Into the golden crown of the Western Ghats

The poetic senses evoked by walking through the lush green rain forest and misty mountains bring ecstasy beyond comparison. My wanderlust leads me to less-traveled areas, particularly pristine natural landscapes. This time, we went on an adventure hike to Ponmudi in search of rare indigenous species; our team started early morning and reached the check post around 7 a.m. After getting permission and tickets, we ride to the top, enjoying the sight scenes. It was crowded by the gypsy riders and family picnics, so our search points were unknown to the general folk. 

Path to Sitatheertham

As we progressed towards Ponmudi, we were able to see the rowdy behavior of Bonnet macaques raiding food from trucks and tourists. Which was hilarious and, at the same time, shows the importance of behavioral changes in macaques and the need for extensive research in Human-wildlife conflicts. We took a trek through a shola patch away from the tourist hotspots. I felt cleansed after walking through the shola patch. Our first visitor was the surprising and unusual Protosticta ponmudisis, a new species of damselfly discovered in Ponmudi.  We resumed our hike for more thrill after observing it for a reasonable amount of time. On the way, we were able to watch tens of fairy-blue birds foraging around the patch, which was an interesting sight. Despite the fact that the trek trip was stressful due to the blood-sucking leeches, our spirits were not dampened. After a long trek through the patch, we reached a place where heaven meets the sky, and the local narrates this place as Seethatheertham. Seethatheertham, on the other hand, frequently eludes even the most diligent travelers. It is unrelated to the same-named shrine at Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. Indeed, this shrine is perched atop a rocky outcropping, surrounded by a panoramic mountain view and serene sky.

Plastered footprint of Sita

According to the local myth, Sita with Ram and Laxman camped here. The foot-imprint of Sita has been preserved for believers and curious visitors. Few meters from the shrine, a small, perennial rivulet meanders between the boulders where Sita is said to have quenched her thirst after the long voyage. The rivulet never completely dries up, which attracts the wild animals. 

Sitatheertham

The stream was a strong attraction for us because in and around this, we were able to see few endemic frogs, butterflies, damselflies of western ghats, such as the Kallar dancing frog, Indirana sp, Indosylvirana sp, saffron reedtail, Idionyx travancorensis, Golden flitter, plain tiger, etc. Observing endemic species and their habitat is always exciting for nature lovers. The hidden delights in our trip, as well as the fun earned after a prolonged pandemic lock-down, gave me the drive to keep continuing my passion.

Plain tiger

Color, creation, and nature's unique beauty will always be awe-inspiring to humans, and the advancement of technology has allowed us more flexibility to halt time and capture it. The value of observations and images increases in proportion to the object's role and relevance in the system. Golden flitter was an image of such rarity and significance that I only discovered its rarity and importance later. A person's worth rises at different levels, just as the lepidopterist appreciates golden flitter, and the first impression is never the best one.

Golden flitter

Saffron reedtail

Indosylvirana sp

Indirana sp