If you are in for exploring “God’s Own Country” by trekking, let us disclose to you Kerala is dotted with many offbeat trekking trails in the Western Ghats. One such is Ranipuram Peak in the Kasaragod district. An easy course suitable for beginners, the Ranipuram trek showcases the beauty of the Western Ghats and makes for a delightful short journey. The hills here are covered with evergreen stunted tropical montane forests and grassland. From the peak’s highest point, you have a panoramic view of the landscapes, green valleys, and glimpses of the Arabian Sea in the far west.
Massive boulders rest on top of the hill. Like a magician’s sword cuts only that the eye can sum, the spurting winds here have cut the boulders that seem supernatural at that height. How these rocks made their way to the top is still a mystery, but the views are genuinely breathtaking.
The views from the top are often compared to Ooty, a prominent hill station in Tamil Nadu. But we strive to differ here; this is an offbeat trek. Unlike Ooty, which is commercialised, this place still enjoys solace. Wild animals, endemic flora and fauna, weather conditions and circumambient smell team up to give us a juvenile experience.
We will not miss the fort in Kerala where the versatile song ‘Uyire’ was shot in the movie Bombay. Thus we will go to Bekal Fort. It is a medieval fort built by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi in 1650 AD at Bekal. It is the largest fort in Kerala, spreading over 40 acres.
Next, we will also cover a secret waterfall in the lap of Kerala. In the newly found revelations, you will not know when you became Kerala and Kerala became you. That’s the magic of travelling. You leave parts of yourself in everything you touch, see or experience as you travel. Hereafter doing the Ranipuram trek, you will also feel the same. Go through the complete itinerary of Ranipuram Trek in Kerala for the comprehensive plan and book your tickets at the earliest.
Day 0
Day 1
Day 2
Following are the pick-up points & timings:
We leave behind the city life of Bangalore at night for the quiet life of Ranipurm, which is situated around 300kms away. The trek leaders start with the introductory part and the most awaited part of it all – the icebreaker session which is absolutely essential for fully enjoying the 2-days journey.
After reaching Ranipuram, we will freshen up, have breakfast and go to the trek start point.
The trek is easy. After crossing the dense Shola forest, we reach open grasslands where the sun’s rays welcomely give respite in the monsoons and winters. In summers, you might feel them biting through your skin, but now and then, heavily swollen clouds will cheer you up. You will come across one forest guard hut made of stones in the open grasslands. It is somewhat damaged—maybe because of elephants and nature. There is a pool nearby where elephants come to play.
We will reach the top in about 1 hour. The top of the peak gives views of forests, panoramic landscapes and the Arabian Sea at the far west end.
After a short while, we will start to descend. If it rains, the descent can become challenging as the terrain will become slippery, so wear shoes with good grip.
We will have a packed lunch en route. After this, we will head to Bekal Fort. It is a 1.5 hr drive, so you can take a quick nap.
Bekal fort appears to be floating in the Arabian sea. Almost three-quarters of its exterior is in contact with water. The zig-zag entrance and surrounding trenches reveal its defensive strategy. There is an observation tower right in the middle of the fort, built by Tipu Sultan. Notably, the famous Tamil song ‘Uyire’ was shot in this fort. After spending some moments in this fort, we will watch the sunset at the beach and then return. The homestay is 1.5 hrs drive from here.
At the homestay, you can freshen up, have dinner, and then indulge in either gossip or retire for the night, depending on your mood.
Wake up, freshen up and boost yourself with a power-packed breakfast. Pack your belongings; we will directly return to Bangalore after visiting a Secret Waterfall. To view this magnificent waterfall, one must cross two streams, climb uphill, and walk through a private areca nut farm. Although it invites you, refrain from entering the fall since its depth is unknown.
We will return from there after a while. Guess what, the fun is yet not over. We will stop for lunch at an Old Heritage Home. You will love the family of the estate. Always open to experiences, this family will make you feel at home. After the interactive session, we will have lunch, mostly Malnad cuisine. As much as we don’t want to, we will have to catch the bus to come back to our homes. With heavy hearts, we will leave the place to reach Bengaluru approximately at 10:30 pm. The bus will drop you at the same stop where you were picked up, and the trip will end.
We hope you get everything you’re looking for from this trip. Don’t forget to stay in touch with all your new friends, and don’t ever stop exploring. We would love to see you again—check out our other itineraries and ring us soon. Till then, take care and love life.
