A trip to Gavi

A trek to gavi

Recently i read a column about Gavi and from that moment i wanted to visit that place. I googled as always and found a tour operator named trekila. Got their number dialled them up. They just told me that the treks and safaris in gavi are conducted by the govt of Kerala directly and lot more information like there is no mobile coverage in that area, alas is there a place in Kerala like that, a tourist place...i wondered. They were charging a rate of INR 3000 / head excluding transportation, which includes a 27 km long safari, a boat ride in the dam catchment area, a 3 hour trek, 2 star accommodation and all the meals which is not costly I believe. Unlike most of the tour operators I have met and dealt with, these guys were not at all hasty and gave me a brief description of the place and the precautions i should take as it was starting of monsoons and the best thing I found with them was that they were very environment and eco friendly people.

We 4 guys me, puneet, jagjeet, and naren started for the journey on june 9, 2010 . As always we landed 20 minutes late, by 0615 hrs at kochi airport. After the proceeding we came out, the trekila guy mr. Shyam is waiting for us with his cab driver, he had informed me that we need to reach kumali, where the facilitation centre of gavi is. We reached kumali by 11 am. Trekila had a good rapport with the officials; we finished the payment in no time and left for gavi. From kumali, it is 38 km to gavi. The roads are fairly good. my mobile was dead after 15 km. no coverage. shyam told that after 6 more km there is a particular point on the way where we get coverage. I forgot to tell you on the way we need to cross 2 forest check posts, on the first one we need to pay the entry fee. The forest is real good, dark and dense, somewhat similar to silent valley forests. It is misty, and we could see smashed elephant dungs all over the road. Shyam explained that the road is covered by elephants after 4 pm.

We reached gavi by 1215 hrs, checked in to the rooms. The room is neatly kept and the house keeping should be appreciated. Normally, the government guest houses are not kept so tidy. After freshening up ourselves we were directed to the dining area. A vegetarian lunch was awaiting us with sambar, curd, pappad, achar and dal, avial etc. Our guideis mr. Sathya seelan, who has a tamil accent. A small history about gavi. The place is situated on the border of patahanam thitta and idukki districts of Kerala. Gavi was a rehabilitation centre for the srilankan refugees who came after the civil war in Srilanka. Kerala government started cardamom plantations for the benefit of the refugees in Gavi. Later Kerala Forest Development Corporation was formed. Now even though the forest department is conserving the forest the tourism operations are handled by the KFDC ltd.

Regarding the bio sphere, According to the recent elephant census this area has about 1300 elephants. sharing a border with the Periyar Tiger reserve, The different species of Animals found here are:

Elephants, Langurs, Wild boars,  Giant squirrels and many enedemic species of Birds and reptiles.

We started the trek by 3 pm, as none of us was interested in the boring pedal boats. The trek was through tar roads for a few 100 mts, and suddenly the terrain changed to muddy, jeep tracks. It was all misty as if in a manoj knight shyamalans movie. At times i couldn’t see the guy who was walking in front of me. Forgot to mention about the costumes.

On top of our pants we need to wear leech guards as they are seen in plenty after the onset of monsoons. A word of caution, when you are bitten by a leech doesn’t panic. Don’t try to pluck it away by your hands. It will leave the thorns inside. Instead put some salt /dettol/tobacco. Our guide was carrying salt with him. Leech guards cover you up to the knees only, it can bite you anywhere, from face to toe.

The trek was really an interesting one, the best thing i found about Gavi was,  it’s well kept, Compared to other tourist destinations. You cannot see people shouting over the mobile phones, as it’s been dead in their pockets. And believe me, no word of appreciation won’t be enough to the wild life officers on duty. The place is so clean. The place is so virgin, you will fall in love with her. The trekking path goes deep into the forest, sometimes, the road is so narrow, you can place only one of your foot at a time. Need to be really careful on your steps. Me and naren fell two times. The magnificent views, at times....no words to describe.

          We came back by evening 0630 pm. A bit dark by then. Went to the rooms and when jagjeet removed his shirt, a leech was on his spine. He started shouting loudly. I lit the cigarette lighter and kept on it. Jagjeet jumped, leech was still there. Mr. Shyam came running from his room, hearing the sound, with no time, he poured some whisky we had brought on the leech. It fell down on the floor. Jagjeet cursed it with all the bad words he could use, put it outside, poured the leftover whisky and set it on fire. When it started to burn, he laughed loudly, letting out all the pain he suffered.

          We went to the dinner at 2030 hrs. It was delicious, Chicken fried rice, chicken curry, Normal rice, Chappathy and some fruits. Our tummy was full.

          The next day morning we gotup by 0530 Hrs, our guide came and knocked on our doors. We need to start by 0600 Hrs for the Safari. At 0630 there is a bus plying through gavi. We need to go before that bus. We set out for the Safari. This Safari can be chosen for evening or night. At night, there are more chances of animal sightings. But if you want to shoot it with a camera, morning is the best.

          After about 1 Km, we saw a herd of Wild Gaur, the driver switched off the vehicle and halted. We jumped out ran to the place, but the group ran off. We got a distant glimpse. We set off again, saw the labour settlement colonies at distance. Now the jeep was travelling through real dense forest, bushes and branches banging on the jeep, a frightful journey indeed. When we passed a small mountain, the driver suddenly stopped the vehicle, the guide jumped off and started to walk into the forest, like a convoy, he in front suddenly he turned to us and showed a sign to be silent  And started listening. We heard a trumpeting, that too close by, we were ready to run, the guide pointed his fingers at a distance, about 100 meters down there we saw a group of elephants feeding on the grasslands. A wonderful and breath taking site. They were lavishly feeding ignoring our presence; one calf was there in the group. Elephants become very ferocious and dangerous with kids. We enjoyed the view for a few moments and returned to the vehicle.

          Even though we saw a few more animals like, sambar deer, barking deer etc on the way nothing was elegant and beautiful as the picture of the feeding elephants. The safari was over by 0930 Hrs and we returned to the dining area. A very good breakfast i should say...we checked out by 11 30 Hrs from gavi. We decided to go to Moozhiyar via aangayur. The Route is dark dense forest,60 Km and the plan was sudden. We didn’t get time to take any food.