Travellers: Edwin(me), Althaf, Karthick.
Target destination: Bettamugilalam.
Mode of Transport: Two wheeler's- Pulsar (Althaf), Apache (me)
Time duration: One day- day trip.
Proceeding route: Krishnagiri - Rayakotai - Kelamangalam - Denkanikotai - Aiyyur - Bettamugilalam-97 kms
Receding route: Bettamugilalam - Panchapalli dam - Panchapalli - Rayakotai - Krishnagiri -86 kms
Trip Date: 03.05.15.As the summer was started and the sun didn't give mercy to us full of heat burning our health, minds and our houses. Luckily this year we have the summer rain and that's the only consolation to us. These merciless summers had paid the way to make a trip to offbeat hidden paradise Bettamugilalam.
Bettamugilalam is a Panchayat village in the Kelamangalam block of Krishnagiri district. Bettamugilalam is located at an altitude 1000+ meter, covered with bamboo forest and rich in flora and fauna. Elephants, gaur frequently spotted in this Bamboo forest. The tribal people residing in the villages collect forest products for their livelihood. The important forest product (organic food) obtained from this forest is MOONGIL ARISI (BAMBOO RICE). From my local contacts, I came to know that bamboo rice is available in Bettamugilalam villages only in the summer season and it controls the sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol. So finally we decided to collect the maximum amount of Moongil Arisi on our trip.
Finally, the day (03.05.15) has come and at 5.00 am the alarm rang from my mobile and snoozed my sleep for further 15 mins but my friend Althaf rang me continuously finally I woke up and after refreshing I started from home. In the meantime, Althaf and Karthick are ready on their way waiting for me near Krishnagiri stadium. It was 6.00 as we escaped from the town and proceeded towards Rayakotai. On our way, it was full, lush green and the sweet, breezy weather prevails up to our destination. Thanks to overnight summer rain.
After having our morning tea we moved to Denkanikotai and we finished our breakfast and packed breed and some snacks in a bakery for our lunch and we proceeded. After taking the deviation to Bettamugilalam from Denkanikotai country road starts. There were lots of patches and bumps are on our way. We reached the Aiyyur at 8.30 am from here the forest and the ghat road starts.
From Aiyyur towards Bettamugilalam the bamboo forest welcoming us with of full pride.
Next, to Aiyyur within 2 km in the forest, TN forest guest house is located. Overnight camping is available in guest house with prior permission from the Range officers. On the way to Bettamugilalam, no one should not miss the wildlife beauty near Sami eri. It can visible from the roadside. The Sami Eri is a waterhole which quenches the thirst of wild animals during summer. Watchtower is provided near Sami Eri for wildlife lovers to enjoy the beautiful nature.
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| Sami Eri |
After taking some snaps we moved forward towards our destination. On our way, we took some pictures, but Althaf was shooting in fear and repeatedly yelling "machi aanna varumda poidulam payama eruku"
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| Althaf & Karthick |
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| landscape @ Bettamugilalam |
Our first mission in the trip is successfully accomplished thus we explored the Bettamugilalam. The second mission is still in our mind to collect MOONGIL ARISI(bamboo rice) we just enquired with the locals. The locals directed us to tribal hamlet Moongankari which is located very close to the forest and they also told there is a waterfall in deep inside the jungle. So we made our way to the village. This is the toughest part of our ride as we are nearing the village, the track is very worse and very dirt. It was fully an off-road experience, we lost our tire grips in the dirt track and slipped for more attempts.
We reached the Moongankari village and meet a like-minded, good person Sita Ram who agreed to take us to waterfalls and arranged the bamboo rice. Then we parked our bikes in the village and stepped out in the forest to reach the waterfalls. The entire area is infested with elephant habitat. The elephant had blocked the way with damaged bamboo trunk and dung.
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| en route to waterfalls in a forest trail |
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| elephant dung |
After a hard hiking for one hour, at last, we got disappointed. All our efforts went to vain it's not up to the mark. Our local friend told only during the monsoon season it will experience water in full-fledged. After spending an hour near the stream moved back to the village
After returning our local friend arranged the MOONGIL ARISI (bamboo rice) for a reasonable price. To our surprise, we managed to get the bamboo rice in the form of paddy. Our local friend tells to process the paddy in the flour mill and you can get MOONGIL ARISI.
The trip ends and we returned to Krishnagiri through Panchapalli route as mentioned earlier. Panchapalli dam is a small reservoir dried in all season. The water level is high only during the northeast monsoon season. After reaching Krishnagiri we went flour mill and told the personnel's about the MOONGIL ARISI but they are not aware of that in reverse they told that they didn't hear about the stuff. We guided them as our local friend told in Moongankari how to process. The processing method is the same as other rice variety.
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Moongil Arisi
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