Originally Posted by ramanji  We set off to Talakona by bike. It is around 76Km from Tirupati. Though I stayed in Chittoor Dt for my engineering course, somehow I missed visiting this famous waterfall. Last weekend, I was glad that I visited this place in the afternoon. To every nature lover, it may be clear that nature is at its best in the morning. You may wonder what makes one want to spend time amidst nature early in the morning. Birds sing to welcome the sun rise and there is a feeling of freshness.
Though it is late in the morning by the time we were on the way to Talakona, as we moved through Tirupati National Park (which one should cross before going to Talakona), we were mesmerized by the twittering cries of birds and colourful blossoming trees on either side of the road. I went mad as I was on alert and sensed the smell of paddy crop at one village.
On arriving, we had the darshan of Lord Shiva at Talakona.The Shiva linga has three sparkling stone-studded namas . Luckily, there were not many devotees, so I had a close look at the Shiv lingam. After having darshan, we went to see some giant trees, which reminded me of the huge trees at Mahanadhi.
On our way to the waterfall, there was a path on the left side. As we took that path, we came across a narrow lane with big trees on either side. The trees have deep roots in the hillocks. At one location, I was dumbfounded to see the roots clearly spread across the rocks. The path is just a passage to placid ambience. As I went ahead, I found a waterfall. There are two big rocks with one rock in between. Behind these rocks, there was a small waterfall falling into a pool. As I stepped into it, I felt the coolness of crystal clear water. As I kept gazing at the bottom of the waters, I could clearly see the stones and peepal leaves. I asked my pal to experience the beauty beneath the waters. As he came, he asked me to look at the swimming fish. No sooner had I seen them than they started biting my foot. I simply let them do it.
After some time, we saw another path near the pond and I started ascending a hill to discover the beauty of boulders on the hill opposite. All of a sudden, rain poured down and I descended the hill carefully. At the bottom I sat on a log to look at some cube shaped rocks.
I believe one needs utmost concentration to see every wonderful creation especially when in the forest. A person has to simply move around without any preoccupied mind to experience ecstasy in the realm of flora and fauna.
Our next stop was to see the biggest attraction of Talakona - the waterfall from a big mountain. Unfortunately, we could not go to a place half way up the mountain to experience the force of the waterfall. We decided to stay at the foot of the hill and I bathed in the pond there. I found a small waterfall nearby and let my body stand beneath it to feel the force of water at different places of my body and I shall not forget this natural bath.
As I was moving away from the waterfall, I saw on old woman who played music on her mrudangam-like instrument. A kid approached her to dance in time to the music. The kid’s brother joined him to dance. It is the turn of their parents to simply witness the happiness of kids in dancing. The old woman was all smiles and she got some rupees at the end. Small joys of life are to be shared as and when we get the chance.
As our return, I enjoyed the fullness of the flowering trees and the sight of streams. Next time, when I go there, I will make it a point to arrive by 7:00 AM to listen to the music of birds in the company of trees. Jungle bells at Talakona thrill you only if you are alert . |