Stone and root at Mamandur

Sri Venkateswara National Park

August 2016.

While at Mamandur, one of our excursions was in to the forest to see one of the smaller water falls and pools that dot the Park.  The large and significant ones are Talakona and Penchalakona, but this one was a smaller one, to be accessed from one of the forest roads that you see being opened up for us.

Overhead is the railway line that divides the sanctuary area.

We moved in, under the tracks, and soon the foliage closed in on us, on either side, the overgrown track a testament to infrequent visitors.

Bauhinia and Red Sanders aplenty, as also Drongos and bulbuls.  Our cars moved along, the gravel crunching loudly.  It was more a SUV kind of track, and our sedans made slow progress.  We could have walked, but there was a time issue, as also a matter of not walking in a national park. And so we crunched on until we reached the head of the natural quarry with the waterfall.

The stone, layered and sandwiched.

The roots moving into every crevice, in search of moisture and earth....

...dramatic formations

....supporting large ficuses

The pool with an underground exit - water was flowing in, but not visibly flowing out

The sandwich face was impressive - and between each layer there was life.

The glossy green leaves an indication of a thriving ecosystem

We picnicked on idlies and vadais, under the shade of this tree, making sure we carefully packed and removed every piece of waste.

And I mustn't forget the flasks of tea, which seemed like the proverbial akshayapatram, as we kept pouring out endless cups in an attempt to empty them!

As we headed back, the drive seemed somewhat shorter, as is usually the case.

Back under the railway track and to the rooms on the hill, and as we moved up, we saw a startled bunch of chitals cross the road in a hurry.