Meesapulimala (8,661 feet), the second highest peak in the Western Ghats. It is located 25 km from Munnar. It is home to the Rhododendron Valley, Neelakurinji flowers (blooming once every 12 years), Nilgiri Thar, Sambar deer, and Gaur.
Meesapulimala caught the attention of tourists through Dulquer Salmaan’s Charlie, released in 2018, and this is the famous dialogue, “Have you seen snow falling on Meesapulimala?”. Meesapulimala is the second highest peak in Kerala after the highest peak, Anamudi. Meesapulimala is now one of the most visited places by tourists. Not only our tourists, but many foreigners also come here. Mostly people who love trekking come here, because they can experience 8 km of trekking. From here, you can see Kolukkumalai and the border of the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. If you look down from Meesapulimalai, you can see the clouds stacked like cotton balls, along with the sunrise, cold wind, and snow, you can’t describe it, you have to come here and experience it firsthand. Everyone should come here at least once in their life and see this paradise.
A trip to Meesapulimalai has been on my list for a long time. So, 3 of us friends and I planned the trip. The trip was by KSRTC bus (booked 1 month in advance). We booked trekking through KFDC (Kerala Forest Development Corporation). You can book accommodation in 3 ways. 1, Base Camp 2, Sky Cottage 3, Rhodo mansion. We decided to stay in a tent at the base camp. Only two people can book in a tent, after coming there to book for one person.
The journey started at 5 am on a Thursday in November from the Thiruvananthapuram KSRTC bus stand. We reached Munnar around 2 pm. The Kerala Forest Development Corporation office is 3 km away from Munnar. After having lunch from Munnar, we took an auto and reached the office. We registered at the office using Aadhaar and paid cash online. There were 2 other passengers there, so we were allowed to travel in a jeep for 5 people. No other vehicles are allowed to Meeshapulimala. It took us an hour to reach the base camp. There is a small shop on the way, where we stopped the jeep and bought some things. There is a large field in front of the shop and a mountain behind. We reached the base camp through the cold, enjoying the beautiful scenery. As soon as we arrived, we got a black tea, drank it and went straight to the tent. We left our bags in the tent and walked around. There were 38 people including us.
In the evening, we prepared a campfire. After eating chapati, rice, and chicken curry for the night, we got 3 sleeping bags for the 3 of us and went straight to the tent with them. We were told that the trip would start at 5 am, so we went to bed early. We woke up at 4.30 am, got ready for the trip, and when we arrived at 5 am, we were given bread, jam to eat. Then we started our journey upwards in the jeep that came to the base camp. It took about half an hour more to reach the Meesapulimala Sunrise View Point.
Meesapulimala
We parked the jeep at the Rhodo Mansion accommodation and from there we walked up a short hill to reach the Meesapulimala Sunrise Point. The view there is so beautiful that it is beyond words. The picture shown here is a must-see. Mountains, valleys, clouds in the distance, a cool breeze blowing, a thick fog, and the sun has just started to rise, that is how beautiful the Sunrise View Point is.
We started our journey to Meesapulimala with the help of a guide from Sunrise View Point. We were accompanied by a guide and forest officials. We were walking up and down the mountains towards Meesapulimala. The path was full of streams, trees, green grass covered with dew drops, plants, flowers, and birds. It was a bit of a walk, but the views here were unforgettable, it was so beautiful, it was heaven on earth.
When we reached Meesapulimala after climbing the mountain, we could only see one person sitting nearby, it was so foggy and cold. After a while, the fog cleared and pearly white clouds were lying around, it was a sight to behold. Mountains, hills, and clouds in the distance. The guide came and introduced us to distant places. Kerala Tamil Nadu border, Munnar and surrounding areas, our minds were filled with everything, we rested there for a while. Then after seeing the sights, we traveled back another way to the place where the Rhodo Mansion jeep was parked. While returning, the desire to visit again came to mind. Many more sights, the most important of which was a red flower called the wild rose (Rhododendron arboreum). The name Rhodo Mansion was given because of where this plant is found only. That is, this plant is found only in Meesapulimala in Kerala. When we reached back to the camp, it was past 11 o’clock. After eating, we returned to Munnar in the jeep. We took some pictures to remember and saw many unforgettable sights. Those who read this should definitely come here someday. The first thing we should go and see is our country, this is “Gods On Country”. You can come at a very low cost.
The weather is best during the months of October-February. Good accommodation facilities, houses for those who do not want to stay in tents, cleanliness, safety, a place where family members can come. It is advisable for the elderly, those who have difficulty walking, and small children to not come. Follow the safety instructions during trekking, do not carry plastic, do not leave garbage, and do not disturb the animals.
Conclusion
Meesapulimala in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a meeting place of adventure and natural beauty. This mountain can be recorded in a golden letter in the diary of those who love to travel. There is only one life and it should be enjoyed. All places are for us to see. What makes humans different from other creatures is the ability to think, make decisions, and remember. Yes, travel to remember.