Around 40 kms off Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh, there’s a divine place for nature lovers: Talakona, a combination of two words in Telugu, Tala (head) and Kona (hills). Being close to the entrance of the abode of Lord Sri Venketeshwara, which receives a staggering 40,000 devotees every day, the divine connection can’t be missed. While most pilgrims make a beeline to have a darshan (deity viewing) of the God a few visitors take a detour and head straight to Talakona to seek nirvana of another kind. To be one with nature, that is.

To get there, what might seem like a step-by-step approach is instead full of unexpected adventure. Climbing a flight of seemingly never ending steps, lovingly kissed by the monsoon, taking each step is a balancing act, and with the breathtaking scenery to boot, it gets even tougher. Watching your step while catching up on the greens (in all possible shades) and keeping a vigil on the hordes of monkeys is an uphill task. Meanwhile, people jostle to move up.

After an energy-sapping but delightful trek, the curtains loosen up and you are presented with picture postcard imagery. You no longer feel the pain in the knee because you are swept off your feet by the heavenly cascade that throws itself down 270 feet, caressing the rocky terrain all along.

When I was there, the kid in me wanted to join the people who were down under the falls, while the adult in me looked around at the monkeys who were all geared up to snatch whatever had been loosened up – cameras, bananas, clothes, binoculars, wallets. Finally, I got someone to escort my belongings and I climbed up the slippery-final-steps to feel the gush of invigorating water. Heaven.

Folklore has it that bathing in the Talakona falls is therapeutic as the water is enriched with herbs. There’s more. Set within Sri Venkateshwara National Park, Talakona plays host to many animal species, from wolves to mouse deers, from four-horned antelops to golden geckos. And for the thrill seekers, there’s the second longest rope way in Asia: 240 metres long at a height of 80 feet. With a waterfall (a song, obviously) and lush environs (a chase scene, deliberately), can a movie unit be far off? It’s a perfect spot to shoot a typical pot-boiler.

Now you know where to head to get some peace and some action. Blessed with both, it’s a place like no other.