Sharawati Valley Waterfalls

If you like trekking, do not bother about where you stay, do not need luxuries and want to see thick jungle and looking for really wild experience, want to be at waterfall where only few have been - this is for you. This is 25 kms trek through dense forests where at each step leeches are just waiting for your blood. But what you get by surmounting these problems cant be expressed in words, you have to feel it yourself. And thats what we did.

1st Day:

We reached Kargal by ksrtc bus. Private vehicle arranged by Sampath took us to Kattinakaru which is 30kms from Karagal. Kattinakaru was our base camp, a small hut in the fields. We had delicious idli for breakfast and decided the route we were going to take that day. It was Basawanabahi waterfall. The route was initially easy and with many streams on the way. It was fun crossing these streams. No surprise when leeches attacked, but we had old remedy of tobacco and salt to our rescue but not for long. Around 2 and half hour of walk and you reach a temple. Right behind the temple is the way to basawananahi waterfall. Of course there was no one at the waterfall except us. We took bath under waterfall. In the meantime our guides prepared Rice and sambhar. After a while we ate our lunch and got ready get moving. The way back was really difficult, we had to go through dense forest. It was humid, wet, thorny jungle. Add to that it was raining, leeches sucking your blood. After hour or so we gave up to leech attack and asked our guide to take us to normal route. Once we came out and saw at our legs, most of us were bleeding. We removed leeches with tobacco and salt powder rapped in cloth. Now we were at a hill looking at green valley below. The way back nice and easy. Happy to be back at base camp before dawn.

Once we reached our base camp on day 1, we were welcomed with hot tea followed by hot hot mirchi bhajji. To our surprise we had roti and subjee, tomato rice with Payasam.

2nd Day:

Next day we had to cover two waterfalls. After having a breakfast we started for Budangundi. Whole of track was through thick forest. We did not give much attention to leeches. Once in while when took rest & we cleared them off. After reaching a waterfall we realized it is not feasible to get near to waterfalls. So we just took few photos and could not even stand there as leeches were attacking, if you stand at one place for a long time plus it was dangerously slippery due to rain. Next target was Belligundi waterfall. The way to this waterfall is too dangerous due to poor visibility caused by mist and clouds. At one point we began to see a slope and we descend down slowly and guide asked us to stop there and wait for mist to get clear. It is strongly recommended to have guide with you. If you cant see like 10-15 feet ahead, stop there itself or else you will enjoy free fall into the heaven.

From this point you can see a sea shore at horizon and waterfall on opposite direction and valley below. We returned back after a while and had our lunch at base camp. On the way back to Bangalore we saw Jog Falls. Took the bus from Sagar-Bangalore which came around 2 and half hours late around 1 am.

[This trek was organised by Sampath]

Route Followed: Bangalore - Kargal - Kattinakaru - Basawanabahi (waterfall) - Belligundi - Budangundi - Katiinakaru - Kargal - Jog Falls - Sagar- Bangalore

Connectivity: KSRTC Bus from Banglore - Linganamakki - Get down at Kargal. Kattinakaru is 30 kms from Kargal. One can arrange private vehicle.

The Mighty Kumarparvata

From long time the thought of trekking of Kumarparvata was in mind. As heard from friends about it being rigorous and exhausting our desire to trek became more stronger. We wanted to test ourselves and see what KP is all about. The season in which you trek really matters, it more difficult to trek in monsoon and summer.

Monsoon makes you lose your way and summer will make you lose your will. Though being in a hottest of the month we trekked to KP. We grabbed the long weekend opportunity on the occasion of Good Friday.

KP is located near Kukke Subramanya town which has Subramanya temple famous amongst devotees for Sarpa Dosh Puja. Best way to reach Kukke Subramanya from Bangalore is KSRTC Rajhamsa bus. Book tickets online. www.ksrtc.in. Once you are in town find a decent hotel to get fresh.You will find many hotels around bus stand or Subramanya temple. And if u reach too early in the morning like 4 take a nap for hour or so. Trek starts from near this temple. Walk around one km or so takes you to the base of KP, from where actual trek starts.Trek to KP is divided into three parts

1) Ascent of 5 km which ends at Bhattara Mane (Bhat's House).

2) Trek from Bhattara Mane to Mandapa

3) final ascent from Mandapa to the top

First part of trek is through dense forest and one cant find out exactly in which direction one is going, but there is only one way so no worry to get lost. In middle you will find boards mentioning the distance remaining to reach Bhat's House. Make sure to call Mr Bhat at least two weeks before and reserve the place for stay. Mobile No: +91-9448647947. This part of trek is not that interesting as you can not see any peaks or valleys even you are at considerable height. We started our trek around 10 am, and we reached around 2/ 2:30 to Bhat's house.

Bhat is a smart man, well versed with many languages, he even speaks rudimentary Marathi.

We learn that he has given training to cooks of Udupi restaurants in Maharashtra for few months.This is the only house on the way to KP. He has developed small farm around his house. We enjoyed talking with him. The food served here is good. The sleeping facility is very basic, but it is more than what anybody can ask for at such location.We relaxed a while after having lunch, Bhat suggested to go and see the sunset from nearest point. And the sunset was amazing. I can not describe it just see it for yourself. After seeing amazing sunset we returned back to Bhat's house. We chatted for a while and started playing Antakshari most common and enjoyable game with friends. We planned for our next day as we had to cover the distance from Bhat's house to top which usually takes around 5/6 hours and return back to base taking a halt at Bhat's while returning back for lunch. Bhat promised to make breakfast early in the morning so that we can leave early.

Next day we got up early and were ready after having breakfast to start the trek. Still it was 7 am when we left Bhat's house. You will get forest check post just 10 mins walk from Bhat's house.

Register yourself and pay the fees for trekking here and inform them that 'will you come back same way or descend from other side' which takes you to Somwarpet. If you are planning to descend from other side, make sure to reach base i.e. Somwarpet by 4pm. As there no buses to go further from Somwarpet. The trek in morning is very pleasant, no scorching sun, gentle breeze flowing and the sun unfolding from behind the peaks. One covers a good distance in the morning without feeling tired.

After trek of around 30 mins or so you will see Mantapa, a rock structure and a stream nearby. Many people prefer to camp here as it is midway between base and top, water stream nearby and view of valley is amazing. If you have tent and all other stuff to camp, this will be the best option.From here take a look back, you can see Bhat's house, Forest check post, town and beautiful valley. A eyeful look on all of these and all the efforts to reach here are worth it.

Now this part of trek is bit tiresome.

Few steep climbs, twists and turns and you see a peak and you might think this is peak but it is not. Reach it and you will see the a patch of forest and actual peak. Few more minutes of trek and you reach to peak. We reached the peak around 12:30. There is small temple structure made of stones. You can enjoy the beautiful view. As they say the complete climb of a mountain is reaching the summit and getting safely to the bottom

again.

After spending 15-20 minutes on the top we started to descend back as we had to reach base by evening. The descend back is tiresome, heat was too much to tolerate, dehydrating us. Taking frequent breaks we reached Bhatt's house around 2:30. Lunch was ready. We ate lunch and relaxed for a while. Most of us were already tired a lot. Suddenly clouds started gathering in the sky and we hurried up thinking rain will make trouble. Reaching base was very very tiring being trekking since morning takes its toll on your endurance.

Overall a very good experience and one hell of a tiring trek I had in Karnataka.

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Ladakh Map

Source: Internet

Kodachadri Peak, Karnataka

There is nothing like seeing sun setting over a Hill. It’s the urge I cannot resist when I have a long weekend. It was such a long weekend and we decided to spend it with nature. Deciding a place to trek is not hard in Karnataka, as state is blessed with many long stretches of lush green forests and mighty western ghat. We decided on Kodachadri.

We started by bus from Bangalore on overnight journey to Kundapur nearest town to Kodachadri Hill. We got a reasonable hotel for four of us. We relaxed for a while and had lunch at the same hotel. Being in Kundapur, which is small town on the shore of sea, we did not miss the seafood.

Next thing to do was to hit for a Kodi Beach not very popular among tourists. Hence one does not see a single person on beach. Feels like a private beach. Not being popular has advantages like it’s not commercialized and very clean. Only hotel at beach is present, called Kinara. We relaxed, bathed, took photos and saw setting sun with seeping cold beer. As sun went down we sat at the Kinara hotel eating seafood chatting with friends.



It was 9 pm when we realized we had to get up early next morning for the trek so we left the Kodi beach one of the cleanest and solitary beaches.

Next morning we started to Kodachadri trek from Kundapur on private bus, which was headed towards Sagara. We saw villages passing by rapidly, but once we crossed Kollur (Known for Mukambika Temple), ghat section started through dense green forest. Bus conductor knew the place from where trek starts and dropped us at that point, called as Karnataka Gate. We saw other groups who were just reached there and going to start the trek. This made sure we were on right track.

We had to cross a stretch of six kms to reach the base of Kodachadri, reaching it you will find a Santosh Hotel. Putttu-chana and black tea is what you get for a breakfast here. After ten minutes walk from hotel you will get a divider, left one for Jeeps to reach top, right one is for trekkers. Here starts most hard portion of the trek, just follow the path and we reach a point from where one can see a green valley for a miles and miles long. From this point one can see a temple and pwd guest house bungalow. After trekking for another hour or so we reached the pwd bunglow point. Here you will find couple of houses, which serve food and rent rooms for a night. But this is not summit and you need to trek for another forty minutes to reach it.

We relaxed for a while gazing at the deep valley below. You can decide to see sunset or sunrise from the summit, as both of them are spectacular and a good photograph opportunity.

We decided to see sunset and after having our lunch we headed towards summit. After trekking for forty minutes or so, one sees small temple of Shakaracharya, called as Sarvajana Peetha. It is believed that Shankaracharya used to meditate here. One can see many Keralite worshippers who had just came to visit the temple. We saw a wonderful sunset and clicked many photographs. As sun went down we descended back to PWD bungalow. One amazing thing with that night at places like this far which are far from city is glittering blue with zillions of stars. Living in City one does seldom looks at the sky. Even one looks at sky it will be hard to find any stars. We spent night at PWD bungalow; one needs to reserve the place beforehand. The place does not offer any bed or other luxuries, so carry sleeping bag and mattress.

Next morning we started to descend the hill with a sheer satisfaction of seeing one of the beautiful places in Karnataka.

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