காடுகள், மலைகள், மரங்கள், ஆறுகள் - இவற்றையெல்லாம் ரசிப்பதற்கு எல்லோருக்கும் ஆவல் உண்டு. ஆனால், இரண்டு நாட்கள் சுற்றுலா முடியும் வரை மட்டுமே! அதன்பின், வாழ்க்கை என்னவோ அலுவலக கேபினுக்குள்ளும், மடிக்கணினிகளோடும், செல்ஃபோனில் பரபரப்பான உரையாடல்களாகவும் பலருக்கும் கடந்துபோகிறது. காடுகளோடும் மலைகளோடும், மரங்களோடும் இரண்டறக் கலந்து வளர்ந்த ஒருவரின் அனுபவம் நமது அனுபவங்களிலிருந்து முற்றிலும் மாறுபட்டதாகவே இருக்கும். 

That night in Vellagavi, as the mist wrapped the village and the campfire slowly faded into embers, I knew the journey wasn’t done. The forest had tested our preparation, offered us shelter, and gently eased us into a new year—but the mountains still had more to say.

Ahead of us lay another trail. Another silence. A longer walk that would begin before dawn and take us from the sacred calm of Vellagavi toward the edges of Vattakanal, and eventually, back home.

We slept peacefully that night—not knowing exactly what the next day would bring, but trusting the path as we always do.

That night in Vellagavi, as the mist wrapped the village and the campfire slowly faded into embers, I knew the journey wasn’t done. The forest had tested our preparation, offered us shelter, and gently eased us into a new year—but the mountains still had more to say.

Ahead of us lay another trail. Another silence. A longer walk that would begin before dawn and take us from the sacred calm of Vellagavi toward the edges of Vattakanal, and eventually, back home.

We slept peacefully that night—not knowing exactly what the next day would bring, but trusting the path as we always do.

ஜவ்வாது மலை பாதையின் ஒவ்வொரு திருப்பமும் தீண்டப்படாத இயற்கை அதிசயத்தின் காட்சியை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறது. சிறுசிறு சிகரங்கள், பசுமையான பள்ளத்தாக்குகள் மற்றும் படிக நீரோடைகள் அனைத்தும் இயற்கையின் கலைத் தேர்ச்சியின் அடையாளங்கள். இது நமக்குள் ஆழ்ந்த பிரமிப்பு மற்றும் ஆச்சரியத்தை எழுப்புகிறது.

Yet this journey left me with more than memories of effort and companionship. The Kullar Caves and their enigmatic dolmens lingered in my mind like unanswered riddles. The dwarf-like structures, the perfectly carved circles facing east, the stories of Valiyar and the celestial Nagas, they stirred something deeper in me. Standing there, it felt as though the stones were whispering truths too ancient for words, asking us to pause, listen, and question.

Through years of dedicated research, ARRS has led groundbreaking work—tracking King Cobras using radio telemetry, studying their breeding and nesting behaviors, and even exploring how climate change affects reptilian activity. These aren't just academic pursuits; they are lifelines for future conservation strategies.

Through years of dedicated research, ARRS has led groundbreaking work—tracking King Cobras using radio telemetry, studying their breeding and nesting behaviors, and even exploring how climate change affects reptilian activity. These aren't just academic pursuits; they are lifelines for future conservation strategies.

It was the first time in my life I truly learned about their intricate life cycles, their nuanced behaviors, their astonishing adaptations. I sat there, completely absorbed, realizing how little we know about these remarkable creatures—creatures that predate humans by hundreds of millions of years, yet are often dismissed, ignored, or even ridiculed.

What started as a hobby—capturing birds through my camera—soon turned into a profound journey of observation, patience, and learning. My recent visit to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary was not just about photography; it was about immersing myself in nature’s rhythm.

Birdwatching isn’t just a pastime—it’s a way of reconnecting with the world beyond screens and schedules. It teaches us stillness, curiosity, and appreciation for the intricate balance of life. More importantly, it is something we must pass on to the next generation—to observe, to learn, and to cherish the wonders that exist all around us.