Right in the backyard of Tirumala, Lord Venkateshwara’s abode, is a place that provides the panacea for weary souls who want to trek, seek absolution or simply be soothed by nature. Fifty-eight km from Tirupati, Talakona is a declared biosphere reserve that is quickly becoming a tourist magnet.
The jagged reddish-brown Tirumala hills give the traveller company for most part of the journey, driving along undulating country roads, passing villages standing seemingly in the middle of nowhere, until one reaches a grand arch fashioned like an elephant standing in greeting at the entry to the jungle camp. A canopy walk stretches from the entrance, rising a few feet above the ground, its weight supported by the giant trees. Centuries-old giant liana vines sleep, entwined like ancient witnesses. A small stream gurgles merrily skirting the camp. The morning is announced by a chorus of birdsong—Paradise Flycatchers, Orioles, Spotted Doves and Wild Fowl. A few miles away is the Talakona waterfalls that thunder down from a 270-feet-tall cliff. From the camp site, runs a kilometre-long rough path where vehicles stop, and from there it is a two-kilometre walk to the falls. Malabar Giant Squirrels squat on the branches of trees. The path takes you through hillsides embroidered with wild flowers. From far, one can hear the roar of the cascading water anouncing its primordial presence; and then suddenly, halfway through the walk one gets the first glimpse of the waterfall—a thick white liquid curtain frothing in startling contrast against the reds of the cliffs and the greens of the trees. For the adventurous, a small trekking path wounds itself down from the mountaintop to join the falls below. At the summit of the hill is the temple of Lord Siddheswara Swamy, said to be built by his devotee Appa Swamy in 1811 AD, a major pilgrimage site during Mahashivratri.
Fact File
How to reach: From Tirupati, there are many buses going to Talakona. One can also hire a taxi from Tirupati, which is roughly an hour’s drive (58 km) from there.
Contact: Forest Range Officer, Bhakrapet (08584-243048) or Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Management Division, Tirupati (0877-2280980).
Where to stay: Jungle camp, AP Tourism and Forest Dept.
Best time to visit: October to February.