Lemme start with a piece of history. Promise, I wont stretch it too long..
The city of Cochin is the most developed one in Kerala, today, and all that owes to the harbor, it boasts of. The development of this harbor was through the hands of Maharaja Ramavarma XV, who ruled the state of Cochin from 1895 to 1914. The then state of Cochin was mean in resources, and the only way, the visionary could find, to fund the project, was the exploitation of the immense wealth in the form of Teak and Rosewood, from the highland jungles of Parambikulam and Nelliampathi. Access to these regions was very limited and then came up the need of a transportation system. With the assistance of the British rulers, a tramway was laid between Chalakudi and Parambikulam, which went into regular operation by 1907. The tramway operated restless for the next 40 or so years and I wonder what would have been the majesty of these woods, if not for the 40 years of continuous deforestation. The Aanamalai road connecting Chalakudy and Valparai was laid in the 1940s, thus limiting the necessity of the expensive tramway. Eventually trams came to a halt by 1951. By 1963 the tramway era was over and even the rails were removed as scrap. The entire region was left to nature, for a rebuild.
Three of us,Pramod, Anoj and the blogger took off by around 4.30 AM on 20th May 2010, solely to retrace the tramway track and its remains, in the thick woods of Parambikulam, where trams stopped puffing, before we were born. Took MC road up to Angamali and turned right at Karayamparampu, just after Angamali, to join Aanamalai road at Vettilappara. Went past Athirappily and Vazhachal falls, and traversed the forest track to Valpara, under the thick foliage.

Reaching Valpara, rang up Damodarji, who made my earlier Valpara exploration memorable. Had lunch with him, renewed acquaintance with Mr.Shaji, the manager of Hotel Green Hill, Valpara, and headed for Aanamalai by around 3 PM. Had a stop over at Aanakatti TNEB colony, to capture the mind blowing, lower and Upper Aaliyar views.
Negotiated the hair pins down, turned left at Kotoor, just after lower Aliyaar dam, to hit Aanamalai town, at the foot hill, by around 7 PM. A little effort to convince the care taker of VPR lodge, that an Ac room shall never go beyond Rs.650, for a short span of 10 hours, and retired comfortably.
Rose early, paid a short visit to Maasani Amman coil, which shared the lane with our night stay, and left for Parambikulam by around six in the morning. Went past Vettakaranputhoor, took a right turn at Sethumadai and reached the entry point to Indira Gandhi National Park, maintained by Tamilnadu govt.
I think it’s worth a quote here that, though Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is in Kerala, normal access to the place is only through Tamilnadu, if not for the forest track from Poringalkuthu, I had mentioned earlier.
Slowly cruised along the winding road, that hasn’t seen tar for long, to reach Top Slip.

Just into the reserve and we were welcomed by a peacock, wayside, in his full glory. He really did a show off in a full circle.

Drove to the Eco Care centre at Aanapadi, completed the formalities, and Mr. Babu, A grade guide, was assigned to head our delegation. The location of the starting station of the old tramway is presently submerged in Parambikulam reservoir, and our trek is to start from that point. Drove along the forest road to Parambikulam, via Thunakadavu reservoir, which is around 16 kms from Aanapadi.
Parambikulam is a small junction hosting Govt. offices, staff quarters, and a small number of shops, including two or three hotels.
Had breakfast from one such hotel, parked our vehicle at a forest office premise, and got geared for the trek.
From here another guide by name Sulaiman joined our team. Walked along the tarred road up to Parambikulam dam and reservoir, within which the old tram station is submerged.
The road ends here and we continued the trail along the Parambiar river bank.
Dams choke rivers and the course of the river alongside was pathetic as a drainage flow in our city. On the other side, the richness of greenery around, took away the ill feeling and the chirping birds and their fly friends were pleasure for the apex senses. It was as if, the recovery from the severe blow, the tramway had imposed, is almost complete. To add to the scenic beauty, Parambiar had, by then, gained strength from the confluence of rivulets. 


The magical spell came to a sudden halt on spotting a pack of dholes (wild dogs) crossing our path in a hurry.
To our surprise they weren’t moving away from us, but holding on behind the ground foliage, reluctant to leave the place. That’s an indication to some thing of interest they have, some where around. Few searching steps ahead, and we found what it was.
A closer examination of the carcass revealed that there were no bite marks in its neck. So they have been on to the prey, without even bothering to kill it. Poor thing – but that’s the way of the wild. Left the place soon, as the intruders are not to interfere, hearing the hunters return. A few steps ahead we had the first sighting of the remains of the tramway in the form of a bridge across a rivulet.






Now there is a motorable road up to Kuriarkurrti from Parambikulam – we opted the forest track, just to follow the tram way. Two rooms in the ground floor of the building are to accommodate travelers. Kuriarkutti tribal colony is nearby, which was actually set up to provide man power to the tramway. Surprisingly each and every thing that come under discussion is some how related to the good old tramway. Gopal, a tribal from the colony joined us and he was assigned the duty of carrying our eatables, for the day and the next.
Continued the trail along Karappara river side till 3PM, and hunger didn’t let us any further. Took a refreshing dip in the river and opened the food packets. Raided on Idlis and bread slices, listening to Babu revealing that the place we are at,is called ‘Madam chal’, to commemorate the visit of a British lady – Madam – to this place, during the tram era.




Woke up by 7 and headed for the river. Back by 8 to have Sulaiman’s Upma and went out for a small walk. Just 100 metres ahead the track turns left to Poringalkuthu.

On the return to the wireless station hit upon an odd looking machine part of the old tram, built by The Anderston Foundry Co Ltd.
It was a surprise that the year imprinted on it appeared as 1837. If it is so, then it is to be understood that the trams would have had another spell, at some other part of the world, before it was brought here. An internet search on the above ended up like this
John Houldsworth
1807-1859
The son of a Nottingham cotton-spinner who moved to Cranstonhill and worked in Kelvinbridge, Houldsworth was educated in Glasgow, Geneva and Heidelberg. He entered the family business, and rose to become the head of spinning. The company expanded into iron, establishing the Anderston Foundry and Machine Works, later known as the Anderston Foundry Company.
The period of the founder of Anderston Foundry is from 1807 to 1859,which is some what in line with the view I have shared. Hmmm….what am I up to..Excuse me my readers, I will stick on to the travelogue.
By around 11 AM, we got transported to Parambikulam in a 4WD of the Forest dept. As Pramod and Anoj were new to this place, thought of some local sight seeing. Drove up to the tunnel view point, from where water from Parambikulam reservoir is fed to Thunakadavu reservoir, along an underground tunnel of about 2.5 km length.






And..that was it.
Drove back to Aanamalai, joined Pollachi – Thrissur road, hit NH 47 at Wadakkancheri and back home by midnight.
The vision of a ruler, an engineering marvel, a thunder blow to nature, root of Cochin's prosperity - the tramway - is almost nothing today. Tomorrow it will turn another story - but history.