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Butterfly Walk : Deviyar Estate
Amol Mande
Everyone visits a lot of places but only few makes special place in one ’ s memories and for me Deviyar Estate is the one . Deviyar Estate is in the deep forest around 10 km trekking distance from Devipattanam village near Sivagiri , Rajapalayam . Surrounded from all the sides by thick forest Deviyar Estate is just few hundred meters away from Tamilnadu-Kerala border . Periyar National Park is there on the Kerala side . On 14 th August , 2017 morning group of Trichy Trekkers started the journey to estate from Rajapalayam . At the base of hill we had taken breakfast and started the trek around 9 AM . It was flat terrain in the beginning and too dry which made me to worry that how it will be at the top . On the way many Awlets were fluttering around the Pungam tree . As we keep on climbing forest become more and greener . On the way spotted few blue tigers , white four ring and some skippers . There are 3-4 estates in the forest in which Deviyar Estate is at the highest location . Almost at the midway there is one temple known as Thavamperta Nayaki Amman Temple for which one have to take diversion from the main route and travel few hundred meters . We decided to visit it while coming back . After trekking through thick forest we reached Kaavu Estate by around 1.00 PM . I was about to take my lunch when I saw a pair of southern birdwing was busy in courtship . I kept my lunch aside and took few pics of their display before they disappear from there . After the lunch over we started again to trek through thick forest . While climbing one place leeches were there to welcome us . Carefully passed that place and kept on climbing . It was really tiring journey with quite heavy load in the backpack . Finally around 3.30 PM while going through the path both side of which was Cardamom plantation could get the first glimpse of estate building . After few minutes of walk finally reached the destination where people from estate were very happy to welcome us . Estate people had brought water from the top of hill through pipeline which was bit cold . Everyone was so much tired with clothes wet due to the sweating . We refreshed ourselves taking superb bath with cold water . Everyone was so tired that most of us slept just after taking dinner . The arrangements were simple but quite good . I also slept as soon as I lay down on my bedding . Next day morning I wake up early in the morning at 4.30 AM , it was so calm and refreshing . Slowly it started becoming visible and sun was about to rise . Suddenly I could listen beautiful whistling which was so soothing to ear in the early morning . Later come to know that it was nothing other than Malabar Whistling Thrush . Since it was 15 th August , 2017 our Independence Day , everyone was getting ready for the flag hoisting ceremony . While I was taking my breakfast suddenly I heard my friend called me “ Anna , Painted Sawtooth ”. I couldn ’ t believe what I have heard but next moment my plate was on the floor and I ran towards my camera . It was like dream come true for me , because I was too much crazy for Painted Sawtooth for which I was waiting form last few years . Painted Sawtooth was kind enough to give enough time so that people even capture it with mobile camera . It remained around the water tap area for more than 30 minutes . Later I decided to look around the estate for some butterflies and could see White-bar Bushbrown , Red-disc Bushbrown and Indian Cabbage white . At 9.30 AM we hoisted our tri colour and sung national anthem . Immediately after the ceremony everyone picked up their bags and we said goodbye to the estate and estate people . It was really a memorable stay there . On the way back again had small halt at Kaavu Estate . After some time climbed down and reached to Amman Temple . It is surrounded by trees and difficult to locate it form far distance . Just behind the temple one water stream flows . People enjoyed taking bath in the stream and I started looking for butterflies . At one moist place could see a common crow but it was looking bit different , after looking closely it was Malabar Raven . Couple of Blue Mormons , Lesser gull were doing mud puddling there . Spent some time there again climbing down started to stop at one more water stream . Many common crows were fluttering on the tree with white flowers . Near water body on the rocks I could see one dull colour butterfly somehow managed to click it and it was Common baron . Again had bath in water to get rid of sweating . After spending some time started climbing down . Forest was becoming thinner and dry . It was so much dry and hot at foothills . Finally by 2 PM reached the starting point . It was really once in a life time experience . I would suggest to our TNBS members to visit this place if possible . I am sure you will fall in love with the place .
PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 3
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