Charmed by a river

As one follows the Chalakudy river, witness to the magic of life it nourishes and sustains, one cannot but feel enchanted.

Life thrived here, nurtured and sustained by the river... And here, you feel connected to it. Here, you glimpse the soul of the river.

The birds are on a high and the air is filled with their toot and tootle. Underneath, the gurgling river tries to keep pace. A willowy breeze sweeping through the bamboo groves rustles its crisp, spiky leaves, adding to the medley. The resulting symphony is magical.

Some 75 km northwest of Kochi - Kerala’s bustling seaport - lies the trading town of Chalakudy. And a short 5 km away flows the river that carries its name. Go another few kilometres and you are at the Athirampally falls.

Here, water gushes over a large rocky knoll in white, effervescent waves. As you get closer, you feel the wetness; then you are surrounded by a fine mist, cool and bracing against your skin.

Enchanted places If you are a nature lover, be here at the break of dawn - and give yourself up to the magic in the air. You’ll find yourself being led downstream, as if by an unseen force, to an enchanting spot where, the river seems to bare its soul.

Beneath a painted sky, you’ll find the Chalakudy River overwhelmingly dominating the scene. Neither the overgrown trees lining the banks nor the lush vegetation all around seem to diminish its arresting presence.

In its gurgling flow, you sense a certain indescribable quality - a tranquil gentility, suffused with a vibrant energy. This November morning - after a long, vigorous monsoon - the river is swollen and flows at a crisp pace here, sweeping majestically through a bend upstream, and about 70 meandering miles from its source in the higher reaches of the Sholayar ranges.

Scattered rocks, sculpted into round domes by the constantly flowing water, dam up the flow momentarily, creating small cascades - curving sheets of water - that plunge over them. Billows of spray shoot into the morning air.

As the sun climbs up, shafts of orange-yellow light filter through the canopy overhead and blobs of light dance on the rippling surface like prancing doe. Close to the bank, in the lee of a rocky mole, fallen leaves rollick in miniature whirlpools. And a pair of terns, eager for breakfast, finds it a perfect feeding ground.

Vigilant and waiting, they catch silvery fish that flip into the air, swallowing them swiftly with few jerks of their upturned head. Kingfishers, adopting a different strategy, sweep down from limbs of trees leaning delectably into the water. Diving into the river, they come up abruptly with a quivering small fry clamped between their pointed beaks.

- Hindu