Chimmini Dam – A journey much more enchanting than the destination itself!

Hasty Trip Hasty Plans!

This one-day trip was a stroke of utter serendipity, happening purely by chance when Ananthu Mohan, my travel buddy, called up saying he was in Kochi and enquired whether I had time for a day trip to Chimmini Dam, a place I had often mentioned in our previous conversations. I never miss an opportunity for a bike trip, so agreed immediately for the trip, on Monday, the 8th of July. We hastily planned our adventure, deciding to take the forest route to Chimmini Dam, and if time allowed, to visit Kadapara Waterfall and further 33 Km away Kollengodu as well. It’s worth noting that the aerial distance between the dam and the waterfalls is merely less than 20 Kms through a forest route typically used by locals for trekking which is prohibited for the travellers. However, the actual travel distance by road is a challenging 100 Kms. 

Unlike our plan to start from Kochi at 5 AM, we started late at 7:30 AM, thanks to “my Uber delays”. Despite the delay we started the journey, fraught with challenges, drenched in the pouring rain, along with our trusty Xpulse. 

We made an impromptu stop for a hot tea and cold ice cream somewhere along the highway, where we finalized our route.

Ananthu suggested that we tackle the forest route first, which turned out to be one of his best decisions ever and I suggested we drop the waterfalls and Kollengodu and concentrate on Chimmini dam alone.

Off to Kalady!!

We navigated the Aluva-Angamaly highway and took a deviation towards the airport enroute to Kalady. There, as if by perfect alignment, an Emirates flight soared so low above our heads that we felt we could almost touch it—a thrilling sight seldom experienced while riding on the road. After filling our fuel at the airport petrol pump, we embarked on our journey towards Kalady.

Kalady, known as the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya and a site of significant religious importance for Hindus, greeted us with its lush greenery and soothing tranquility. The serenity of the place truly set a peaceful tone for our adventure. Our path soon led us towards Malayatoor Kurishumudy, traversing a scenic plantation road adorned with cashew, bamboo, and rubber plantations straight through the heart of nature’s bounty which promised adventure and thrill of unknown.

Abandoned Quarry

Our first stop along the way was at an abandoned quarry, which we later identified as Vijaya Quarry. The mysterious site featured a small waterbody and imposing rock formations, evoking curiosity about the lives of the workers who once toiled there. 

As we continued, a herd of cows leisurely crossing the road added a bucolic charm to our journey, with the landscape becoming increasingly picturesque.

We passed the Kannimangalam Forest Office at Pandupara and continued along the road towards the Kalady plantations. 

Plantation Road

The verdant scenery, characterized by sky-reaching rubber plantations lining the pristine, unblemished black tar road, was mesmerizing. Small streams meandered alongside the road, enhancing the idyllic setting. Had we been artists, we could have easily spent an entire day capturing this beauty on canvas.

After a while, we needed a bladder break and were relieved to find compassionate nurses at the Kalady Plantation Hospital who graciously allowed us to use their facilities. Refreshed, we set off towards the Athirapally-Malayatoor road. 

The landscape now transitioned from rubber to palm trees, with a charming little Anganavadi nestled amidst them. 

Local children waved at us cheerfully, adding a delightful human touch to the natural beauty. We were heartened by the warmth and friendliness of the plantation workers, whose genuine smiles and enthusiasm to be part of our photos enriched our experience. 

Chalakudy River

At 10:45 a.m., we crossed the oil palm estate check post and made our way across the Chalakudy River via the Vettilapara Bridge, in front of Silver Storm. 

From there, we headed towards Athirapally, intending to deviate from Aroormuzhy to Chaipankuzhy, Kormala, Vellikulangara, and Chokkana, navigating through the Muply forest area, which is known for elephant sightings. Though we didn't have the fortune to see any elephants, we were not disappointed. Instead, we were treated to the enchanting sight of peacocks dancing under a cloudy sky amidst lush, 360-degree greenery.

Our journey continued through Kundai, Karikulam, and finally to Palapilly. From Palapilly, we took a diversion towards Chimmini Dam Road, making a pitstop at the Chimmini River viewpoint. Here, we were awed by the beautiful view of the Kurumali River merging with the Muplu River at Karikulam, both tributaries of the Karuvannur River. 

Giant Tree!!

A giant tree, commanding our attention, was identified by a knowledgeable forest officer as the Chini Maram, botanically known as Tetrameles nudiflora. This tree is remarkable for its rapid growth and massive yet lightweight hardwood, often used in crafting canoes, tea chests, and matchboxes. The bark is said to be treasured in Siddha and folk medicine, possesses anti-allergic, anti-arthritic, and anti-cancerous properties.

On the opposite side, we discovered a small stream amidst rubber trees, a scene reminiscent of William Wordsworth’s poetic masterpiece, "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye." Here, a few miles before Chimmini Dam, we experienced a déjà vu moment that evoked the power of memory to resurrect and restore what time had seemingly erased, mirroring the essence of Wordsworth's poetry.

Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary

After a brief yet delightful ride, we arrived at the entrance of the Chimmini Dam Wildlife Sanctuary a few meters away from Echipara bus stop. There, we purchased a 20 INR pass per person and parked our XPulse at the closest point to the dam. 

Directly opposite the dam walkway, a butterfly forest and a medicinal plant garden beckoned us. 

But we eagerly ventured towards the walkway, taking in the stunning 180-degree view of the reservoir on one side and the lush grassland, dotted with grazing cows, on the other.

As we continued walking until the far end of the walkway, we made our way down to the water's edge. There, a coracle boat awaited, offering to ferry people across the reservoir and back for a fee of 400 INR per boat, accommodating up to four passengers. Additionally, a 3-hour forest trekking experience was available for 600 INR for a group of three.

However, being individuals who cherish moments of solitude, we preferred to linger by the serene banks of the reservoir rather than join the crowd.

With a sense of tranquility and slight hunger pangs, we retraced our path back to Palapilly Road. We then stopped for a refreshing tea, bread-omelette and candy break at a newly opened Vanita stall, where the friendly owners mentioned they served homely biriyani on Sundays.

Way Home!!

We resumed our journey, riding back to Chalakudy Road, where we finally had our much-anticipated late lunch and first meal of the day at Tonic Café. Satisfied, we started our uneventful yet peaceful ride back to Alleppey, navigating through the highway. It came to my mind that we did made the right decisions at the right time and no dilemma regarding the path not taken reminiscent of “ Road not taken” by Robert Frost.