The Mystical Escape Route

From Munnar to Kodaikanal in 50km

A quick unplanned bike trip with a few friends gave me the pleasure of visiting the beautiful town of Vattavada. Situated about 40km from Munnar, it is a town hidden in the beauty of the Pampadum Shola National Park and the Western Ghats. Being serene and quieter than the crowded Munnar, Vattavada provided us a peaceful retreat from our busy lives in Kochi. Although we were ill-prepared to handle the cold of Vattavada, it gave us a reprieve from the heat that plagued the rest of Kerala. The town also boasted about many Strawberry farms and a beautiful waterfall. All these attractions were beautiful in their own right, but we intended to see something entirely different.

We visited Vattavada to see the fabled Escape route. The route that connected Munnar and Kodaikanal and shortened the distance of 200km to just under 50km. Its historical significance intrigued us. Numerous tales exist regarding the route’s construction by the British to facilitate trade, its use as an escape route during World War II, the numerous vehicle rallies that took place along it, and the likelihood that it won’t be reopened again to safeguard the biodiversity of the Pampadum Sholay National Park. We knew the route was closed, but being able to trek even a small distance through it was too much to pass up.

After hearing that the forest department was conducting short treks through this route, we hurried over to the forest check post. We were left with the sad news that a trekking group just set off and we would have to wait for them to complete the trek. Only one guide was available for the trek and solo treks weren’t allowed, for obvious reasons. We waited about 3hrs for the guide to show up, before finally commencing our trek.

The beauty of the route immediately made up for the all waiting. The cool temperature at noon, the canopy of the trees, and small streams along the way refreshed us. The guide explained the history of the route and gave an in-depth guide of the flora and fauna of the national park. He told us of another route, traversable by foot to Poondi and further to Kodaikanal, but that was for local residents only.

During the walk, we saw an old milestone that transported us to the past, which contained distances to Kodai, Madurai, Cochin, and more. A newly constructed watch tower gave us a towering view of the grasslands of the national park. This was as far as we could go along the escape route. From the watch tower, we descended to the grasslands and hitched a ride back to the checkpost, completing our surreal experience.

For trekking and history enthusiasts, I highly recommend trying out this short trek. It is sure to give you goosebumps. We don’t know if the government may decide to close off this trail too, so be sure to choose Vattavada as your next vacation destination. If you are lucky, you may come across some animal sightings as well. I learned this the hard way, but be wary of leeches.