Age is not barrier for any interest, non-religious place can also be their curiosity. They also have passion to know about the science and technology. This is proved by my beloved mother. At the age of 85, she is more interested to know the place, fact, fictions and history.
Beloved Mother
Past six month, I have taken her almost all popular places of Western Ghat around Dakshina Kannada, Chickmagaluru, Udupi, Shivamogga. Neither she got tiered nor bored. I am so shocked to know her interest and stamina. Extensively traveled all Ghats which lead to coastal many times. Shiradi Ghat, Charmadi Ghat, Agumbe Ghat, Kollur Ghat. Now she is confident to identify the place & ghat names. For a curiosity asked her "Amma, do you like to see the non-religious Places?", very next moments she said big YES.
Curiously looking Malabar Viper at ARRS
The journey is started on 26th November 2017 late morning. Reason of leaving delayed is home food. This time we made mind, not to have outside food. Finished the breakfast at home, packed the lunch. The first drive is to Agumbe Ghat.
ARRS Campus
I remember, three years back incident, when I was 'L-Board' of driving. In spirit, I drove from Agumbe to Someshwara, however, I was not confident drive back. To avoid this 12 KMs Ghat, I drove almost 265 KMs to comeback Agumbe. Thank God, now I am little confident in driving.
Kavishaila
Drove through Ghat, shown the famous Doddamane of Malgudi Days serial. Even now she remembered the most popular serial characters. Next place of visit is Agumbe Rain Research Station [ARRS].
ARRS
Maruti 800 little struggled to reach the ARRS in off road. Thank God, we could able to drive till the centre, tough in monsoon. Ajay, Centre i/c. welcomed us. He took us a walk inside the station and explained about their research.
Centre I/c. Explaining about Station Projects
We were shocked to see the Malabar Viper on the wall. Ajay explained about it's character, movement and attitude.
ARRS
After spending some good time continued our journey towards Kuppalli.
Kuppalli - KUVEMPU Home
When I explained about Kuppalli & Kuvempu, mother expression was "White hair gentleman (Bilitale Bariyoru)"!. Soon we reached the Kuppalli. We are lucky, crowd was very less. Its second visit to my Son, Daughter & better-half. Explored the entire home and relaxed for sometime.
Pose to Kuvempu Home
Headed towards Kavishaila. Mother was so happy to see this beautiful place.
Walk towards Kavishaila
She was asking more and more questions about Kuvempu and this place. I shown her the place where great poems born and samadhi of Kuvempu.
Inspiration Place of Kuvempu
Spent good time on photography and continued our next destination Kavaledurga.
Kavishaila
It was around 3pm, hungry stomach badly wanted the lunch. Son demand is to stop near stream so that he can enjoy the water. After couple of KM found a descent place for break.
Home Food - Lunch near Stream
Homemade food is always spontaneous in the nature. Son was busy enjoying the stream, we had yummy food.
Fun in stream
We running short time to visit Kavaledurga Fort. Wanted to skip this place, but daughter demand is to must visit. Decided to cover up the distance fast, passing through Thirthahalli reached the Kavaledurga at 5.40 pm.
Kavaledurga
The son was about to down in west. I briefed about the trail and time, literally we have to run to cover this place, she is agreed. Asked the better-half, son and mother to stay back at base point.
On the way to Kavaledurga
Continued our express hike to Kavaledurga. Non-stop we reached within 25 minutes. The fort was completely lonely, no-one was present.
Kavaledurga
Relaxed just five minutes to gain the energy. It was getting dark, decided not to spend more time, started return journey.
Entire Team
It was completely dark when we reached the base point. Now the time to start back to Home. I can see happy on the phase of mother. I got self-satisfaction to taking mother such a wonderful place.
The trail was very tough,
distance was very less, team size was very small, very steep trail, the
panorama view was excellent, lonely peaks, cool breeze, green
carpet across hills, deep scary valley, major trek points of Ombattu Gudda
[OG], Amedikallu, Yettinabhuja and Aramane Gudda just in front of us. Indeed,
it was very great experience to hike the Deepadakallu & Jenukallu Gudda in
Western Ghat.
Deepadakallu Gudda
I have very less explored the
places around Sakaleshpur. My friend, Shanthi Prasad planned to hike these two
popular places with small team. The time is to gauge new Duster off road drive by
my beloved friend Vijay. The dates are finalized on 11 – 12th
November 2017, team size 05 members. The stay is booked in advance at Homestay.
New DUSTER
We assembled the previous night of 10th November 2017 at Vijay home. Myself, Shanthi Prasad, Ashok,
Vijay and his cousin Vikas. We had delicious dinner at his home, thanks to
Vijay.
11.11.2017
Started our journey early morning
at 5 am. From RR Nagar. Very soon we crossed the Bengaluru city and hit the
Mangaluru highway. As we expected, the traffic was less in the morning. Taking
a single break for tea, reached the Sakaleshpur. Decided to have the breakfast at
Ossor Restaurant, finished and continued our journey towards the Homestay.
HomeStay
The homestay is at Hodachahalli
(Bengal Bus Stop), near Hanbal, Sakaleshpur Taluq. Taking google support &
local people reached the homestay around 10.30 am. They welcomed us with Tea as
welcome drink. Quickly we got refreshed and ready to start our trek.
Ready to Begin Trek
Guide, Rajesh is ready with
parcel lunch, started our journey at 11.30 am. The initial trail pass through
forest, crossed some small streams. Guide suggested us to fill the water
bottles, since there is no source of water at peak.
Initial Trail
Deepadakallu Gudda is visible at short
distance, entire trail is in open grassland. The trek distance is very less,
but trail is about 60-degree angle. We have to put more strength on lower part
of the leg. It is more tough to hike with luggage, even it is more challenge in
monsoon.
Steep Ascend
The hike was not so easy, taking
multiple short breaks, enjoying the panorama reached the peak. The entire
valley is visible from this hill.
Deepadakallu Gudda
OG is just back side, Amedikallu is little
far, Yettinabhuja is just parallel and also Aramane Gudda.
Yettinabhuja far Away
Relaxed for sometimes, now the
next peak is Jenukallu Gudda. The trail from Deepadakallu is almost straight
line in the grassland. The view is very scenic, continued our journey.
Beautiful Valley
As we moved very close to
Jenukallu, it was really scary. The hike is very steep and its almost 70
degree angle. I was recalling the Brahmagiri Trek last stretch. We should be
very careful while ascending, small mistake can through us in the valley.
One of the Tough Trail of Jenukallu Gudda
Taking more cautious, we
conquered the peak. The joy of reaching on the peak is unlimited. We can see
entire 360-degree view from the top. Guide was explaining about the peaks.
Beautiful Valley
Only
six souls on the top, enjoying the cool breeze with deep valley is most
memorable. We found animal movement very far, it could be beer or Indian Gaur.
On the Top of Jenukallu Gudda
We spent some good time on the top, had the fruits. Stomach is very hungry, guide suggested to have the lunch at Deepadakallu. The decision was good, filled stomach is very tough to hike this
peak.
Beautiful Valley
Started our descending journey to Deepadakallu. We should be very careful while descending, many times we
got skid, luckily the grass route helped us to get down safely.
Grassland
Grassland journey pace was fast,
very soon reached the lunch point. We should appreciate the homestay yummy
lunch. Filled our hungry stomach with Chapati, curry, pickle, bread.
Lunch at Deepadakallu Gudda
Relaxed for
sometimes and spent good time in photography.
Pose to Pic
We asked the guide to change the
descending trail, requested him to take two more small peaks. We had enough
time to reach back to homestay. This path again is very tough, there was no
trail at all. We have to make path and descend in the slippery trail.
Follow in Grassland
Our steps either we are putting
on rock or in hole, making path with great difficulty reached the safe place. Now
the OG is very close to us, just we should cross the dense forest valley. Crossing the
small hill we reached the sunset point.
Couple of other people were already present. They were from another homestay. We waited for sometimes to sunset,
witnessed wonderful view and started back to homestay.
Beautiful Sunset
Evening snacks ready with tea. There
were around other 3 groups in the homestay. They prepared a separate fire-camp
to each one. We settle down in front of fire-camp, had lot of chitchat.
Fire Camp
Dinner was simple good food,
finished and relaxed for the day.
12.11.2017
As usual I woke up very early at
5 am., finished our morning core job and set ready to view the sun rise.
Beautiful Sunrise
Guide
took us to Pandavara Betta, just back side the homestay. Hope it is very
popular small hill, there were already many people from other homestay.
Pandavara Betta
Now we can feel the crowd, slowly
started coming from many places. We hiked one more hill and spent some good
time on photography.
Enjoying Valley
We can have beautiful view of Bhairaveshwara
temple from hill. It was reminding me the Mahadeva temple of Tambdi – Surla.
Bhaireshwara Temple
Headed towards the temple, paid
Darshana and visited nearby lake. After some good time, headed back to
homestay.
Quickly finished our breakfast,
packed our luggage and headed back to Bengaluru. Spent some good time in photography around homestay.
Photo Session
We decided to visit Agni
village and explore a waterfall & also visit to Kaadumane Estate. Rajesh, Guide who was in charge
in homestay native village is Agni. He informed one of his cousin about our
arrival.
Return journey started, on the
way visited Abbhi waterfall. It was very small one, but very scenic.
Abbe Falls
Manju, the guy was waiting to
receive us at some point of junction, followed him to his home. The location
and home is so beautiful, typical Malenadu home. Parked our vehicle and set to
explore the waterfalls.
We all requested him to arrange
the Lunch, and happily agreed. Continued our journey towards falls. Passing through
many coffee plantation, entered forest. The falls is in remote place, its
lonely, except us none of the crowd.
Agni Falls
I & Ashok were not in mood to dip in the cold water, others enjoyed the falls. We explored little inside
the forest. After the enjoyment in the falls, headed back to Manju home. He took
us his coffee estate for lunch spot. A small stream flowing mid of the estate,
relaxed for lunch.
Lunch at stream
Hot delicious lunch brought from
his home. I feel, this was the one of the best lunch I ever had, we all were so
happy. Had some photography session.
Deep discussion about next trek
We all in hurry to reach
Bengaluru before traffic mount. Took a deviation towards Kaadumane Estate. We had
no enough time to explore it, moreover we have to walk all the way from main
gate to factory place. All decided to skip the visit and continued to Bengaluru.
Kadumane Estate - Tea Plantation
Vikas driving was like a
superman, the traffic was not less. He reached us safely to Bengaluru at 8.30
pm. We all had dinner at RR Nagar and adieu to our home.
Two days was amazing and
memorable treknic, thanks to each one of friend inviting me to this wonderful
place. PC: Vijayanand SB & Ashok Gowda
