THEKKADY VIA MOOZHIYAR,GAVI,

VIEW FROM THE TOP
Kakki reservoir

On January 2nd 2010 we set out from Kollam on two bikes one my TVS Victor and a pulsar.We where four people.Satrted from Kollam at 8.40am after some delay,we had actually planned to start at 7am but one of the guys who was supposed to come with us could not get leave from his employer ,so we had to find some one to take his place.So in the morning at 7 Vipin and Unni went in search of their freind Firoz, they had to wake him up and get him ready at short notice.
We made good time via Kottarakkara to koni .We stopped for breakfast at Pathanapuram.From Konni I took a wrong turning and we went along this wrong road for seven kilometers through the Konni teak plantation.We saw a forest station and stopped to ask directions only then we learned that we were on the wrong road and that this road actually leads to Achankovil.Immediately we turned back and went along the road to Pathanamthitta bye passing the town we took the road to Malayalppuzha from there straight to Chittar.Chittar is the last town along this route where we can get food .So we purchased some porottas and curry and set off to Sithathode where the forest checkpost is located.
The forest guard on duty refused to let us through because two wheelers are not permitted along that road.I had already anticipated this and so had the number of forest vigilance officer with me .I called him and he told the guard to let us through on his personal assurance .While waiting at the check post form the guard to makeup his mind we saw some flying squirrels which are a plenty in this area.
Having passed through the check post we entered the reserve forest and wound our way through enchanting dense jungle along the side of a small river.We stopped a feww kms into the forest and were bitten by leaches all except me ,because i had not stepped off the tarred road onto the grassy verge where the leaches thrive.Around 12km s later we came to the Moozhiyar dam and the power house beyond that.There are five dams along this route and at each one there is a checkpost where the details of the vehicles and rider's license are checked and noted.The policeman at Moozhiyar warned us that a rogue elephant had been reported higher up near to Kakki dam which is some 20-25km further.



.Along each blind curve i was expecting the rogue elephant to appear in front of us .I had planned that if it did we should immediately make a U-turn and head down hill.After going up hill for about twenty five kms we reached the top.The forest along this area is very beautiful .We could hear the calls of many birds among the trees.
After Moozhiyar dam and power house the road begins to climb uphill in very steep hairpin bends through thick jungle.The road is very narrow and all the tarring has long ago vanished so it is very rough and stony.On the way up we saw the huge penstock pipes bringing water down to the power house.Coming down towards Kakki reservoir we saw an elephant drinking water ,far in the distance .many types of jungle fowl were visible.
Beyond Kakki dam we passed Anathode,Kochupampa and Gavi dams. and at each ther is a check post where we had to give our names,vehicle numbers and license numbers.In Gavi there is a forest guest house called green house which is for tourists .
we reached Kumily at 7.30pm and found our lodging in Benny's Bamboo village ,we had reserved the room in advance .THe rooms in this lodge is named after spices like ginger,pepper,cardamom etc.