All about my travel experiences: Trip to Chirangara

Its 20-April-2012, we DONE Family (Akshi, Ram, Meggy, Runai and I) boarded our bus from Madiwala, Bangalore 9:30 PM to go to Chirangara, Kerala. Thats were Meggy was born and thats where her house is. Bingo we are going to her house for the weekend.
We reached Chirangara on 21-April-2012 at 8:00 AM. Near the corner of the bus stop there was a tea shop.After sipping tea from there we walked for 10 minutes to reach Meggy's house. Her dad was cleaning the place. Nobody stays in that house. Her parents stays in Mangalore and she stays in Bangalore. The house was very beautiful. In a huge area, there is a nice yellow painted house.

Meggy House Chirangara

You name any spice or fruits, you will get that in her place. Few of us went to freshen up and her dad took us backyard to show all those plants. In the mean time, ladies gave their raw cashew nuts to her maid to roast it which they got it from Goa last week. After sometime, Meggy's cousin brother and uncle came. Around 9:30 AM, we all went to her cousin's house and locked her house. There they leave in a joint family. Mother, brothers, wives and children. Its a huge area. They manufacture pure herbal handmade body soaps and washing soaps. We had our breakfast (tummy full) and there outside cab was waiting for us for sight seeing. At 10:30 AM, we started. It was an ambassador, so huge space inside. We guys took front row and ladies back seat. Oh yes its very important. In Kerala you will sweat and sweat. So never forget to carry water as much as possible.
First we headed toward Kodanad Elephant Training Center which is approximately 40 KM from her house. In 1950-60s, Kodanad used to be the largest of several elephant training centres for captured Elephants from the adjoining forest regions. They were trained using Mahouts. In 1970s, there was a ban to elephant capture by Government of India and from then on, Kodanad is primarily used as a rescue training center. You get to see just born elephant to oldest fellow eating and eating. We were posing in front of one such old fellow who was busy eating. We spend 10 minutes there and suddenly that elephant threw whatever it had to us. I think it became angry because we were standing near it for a long time. Anyway we came out after that because it was the last one in that place.

Kodanad elephant training center Elephant Kraal

Kodanad elephant training center

We went to bank of Periyar River. Kodanad is in the bank of this river. There were very few people and we have enjoyed there for a long time. Meggy and Ram had one of there best photo there.

Kodanad elephant training center Periyar River

We came out of that place and then we went to the Mini Zoo adjacent to Kodanad elephant camp. It was small but well maintained. Deer, rabit, birds, snakes and peacock and peahen and yes lots of flowers.

Mini Zoo In Kodanad

Hibiscus In Kodanad

We came out from there and headed back to the same place where we came from because from there we have take diversion to go to other places.
We halted in Orange Bakery. They shop is for bake items but they sell lunch too. We have ordered for what not and everything was yummy. we ordered for quail egg, roast duck, beef, rice, porota and juices.
Next we headed toward Athirapally Fall. It is again 40 KM from there. The road was beautiful and everywhere you will see rubber tree plantation. We reached the fall around 2:30 PM. we had nice time there. The weather was pleasant, so rocky platform was not hot.

On Way To Athirapally

Athirapally

On they way back we went to Chalakudy River bridge. It was a nice straight bridge. We went down the stairs to the river but saw that there was no place to seat. So we went to the other side of the river. We spend lots of time there relaxing. I felt asleep for an hour too. Akshi filled a bottle with the cool water from that river.

Bridge On Chalakudy River

Chalakudy River

When we reached back to the junction where there is Orange Bakery (I don't remember the place name), we went to nearby chips and condiments store and got packets of banana, jackfruit and many other varieties of chips.
We came back home and freshen up and went to Chirangara temple. The best part was yearly ceremony was going on for temple. There were group of people who was continuously playing music with traditional instrument for hours. Then the temple elephant was brought in and he was being decorated. In the mean time we went inside the temple. Every guys has to open their shirts inside the temple. Then we came out and outside Meggy's cousin brother was waiting for us. Ram and I went in his car and in different shops to get the best item from that shop. When we came back to the temple, girls were watching theater which was performed in nearby stage in temple premises. They all came out from there and we went to Meggy's house and parked ourselves. We finished dinner and because it was little too much in quantity, we could not finish it. At night we finished water, so we drank water from the one that Akshi filled from Chalakudy river.

Chirangara Temple

Chirangara Temple Elephant

Chirangara Temple Theater

22-April-2012, we got up late. Anyway after freshen up, we went straight to Meggy's cousin's house. Breakfast was a royal spread. We had idli in jackfruit leaf, and many other dishes which is first time for me. All were yummy. Then we played with kids, chat with brothers. We went around their factory and saw how handmade soap is made with all natural elements.
We went back to Meggy's house. We wanted to go for a walk in nearby fields and villages. This is more because we want to make us hungry again because gala lunch is getting prepared for us. We took 2 bottles of water and went wherever we wanted.
We went back to to cousin's house around 4:00 PM and had lunch. So nice of them, that they were waiting for us. We had fish, chicken, pork and some veggies with rice. Then they gave us each many packets of soap "Yogi Soap", and washing powder. Believe me, once you get used to those soap, you cannot use any commercial soaps. We came back to Meggy's house around 7:00 PM and packed our belongings and her cousin brother came with his car to drop us in bus stop. We reahced the bus stop at 9:30 PM and bus came at 10:00 PM. Next morning 23-April-2012 Monday, we are back to Bangalore and we got down in Silk Board.

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