wild ferns and other small flora of the Shevaroy hills, Eastern Ghats at Yercaud, near Salem, Tamil Nadu - August 2016

I am always fascinated by the sheer strength and persistence of wild ferns, mosses and lichens and other small flora in the steep hill slopes and plateau grasslands of the Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, Satpuras and the Himalayas. I wonder if there is a good field guide to the ferns and mosses of the Indian mountain systems. There are a number of fern species and they do come in various sizes. Some are endemic to certain hill ranges while some occur through the Indian Subcontinent. Most of these varieties and species have been cultivated and their variegars are good garden plants. 

I had accompanied my daughter to Yercaud, a hill station above Salem in Tamil Nadu. We wandered about the Shevaroy hills over a couple of days, and were amazed to see the diversity in ferns, mosses and small flora. The flowering season seemed to have just gone by, but the absolutely glowing greenery made up for it entirely. All along the slopes and in the inner forests, the strength of the small flora was very obvious.

This photograph was taken near the botanical gardens, and along the roadside. This patch was just next to the local parking lot and shanties vending various food items. It was a very disturbed location and could have easily been without any vegetation. However, the small ferns and other small flora were quite pugnacious and were able to make their own way in spite of the disturbance, exhaust fumes and shanty kitchens nearby. 

the inner path at the Arunachala Hill - the inner Girivalam route at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

The path around the sacred Arunachala hill at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu is considered to be one of the most coveted pilgrimage destinations in South India. The circumambulation around the hill is about 15-17 kms, depending on the forays one makes in to the inner path. The local forest department has stopped all pilgrim movement on the inner path, however one can approach it and gaze upon it and return. Amazingly, each time that I came upon the inner path at Arunachala, there was someone hanging about, informing me that pilgrims are not allowed. The forest guards must be more blessed than the pilgrims, if they do use their advantage and move within and complete the girivalam.

Girivalam = path around the mountain (= Giri).
Arunachala = the hill of the dawn sun (= Aruna)

One such meeting point for me with the inner path was at the medicinal plants garden after Simha Teertham and the Draupadi Temple. It looked very tempting but I fought against it. The forest department has stopped pilgrim movement in this path for a very good reason. Most pilgrims and devotees were throwing away plastic bags, waste material, edible food items and also on some occasions, accidentally setting fire to the semi-arid forests.

I sat nearby, and alternately, gazed at the inner path, that seemed to lead away towards the forests, but also seemed to be leading the hill towards me. What if this was the inner path for Arunachala to walk towards me? The entire region is magical. One can come upon several such locations, and at some, one can easily go into a trance. The silhouette of the Arunachala hill is haunting, and very affectionate, if one may so term it in this manner. But, those who have been on this path will know what I mean, when I say that to be just there, on the girivalam path, and to gaze on the sacred Arunachala, is to know that you are bound to it with the affection of Maheshwara himself.