For a days worth

KOCHI: Gone are the days when one had to coerce calendars into coughing up a long weekend to take that break from paperwork and homework. With one-day trips here to save the day, Kochiites can forget leave applications and unfriendly bosses and hit the highway to leisure.Eco-tourism is the buzzword as more vacationers are opting to travel off the weather-beaten track, even if it means a few bruises and a test of stamina. Chimmony, in Thrissur district, is a nature-lover’s paradise and provides food for many a guess-the-call-of-the-wild game. Home to sambar, flying squirrels, whistling thrush, lion-tailed macaques and plenty of other furry and feathered neighbours, Chimmony offers nature at its pristine best. Chimmony Dam is also a popular hotspot and exclusive overnight camps in the sanctuary are organised by the Wild Kerala Tour Company.Avid trekkers can sign up for the Kurunji trek, organised by the Eravikulam National Park, that offers valuable inputs on the shola eco-system. This 3km trek provides a sneak peek at the kurunji plants growing for the next blooming season and the Nilgiri Tahr can be easily spotted. With local Muthuvan tribe members as guides, one is bound to get an idea about the wealth of the sanctuary. The trek, that begins at 8 a.m. and concludes by 3 p.m., is priced at `150 per person.The road for many, heading to Chalakudy, ends at the Athirappilly falls and only those who press forward get more from their fuel. Thumburmuzhi Dam Gardens, with its generous bounty of rushing waters and green landscapes, is not often on the to-do list of many holiday-makers. However, this haven allows visitors to take in the beauty of the forests at an unhurried pace and enjoy the gurgling waters of the ponds. The birds are a photographer’s delight, as well as blue and yellow butterflies which throng flowery corridors and the occasional brave one straddles a friendly palm. A few kilometres from Athirappilly are the glorious waters of the Charpa falls. It is not difficult to miss this barrage of water as it cradles the main road and don’t be surprised if you find a monkey knocking on your window. The Peringalkuthu and Sholayar dams dot the way that weaves through the jungle, before the trail makes a stop at Malakkapara Tea Gardens, where tea saplings make hay while the sun kisses the earth. Nearly 45 kilometres from Kochi, the pachyderm paradise at Kodanadu is no stranger to Kochiites, as the ‘many tonned’ heroes bask in the love bestowed on them. A little further along this way, lies Paniyeli Poru, a picturesque picnic site alonside the Periyar river. Crystal clear water, luscious forests and warbling birds lure crowds in summer but one needs to be wary of taking a dip, as strong undercurrents pose a threat. Trekking trails from Poru to Bhoothathankettu are also popular. Paniyeli is best visited in summer when the water levels decrease.For those who don’t trust the wheel, the one-day tour of the backwaters from Kollam and Alleppey is a winner. At  `300, the eight-hour tour has stops at the Karumadikuttan Buddha idol, Kumarakody, Alumkadavu, Matha Amrithanandamayi Madom and Kayamkulam Lake, but does not include meals.If one thinks what’s a trip without the sea breeze soothing tired souls and sand beneath one’s feet, the virgin Andhakaranazhi beach, 30 kilometres from Kochi, on the way to Alleppey, offers the breath-taking sight of lagoons blending with the sea and fishermen reeling in the day’s spoils. For history-makers, the Muziris’ route guarantees a review of the golden past. Bags packed and fuel filled, weekend getaways are just around the corner.