Meemmutty Falls: Force of Nature I

The next day we plan to visit Meenmutty Falls. We were told that this would involve a long walk through the woods and so we prepared accordingly. Armed with a good pair of shoes, water, and juice, we set off for Meenmutty Falls. The entrance to the falls is hidden in a desolate spot among many overgrowths. The small kucha trail, which can get quite muddy during rains, leads you to a dead end from where the hike starts again. The hike to the falls is through dense forest and is accompanied by a guide from one of the tribal communities.

There is an ecotourism committee that manages this place. The tourist infrastructure is quite rudimentary here, with no dedicated parking or shops selling trinkets like other popular tourist destinations we’ve seen before. It seemed like the perfect hideaway for trekking, quiet, little visited and full of adventure. There is no parking space here and I believe no more than two cars can be parked here at any one time. I’m not sure why this place is so infrequently visited, but maybe the crowds increase in high season. Anyway, there was a single car shed made of thatched roof (at least, that’s what we thought it was) and I paid 20 rupees to a lady who came out of a nearby house.

The area was completely desolate and there were a few houses nearby, a typical scene for any village in Kerala, but as soon as we parked and approached the barricade, a man surfaced and introduced him. He apparently was the guardian of the barricade and he informed us that we would have to buy a ticket and that a guide would accompany us to the falls. I’m not exactly sure how much I paid, so please excuse my weak memory.

Our guide, a man named James, was a man in his mid forties and stocky. But despite his build, he was quite fit and agile. So we started our trip to the falls.

Mail Fall is located far below and consists of a hike through the coffee plantations, initially followed by a hike through the jungle. The incline is very steep and you are going up for most of your trip to the main falls. The trail is narrow and slippery in places. Along the way you will come across many small waterfalls or rather streams. As soon as you enter the forest, the roar of the falls greets your ears and you know you are close to a powerful force.