Photo Copyright: Satyabrata Maiti
On 12-july-2022, unexpectedly I received a call from Dr. Arul of Quality Council of India (QCI) requesting to take up a Witness Audit (WA) of IndGAP in Bison Valley. He also insisted that it should be completed before 16-July, 2022. Since I was suffering from cold for the last three days I hesitated a little bit and told him that I would be available only on the next Monday that was 18-July-2022. If it was ok, he might inform me. I thought that since the Certifying Body (CB) was in hurry, they might find another person for the WA. However, he then sent me a mail stating that he would come back to me after contacting the client. Finally, he informed me in the evening by mail that the CB had agreed for WA on 19th and 20th and I should send him my travel plan for booking my tickets and making stay arrangements, pick up etc. I sent my travel plan as follows:
18-July-2022: Vadodara to Kochi via Mumbai
21-July-2022: Kochi to Vadodara via Mumbai.
18-July-2022 (Monday)
Accordingly, I reached Kochi International terminal at 8:00 pm starting at 9:00 am from Anand. Mr. Albin C. Kurian, a young bright man of 20’s received me in the airport with an infectious smile. From our conversation, I could know that he is a B.Sc. (Ag) graduate with MBA in Agril Management from Kerala Agricultural University. He put me in a nearby hotel for my night stay and left with a promise that he would pick me up tomorrow at 6:00 am for going to Bison Valley which would be of about 3.30 to 4.00 hours journey depending upon traffic and rain. I quickly settled in the hotel and after taking bath, had my dinner with Fish Biryani. Quantity was so much that in spite of my best efforts, I could take about ¾ of the quantity served to me.
19-July-2022 (Tuesday)
I woke up at 4:00 am and got ready by 6:00 am. Albin came with Mr Melvin Charley who would also went with us for the job. We left the hotel at 6:10 am and it was raining. We had our breakfast on the way. I relished famous Kerala Appam with coffee. We adored the majestic view of two water falls, one at Chirapara and another at Vallara. We did some photography too. Finally, we reached Camellia & Elettaria Resort at Rathnagiri for our stay at 10:30 am which was about 3 km away from the Bison Valley. It was in a unique location within a tea estate. Surroundings was mind absorbing and we were welcomed by the chorus of Cicada. We quickly checked in our rooms and within 15 min left the resort for Bison Valley for the purpose for which we came.
Bison valley is a village panchayat in Udumbanchola Taluk in the Idukki district of the southwestern state of Kerala. Bison valley is situated at around 915 m (<3000 ft) above mean see level. Western Ghat range of mountains with lash green cover and bright wild flowers are its beauty. Idukki district is known for its Cardamom hills in Kerala. In addition, other species such as Nutmeg and Black pepper are also grown in large acreage. Two important rivers, Periyar and Pamba orginate and flow through Idukki districts.
Around 66% of Kerala’s power generation is from various Hydroelectric Power Projects in Idukki district. Hence, it is also full of large and small dams. The Idukki Dam is one of the highest arch dams in Asia.
The name Bison valley is believed to tell the history of the place, where the kings and officers of East India Company used to come for hunting Bison (large sized bovines like buffalo) during their vacations in Munnar.
Bison valley is connected to a rural road, about 24 km from Munnar, about 133 km from Cochin, 30 km from Adimali and 56 km from Neriamangalam. The nearest airport is Kochi International Airport which is 110 km away.
Beauty of the Bison valley was tempting me to capture its beauty of rain drops on mesmerising colourful flowers. I was clicking like an addicted man. I also took some photographs of cardamom, flowers and fruits; cardamom garden, nutmeg fruits and colourful nutmeg arils.
Where flowers bloom, so does the hope
20-July-2022 (Wednesday)
After our job of WA was over, we left for Munnar at about 3:30 pm and reached Munnar by 4:30 pm. At Munnar, we were welcomed by a shawl of fog and clouds covering us. A light drizzling continued till we reached the Munnar point at 4:30 pm. We went to Madupetty reservoir and dam first through the tea gardens of Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Pvt. Ltd . Thereafter we went to Anachal (elephant corridor). We could not find any elephant first but when we were coming back, with a great surprise we could see a family herd of elephants at a distance. Light was dull and not optimum for a good snap. However, my camera did not stop clicking. Finally, we returned by 8:00 pm to our resort and called it a day.
21-July-2022 (Thursday)
We left the Resort at 6:00 am and reached the Kochi international Airport by 10:00 am. I took lot of photographs on our way back on various subjects such as gorgeous river; majestic water falls; Lovely wild flowers; Distant Dam; unique bridge on the river dividing Ernakulam and Idukki districts.
Nature always wears the colours of the spirit
We had our breakfast in a road side Sabitha hotel. I ate Idiyappam (string hoppers) with egg curry and coffee. Since flight started late at Kochi, it was a hell of a time for me to reach terminal 2 from Terminal 1 in Mumbai and thereafter doing formalities such as entering the airport, security check and finding the boarding gate. I reached Terminal 2 in Mumbai at 5:00 pm when boarding had already started. I was practically running in the airport and luckily could board the plane just before closing of the gate. Notwithstanding the last part of my journey, I reached back Anand by 8:00 pm with a great satisfaction of being close to the nature although short yet having a great feeling of “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads”.
Jai Hind!
Satyabrata Maiti
Acknowledgement
- Thanks to QCI for the opportunity given to visit Bison Valley
- Mr. Albin C. Kurian and Mr. Melvin Charley for sharing their knowledge about Kerala.
- Mr. Sanil Kumar for his careful driving and generously stopping in sightseeing points for my photography.
- The Wikipedia and On line literature resources or giving insight of the place.
