Work beckoned me; kept me endlessly busy. But I am back with a new adventure and a new story.
Blink and you are likely to miss this small, quaint town on River Chaliyar bank, some 70 kilometers from Calicut. Nilambur, is a far cry from the tourist hot spots of Kerala. There is no usual hustle bustle and virtually no sign of commercialisation. But don't let that stop you. You are in God's own country after all and here God comes in play throttling in raw splendour; wilderness staring right back at you. Me and Jit made a spontenous plan to go to this place one fine day only because I was whining that life has become a tad boring and like a clock. So we head off to this little known place in our car from Manjeri on a fine Sunday morning.
Honestly, I was not expecting much. I have never really explored the various trekking spots in my hometown. And Nilambur made a perfect start. The biggest attraction of this place is the Conolly's plot, world's oldest man made teak plantation. A small trek takes us to Conolly's plot, set amidst vast rainforests. The plot is home for a variety of teak species as also the oldest teak tree in the world- Kannimari-with a girth of 420cm at breast height and approximately 16-17 metres long. Your jaw is likely to drop when you see this immobile giant. There are as many as 117 teak trees in this plot. Before you wonder how so many teak trees came here then you must go into the deep history of this place.Conolly was a district magistrate of this place between 1835-1921. One of Conolly's duties were to ensure a steady supply of quality teak to British Ship building yards and for that Mr Conolly built this plot in 1844.Today, it is a perfect place to breathe in some fresh but wild air, take in the sounds of playful squirrels and birds chirping in the foliage. And let nature speak to you. As for me I regally played thepart of babe in woods while husband dear went on clicking away occassionaly indulging the child in me :).
But the most beautiful part of this plot is the hanging bridge. Made of iron bars and ropes, it connects the plot to the mainland. This strudy bridge sways gently as soft wind caresses you. Passing through the Chaliyar river amidst the vast green of the plantation, undulating hills and forest on the other side, walking on the bridge is like walking into a postcard. I kid you not!! Needless to say the best part of the journey for me. (Pics coming up soon)
From here we proceed to one of the kind Teak museum, some two kilometers from the plot. Now, I have seen many kinds of museums but this is truly unique as the various aspects of teak--historic, aesthetic and scientific has been diligently recorded here. Nature enthusiasts should certainly not miss this spot. Our trip comes in end at the biodiversity park. An artistically landscaped park which houses several species of different flora, medicinal trees and a small butterfly garden. The sights tease you and makes you come tantalizingly alive.
As we were approaching Nilambur, I saw large, palatial houses made of wood. The Gulf money was doing its job and its blatant display was only making me nauseous. I was only about to write this place off, Jits told me to keep an open mind. And that I did only to come surprised from this little known place.
