Our final stop on this trip is Gavi Eco-Tourism in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. This place holds a special spot in my heart, and I lost track of the times I've come here with my family. Being a reserved forest area, not many people frequent the place and it's part of why my introverted self loves it here :)
From Thekkady, we set out at noon, had lunch in a restaurant enroute, and reached our destination around 4 PM. Usually, we stay in tents which are a bit closer to the forest. Since it was closed for maintenance, we had to do with the normal rooms. After freshening up and settling in, we went to the dining hall for tea. Our guide informed us that we could go boating to the waterfall right now instead of tomorrow as per our schedule and we immediately set out.
Speed boating is amazing and thrilling with skillful swerves and water spraying all over you. But the slow floating on a paddle boat is special. On a boat that seats five people, our guide paddled us while sharing interesting facts about birds, animals, and the forest. He said that the males of a certain bird in the area are known to be master engineers. The nests they build are unique as they contain two rooms - one for the parents and the other for the kids...awesome right? And what's more, he uses it to propose to his lover bird. And if she doesn't accept, he will demolish the whole thing and start with a new design. He would then invite the same female bird to propose again.
The waterfall we are heading to is small and enclosed by the forest. You will only see it once you're there. It's a hidden paradise and they only take one family or party at a time, which is most convenient. It gives us the privacy to take a dip in the water. The rocks can be slippery and require caution while climbing. My feet recognize these rocks and I'm almost Mowgli up there. My brother considers me a monkey tho... he's just jealous of my agility.
Despite the chill and our wet clothes, we couldn't help but stop the boat to look at some cute, wild mongooses on the banks. After having dinner, we warmed ourselves at the campfire and returned to our rooms. The halls had carom boards and chess boards for the guests, which engaged us for the rest of the night till bedtime.
The next day around 6 AM we woke up, put on our leech-resistant socks (fancy right? I named it hehe), and set out on a two-hour-long trek inside the forest. If you don't take this wrongly...I was almost in my element there. I went ducking and climbing, collecting berries to get their names from the guide, and naming a few myself (which I better not share with you). From one of the hills, we can see a white building afar on a mountain, it is Sabarimala, the famous Ayyappa temple in Kerala.
We encountered green vine snakes, parrots, and tiger markings on trees. At one point we got a strong scent of elephants and the guide informed us that it was just a sleeping place of elephants which was empty at the moment.
After breakfast, we headed for the safari. They took us on a bus and we saw elephants and deers. They also showed us another camping site inside the forest that had tents. It was good, though a bit more expensive.
While the rest of them rested, I wandered around in peace. I made my way to my favourite spot. It's a green-coloured iron swing, facing the lake. It's a bit away from the dining hall and not easily visible. Hence, I got it all to myself. This place is almost healing for me. I remember coming here to escape the stress of a year of online classes. A silence only beautified by the songs of birds and the rhythmic slapping of water...I could sit there forever.
After lunch, we started our return journey. We were so glad to hear that our guests had enjoyed the trip immensely. They said it almost felt like a dream, away from the fast-paced life in Mumbai. The girls even started counting the days till their next vacation!
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