Interacting with those who have an eye for Nature, I have often noticed hills, forests and rivers being viewed through the prism of qualities that define sentient beings. They may be a distortion of reality, but let us be charitable. By attributing these qualities to these insentient elements, these Nature lovers are only trying to integrate them into their world. I have often caught myself engaging in this exercise. I once found myself comparing a patch of forest land overrun with thorny shrubs, thistles and nettles that left their marks on me, to an angry porcupine flaring its painful bristles. So, I am not surprised when the word 'majestic' rolls off my tongue involuntarily as I come upon the Keerapakkam hills. They bring to mind the image of a pride of lions resting after a filling meal, with an air of majestic nonchalance towards their surroundings.
Keerapakkam derives its charm almost entirely from these hills. This village panchayat, located off the Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road and accessed via a road branching off this state highway at Mellakotaiyur, is sufficiently inhabited for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation to operate bus services to it with reasonable frequency.
While heading towards these hills, I notice two buses swish past me, in the opposite direction. One of them is from Tambaram to Keerapakkam. And the other, if my eyesight has not failed me, is from Guduvanchery to Keerapakkam Koot Road. Later, with some research, I discover that the service from Tambaram is operated with a 50-minute frequency. Though Keerapakkam is well-populated, the human element is put in the shade by those 'majestic' hills.
One of these hills is accustomed to the tread of tyres and feet from other parts of the city. It has a Baba temple. A concrete road takes visitors up to a point. From there, they have to climb to the summit. From the other side of the hill, there is a route for people to reach this same point, either walking or riding a motorcycle. This stretch makes for an energising walk. A view of this hill with the Keerapakkam lake in the foreground is arresting.
Heading out from this hill, one can reach a few other hills, taking a matrix of roads, most of them well-laid. The other hills in and around Keerapakkam don't betray much of human movement and climbing them early in the morning can be an enchanting experience.
Besides climbing these hills, just treading down these quiet roads in this sound-proofed region gives you a sense of disdainfully throwing the problems of existence over your shoulder and walking away from them.
( Hidden Trails is a column that shows you how to be a tourist in your own city. )
