Down Memory Lane..Wyanad-the paradise in God’s own country.

It is true that music enlivens you. It takes you to a different world, long forgotten world! Different songs empathetically connects you to different scenes of your life, like in a movie.

One such blissful moment took me back to few of my most cherished moments of my childhood. I was all of a sudden transported back to my long lost cherished vacations at my native place (the home of my grand parents ) at Wyanad, a lovely hillstation in Kerala which is geographically close to Ooty. So one can only imagine how breathlessly beautiful the scenic beauty must be. So much so that it makes your mind dance and sing in absolute joy! These could also be earmarked as the the times when all of our family members (uncles,aunts,cousins..) would come together to celebrate the blissful happiness. Not to forget the laughable anecdotes we had with our pet dog and pet cat and many other incidents !!

Fondly reminiscing….the bus ride from Bangalore to Wynad through the thick lush forest & the hair pin curves but most important was how the heart affluttered in aticipation of seeing the palatial house, the big huge portico, early morning trips namely collecting flowers for Grandpa’s puja from the wide array of different type of flowers growing -it was amazing how grandpa’s huge bowl would be filled with fresh flowers in no time! The mango collecting trips to the coffee thottams and also watching the early morning rituals of milking the cows(somehow these were the only times when waking up early morning and and doing work was not thought as a drudgery), the balancing walk through the everygreen fields (vayals), the smile of the hard working farmers, the little placid pond which made bathing a relished activity for us kids which otherwise would be seen as a daily drudgery, the many jeep rides which are the main means of transportation there.

At times we would all go a little mountain climbing and the views from there would be treat to the eyes. Then the vast array of tea estates, making us once again amaze at the creations of God. Ever wonder how these leaves eventually give us the ever relaxing aromatic concoction called the ‘tea’!!

Of course the food!! Used to love the wistful aroma of jackfruits and the varied jackfruit delicacies made by expert and experienced hands of my grand mom. Another speciality I distinctly remember was tapioca. There would be fresh handpicked tapioca boiled and fresh green chilly chutney as an accompaniment. That too the chutney would be grinded by our help on the grinding stone, which would have been quite a hardwork! But the taste….less said the more, ‘simply delectable’.

The typical Madrasi food which was never my cup of tea, would all of a sudden taste so good, which was mainly because most of the veggies were hand picked from our own varied plantations. Including flavour creating veggies like coriander and curry leaves. The one can only imagine how pampered our senses would be! And also praiseworthy would be to mention the cocoa plantations, coffee estates (kapi thottams). rubber, ginger etc etc. We cousins would even be taught to plant ginger by the farmers.

Being raised in a typical crowded city like Bombay, these vacations were our only chance to get one with nature.

Wyanad district was primarily home to mainly tribals. Now it has earned accolades as a wonderful tourist centre because of its scenic beauty which would help in rejuvenating our lives. There are many attractions like the pukkode lake, sujipaara and Kanthanpaara waterfalls, the wildlife tours in the forests etc etc.

How adulthood transports you so far away from these many beautiful memories which we can only fondly reminiscense. While life gives me a myraid of responsibilities like work, parenting etc etc thanking God and my parents for letting me live those times which are now bundled up (as a treasure) in my mind to be opened at any time……..and find myself smiling....