We entered forest at 7am, Storme was the only vehicle on the road, reached a forest check post at 7.40am, the forest officer was surprised to see us so early, he asked how did you get the pass so early? Come with your pass and driving license.
Me: Pass??? I don’t have any pass; I came to get one from here.
He laughed and said that we have already passed through the permit issuing office and the first check post. We were too early; otherwise we could be stopped at the first check post. The pass will be issued from the forest office 20km behind us at 8 am onwards and this is the 2nd of the 5 forest check posts.
Oh my god, driving 40Km up and down on this worst road was unthinkable, I was in a dilemma. There is another option, park Storme there and wait for the bus to come for the remaining journey and come back by the same bus to this point. The forest officer reminded us that the pass will be issued only for 20 vehicles and if we are not starting now we may lose out. We decided to go back and get the pass, reached at Forest Range Office Angamoozhi at 8.10, there was a long queue of vehicles for the pass.
To avoid rush there is a token system, by the time we reached all the 20 tokens were issued, we explained the situation to the officer and just wait outside the range office. To our luck the person with token No 19 did not turn up to collect the pass in time, so we got the pass to Anathodu (Rs.30 per head) and from there we need to get another pass.
Now there are 18 vehicles ahead of us, definitely no chance for spotting any wildlife. We continued our journey to gavi, checked pass and driving license at first check post, then reached at second check post they are checking the vehicles thoroughly for plastics and liquor. Liquor is strictly prohibited in the forest area.
No road at some locations, only big boulders. After a very tiring journey, we had hot and delicious Lunch with fish curry from KSEB Canteen at Pamba Dam. We reached Anathodu check post; we got a new pass (Charge Rs.115 for car, camera and 3 person) to proceed to Gavi.
There are 5 dams and few viewpoints on the way to gavi. We reached at Gavi around 3 pm. Gavi is a very small village, there is a post office 2-3 shops, and a canteen at Gavi Town. There is nothing much to see there other than the Gavi Eco Tourism organized by KTDFC which needs prior booking.
The major activates of Gavi Eco tourism are Trekking, Bird Watching, Outdoor camping in forest, Safaris through jungle roads, Boating in the Gavi& kochupampa lakes, Leisurely walks through spice gardens, Climb to Sabarimala Temple View.
After spending some time and driving through the forest, at 4.00 pm we decided to return, but another problem, the forest guard discouraged us going back to pathanamthitta by driving 4 hours through the forest in the evening. We had only one option to go to Vandipperiyar and from there to pathanamthitta via kuttikkanam – Erumeli – Ranni. The road to vandipperiyar is good.
After spending some time at vandipperiyar we headed back to pathanamthitta.
Total distance covered: 290Km
Fuel Consumed: 34 liter
Milage: 8.5kmpl