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Kodanadu View Point, Kotagiri (Ooty) Nilgiri Omnibus Part 4 |
So we are in Kodanadu area of Kotagiri in Nilgiris Mountains.
We had super-duper-green-tea-with-lemon-grass. Sun is about to set in the mountains and it is crimson all over and also wind is getting cold. It is 5.30PM so we walk to the center of the village amidst the cluster of these purple flowers Salvia Leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage).
Wildflowers in Nilgiris. Courtesy Gita AM
A man is waving us and shouting at us from the top of the village and I wave back. He shouts in Tamil that I cannot understand. He comes running and gives me a hug and then takes my right hand in his both hands and begins shaking and muttering. Mistaken acquaintance, I thought. Then he speaks in halting English that his throat is cured now by the medicine I told him.
Views from Kodanadu View Point
Now I remember him. One upon a time; I instructed him to make a medicine from an identical herb of Phytolacca that grows in Nilgiris but I was unable to find its reference or real name in any book. However now I came to know that a debate is going on about naming this newest discovered plant (well they discovered it now but I discovered it many years ago because I was familiar with Phytolacca Americana/Decandra). Some scientists say that it is Phytolacca Decandra, someone brought it from America and some say Phytolacca Ocandra.
Whatever is the name; I tasted its berries and found no difference in the famous Phytolacca that is used in Homeopathy medicine. It is right sided remedy, right side throat swollen and many other right sided ailments (sensitive to electric changes, worse in rain and damp). Well, I vaguely remember that I instructed this gentleman about how to make 10C potency form the Phytolacca root. Root is poisonous. One man was suffering from dropsy and tried to end his life by eating Phytolacca roots but he got cured.
This gentleman says that he is now OK. His forever sore throat is gone. Right side was worse always or problem always begun at right side then spread to all over.
Kodanadu area
I again got drifted from my travel tale. This gentleman Mr. KK Swamy forces us another cup of tea from the nearby shop. We can see down that bus is coming from Kodanadu View Point and he also watches it in dismay and begs us to visit his home and then take last bus. We want to get to Kotagiri in daylight because we are not wearing any warm clothing. Bus abruptly comes and we get on it leaving behind the paradise.
Wild Sunflowers in Nilgiris. Courtesy Gita AM
Bus is sparsely full so we take our favorite front seats. Driver knows us because he is watching us wandering in the mountains for several days. After Kodanadu bungalow he stops the bus just to show us several roaming bison on the mountain above the tea estate. That is no good; that is no good at all; his showing us these goddamned bison.
I know that my wife will freak-out and will refuse to walk in Nilgiris tomorrow.
What can I do?
Nothing!
She gets scared of animals and deserted places and I am reverse in this respect.
From here the lake at the bottom of Kodanad Estate and neatly arranged village is shining like silver in the setting sun. It is a breathtaking scenic area. People find this lake very scenic and in almost all pictures of Kodanad Estate this lake is present.
Blooming Jacranda at Kodanad Tea Estate
Bus takes half hour to travel 17 kilometers to Kotagiri. It is dark now and we can see lights on the mountains.
We get down 1 KM before the main stand of Kotagiri and enter in the GRB bakery and café. They made best tea here. Best in the sense, they serve hottest tea. They keep cups in the hot water and then pour tea to serve people. Next door is the cyber café where I go to check my emails. Then we take alternate way that goes in the town then to our hotel.
Views from Kodanadu View Point
We arrive in our hotel and Mr. Phillip the hotel manager is there. He is a big man with big mustaches and at first impression he looks very scary but then after you are know him for a while he looks very gentle. He appears the kind of a person that is most suitable for the role of Ravana in Ramlilas.
I begin the conversation with him.
“Hey Man; Phillip, I say that WE MUST stay in your hotel for another some days.”
“You are welcome; you are very welcome. You are very-very-very welcome”
“But man, I say that our money ran out. We called our home and money will arrive by mail and we haven’t got anywhere else to go so we MUST stay here to wait for the mail to arrive.”
Suddenly Phillip is very angry and confused because he knows me for many years.
He shouts, “You can stay here for maximum one day. Day after tomorrow you must leave. Or I will throw you out.”
I say in tormented voice, “But, Man, we have no money to eat. We want to borrow some money from you to eat. If you have some roties, give me so we eat those.”
He is very angry, confused and sorry for us.
I take out rupee note from my front pocket and insert in his shirt pocket.
I say, “This is our last 100 rupees that we got.”
He is staring at me in boiling anger. His whole face is red and he is shaking.
This reminds me the scene in Ramlilas, when Ravana gets the news that some petty jungle dweller Lakshman cut off his beloved sister Surpnakah’s beloved nose.
Years of acquaintance restricts him to beat me up for good.
I retreat to our room upstairs. My wife Vimla was watching my conversation with Phillip from the balcony. She was there because she is not good at suppressing her laughter. I join her and we walk to our room.
Views
Phillip shows up at our door after 5 minutes.
He is laughing, “Sir you pulled my leg again. You always get away with your mischievous acts.”
“Man, I was only testing if you are my true friend.”
He replies meekly, “I guess I failed the test.”
“No Man, you passed with full scores. Had you beaten me to pulp then you would have failed.”
“He he he he. Here is the receipt for that 2000 rupee you put in my pocket.”
Wildflowers in Nilgiris. Courtesy Gita AM
I pulled his leg on my last trip too. One evening after my day walk and some nightmarish ordeal with Mr. Sebastian who is security officer in Kotada Estate where I trespassed; I entered in my hotel and placed 2 hugest and ugliest looking Avocado fruits on his desk.
“What the hell this means,” he barked.
“We met a gentleman named Sebastian, he turned out your distant brother-in-law and he sent you these mango. He says he loves you and also mentioned that he admirers your mustaches.”
He shouted at the top of his voice, “How dare is he to send me this junk.”
“Hey man, don’t scream at me, I am only a messenger.”
Then he calmed down and looked at those avocado fruits as they were 2 dead rats lying on his desk.
“Man, I say, can I take one Mango?” I said.
“You take both. Thank you.”
“No. Thank you.”
When I was on the stairs to my room he screamed, “You are not going to eat these, will you?”
“Take a wild guess.”
He ran after me shouting, “Give me those.”
Salvia Leucantha. Mexican Bush Sage.
I wrote several posts on Kotagiri and always forgot my night walks here. It is fun to walk at night after supper. After you pass main road, here comes the old area around the Mosque. After you pass Mosque, there comes a nice temple that my wife loves to visit everyday. After the temple you make a left at T junction and again you enter in the wilderness and you can return back to Kotagiri main area above you after some zigzag paths. If you make a right you will enter in the further streets and more temples and you can return back through the streets.
Picture taken from my hotel window in Kotagiri
If you walk out of Kotagiri towards Sterling Tea Factory you may see strange trees in the tea plantations. I may feel the trees planted upside down.
Baobab tree in Nilgiri’s
Roots in the air and canopy under the ground. These trees are imported from Africa. These are Baobab trees. These trees grow at some places in India.
Baobab tree in Nilgiri’s
About 4 I have seen in Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh in Bangalore. Several of these trees also grow around Mandav in MP.
Baobab tree in Nilgiri’s
Another plant that grows widely in Nilgiri is Eupatorium Perfoliatum.
Eupatorium Perfoliatum
Eupatorium Perfoliatum is a well known and highly advertised medicine in Homeopathy for Dangue, Swine Fever, and Flu etc. Known as “Bone-set”, from the prompt manner in which it relieves pain in limbs and muscles that accompanies some forms of febrile disease, like malaria and influenza.
Eupatorium Perfoliatum
zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/homeopathy-pills-free-of-cost-to-prevent-dengue_17519.html
www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/dengue-fever-homoeopathy-camps-evoke-good-response/article4155839.ece
Eupatorium Perfoliatum is a magic medicine and can prevent many miserable situations if used. I used it in Malaria, Influenza etc. Perspiration relieves all symptoms except headache.
Another plant that is the cousin this plant is Eupatorium Purpureum is not so famous remedy. It is used for Albuminuria, diabetes, strangury, Irritable bladder, enlarged prostate. It is excellent in renal dropsy.
Chills and pains run upwards.
Impotency and sterility.
Homesickness.
Eupatorium Purpureum
Eupatorium Purpureum
HAPPY NEW YEAR PRAVEEN !!!!
It looks we have to take lessons from you in Ghumakkari as well as in Ayurveda and homeopathy
great post indeed
Happy New Year,
This time Baobab tree in Nilgiri’s. First time I am seeing that trees. Homeopathic medicines, new places good photos. You are great Mr. Praveen Wadhwa. Thanks a lot for such wonderful information.
Regards
Happy new year to all.
@Silentsoul:
Pundit Ji, I am actually giving lessons in Homeopathy and Ayurveda. Actually first I wrote some pages on Nilgiri’s medicinal plants then asked Nandan if he wishes to publish it. He said: Yes. So I broke down those pages and incorporated these in Kodanadu View Point. That’s why it has become a 4 post series.
Thank God that Kodanadu View Point is now over. I feel it became too sticky due to the length.
@Surinder Ji: Happy new year. I always wonder, you should write a post about the place where you live. When I went to Alaska and crossed whole Canada, I passed through your area and I feel a lots of mystery is attached with the place.
Dr. Saheb, thank you for the New Year gift. Thoroughly enjoyed this series and all the gyan that came with it. The Baobab tree looks awesome. I wonder what is the reason for a disproportionately thick trunk and such a small canopy of leaves. The ecology of the plant kingdom is as varied as its animal counterpart, if not more.
It is great to see the naughty side of you. Aaap itna shareef lagte hain that nobody, least of all Mr. Phillip would have expected you to play such a prank. No wonder people like Philip and Sebastian are such great friends of yours. All of us are lucky to have friends like you.
Hello Praveen Ji,
Excellent post with nice description and pictures are amazing and beautiful in Nilgiri range. I have nave seen such type Baobab tree. Good Photography… one thing.. Have you taken all picture by you ? if Yes! Which camera are you using?
Wish You a very Happy & Prosperous New Year
Thanks
What a treat Praveen Ji! Lovely tale and awesome photos especially Boabab…i didn’t know that Boabab tree grows in India too. Your knowledge about the wild herbs is amazing, it really helps while wandering on less explored/deserted jungle trails…
Superbly narrated as usual, Praveen sir.
beautiful post,quite informative .pics are superb.
Dear Praveenji, Difficult to ignore your post, I thank my stars that I never missed a single post till date although could not comment on every post. How important and vital informations you are sharing with us, since dengue, malaria, chickengunia and typhoid has become so common nowadays and once we have it recovery itself takes hell of a time. You have actually given a new dimension to Ghumakkari with not only introducing us to these unexplored and unique places but sharing such invaluable informations on local herbs which are so close to our daily life. I am sure this enlightenment process will continue in 2013 also and would eagerly wait for your next post… wish you and your family a great year ahead with lot of Ghumakkari…
I see that you have inserted some of my wildflower photos in your post, including this one without credit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/valparai-2012-part1/8306222841/
Incidentally, all my photos which you have used in this post are wild flora seen in the Anaimallais which are approx. 100km south of the Nilgiris, though naturally the same flora would be found at similar altitudes in the Nilgiris.
Regarding the Baobabs, one of the photos you have posted is of Adansonia grandidieri which is a Madagascar native. Did you see this at Syms Park or where in the Nilgiris if you dont mind my asking?
We have several good specimens of Adansonia digitata in Mumbai.
I am extremely sorry to add caption in that picture. Pl. let me know if you want this to be removed.
Adansonia digitata is a different tree than Adansonia grandidieri.
Adansonia digitata grows all over deserts in India. It was introduced from Australia. It is a thorny busy.
Yes obviously A. digitata is not the same as A. grandidieri though both are called Baobabs. You did not disclose where in the Nilgiris you saw or took those A . grandidieri photos. I would like to see them when I go there next.
Kotagiri seems like one gem of a place in Nilgiris. Thank you PW for everything.
Gita AM Ji
If you have sharp eyes, you can see a cluster of these trees from Bandipur to Madumalai and also some on the Madumalai to Masinagudi and some on Madumalai to Gundlupet.
In Kotagiri you can see these after Sterling Tea factory. That estate owner is a tree enthusiastic.
Since elephants destroy all young trees by scrapping off the outer shell of the trees so very few trees survive in elephants territory. One is Ailanthus tree and then other is Baobab. These two trees survive the elephant territory. Ailanthus grows extremely fast so it is now a widely spread tree there.
Elephants do love young Baobab trees so once tree gets mature only then it has a chance.
Typical Baobab’s origin is in Madagascar but almost whole of Africa has adopted this tree and it can be see all over from South Africa to Mali, Niger and Chad.
Thanks for the location information. I will certainly look out for the grandidieri trees on my next visit to the region.
Was this twisted tree at Kotagiri?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cn24vhB9mlE/UN3zSAv6agI/AAAAAAAACYM/SUAvZquriio/s558/MG-MO-baobab-0001_xlarge.jpg
And specifically where was this one seen?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oPqVGu3LcaQ/UN3zRysLBvI/AAAAAAAACXo/tREznsOIItw/s594/Adansonia_grandidieri04.jpg
I would love to see both of those for sure! Magnificent specimens indeed.
Trust you do not mind my asking.
Two of these trees can be seen in Ooty Botanical Garden.
At least 2 in Lal Bagh in Bangalore
At least 4 in Cubbon Park in Bangalore
Picture of these trees may not be specific location. Not just Kotagiri but from Niligiris Biosphere.
Since I cannot edit the post so I typed over the source of both pictures.
My mistake these both are not from Nilgiris but represent same sort of view that one may observe in Nilgiris.
I thought as much because there is no documented record of Adansonia grandidieri growing in India, let alone the Nilgiris. That is why I asked you for the specific location of the photo of those particular Baobab species which you had captioned as Baobab in the Nilgiris.
Had you confirmed that you did in fact see the Grandidieri species of Baobab in the Nilgiris, I would have requested you to inform the Botanical Survey of India about your amazing discovery.
Lalbagh etc. have Adansonia digitata Baobab trees along with several other magnificent specmens from the same family Bombacaceae but not A. grandidieri. The caption ‘Baobab in the Nilgiris’ for those photos of A. grandidieri caused the confusion.
Anyway, it does not really matter as most readers would not be particularly interested in such specific details.
Gita AM Ji,
Had you not mentioned this in your comments I was never to know about the difference between Adansonia grandidieri and Adansonia digitata. Neither I ever knew that there may be more than one variety of Baobab trees. I never researched that Adansonia Digitata also looks like an inverted tree. A baobab tree was a baobab tree to me – before you mentioned.
Of-course this tree catches attention at once so I wrote about it. So it was A. Digitata
Thanks for letting me as will all who read this post, know of this fact.
I have printed the due credit on your picture.
When I was in 12th, in our botany book Andnasonia Digitata was a thorny dwarf tree introduced in India from Australia and since than it was sticking to my memory that way.
Today I came to know that dwarf thorny tree was Parkinsonia aculeata, Jerusalam Thorn tree.
Just reading the botany conversation between Praveen and Gita has left me speechless.
Great post as usual.