Chembra is the highest peak of Wayanad hills, a part of the mighty Western Ghats. Presently, access to Chembra peak is restricted only till the natural heart shape lake from where the peak is another 1.5 km hike.
It’s a day-trek with 2 km trek distance one side from the starting point. The parking lot is about 1.5 km before it, thus making the total walking distance around 7 km for both ways. From parking lot, a tarred road leads to a wide mud road through tea plantation to walk up to the trek start point.
The Starting!
The trek is open daily from 7 am to 3 pm and no permit will be issued beyond 12 noon. So, it’s possible for the fit trekkers to complete the entire trek up and down within 3 hours.
Well, we took around 5 hours to complete to and fro the heart shape lake.
Somewhere in internet it shows that tickets will be issued till 2 pm and the trek closes at 5 pm. We’re not sure of this. Chances are high that present timing is due to the present season, when it’s raining every afternoon till early morning. Hence it’s best to get current information from local stay options.
For any trek, it’s always better to start the trek early. For Chembra, it means, if possible, take the tickets when the counter opens at 7 am. Now to be such an early bird, it’s better to stay the previous night somewhere nearby. We stayed in a home-stay in Meppadi – the nearest town.
A night’s good rest is an advantage for any trek and trekker. We particularly couldn’t afford to compromise on it because this was the first trek of our 5 years old daughter.
The starting point!
The initial portion of the trek from starting point is through forest. Though climbing, it’s not much demanding. After a while, this forested path gives way to meadows soon enough. Once meadows start, the trail starts becoming more and more difficult. The climb is never extremely steep, but the path is mainly of mud. This is the same path for rain waters to flow down the hill. So, in this season, the path remains slippery even when it’s not raining at that moment.
A break on the way!
On a clear day, the spread of Wayanad valley is the vista for the trek. We climbed mostly in fog, so whenever it was clearing, the sudden and momentary view was our much sought after refreshment.
Refreshment on the way
There are a few difficult stretches in the trekking trail. These have boulders, mud dips and yes, no proper hold due to the surrounding overgrown grass of the meadows. We were using trekking poles, which proved themselves truly helpful.
Towards the end of the trek, after a steep mud trail, there comes a flat mud path. This stretch is the perfect relaxation to your muscles. This flat path leads to a boulder section. This portion, revealing itself just before the finishing line, takes a toll in mind. Honestly, this particular portion is not really much difficult one, but yes, a toll to your willpower.
One of the steep climbs on the way
While crossing this boulder section, there is a small pond on the right. The shape of this pond says, there is still to go higher.
Immediately after the boulder section, the trail becomes quite flat again, to the extent of almost a field walk, leading to the heart shape lake. This is the highest point in the trek as climbing up 1.5 km more towards the Chembra peak is prohibited for wildlife conservation.
The pathway along the meadows!
The height of Chembra peak is 6890 feet, making the altitude of the heart shape lake is something around 6000 feet. The lake is a natural wonder given to its unique shape. We got its first glimpse on a foggy day. Trekkers who were there perhaps 15 minutes before us, reported while climbing down that the fog was so thick that the lake was not at all visible.
Luckily, during our last stretch of climb, the fog started clearing. We saw around and got the idea that this clearing will not last for much time. We pushed ourselves hard now to reach the lake when it’s still clear enough. And when we finally reached the lake, we started getting some intense and welcoming sunlight on the shore. Though this was only for a few minutes before the fog started creeping in again.
The Destination
Climbing downhill is always big for knees and ankles. Chenbra is nothing different. Given the slippery trail condition, it was even more troublesome. Slips were common to anyone, as were the leeches that populated the entire trek. I, personally and purposefully for safety, slid down more frequently than others. At some point while coming down, body starts shivering and losing balance out of exhaustion. And personally at one point, while I was quite close towards the end of the trek, I felt that I could no longer continue anymore and stay back wherever I was. This thought doesn’t help and is dangerous.
Way….
We started getting drizzling while coming down the slopes. The rain became heavy on our way from trek start point to the parking lot. There were trekkers going up while we were coming down. They got open rains for sure beyond the forest section. I hope they could all come back to safety.
A View from the top
The entire trail is well marked and there is no guide to accompany the trekkers. The forest department has posted forest guards at several points throughout the trail. They help trekkers in every possible way. They only made my daughter crossing the most difficult parts while climbing up. Two of them guided, guarded and carried her a very tolling down climb portion. She sat back with one of them when we were late coming down at a slower pace than the guard took her to hand over to the next guard. These guards have duty till 5 pm, though the trek closes at 3 pm. Possibly they check for the last of the trekkers and help them to come down before leaving the forest for night.
Awesome!!
After the trek we took lunch at Meppadi and rested for an hour at the home-stay before starting driving down to Calicut. Now, it started raining heavily. There was a landslide. All the rains created waterfalls everywhere throughout the hills. These falls added to the charm of the already lush green taking-off-monsoon Wayanad Western Ghats. These falls stated beauty, charm and fullness of life.
The entire rain condition was quite strange. Throughout the previous night of our trek, it rained incessantly. We were to start around 6.30 am. Till 5.30 am the rain continued. Then it halted its spree till we could end our trek, only to resume with full fervor and greater force since afternoon. An extremely lucky day, that it was for us.
Trek to heart shape lake in Chembra hill was a fulfilling one. It was particularly rewarding being the very first trek of the 5 years old daughter that we have.
Exhausted? Not Much aa!!
Generally, this trek is considered as an easy one. But a point must be noted that it’s a trek in Western Ghats which has its own standard. Thus, easy trek is still a demanding one in terms of body fitness. We saw our daughter taking potato chips while sitting with the forest guard and waiting for us. The packet was handed over to her by some fellow trekkers. Though their intention was good, still such food items are complete no-no on any trail, and Chembra is not an exception.
Carry water, as there is no water source on the trail. Stay hydrated. If hungry, carry some fruits or regular kitchen snacks and eat them. We practically depended upon our breakfast and lunch and carried and fed dosa to our daughter during the trek. For emergency, you can always carry some ORS.
Chembra is not high enough to cause altitude sickness. So practically no medicines are required. Any pain killer, to get rid of the body aches, should be taken only after coming down and eating well.