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.