Ranipuram -Trek the uncharted hills of the western ghats .

Ranipuram which stands 750m above sea level is also referred to as the Ooty of Kerala . The drive from Kasaragod takes you via Poinachi to Kundamkuzhy to Ranipuram. The good roads and over cast conditions in the monsoons makes for a perfect early morning drive. The drive dotted with rivers and lush landscapes takes you around an 1hr and 30mins.

Once we get to our starting point, we were warmly greeted by our guide for the day. After a basic check of our supplies like water, sandwiches and salt (for the leaches) we set off to see the Ooty of Kerala. One feels blessed to be surrounded with acres of pristine rainforest such as this . With wind in our sails we approached the steep climb. Our guide was taking us through a shorter but tougher route.

10 mins into the climb and my shoes gave away. It was a moment of reckoning where either we turn back or I do the trek barefoot. There was only one decision to make, and as they say rest is history. The feeling of wet and soft earth under your feet was amazing; it almost started feeling like I was embarking on something spiritual. The gradient was quite steep, and the path was infested with leeches. Thanks to our guide and his salt water paste all the leaches stayed well away from us, as we made our way through the dense forest. After a lung pumping 45 minutes of the trek we were above the tree line and into the lush green grasslands.

The view was absolutely breathtaking. Just the sight of the Western Ghats makes you forget the tough climb. We took a well deserved break, and replenished our energy levels by having our sandwiches and water. It was a yummy breakfast with a stunning view. It took us another 20 mins to get to the top. At the top you have a rock formation shaped & weathered though wind & time.

It's a tricky climb to the top of the rock, but once there the views are quite simply mind blowing. That feeling, to let your thoughts wander into the horizon is priceless. This was one moment that reminded me why I quit the dog race to do what I do. It was time to just be in the moment and to sit back and just immerse ourselves in the beautiful surroundings.

With all your senses working overtime and a faster heartbeat, it's a feeling of euphoria almost bordering on being high. It's amazing what a beautiful sight like that can do to you. Sorry if I'm sounding like a hippy, but you know what they say "you can take the man out of a hippy, but you can never take the hippy out of the man!" hahaha. Bad joke.

After some customary photos and some rest we started on our trek down. This time the guide took us through a longer but a much easier path. On the way we encountered this abandoned forest bungalow, which makes for a great photo op. makes you wish you had a house with a view like that.

The way down is a much gentler trek. The path is littered with elephant tracks and elephant dung, so it's always helpful to have a trusty guide who knows his way around. The rainforest is abuzz with nature. Monkeys are a common sight with a lot of exotic birds also. Deer and bison can also be seen in this area along with the Malabar Hornbill and the flying squirrel. Unfortunately we were not so lucky and had to be satisfied with just some elephant shit instead. The government has build railings on some sections of the trek which are quite helpful on the slippery descend.

There also a stunning variety of flora and fauna at display. Some of the mushrooms found growing on dead trees almost look alien.Another 45 mins of gentle to moderate descend and we were back where we started. It was time to say our goodbyes to our guide ,who had been so helpful and a true sport. Tired and winded we walked away after that trek full of beautiful memories and a feeling of accomplishment. Mounting a summit however small, gives you a feeling of being a champion.

#ranipuram #trekking #treksofmalabar