Parvadha Malai - Pushing the Limits on Pongal

Question : What gives human mind the greatest Joy?
Answer: The sense that you have pushed your limits and achieved something considered to be beyond yourself.


It's interesting how random coversations lead to the some of the most memorable experiences of your life.Our trip to Parvada Malai also started on similar notes.On one of of my regular trips to Thiruvannmalai, our conversation drifted to a temple on the hills nearby - Parvadha Malai.The description about the place given by a person who has been there and done it was jaw dropping.As he explained how risky the climb is,how scary it is at times and most importantly the belief about a couple dogs in the hills, which are considered incarnations of Lord Bhairava showing you the way through the hills really got a few of us interested.4 of us, Me, Sampath, Mani and Arvind Ram immediately decided that we have to make this trip at the earliest.We decided that Pongal holidays was the ideal time for this trip.

As with all good plans, we faithfully put it in backburner for quiet sometime.Arvind Ram collected a lot of info about it, but in general we were lost in our supposedly busy office life.By the time Sampath gave me a call and discussed about the trip it was Jan 10th.We were still quiet hopeful of making the trip as planned. Arvind and Sampath handled the travel planning after that and had booked an Innova and so the trip was finalized on Jan 12th.A Toyota Innova for five guys, 4 of us and William, Sampath's colleague ,was a tad luxurious , but our enthu to make the trip overcame all inhibitions we had about expenses.Arvind Ram also prepared a neat schedule for the trip with a list of items to be brought, a few precautions etc.As I found out earlier the schedule was prepared for his travel with another group but Arvind was fated to capture our photos in his camera.

Inspite of my eagerness to make the trek, I did have an inkling of fear at the back of my head.I wasn't exactly sure of my physical abilities and the build up give to the trip was giving me a few minor jitters.

So we started as planned on Jan 14th Morning.The ride on the Innova was super-smooth and but for an occasional glance at the speedometer I would have never guessed that we were traveling at 90-100Km/Hr for most of our journey.The talk during the journey was generally about ICICI bank , since I was traveling with friends who were either employees or ex-employees of ICICI bank and occasionally I had to remind them that I am an outsider to the topic.We watched movies during the trip , but I really don't remember discussing much about the actual trek till we reached Thiruvannamalai.

Our first halt was at Thiruvannamalai. After praying to almighty for a safe trek, We proceeded for a decent lunch.Meanwhile our driver , Stalin, had enquired the shops around about the hill and was in a dilemma about whether to come for a trek with us or not.He ultimately decided that it was a risky proposition as he had to drive all the way back to chennai on our return journey.

We first went to kadaladi , the village near Parvadha Malai.We could see parvadha malai on out way to the village and the sight was capturing enough for us to make a couple stops to from them in Arvind's camera.

When we reached kadaladi,The arrangements were on for Jallikattu,the traditional bull fight.There were oxes of all sizes lined with decorations.Though the rest of the guys were enthusiatic about it , I didn't quiet like the idea of waiting on the sidelines when bulls were running about.Thankfully we decided to proceed to the hills as it was 3:00 in the afternoon and we wanted to reach the ashram at top before dark.
The villagers we met were quiet friendly and were filling us in with stories about the hill.They made the trek on the hills sound much easier than what we had imagined.
We were introduced to our guide Jayavel.Jayavel was a local guy who was doing odd jobs in chennai and had been to the hills 70 odd times.Though we trusted the story of a dog guiding us through the hills,we were too novice to let our trek be guided by fate alone.

We started our trek at 3:15. After the initial walk, the climb to the hills started. We were climbing through narrow passge way flanked on both sides by tall bushes.As we proceeded further, the climb got steeper and our bodies began to show signs that the physical challenge is getting tougher.My heart beat went up drastically and I began to pant like an old railway engine.Heart beat rate increased high enough for me to wonder whether it's going to jump out it's place.Half an hour into the trek and my head started spinning just a little and my feet were getting a bit shaky.The plight of the rest of guys was not much different with Williams and to an extent Mani managing to hold themselves, so we took the necessary break.

Jayavel meanwhile was trying to buck us up and cajole us by saying , we can reach an easier part of the trek in 10 minutes and take rest. As we proceeded further we realized that what was 10 minutes for Jayavel was probably going to be Half an hour for us , we had little pauses through out the next part of our climb.All the while , the dog which was our unofficial guide kept a close watch on us and was coming along with us throughout.At all our short pauses,Arvind kept clicking snaps of the scenic spots around us and of course more than a fair share of our pictures.

After about one and a half an hour's trek , we reached a shop.There are few shops in the hill, all set up as tents.All the owners have to bring all the items from the village and have to climb through the same path.Moreover all the items for constructing the Ashram at hill top was carried by the same route.Considering the fact that we were finding it difficult to carry ourselves, the guys who carried cement bags, steel rods etc through the same path sounded like super humans to me.

The shop we had halted was owned by pachayappan.We had a glass freshlime soda and it was getting chill enough to wipe the sweat off our faces.The cool wind and the refreshment we had was a pretty energising and we went on take on the toughest part of the trek.

The next part ws the "kadapaarai padhai" or literally the path of rods. The climb was very steep and there were steel rods drilled on the sides so that we could climb gripping the steel rods.At first I didn't realize that we had reached that part when I had look at all the rods lined up and when I did I went like " Iam supposed climb through this?!!".I was carrying a crossbag on my shoulder which wasn't exactly a bright idea.On seeing the steep climb, I promptly handed over the bag to Jayavel who was more than willing to take the burden.After climbing a bit and I had look down just to how far we have proceeded and decided that it was best to climb fast through this part without halting.It wasn't as scary as I had thought as the steels were more than sufficient to climb through the steep path.Once we crossed the kadapaarai paadhai,
considered to be the toughest part of the trek , there was a sense of relief and joy and we celebrated by taking a few snaps of each other.By this time it was cold enough for me taken my monkey cap out.

The climb further was similar to our initial part only that this time we didn't have so much trouble climbing through the steep path.We managed it pretty well and the beautiful sunsight only made the trek very much worthwhile.By the time we reached the peak it was 6:30 PM a good 3 hours from our start time and mist was just about covering the hills.We went to the temple at the hills.Hot tea and more snaps followed.Having a tasty hot tea on a cool eveining on the hills is quiet an experience.

We went back to the Ashram to rest for the night and were completely bowled over by the hospitality of the people there.The Ashram was quiet warm and we really didn't feel much of the cold outside.There was a cave temple within the Ashram and there was puja in the Ashram. We waited in silence for dinner.When dinner arrived it was 9.00 and we were hungry enough to grab anything that was offered , so the pongal that they served,which doesn't count as my preferred dinner was lapped up happily.After dinner when we went out wash our hands , we could see nothing but mist and since we had removed our shirts for the Puja, the cold winds were even more telling.We were provided with all facilities for a comfortable night's sleep.

The Ashram is run by a mouna samiyar (Silent saint).
The Ashram provides all it's visitors a comfortable stay and the way treat you , makes you feel really at home.Since Jayavel is quiet a regular visitor there , we guys were literally pampered.
There is no power facility at the ashram and generators were used only during dinner time.

We had a good night's sleep, though Williams had a bit of struggle coping with the cold weather.When all of us were awake at around 6:00 AM , we again found that there was nothing but mist surrounding us and visibility was quiet low.We had thought that may be we can start later when mist clears a bit but were advised that this is the right time to start as it will get really hot once the sun comes out.Heeding that advice we started at around 6:30Am.The climb down was quiet a smooth one,though I got a bit scared at the kadapaarai padhai.Since I was walking bare footed , I had few minor slips in the climb down with my feet hitting the rocks a few times.Aprt from that the trek down was quiet casual.By the time we reached the bottom of the hill all of us were sweating profusely but for William.

It was a nice to have completed a 3000 feet climb and back to ground, something that seemed improbable when all of us were breathing our lungs out half an hour into the trek. Jayavel was an excellent guide as he kept telling stories about how villagers climb here with all type of loads and how easy the climb is.He also told us about mytholigal stories of this being the first place where Lord Shiva kept his foot on earth.Overall he ensured that we were never bogged down.

We visited the Ayyanar temple of the village and started our journey back to chennai.For me the trip was memorable for two things , one we actually managed to execute a much cherished plan and two the proof that I can push my own limits when required.

How to get there?
Parvadha malai is near the village Kadaladi which is about 35 Kms from Thiruvannamalai.Frequent busses are availablr from chennai to Thiruvannamalai.From there you can catch a bus to kadaladi.

Highly recommended for young sedantary workers who haven't done any reasonable physical activit for quiet some time and anybody willing to take a break from their hectic lifestyles.

Not advisable for heart patients,Asthma patients and people above 50 Yrs of age.

P.S. It is a bit unfair not provide pictures for such a verbose post.You can view the pictures taken by Arvind ram at http://picasaweb.google.com/arvindram79/ParvadhaMalai