Come vacation and a trip is always in the air. This time though, it was a one day trip. Morning saw us starting off, along with the suns rays to paalaruvi,which is around 90 km from our place. it was my first trip to the place. the journey took us above a mountain, through the many meandering roads that cut into the surface, like a serpent. the ride through the hair pin curves are a bit unsettling, if you have had no food and i was housing butterflies in my stomach when we reached the top. on the way we stopped to drink in the lust green scenery. a chill had descended on us as we started the climb and it got more pronounced as we snaked our way to the top. there were tall mountains reaching to the sky, covered in a velvet curtain of greenery, all around and there was a constant wind blowing, one that was cool and brought in the smell of the many fragrant bushes that inhabit these mountain slopes. once at the top, the road levelled out , leaving more room to appreciate the surrounding sights.
Paalaruvi,a tumbling cascade of cool water, medicinal from its constant camaraderie with the shrubs and herbs of the mountain, has in store for the visitors, a breath taking beauty, an awe inspiring magnificence that leaves us to gape at the insignificance we hold in comparison to its enormity and beauty.the falls is strictly off limits currently but there is a small path that forks out from the main road at the entrance, which leads us to a secluded spot. we had breakfast at the opposite side of the bank, after crossing the knee deep waters,with plates in our hands.there is a slight current, but nothing huge to take you of balance.the water is very cool and the first dip sends shivers,heightened by the cool winds that are forever in motion.. all around trees stand tall, atop huge mountains, while the water flows like a shiny mirror, down the mountain. a snake was spotted, so the safety of the place cannot be vouched for. there is a swing nearby, for that film like experience.
we reluctantly left the place as we had other places to visit.kuttalam had nothing in store except bathing bodies (people were washing loads of clothes and taking elaborate baths with soaps and shampoos), so we left the place in a jiffy.next stop, thenmala...by then the chill of the morning had given way to the scorching heat of the noon and no one were upto climbing to the top of the dam except a few of us. the climb was a bit tough, given the heat but the view from the top was awesome...the water lapping on to the reservoir walls, trees half submerged...everything added to the beauty.the drive down was equally bad, with its twists and turns but it was worth the pain.
