Spelunking In Ayakudi, Tamil Nadu ~ TRAVELENDURA

Ayakudi is a small town in the Tenkasi taluk of Tamil Nadu and quite honestly, there is not a lot to describe. Until I decided to visit this place I had not heard of it at all. My work in Ayakudi was with an NGO called Amar Seva Sangam and that is how I even knew such a place existed. I had accompanied my father to this NGO, by way of which I got to see a little of the town.

Ayakudi is well on its way into becoming a fully developed town. The place is one of the most serene that Tamil Nadu can offer. Supplies and other essentials for the NGO come from Chennai, Thirunelveli or Dindigul.There is greenery everywhere and the wind is bent upon sweeping you off your feet. This town therefore harnesses wind energy through wind mills. There is a river that runs by the town which meets its irrigation and water requirements to a minimum.

What is evident from the time you set foot there is its pristine waters and landscape, not to mention very strong winds. It is a very sleepy town from the outside, but upon interaction with the people there you'd see it is very industrious. I had a great time at the NGO and also visited other schools and organizations.

One of the most interesting things I did was, exploring caves. Ayakudi is a very hilly area and has many caves hidden in its folds. We got a local to help us and we hiked along the river, climbed a small hill and got to see some caves. The hike along the river was fantastic. The cool waters and the greenery around was too mesmerizing for a girl from the city. Back home, cool water meant water from the refrigerator and most of the greenery was potted plants. This though, was awesome.

The caves were located very precariously near an edge and we were advised not to make an attempt scaling the boulders to make it in. Following which we were also told that these caves were once used by saints and hermits for 'tapas' or deep meditation. Apparently some made it out,some did not and some were still inside attempting to attain enlightenment. This last bit of information spooked me just a wee bit, enough to make me race down as fast and carefully as my feet would permit.

In spite of getting the 'heebidebajeebies' it was a great experience. We visited temples close by which included the Vishvanatha temple of Tenkasi. For those wanting a quite time off, Ayakudi is recommended. Although it does not have hotels and lodges, one may stay at Tenkasi or Thirunelveli and make it to Ayakudi for a day trip. This place put me in a meditative state upon entry till my exit and remains to this day, a special memory.

Lots of coconut palms around

Tips for travel to Ayakudi:

Carry shades, an umbrella, sunblock and plenty of eatables and water.
There is only one train to Tenkasi and at the most two to Thirunelveli. Check schedules and book well in advance.
From these stations buses ply back and forth to Ayakudi, but a taxi may be more comfortable.
Not many good hotels are available here so plan a stay at Thirunelveli or even Trichy perhaps.
Wear cotton clothes and sturdy shoes.
Use the help of a reliable local who knows his/her way around and who can speak Tamil.

Here are a few more snaps of this scenic place.
Happy exploring!