Every one were asked to get ready as we were running out of schedule. At 12:00hrs we were all ready for the site seeing. As none of them had breakfast in the morning, we decided to have lunch. The time was very short.So ferry ride, visiting the fort Kochi and Chottanikkara temple were on the visiting list for the day.

 

 

 At 13:30hrs every one were on the ferry ride. During the ride, we saw Kochi oil refineries, Naval Ships, Kochi Harbour, Vivanta (Taj group) and finally reached the Fort Kochi at 14:30hrs.

 

There were several commercials selling their art. We were able to see the chinese fishing which came in to exisence since 14th century. We walked 500mts and could see the St.Francis Church.It is one of the oldest European Church built in 1503.The Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were removed to Lisbon.The gravestone of Vasco da Gama can still be seen here and also several other gravestones & writings were seen on the walls.

 

 

We got in to the ferry and were back to the bus at 16:00hrs.Two of my friends missed to get in to the ferry. So we were waiting for them as they were heading to our point by boarding  another ferry. We started at 16:45hrs to make our next visit to Chottanikkara temple which was half an hour drive. Spending time for more than an hour in the temple,we were back to the hotel at 19:00hrs. Moving from room to room, messing around with people, playing and having fun around lasted till mid night of the day 3. It is always a pleasure of having fun with friends and going to bed in the mid night.

 

Day 3: 

 

As per the schedule, it was the day to visit Veegaland. Waking up early and getting ready at 7:30hrs was a little tough task. Our bags were packed,dumped in the bus and checked-out of the hotel. This was our last day in Kochi as we were going to Munnar directly from Veegaland. Having our breakfast, we reached Veegaland at 9:45hrs. Waitng for some time to get the counters open, got the tickets and we walked in at 10:30hrs.

 

 

 Rides in the Giant Wheel, Roller coaster, Ranger, twin flip monster, crazy cars, dashing cars were amazing. Water games were more interesting and spent our time in the wave pool for more than two hours. It started raining heavily and it was time for us to start to Munnar. Changing the clothes/ drying ourselves for some time, we departed to Munnar at 17:30hrs. Travelling for two hours, the bus halted for our dinner. At 20:30hrs, the journey started continuing. At 22:30hrs, We reached the hotel S.R.Annexe in Munnar. Checked-in to our rooms at 22:45hrs, and asusual fun and entertainment went on till 00:00hrs. As every one were tired, it was time to go to bed.

 

Day 4:

Munnar: Munnar is a hill station on the Western Ghats, a range of mountains situated in the Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala.Munnar town is in Kannan Devan Hills ( KDH ) Village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district having an area measuring nearly 557 km².This green hill station is surrounded by the country's highest tea gardens. Layers and layers of tea estates, mountain mist, waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries make Munnar almost surrealistically beautiful. The lofty mountain ranges with misty peaks, sprawling tea estates and serene climate provides a quite and peaceful resort. This little sleepy village atop the western ghats is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams namely Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Panoramic views of lowflying clouds and mistfilled valleys make it a pretty little heaven with a cool, bracing climate. Misty mountain peaks blend  harmoniously in Munnar to create a blissful atmosphere that is hard to describe.Munnar is also famous for the wild orchids locally called Neelakurinchi which blooms once in 12 years. During this time the entire valley turns violet. It is also home to Nilagiri tahr, a rare breed of mountain goat. Munnar was once the summer resort of the British government in South India; it still  wears the old charm of the British plantation days.Munnar has a variety of attractions to feast your eyes like placid lakes, meandering streams, misty mountain peaks, sylvan valleys, rare orchids and wildlife. Plantation visits, treks, tea factory visits, cycling, boating, paragliding, day tours to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary etc. add to the excitement. Here you can also have a glimpse of gaur, langur, liontailed macaque, elephants and Nilgiri tahr that roam the  stretch of grasslands or are seen climbing the pinnacles of the undulating hills. The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) above mean sea level. The temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in summer.[4] Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the  Sevenmallay region of Munnar.[5]The mean maximum daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the highest temperature being 19 C. 

 

One person among our friends came up banging all the doors to wake up every one in our rooms.The weather was too cold in the morning and we had a breathe taking view of the greeneries through the window. Every one were ready at 9:00hrs and had breakfast in a restaurant opposite to our hotel.By 10:00hrs, Our sightseeing started. Our first place of visit for the day was Eravikulam National Park. At 10:50hrs, we were waiting for our turn to board a van which will take us to the park. Waiting for quarter of an hour, we were on the way to the park. The Mist covered mountains, the waterfalls and the Bed of greeneries made us to enjoy the beauty of the nature.  At 11:30hrs, we were out of he van and we started our trek to the top of the national park. We were able to spot few Nilgiri Tahrs (Mountain Goats). Trekking to the top gave a Panoramic view of the mountains.

 

 

 

Watching the view, Playing here and there, making fun around and dancing, passed our time and that was 13:30hrs when we boarded the van which headed us to our bus. Fun and excitement was at its peak.It was 14:30hrs, we had our lunch.at 15:45hrs, our visit continued. At16:25hrs, our bus was at our next visiting spot which was the Echo point.

 



 

 

The climate was slowly changing. Watch showed 17:10hrs and we visited Mattupetty dam. With in 5 minutes it started raining heavily. So we clicked few snaps and rushed in to the bus.

 

 

 

 En route to our hotel, we visited a nursery. Spending some time there, we returned back to the hotel at 18:00hrs. We refreshed ourselves and went out for shopping and dinner. From 20:30hrs till mid night of day 5, we were having the utmost fun. We do not know when we were asleep.

 

Day 5:

 

7:30hrs in the morning, We Checked-out of the hotel and had breakfast. Our last Place to visit in our tour list was Athirappilly falls which was six hours drive from Munnar and hence the journey started.

 

 Athirappilly Falls: Athirappilly Falls is situated in Athirappilly panchayath in Thrissur district of Kerala, on the southwest coast of India. Located on the west-flowing Chalakudy River near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar ranges, this 24-metre (80 ft) waterfall and the nearby Vazhachal Falls are popular tourist destinations. It is nicknamed "The Niagara of India".Controversy about a state-proposed hydroelectric dam on the Chalakudy River  above the waterfalls began in the 1990s and has continued through 2011.The 145 kilometres (90 mi) long Chalakudy River, originates in the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats
and flows through the Vazhachal Forest toward the Arabian Sea. The river initially runs smoothly but becomes more turbulent  as it nears Athirappilly. At Athirappilly Falls, the water surges around big rocks and cascades down in three separate plumes. Below the falls, the river remains turbulent for about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) until it reaches Kannamkuzhi. Then it calms and flows smoothly until reaching the dam at Thumburmuzhi.

 

Where ever we turned, we could see the green bed. Taking pictures in between the tea estate were complete fun. The nature was at the extreme at its beauty.

 

 

 

All through the journey, we passed our time hearing songs and dancing in the bus.Had our lunch in between and by 15:30hrs we reached athirappilly falls. It was the most scenic beauty as we were at the top of the falls. Most of them started enjoying in the river while the others started going here and there and clicking pictures.

 

 

 Watch ticked 18:00hrs and we started to Thrissur where we have to board our train to chennai. We were enjoying the last few moments in kerala. Every one danced to the songs played in the bus.We reached Thrissur station at19:30hrs. We dropped our bags, had dinner and were roaming on the streets of Thrissur.

 

 

Day 6:

 

1:30hrs: Thrissur to Chennai by +TVC Chennai Express,Our return journey to chennai began.Switching off all the lights in our coach, we were playing hide and seek till 4:00a.m and fell asleep. By 12:00hrs, the train reached Chennai. The tour experience was really amazing and unforgettable.