mlnareshkumar
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 15 Jul 2019
BEST MESMERIZING PRIVATE WATERFALLS STAY- THOOVANAM FALLS
CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY STAY: THOOVANAM LOG HOUSE DATE: 13th JULY to 14th JULY BASE LOCATION: CHENNAI MEMBERS: 2 COUPLES + 1 SIX YEAR OLD KID (4+1) FOR DOUBTS & ASSITANCE: CONTACT ME AT 9884627374 BUDGET: 10k to 15k all inclusive On friday night we took train from chennai, Train no. 22651 - Palakkad Express started at 21.40pm from chennai central. Reached Udumalpet railway station by 8.30am. Once we got down our cab to chinnar wildlife sanctuary (Alampetty division) was ready for us at railway station, we took the cab and had breakfast on the way in udumalpet. Duration of the journey was one hour appprox 30-35 kms. The roads were good but not that much broad, we alampetty eco shop the reporting office for the thoovanam log house stay. We bought few tribal products and had a good sip of piping hot lemon tea there! We completed the pay formalities for the Thoovanam Log House stay. 4 members Rs. 5120 inclusive of 2 meals (Dinner and Breakfast). Actual check in time is 2pm but we started by 11am itself by requesting them. We were provided an armed guide(Aruval - Machette) for the trek towards the stay. Have to carry less luggage, if you excess luggage you have the facility to keep your luggage in the office and take whatever is necessary, the staffs are polite and helpful. Each person will be provided 2 litres of bottled water. By 11.45am we started the trek, we 4 adults and a six year old kid along with an armed guide. Its 2hrs of moderately hard trek of 4 kms approx which comprises of trekking in dry deciduous forest, river crossing, rocks and boulders crossing etc. Not advisable for elderly people. Not much of animal sightings as the forest was very dry, we saw only monkeys and few birds, We reached around 1.30pm and was very exhausted as we took our entire luggages along with us(bad idea). When we reached the thoovanam log house, we were mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the location, We were just few metres away from the falls, as soon as we reached the log house, we just kept our luggages inside the room and went towards the falls excitingly like a child. Its little slippery and there are few danger spots which the guide explained to avoid while bathing, there were lengthy bamboo sticks inserted in dangerous spots for our understanding and safety. Entire waterfalls was given in our hands till the next day, we were the only people in the entire falls, Our search for private falls for many years has ended successfully, we have identified the best private waterfalls in the whole india, anytime you can go to the falls which is just meters away from your log house, Guide allowed us and consented to accompany us in the pitch dark night also to waterfalls but as we were as family and a kid we avoided the falls at night, if it was a bachelor trip the story would have been different. Camp Fire allowed at night, whatever meat or fish you wanted, you need to inform the guide before starting the trek because the cook(2 members) will come to the place before evening with the necessary materials to cook. We enjoyed in the Gushing pearly waterfalls for hours and hours, late evening we were served black tea which was amazing, and was chatting sitting on the rocks looking the gushing mighty waterfalls, we finished our early dinner cooked by them at 7.30pm and went to bed. Thoovanam Log House does not have electricity, it has basic lights with an help of an Battery, attached western toilet, piped water line from the falls, NO FANS. The night was very suffocating, no breeze at all, just the sound of the gushing waters filled the ambience, we were trying very hard to sleep but was unable due to lack of breeze but within midnight the place became very chilled like air conditioned then we slept peacefully. Early morning we woke up before the sunrise to the sound of birds chirping and whistling, sound of the waterfalls etc, perfect ambience; On a dark early morning the falls was glowing, birds chirping and whistling etc oh my god what a feeling, we walked towards the falls and waited for sun to shower its light, Once it dawn we entered in the chilling gushing waterfalls, took bath and came back to have breakfast by 7am, and checked out by 7.30am and started our return trek and reached by 9.30am to the alampetty eco shop office (we checked out early because we had plans to go lakkam falls and catch our return train to chennai from udumalpet at 5pm) after check out our cab came and picked up to Lakkam Waterfalls - 45mins drive from Alampetty, 20 rupees per person entry ticket, we took bath there, very scenic and safe waterfalls, water was very chill like ice water, But you know the feeling after bathing in thoovanam falls with only your family taking the entire falls, bathing in lakkam waterfalls with general public was like "Dai naanga yaar theiriyuma, nanga epdi kulichavanga theriyuma" moment. After bathing in lakkam falls we had delicious street food outside the falls, Quail Eggs Fry (Kadai Muttai Varuval), Omlette, Piping hot egg Maggi etc. By 2 pm we started to Udumalpet Railway Station to catch our return train to chennai by 5pm, On the way we bought pepper, maraiyoor garlic, big jackfruits, maraiyoor jaggery etc, we ate late lunch in Annavasal Restaurant near udumalpet railway station at 4pm, the most authentic and tasty food ever, please dont miss this restaurant, super duper yummy and tasty food, refer my name NARESH KUMAR from CHENNAI. After lunch, we took the train by 5pm and reached chennai next day 4am. AWESOME WEEKEND AND A BUDGET FRIENDLY TRIP!!! KEEP TRAVELLING FRIENDS! SAVE MEMORIES TO CHERISH BYE BYE...
