A weekend in Mananthavady

A recent trip fully sponsored by my buddy rajesh was a great relief for me from my ever ending worries and distress. I went to Bangalore and from there to Mananthavady in Wayanadu District of Kerala.

From Bengaluru to Mananthavady

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It took a six hour bus drive from Bangalore, and in that a two hours through dense jungle inside the national park. The ups and downs of the road inside the park makes me to open my eyes around 2 in the morning. After a quick nap in the hotel we went around seeing his rice fields, which is around 6-7 kms from the Manandavady town. Before going to Aanapara, where his fields are, we went to have some breakfast, which was against my daily routine. No no last day at Rajesh's house I had poori which his wife Uma had made. Well this was different, for the first time in my life I had some rice poori, which called as pathiri a picture of it is below took it from another blog. I loved it. Later that night in one of the road side stall I saw one person making pathiri. Another reason to get away from my sad urban life is to conquer my cravings for meat. I had earlier taken a promises to myself that I will be a vegetarian for a while. I resisted, even though the temptation was more when I saw fantastic fish curry on Rajesh's plate. To be honest, after the trip I started dreaming of juicy chicken in my mouth melting down my throat.... focus focus no chicken and fish for some time.

http://www.salkkaaram.com/2009/07/ney-pathiri-deep-fried-rice-roti-or.html

Although we were carrying umbrellas not a drop of rain hit that day and the day after. Well it was good for us and bad for the crops. I hate get wet in the rain. Kabini gives water to that area, even though farmers mostly depends on rain water.

Rajesh had some major plans, He is on a mission to cultivate and preserve some old varieties of rice, some of them, rather most of them I never heard of. Fact: There used to be more than 500 varieties of rice cultivated in Kerala. God knows how many are there now! His paddy fields are beautiful. Well all fields are beautiful, but the beauty here is its in a valley and you feel that you are well guarded by Mountains if you are in the fields. Well being a pessimist the first thing came into my mind is what if there is a landslide, what if the way to this place is not safe. Sad I can't control these thoughts and enjoy the beauty for a little longer. I said nothing to him otherwise I know he will throw me into Kabini river.

He had this idea of making mud houses for himself and his family, in one portion of his land. I thought he has now gone completely mad, but I realized later when he saw me a mud house. Man... it was cool. The same day he took me to another village called Edavaka where there is a function being organized by grama panchayath and an ngo called Thanal. The function was on basically done by the tribes, when they start of with a new season of seeding paddy called as vilanatty (paddy transplantation) also some release of people's biodiversity register of Wayanadu. More News Here. Raman chettan is a encyclopedia of traditional ethnic knowledge. He was keen in telling what he knows and what has to be done to preserve the sanctity of that place. He talks about his house the paddy fields climates, fishes in the jungle, the medicinal plants they use., it was interesting to listen to him, but he was cautious not to tell what medicine to be used for what purpose. They believe if they tell that the medicine won't work. Strange... Anyway I was really impressed by his efforts, thinking and more over his passion, I felt we are much smaller in comparison to him. Truthfully, I haven't seen much down to earth persons like him.

Raman chettan's Mud House

Kids carrying dish antenna

Ramanchettan and his grand kid.

Vilanatty

Rajesh and His Father - in- law

In the next 2 months the field below will be completely green. imagine how cool it will be ......

On sunday night we took bus back to Bangalore. I felt very sad, some how I started loving the place. Always parting is difficult even it is the place or the people, love mostly hurts.

Apart from miss seeing the Spain taking the world cup and the TV shows I watch like Fringe and a terrible bus, I felt this trip was worth it. Met some few good folks who wants to protect the environment they live. Then had some fresh air, nice pathiri and some good food. Moreover this trip brings some time at-least to forget about the tension I am through.

I wish to go back there, I don't wish to become a farmer but love to live inside a good glass biosphere with lot of green and water around. Hope Rajesh will start up with some farm tourism.

picture courtesy : Rajesh , he royally forget to take his cam , so these are from his mobile.