The verdant tea plantations of Wayanad's Mundakkai were just three kilometres away from the beautiful Chooralmala in Meppadi panchayat, which was hit by the massive landslide. The picturesque hamlet where an LP school, a masjid, a church and a temple welcomed you, is no more. The narrow hilly road ended in front of the temple which stood atop a tabletop mountain. From here, you could enjoy the thrilling panoramic views of the misty mountains, scintillating valleys and the bright green tea plantations.
The mist that embraced the mountain slopes sometimes made Mundakkai extremely cold. The families here shared a beautiful neighbourly bond, sharing their happiness and woes. Moreover, the village often came together to celebrate the temple and church festivals. Mundakki was a mesmerizing place, where the enchanting charm of nature reflected the love and unity of the villagers.
Filled with plantations
Mundakai was a quaint village in Wayanad, close to the forest area bordering Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. An incredibly beautiful village with tea and cardamom plantations, little streams and waterfalls, Mundakai was often called nature’s paradise. Tourists also used to refer to it as the Munnar of Wayanad for its beautiful nature, cool weather and hilly terrain. You could reach Nilambur from Mundakai through the forest road. Moreover, the mighty Chaliyar River originated from the mesmerizing hills of Mundakkai. Most Mundakkai residents were employed at the tea plantations. Chooralmala and Puthumala, where the landslide in 2019 had claimed many lives, were also close to Mundakai.
An idyllic village nestled amid the beautiful mountains covered in blankets of mist, Chooralmala had compact settlements with houses built close to each other, schools and huge trees that offered shade. This author enjoyed a fabulous bike ride through the hills of Mundakai and Chooralmala in 2019, marvelling at the scenic beauty of these places.
From Meppadi to Mundakai, the mountain slopes were covered in verdant tea plantations that could lure you with its serene greenery. Meanwhile, you would also spot silver oak trees rising sharply into the sky. The village road that meandered through the tea plantation wasn't crowded with vehicles as only a few jeeps or KSRTC buses were there. Most roads led to the settlements, called ‘paadi’ in local parlance, near the estate. These long rows of houses had sheet-paved roofs, with each family getting three small rooms for their use. The paadi was built by the companies for their workers. From the front yard, you could see the rain showers that gently sprayed water on the tea shrubs.
You had to cross Puthumala where a deadly silence still lingers, to reach Mundakai. The tourists often took this route to reach the Soochipara waterfall and 900th Kandi, both well-known tourist spots. On the way to Mudakkai, you couldn’t miss the majestic Sentinel Rock that overlooked the verdant tea plantations.
Sentinel Rocks
Originally known as 'Vellaram Rock,' it's believed that Sentinel Rock was named thus imagining it as the guardian of the tea plantation. The estate here owned by the Harrison Malayalam Plantation was also named the Sentinel Rock Estate. Besides the huge rock, there was a small one close to it. The words ‘Sentinel Rock’ were also crafted in perfect font on the boulder.
Government School, Mundakai
A gentle river flowed in front of the government school in Mundakai. During the rain, the water used to be muddy and brown. However, once it subsides, the water gleams like liquid crystals cascading through the rocks. Meanwhile, the tarred road ended at the buzzing market in Mundakai. From there began a small muddy path. The path, that went uphill was concreted at some spots and it ended in front of the temple atop the hill. Interestingly, the temple was surrounded by deep gorges and dense forests. The temple yard was filled with the sweet aroma of beautiful thumba and many other varieties of wildflowers. If the weather was clear, you could see the mountains afar, with the streams flowing down the slopes in a milky white hue. However, when dense mist covered this area, you could barely see the surroundings. On the other side of the hill, you would see the unending greenery of the tea plantations and the small hill roads that lead to the ‘paadi’.
The residents here didn't even get time to realise what was happening when the landslide struck. Several people got immediately trapped under mud and sludge, while others lost their lives. Giant boulders that are as huge as a two-store building razed the houses to the ground. The bodies of the landslide victims were found floating in the Chaliyar River, 25 kilometres away, in neighbouring Malappuram. Meanwhile, those who survived have lost everything - their house, loved ones and even their dreams. They cannot return to Mundakkai as nothing exists there anymore. Most of them are still in shock as their future looks bleak.
