The actual scenery wasn't like the movie. It was pretty dry. They say this place is heaven in October. Gautam had some experience in trekking. I had none. With the afternoon sun bearing upon us, i talked my iron butt out to Gautam. He was interested in the view, i was trying not to faint and tumble down. I had seen enough episodes of 'I Shouldn't Be Alive' on Discovery to know that things can turn bad quickly. There was not a single soul in sight. No signs of animal life, and we were literally on the edge of the forest. Anything might spring up and grab us.
I lost it when i saw a section of a spinal cord. Gautam brushed it off as some animal's. I was sure the Veerappan Ganeshan guy must be killing visitors, feeding them to his dogs and chicken and scattering the remains. Stones stacked on one another at regular intervals resembled graves to me, but it turned out to be mileposts.
The arch gate was finally in sight, when we saw a tiny auto parked. We checked around, but there was no one. We kept on walking, only to face a couple of bikes and a Santro. These guys had taken an easier route, which we would find out later. We also stumbled upon a forest guard, who was the Tamil actor Surya's look alike.
When we reached the check post, we were greeted by a young forest guard. I was amazed to see the room, inside which lay two cots and an iron trunk. Beside it was a man-made lake. The guard said that elephants and even tigers drop in to have a drink. AWESOME!
Another hill up, and we were at a watch tower. It looked down on the valley. Surrounding us was the Pushpagiri reserve and in the distance, Kumara Parvat. The wind was at its best, and when it decided to take a break, the sound of bugs and dry shrubs rustling took over. I knew I was closer to God when i looked down upon a forest. We were above birds, and below a sole hovering eagle. No words to describe it. Period.
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