Kalimala Peak; Aerial framing of Chittar dam in between the clouds.

Travellers: Edwin (me), Sunil (brother)

Target destination: Kalimala Peak

Mode: Biking

Time duration: One day.

Trip Date: 04.12.2018

Route: Karungal – Palliyadi –Eraviputhoorkadai- Athur – Thiruvattur- Tiruparapu – Kadayalumoodu- Pathukani- Kalimala peak.

Some of the memories could have everlasting when you recollect those. one of the things that make me heartwarming feel about the Kalimala peak trip, when your companion(my brother) of the trip underestimate the destination and doesn’t have even 50% of interest and he came on full compulsion but at the end, he also enjoys and had a bashed full of memories to remember.

This might be a second fortune in my winter vacation of 2018 to explore the lesser known peak in the Kanyakumari district. The first fortune could be also in this winter vacation, exploring the lesser known beaches, estuaries on the way to Vattakottai fort.

 Read- Vattakottai Fort - West coast treasure; chapter 01.

Read- Vattakottai Fort - West coast treasure; chapter 02. 

The day starts with full of cloudy sky, the sun had parked his stand behind the clouds and my instincts are yelling that there are no possibilities of rain.  These things boost me take a start, to explore the Kalimala hill which has an elevation of 3000 ft above the sea level situated at wye junction between the borders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Kalimala hill is located at a distance of 44 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 45 km from Nagercoil.

@Kadayalumoodu Bridge.

We haven’t taken the usual route Karungal-Marthandam-Parassala-Vellarada-Kurisumala-Kalimala. Instead, we detour on the countryside route which is mentioned on top of this post. The hidden objective in the detour of this trip is to admire the tranquil of River Kodayar near Kadayalumoodu Bridge.

From the start of travel from my home, my co-traveller(my brother) was a little bit upset as he was not in the mood to travel on that day the reason behind could be the possibilities of rain. In full of compulsion by me, he accompanied the trip. The trip starts 9.30 am after having yummy puttu and palam in the home.  After crossing the beautiful towns of Athur, Thiruvattaru and Tiruparapu falls we reached Kadayalumoodu Bridge and I stooped the bike to admire the beauty of Kodayar River from the bridge. The next moment my brother took his phone and started to capture photos (a lot of photos) of Kothayar River. After this moment he became little enthuse on what we are going to explore today

In Kalimala peak there is a temple for goddess Durgadevi. The entire hill is crowded only on the special days where devotees gather and offer their prayers. Kalimala peak can be approached by both sides from Kerala through Vellarada and from Tamil Nadu through Pathukani. We have decided to choose the Pathukani route. At Kadayalumoodu junction near the police station, the straight road will take you to Pathukani while the left turn will take you to Vellarada. You can experience a check dam, rubber canopy and tapping process of natural rubber by estate workers and intercropping of pineapple cultivation in the rubber plantation in this Pathukani route.

En route to Kalimala peak, the serenity of the Chittar dam 2 forcefully stops us to applaud. After spending some time and capturing some beautiful shots we went to Pathukani the base point of our Kalimala peak expedition.

When we decide to venture Kalimala peak through Pathukani, we didn't find enough details from the digital forum. After a vigorous search, I found the details in my Facebook friend Sivaprasad sir’s post that helped me a lot. He only stated in a caption that vehicular accessibility is there from Pathukani to temple that too only in 4X4 jeeps. We came to the conclusion that motorable road is available so that we can go easily. But the gradient, certain portion of the steep road, half pulling torque of a 110 cc bike and bad conditions of clutch made us to park our vehicle in the nearby resident house and to talk a walk from the start of the entrance. 

The unique thing found in the triangular junction of Kerala and Tamil Nadu border is a Hindu temple(Kalimala temple) and Christian temple(Kurisumala) had been in the same mountain. Once your approach from Pathukani it leads to Kalimala temple and from Vellarada it leads to Kurisumala temple. The two temples are at a distance of less than a kilometre at an altitude of 3000 ft above sea level.

Kalimala temple is at distance of 7 km from Pathukani and from the entrance of the arch, it is 5 km. on your way next to entrance you will see the creepers of black pepper on the areca nut tree.

 After our successful hike for 1.5 hrs, we reached the temple. Our big surprise was other than a temple priest no one is in and around the temple premises. The gust of wind can be audible in mere calmness around the temple.

 Behind the temple, you can see the catchment area of Chittar dam 2 in aerial view as continued pieces of the water body and the plantation. As the day was so cloudy and the inability of scattered sun rays to hit the ground level made our aerial shot of Chittar dam 2 not so clearly. After taking some rest we made our way back down in just 50 mins to the starting entrance. After finishing our lunch in Amboori we took the usual route through Vellarada, Parassala Mathandam to reach our home. 

I had been satisfied with a lot of joy as I have scaled the lesser known destination to frame the aerial view of a reservoir in between the clouds; this was our mission in our entire journey. At last, the mission was accomplished.

Travelling tips: 

1. Try to make your trip to Kalimala peak on a clear sky day, so that you can have an exact view of Chittar dam 2.

2. Roads are not properly laid on the entire way. If you are a well-versed 4X4 and off-road gem this entire 7 km from Pathukani to Kalimala temple can easily be accessed in jeeps and off-road bikes.

3. Only one hotel is available in Pathukani. Carry enough water on your way no shops are available nearby.

4. The access from Vellarada has not done on this trip it will have another chapter on travel.

5. Frequent buses are available to Pathukani and Vellarada from Marthandam. Transportation will not be an issue.

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