Valley of Gods

November 2005

The overwhelming powers of redemption on a jaded soul, the unbinding vibes in her arms, the acceptance of oneness is what constantly draws me to her. I long to be in her arms again, rise to her sweet fragrance with the morning beams and sleep in her bussom once more.


The bug had bitten us once more the itch on our heels to flee to the hills beckoned us to travel to a favorite haunt for the monsoons. Two monkeys from the land of the Buckingham Canal would join us in the hills shortly. My limber footed friend Arjun and Hari accompanied me to our fondest get away. Tucked away in the misty mountain top is this gift from the heavens, Kodaikanal.

Smiles and hugs greeted us on our arrival as the southern monkeys had arrived before us. We had stumbled upon tales of a secret paradise and decided to take a chance and journey to the unknown. Vegetable vendors, Baskets of Jasmine, Crying babies, sweaty and grumpy locals filled the bus at every stop as we tugged up the hills on a scenic drive for an hour and a half. Finally we had arrived at the last stop, Manavanoor.
Campers club was one of the least visited retreats in the area due to its sublime isolation from civilization. Our lodging was scenically chosen as the highest in the valley. We climbed up the hill to our lodging where we glanced around at a truly divine sight. Looking out in front of us was a wide valley enclosed by a circle of giant hills. Hills in every direction enclosed this valley in its entire splendor. Way down at the base of the valley was a calm and pristine natural lake bordered by an artificial damn. Multitudes of giant timbers in all shapes and sizes carpeted the hills and the valley below.

Overwhelmed by this magical splendor we all dropped our bags and nulled into silence. Stumped in our tracks we spent many ticks of the clock taking in this sight and swallowed mother natures vibes with smiles of oneness and an ease of being at home again. Man had not yet laid his destructive hands on this pristine paradise and all that we gazed upon had been there untouched through the ages. Giant eucalyptus and pine trees dotted the hillsides and herds of sheep played down by the lake. We truly felt like we were in the valley beyond the Garden of Eden. We were now guests at the Valley of Gods.

Our rooms adjoined each other and bordered the lawn. The lawn was the perfect place to chill out and watch the clouds twist and turn as they played with our imaginations. Sitting on tree stumps and plucking blades of grass reminded us of the simple pleasures in life. We were the only tenants of this haunt at the time and Raja of Campers Club treated us to simple home cooked meals and fresh spring water. Raja set up a cozy bonfire that evening which was another spectacle as we were the only lights in sight in the valley.

Dawn was truly a divine experience and brought me closer to the maker than ever before. It had rained the night before and I awoke to a misty morning. It was a cloudy and the sun played “peek a boo” lighting up the valley ever once in while. The mist had blanketed the valley for as far as the eye could see and you could hardly notice the lake from where I stood. I was graced with these moments as God showed me his divine creation and made me realize my place in this world. A sense of nirvana took over this weary eyed follower as I tuned me into the vibes of Gaya.

Later that morning Arjun plotted out a course as we took off on a trek through the valley. We walked past the village after purchasing our “Marco Polo” local beer and headed out with a group of friendly children to the lake. It was a holiday and the kids lead us on to the lake, which showed up at the base of a steep hillock. The chill breeze swept across the lake and brushed our faces with a refreshing fragrance and the smell of rain in the air. Arjun took a stand of a mountain goat and decided that we were to use the unbeaten path and stay clear of the beaten track. This idea turned out to be quite adventurous as we landed up walking through marshlands filled with Alien plants and thickets so dense that our billy goat friend had to get up on his hind legs and thrash about till we found fairer grounds.
We rested on top of a hillock, the trees which resembled as scene from the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur protected by Lancelot and surrounded by the other nights. A few quick puffs and a sip of spring water and we were off once again, heading back to our little nook. By this time I was quite taken aback by the magic playing tricks with my senses and fooling my mind. A sheepish innocence adorned my face with smiles of utter delight that I had found on this beautiful day.

Arjun and me were the only ones left on our final day here. We set out early for another adventurous trek through the valley on a new route. This one proved to be much more arduous than the previous. We found the perfect little nook in the woods near the lake. We caught a few breaths and some munchies under a giant pine whose leaves formed a thick comfy carpet at its base. I shed a tear of happiness as the winds off the lake whistled through the pines and onto my face.

A conundrum of emotions filled my mind that evening, heading back to my mad mad city. Melancholy and happiness filled my thoughts and I realized that I had found true balance in this surreal abode if only for the shortest time.

Manavanoor Jan 2007