Do you want to escape from the crowd?
Do
you just want to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the nature enjoying the
climate & the views?
Do
you want to breathe in some fresh air?
Have
you ever felt that you do not belong to this hustle and bustle of the city?
Then this is the place. A tea estate bungalow, Sinna Dorai’s Bungalow at Valparai. A 6-hour drive from Cochin in which 2-hour drive through the forest (Vazachal forest range). Or else if one doesn’t want to take the forest route, you can reach here via Pollachi road as well.
During
lockdown, when the state borders remained closed, but people could travel
anywhere within the state, we had been to Malakkappara which is the exit point
of Vazhachal forest division and after which Tamilnadu state border starts. The
2-hour drive through the forest was mesmerising. And hence, this time too, we
chose to drive through the same route to reach Valparai. When we reached half
way, we got to see a wild tusker, which was munching on a branch of wild
jackfruit. There were fallen branches & trees throughout the route due to
strong wind previous night, none of which blocked our route.
Once we crossed the border, we stopped at Sholayar dam & some other viewpoints to click some photos & as well as to stretch our legs. After an hour of drive, we reached our destination.
We got to experience both, a sunny day as well as rainy one too. Both had its own beauty. There are only very few places to roam around which includes Sholayar dam, Nallamudi Viewpoint, Loam’s viewpoint etc. But if you choose to stay at Sinna Dorai’s Bungalow, then no need to step out of the tea estate. If you are lucky, you can even see any member of feline family even without stepping into the forest.
Who
wouldn’t love to sip a piping hot tea in the rain? The tea was very tasty or
rather may be the weather outside made it tasty. We never know. The coffee
tables had inlaid chessboard, ludo, snake & ladder. While sipping the tea,
we played a round of snake & ladder. Its then we heard the strong flapping
sound of wings. It was a huge hornbill. It was sitting on the highest branch of
a tall tree. And that’s when the care taker of the resort shared a piece of
information that once the hornbill touches the ground, it won’t be able to fly
back because of the weight of its wings. One can hear the flapping sounds of
the hornbill from half a mile away.
One could wake up to the sweet sound of whistling. The sound is made by a small black bird called Malabar Whistling Thrust. It is locally known as whistling schoolboy. It is a small black-blue bird and you would wonder how this small creature makes such a sweet whistle just like a human. First time we heard this sound was when we were waiting to finish our formalities near Vazachal to enter the forest. We were not able to figure from where the sound came and so asked the forest guards who were gatekeeping. They told its known as “Choola Kakka” in Malayalam. Instantly I googled & got the rest of the information. And so, we were very happy to spot one when it came very close to our room at Valparai. You could also listen to peacock squawk or chirping of other birds. The echoes of these sounds make them even more beautiful.
We
were happy & self-contained that our phone worked as mere camera &
alarm clock. We felt we were in some isolated part of the world, wherein the
air that surrounded us was as pure as it was some 20 years back. We were in
midst of a tea estate on 2 sides and forests (Anamalai tiger reserve) on other
two sides. Humans shared the roads that led to the bungalow with wild animals
& birds as well. Beware when you walk in the dark. You never know you might
collide with or get kicked by a wild elephant or a bison.
In
the evening before getting dark, we were advised not to walk to the main
building for dinner by self. We have to inform our dinner time and someone
would come & pick us from our room. When one person came to pick us, we
told we would like to sit back for some more time & we shall come by
ourself. That’s when he lit the torch and waved the torch along the tea bushes.
The eyes were glowing. We were dumbstruck. We were fenced by Bisons.
Next day morning, when we went out for a walk, we were surprised to see that none of the tea shrubs were run over. And we asked about it to the manager. He told, neither the Bison nor any other animal eats the tea leaf. They will be eating the grass in between them. The tea shrubs serve as a shelter from predators, rather than grazing in an open area. But of course, these evergreen shrubs get smashed when there is a fight between the animals.
Disclaimer
: This is not a resort. So, you could never get a fixed menu for food. You can
neither make a choice. The bungalow has 6 cottages and so there are 6 dining
tables as well. Same food would be served on all tables which would remind you
of your school/college hostel days. But if you are ready for a homely food,
this place is meant for you. They are not pre trained chefs who cook for you.
But normal people like us who eat the same food after we are done with. So, you
can be assured of food you eat.
You
will never get facilities that you get at a 5-star resort. But be assured that
you will never miss your home.
Our phone remained silent except for the alarm bell because there is no network except for BSNL. Our room was provided with Wi-Fi, but we were lucky enough that, it also wasn’t working.
For
Reservations : You will have to fill the form on their website and wait for them to contact.
They respond to the enquiries soon. Click here to check in to Sinnadorai's Bungalow.