From Munnar to Muruga, A Road That Rewrote Me...

This was not an educational tour. It was not even a planned escape. It was a pilgrimage quietly intense, physically demanding, and deeply personal. For five days, I walked from Munnar to Palani with my professors, not as a student ticking academic boxes, but as a seeker learning lessons no classroom could offer. Being my third year, I thought I knew the route, the people, and even the pain. I was wrong.
The moment we began walking, I realised something powerful this journey was not only about burning calories, it was about burning rubbish unnecessary thoughts, ego, and foolish assumptions that quietly occupy our minds. Yes, my feet hurt badly, but Lord Muruga made the pain lighter than last year, as if reminding me that endurance grows when faith deepens.
From misty hills to open landscapes, nature unfolded like a living text wild elephants, bison, deer, rivers, and streams crossed our path. Each sight felt symbolic. Life, too, demands that we pass through wild experiences unpredictable, frightening, yet necessary. The road spoke its own language bends, curves, speed breakers, steep climbs, damaged patches, and endless ups and downs. Faces passed by different colours, expressions, and stories mirroring the diversity and chaos of life itself.
When we reached the plains, the weather tested us relentlessly. Heat toasted us without mercy. Yet, I learned a simple truth nothing becomes easy until consistency makes it possible. Every night ended with memories and medicines, laughter and exhaustion. Food and refreshments were an experience of their own, though fate played a small joke on me my tongue failed me, and I tasted nothing except curd. Still, hunger felt secondary.
The evenings were filled with intellectual discussions intellectual, of course, depending on the listener (ha ha). I gained a lot and left behind a lot, simply by listening. Jokes and humour thrived even in wilderness, proving once again that age is just a number 😀
Reaching Palani felt like winning a medal after four days of hardship. Standing before Lord Muruga, I felt victorious, blessed, and complete. Our departure resembled a college farewell formal, emotional, and filled with gratitude. We carried our memories, offered our silent vote of thanks, and returned to routine life. I reached home, slept deeply, and woke up changed quietly, permanently...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let Me Sleep, Not to Dream....

     Some nights, I don’t want answers I just want silence. Not the kind filled with buzzing thoughts, but the deep, weightless stillness that John Keats writes about in “To Sleep.” His lines feel less like poetry and more like a whisper to the weary .      Keats doesn’t glorify sleep as a dreamy escape filled with fantasies. Instead, he sees it as a quiet refuge from the noise of life. I remember one night, after back-to-back classes and an unexpected family argument, I sat by my window, emotionally exhausted. No words, no energy just the weight of being awake. That night, I opened Keats. His line, “Seal the hushed casket of my soul,” made me close my eyes. For once, I wasn’t trying to sleep. I was inviting it in like an old friend.      I’ve often found that poetry meets us where no one else can . Keats understood that some days feel too loud, too real. And what we need isn’t escape, but a pause a gentle covering of all that aches. His...
Read more

From Questions to Acceptance: The Quiet Strength Within

Today, I began writing my blog not with clarity, but with a curious uncertainty. I didn’t know where to start or what to write. Once, I was filled with questions. I constantly asked: How? Where? When? Why? What? These questions shaped my journey, my identity, my hunger to understand the world. But something changed. I’ve stopped asking. I’ve begun accepting. Life has slowly revealed its quiet wisdom to me not in answers, but in acceptance. I no longer seek explanations for everything around me. I no longer expect people to explain themselves, prove themselves, or live up to my vision of who they should be. Why should they? Everyone is walking their own path. It’s not my responsibility to evaluate their pace, their truth, or their struggle. I’ve learned not to expect, not to demand, not to act out of pressure or illusion. Instead, I’ve chosen to receive what life brings openly, peacefully. “I don’t expect, so I don’t act. I just accept.” That is my mantra now. I’ve found that ac...
Read more

The Silent Festival Within

A decade ago, Diwali meant magic. The excitement started weeks before choosing the best dress, waiting for the latest movie release, and proudly showing off new clothes to friends like it was an Olympic event. The sound of crackers, the aroma of sweets, and the glow of diyas made the day feel alive. I would wake up early, dress like a hero, visit the temple, and feel like the whole world was celebrating with me. Now, it’s different. Not because I’ve become more mature, but because there’s nothing left to wait for. We live in a world where everything is available all the time. New dresses? Ordered any day. Movies? A click away on OTT. Midnight snacks? Delivered to the doorstep. Earlier, Diwali was the only day we could taste luxury. Now, every day feels the same or maybe every day feels dull. This morning, I woke up, scrolled through my phone, and realized it’s Diwali! Instead of crackers, I heard the ping of WhatsApp wishes. Instead of temple bells, I had notification tones. I smiled, ...
Read more