ILLIKALKALLU-REACHING OUT TO THE HEAVENS
ON THE SUMMIT OF ILLIKALKALLU ,WITH A SPELLBOUND VIEW AND A FEEL OF STANDING ON TOP OF THE WORLD. LOOKING DOWN ON THE EARTHLIES WITH AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF GRANDEUR.
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| Sunset on the Illikalkallu mount |
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| Looking into the distance,the dimming last rays of the twlight sun washing over the vast emptyness of the scatterd mountain tops as far as the eyes could see. |
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| Me,myself and the mount.....my sillhoute against the silvery radiant clouds. |
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| It was an undeniable lofty experience that would never escape our memories. |
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| Neethu lost in the enchanting view of the setting sun atop the Illikalkallu. |
It all started one sunday afternoon at my native home at Thodupuzha.It was a hot,humid and a boring day ,to say the least.We had gone home after a hectic schedule of surgeries and consultations at the hospital where i worked in Calicut.It was a long and tiring five hour drive to Thodupuzha from Calicut via Thrissur in my dilapidated Santro xing.
I was huddled up in my room not knowing how to go through this disenchanted situation.Me,my wife Neethu and her bro,Nikhil, we all had that sense of discontent in our hearts.
.Unexpectedly,one of our relatives paid our family a visit which eventually altered the dull course of the day into a surprisingly magnificient disposition. He unfolded his experience of visiting Illikalkallu the day before and how it was such an exhilirating and awesome experience,to scale the height and to stand on top of it with the feeling of surplus grandeur.All of a sudden,at that very moment we realized that it was just what we had craved for the whole day.
In no time we were pulled out of our passive slumber and sprinted to our rooms for change of clothes.It came on a spur of the moment. We were dressed up in no time and set off on our journey in our Bolero towards our just found destiny .There was no prior planning for the trip as it was just on a whiff of the moment.I found myself behind the wheel reminiscing what it would be like to stand on the summit with bellowing winds swirling hard against me filling me with an immense sense of pure grandiosity.
That was the first time i had a real adrenaline rush.
If it was definitely like how he had described...it would really be a heart poundingly awesome experience...
WOULD IT BE?......WE DID'NT KNOW.....
AND ...IT WAS!!
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| On the way,when we stopped to take a few clicks of the awe inspiring views of the hills |
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| ''ENNE EDUTHONNEE DAIVAMEE'' |
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| Didn't i saw so beforehand....that it was an awe inspiring view up from my car window |
As the view of the mount became clearer...i realized that it was mere nothing like what our accomplice had described to us.It was much more than that.And thats when i came to the gripping realisation that it was going to be an experience that i've never felt before in my entire life...unexplainable...unfathomble..
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| The place to park and have some initial refreshments..Illikalkallu mount can be seen in the backround |
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| A small resting spot before the sweet ascend |
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| ''CHEAP SHINING'' |
It was a lofty and elevated quest for sheer thrill..
We felt much nearer to the heavens as if we could hear the whisper of the gods and able to touch the skies
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| Climbing the mount...Our Bolero can be seen in the distance as a white spot against the dull greenery and the winding roads |
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| ALAS! |
At the summit,i could clearly see the magnificient rock edifice in front of me looming over us at a distance towering to the sky like a huge giant with an intimidating countenance.Just one look at it sent a shuddering chill down my spine.
The wind velocities are very high at these heights.The wind was fluttering so strong as it gusted against our bodies made us waver in our steps.The thick undergrowth swayed violently in the gushes.
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| Looking at the imposing and magnificient ''Illikalkallu rock'' |
We could loose foothold any moment by a slight misstep.The recollection of a teenage boy who accidently plunged to his death at this very place a few days back following an ill-fated ''selfie attempt'' during a brief moment of misadventure ,came back to me and made me extra cautious about my footholds.As a religious person that i was,i couldnt but constantly ask myself if it was justifiable to test god even if he says he would not allow your feet to slip in Psalms 121:3
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| A small pathway led to the base of the rock with steep slopes on both sides. |
But our adrenaline filled mind couldn't resist the temptation to venture forward and to get that ultimate thrill as much as we can by draining the moment dry.To suck in the last drop of excitement provided by this exhilarating situation.
I envisaged what could be going on inside the minds of real thrill seekers and adventure lovers if they ever came across a place like this...it was uncontrollable..inescapable urge to go to that last end to get that ultimate feeling of pure excitement...as if to conquer the nature.
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| My brother in law,Nikhil,ventured forward till the base of the rock.He was much braver than me. |
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| View from where i stood gazing into the far away distance of vast nothingness..with the luminous streams of sun rays glittering the clouds and flowing in between them to the mountains below with a heavenly radiance illuminating the whole landscape. |
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| People who climbed with me experiencing the calm twilight shine |
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| Last rays of the setting sun reflected onto the hilltops....and the nature bowing out for the oncoming night |
Somehow i felt it was going to be a lasting remembrance and to cherish these memories of a lifetime.Those were the last thoughts that came to my mind as i was driving downhill.Only if more people knew about this place and bestow the recognition it demanded without words.
Somewhere deep inside me..my heart was becoming heavier..
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| Downhill drive...The newly built roads for easy accessibility for the aspiring travellers |
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| A FINAL GAZE BACKWORDS....... |
HOW TO REACH THE PLACE
Illikalkallu is one of the most beautiful but least explored place in idukki. It is situated in Moonilavu
village in the Kottayam district.It can be accessed from kottayam side through KOTTAYAM--ETTUMANOOR--PALA--BHARANGANAM--MOONILAVU(it is a 1.5 hrs journey) or from the Idukki side as IDUKKI-THODUPUZHA--MUTTOM--MELUKAVU--MOONILAVU(it is a 3hr journey).There is another route from Idukki to Moonilavu as IDUKKI-CHERUTHONI--KULAMAVU--MECHAL--MOONILAVU( also a 3hr journey) but the road is not as easy as the previous one.But the advantage of this route is that ,we get also to visit Cheruthoni,Kulamavu dam reservoirs and also Moolamattom power station(needs special permission),
Illikalkallu is only 45min from my native home at muttom.
OTHER NEARBY PLACES THAT YOU CAN ADD-ON TO YOUR ITINERARY
1. Ilaveezhapunchira - Similar to Illikkal kallu but view is much serene.It is the site of many film and marriage shoots. Need to go via Jeep or Bikes
2. Kattikayam waterfalls - A beautiful waterfalls where you can spend 1 to 2 hours.
3. Vagamon - Which includes around 2 to 3 sight seeing options like Mottakunnu (barren hills), Pine forest valley, and Vagamon lake.It is also the site of many filmings and adventure activities like paragliding,paramotoring etc.
4.Malankara dam-45mins drive from Thodupuzha through dense rubber plantations.
5.Naadukaani(Pavilion)-An observational viewpoint built on the top of the cliff with an imposing bird's eye view of the whole surrounding area.
4.Malankara dam-45mins drive from Thodupuzha through dense rubber plantations.
5.Naadukaani(Pavilion)-An observational viewpoint built on the top of the cliff with an imposing bird's eye view of the whole surrounding area.
If you are coming to visit Illikkalkallu the other attractions you can visit are Thangal Para, Kurishu Mala. If it is a 2 days program you can take the Melukavu route and come to Ilaveezha Poonchira, Malankara Dam etc (Thodupuzha Route) or take the Idukki route covering Nadukani, Kulamavu - Cheruthoni- Idukki dam etc.
SOME OF THE AWESOME VIDEOS FROM YOUTUBE(permission granted)
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