Kodachadri Trek
I wanted to trek Kodachadri for a very long time, especially after seeing lots of photos and reading lots of travelogues (from blogs). My wish came true a couple of days back (February 22nd, 2009). I have been trying to arrange this trip for a very long time, but of no avail. As soon as I came to know that my boss shall not be around for a couple of days, I thought this is the right opportunity to go for a trekking trip.
6 of us started decided to go on the trip (3 gals and 3 boys). We hired a qualis from Bangalore and left on Saturday night at around 11.00 pm. My plan was to reach Kollur early morning around 5.00 am and freshen up and reach the starting point of the trek at around 7.00 am so that we could beat the sun. But, as soon as I started talking to the driver, he told we shall reach only by 10.00 am in the morning. His words came as a jolt of lightning, but anyway hoping for that we could reach early, we started the journey. The route was Banglaore, Tumkur Shimoga, Therthapalli and Nagara and Kollur. And about 10 kms, before Kollur, we should stop and start trekking. Hoping for the best, we left bangalore and reached Nittor around 7.00 am in the morning. Since, it was already too late, we thought it shall be better if we directly start the trek instead of going to kollur and come back. This decision turned out to be a good one as I shall discuss later about the trek.
Reading many travelogues, I came to know that there are two major routes:1- through Nittor, Marukattuke, Kattinahole and Kodachadri (this route made famous in the movie Galipata and the 2nd from Karakatte directly to Kodachadri. The second route is more pristine and majorly a trekking route which is also very scenic, whereas the first one is also known as the Jeep route (because many people can go up using jeeps through this route). Also, the jeep route is very dirty and dusty due to constant jeep riding and longer (14 kms). People who had already trekked Kodachadri gave us safe advice regarding the route to be taken.
Finding Karakatte gate was slightly difficult. There is a very small stone placed in which it is written way to kodachadri trek. We started our trek guessing this to be the route, and our guess turned out to be right. So, we all started the trek around 8.00 am in the morning. First 4 - 5 kms we did not feel the heat as we were travelling though lush jungle and so a lot of canopy cover was there. We did not have any signals in our mobile phone, only signals from birds (their screeching, this was very musical and good to hear). It was nice After about 1/2 hr of walk, we came across an open space. We decided to have a small break and take some bread which we had bought with ourselves. Then again we started trekking through this junle path. In about 15 mts we reached the Mallu shop (made famous by various blogs I had read). We had breakfast there (some people had puttu whereas others had idli). While we were having our breakfast, we say many groups come down and they were saying they came down in about 1 hr, we had travelled the last 5 km in about 1 hr, so we were all excited everybody was saying that the pace was very good, we should be able to reach the peak in another 1 hr or so. The people coming down were completely drenched, we thought they were coming here after having a small dip in a nearby waterfall (a small detour from the actual trek route), little did we realize that it was sweat in which they were drenched.
With all our enthusiasm and excitement, we started the next half of the distance. This was the start of the hilly region, leading us to the top of kodachadri. The path until now was very wide and we all were walking side by side. As we started to climb the hills, the path became narrower and narrower. But atleast the next 1 hr or so, there was still dense canopy, so well all did not feel the heat. But, with each passing minute, the climb was becoming harder and harder as the steps were becoming steeper. This steep climbing started to take a toll on everybody, we started to have breaks in between the climb. After about 1 hr of continuous trekking, we were really tired, still we had not reached the top (as our assumption was). So, we took another break.
Now, the trek got really tiring as we had crossed the dense forest region and were climbing on the hillside. From now onwards, it was the other way round, we took walks in between breaks. Anyway, the paths were getting narrower and we were at a higher altitude, so it was really tiring. Also, there were no tree covering, hence we were feeling the full blaze of the sun since we were trekking around 11.00 in the morning. Even at that time, the view of amazing. The whole horizon was covered by the Western Ghats. Finally after some more trekking, we reached a place about 1 km from the summit. Here, there was one shop selling cucumber and lime juice. It was again break time. We sat there for about 1/2 hr, completely refreshing ourself and again started to trek. Now, the last 1 km was the steepest. We covered the trek in about 1/2 hr and finally reached the PWD guest house by about 12.00 pm.
We had trekked about 10 - 12 km in about 4 hrs. Now, we took rest in Bhattare Mane (this place is also listed in many blogs). From here, the Sarvagna peeta was another 2 km uphill. We all thought since, we had come so far we shall cover the final stretch too. This peeta is located at the highest point of Kodachadri. Legend here is that Goddess Mukambika first gave darshan to Sankaracharya here. So, we covered the final 2 km uphill in another 1 and 1/2 hrs. After darshan, we came down to Bhattare Mane and had lunch. We were in a ravenous mood and eat up a lot. After this, we all decided, it was not possible for us to trek down as it shall b very tiring. We decided to take the jeep down. This jeep ride was an experience in itself. No roads, only sand covered rickety pathway was there. We reached a place inbetween called Kattinahole and he stopped there. This rickety pathway took abouit 1 and 1/2 hr in jeep to cover.
From there we called our cab to pick us up. It was round 5.00 pm and we all decided, we shall go to the Maravanthe beach and see the sunset. Now, it was a race against time and our driver decided to step it up. Never once did he go below 80 km/hr mark even though the roads were in ghat section and very hilly and curvy. Man, it was amazing ride, with our hearts in our mouth. But, alas, our wish was not fulfilled, we reached the beach only around 6.45 pm. But still we had a nice time in the beach and then started back towards bangalore at around 7.30 pm. Next stop was dinner at Kundapura. After that not many people were awake. Next thing we knew, we were somewhere near Bangalore at around 4.00 am in the morning. All grogy grogy we were dropped off at the respective places and had a good sleep in the morning.
Actually speaking, we were not really that much tired because of constant rehydration and eating. But, still covering 25 km in one day would have been too much. So, we all decided to take the jeep back. On the whole the trip was nice fun. This time of the year, as there were no rains, the trekking was not slippery too. So we reached back safely without any cuts or bruises.
The trek was worth it for all the effort. My suggestion wouild have been to stay overnite there and see both the sunset and the sunrise next day morning and start the treking downwards. But, the effort was worth it, enjoying nature at its pristine best. I would certainly recommend the trek.
6 of us started decided to go on the trip (3 gals and 3 boys). We hired a qualis from Bangalore and left on Saturday night at around 11.00 pm. My plan was to reach Kollur early morning around 5.00 am and freshen up and reach the starting point of the trek at around 7.00 am so that we could beat the sun. But, as soon as I started talking to the driver, he told we shall reach only by 10.00 am in the morning. His words came as a jolt of lightning, but anyway hoping for that we could reach early, we started the journey. The route was Banglaore, Tumkur Shimoga, Therthapalli and Nagara and Kollur. And about 10 kms, before Kollur, we should stop and start trekking. Hoping for the best, we left bangalore and reached Nittor around 7.00 am in the morning. Since, it was already too late, we thought it shall be better if we directly start the trek instead of going to kollur and come back. This decision turned out to be a good one as I shall discuss later about the trek.
Reading many travelogues, I came to know that there are two major routes:1- through Nittor, Marukattuke, Kattinahole and Kodachadri (this route made famous in the movie Galipata and the 2nd from Karakatte directly to Kodachadri. The second route is more pristine and majorly a trekking route which is also very scenic, whereas the first one is also known as the Jeep route (because many people can go up using jeeps through this route). Also, the jeep route is very dirty and dusty due to constant jeep riding and longer (14 kms). People who had already trekked Kodachadri gave us safe advice regarding the route to be taken.
Finding Karakatte gate was slightly difficult. There is a very small stone placed in which it is written way to kodachadri trek. We started our trek guessing this to be the route, and our guess turned out to be right. So, we all started the trek around 8.00 am in the morning. First 4 - 5 kms we did not feel the heat as we were travelling though lush jungle and so a lot of canopy cover was there. We did not have any signals in our mobile phone, only signals from birds (their screeching, this was very musical and good to hear). It was nice After about 1/2 hr of walk, we came across an open space. We decided to have a small break and take some bread which we had bought with ourselves. Then again we started trekking through this junle path. In about 15 mts we reached the Mallu shop (made famous by various blogs I had read). We had breakfast there (some people had puttu whereas others had idli). While we were having our breakfast, we say many groups come down and they were saying they came down in about 1 hr, we had travelled the last 5 km in about 1 hr, so we were all excited everybody was saying that the pace was very good, we should be able to reach the peak in another 1 hr or so. The people coming down were completely drenched, we thought they were coming here after having a small dip in a nearby waterfall (a small detour from the actual trek route), little did we realize that it was sweat in which they were drenched.
With all our enthusiasm and excitement, we started the next half of the distance. This was the start of the hilly region, leading us to the top of kodachadri. The path until now was very wide and we all were walking side by side. As we started to climb the hills, the path became narrower and narrower. But atleast the next 1 hr or so, there was still dense canopy, so well all did not feel the heat. But, with each passing minute, the climb was becoming harder and harder as the steps were becoming steeper. This steep climbing started to take a toll on everybody, we started to have breaks in between the climb. After about 1 hr of continuous trekking, we were really tired, still we had not reached the top (as our assumption was). So, we took another break.
Now, the trek got really tiring as we had crossed the dense forest region and were climbing on the hillside. From now onwards, it was the other way round, we took walks in between breaks. Anyway, the paths were getting narrower and we were at a higher altitude, so it was really tiring. Also, there were no tree covering, hence we were feeling the full blaze of the sun since we were trekking around 11.00 in the morning. Even at that time, the view of amazing. The whole horizon was covered by the Western Ghats. Finally after some more trekking, we reached a place about 1 km from the summit. Here, there was one shop selling cucumber and lime juice. It was again break time. We sat there for about 1/2 hr, completely refreshing ourself and again started to trek. Now, the last 1 km was the steepest. We covered the trek in about 1/2 hr and finally reached the PWD guest house by about 12.00 pm.
We had trekked about 10 - 12 km in about 4 hrs. Now, we took rest in Bhattare Mane (this place is also listed in many blogs). From here, the Sarvagna peeta was another 2 km uphill. We all thought since, we had come so far we shall cover the final stretch too. This peeta is located at the highest point of Kodachadri. Legend here is that Goddess Mukambika first gave darshan to Sankaracharya here. So, we covered the final 2 km uphill in another 1 and 1/2 hrs. After darshan, we came down to Bhattare Mane and had lunch. We were in a ravenous mood and eat up a lot. After this, we all decided, it was not possible for us to trek down as it shall b very tiring. We decided to take the jeep down. This jeep ride was an experience in itself. No roads, only sand covered rickety pathway was there. We reached a place inbetween called Kattinahole and he stopped there. This rickety pathway took abouit 1 and 1/2 hr in jeep to cover.
From there we called our cab to pick us up. It was round 5.00 pm and we all decided, we shall go to the Maravanthe beach and see the sunset. Now, it was a race against time and our driver decided to step it up. Never once did he go below 80 km/hr mark even though the roads were in ghat section and very hilly and curvy. Man, it was amazing ride, with our hearts in our mouth. But, alas, our wish was not fulfilled, we reached the beach only around 6.45 pm. But still we had a nice time in the beach and then started back towards bangalore at around 7.30 pm. Next stop was dinner at Kundapura. After that not many people were awake. Next thing we knew, we were somewhere near Bangalore at around 4.00 am in the morning. All grogy grogy we were dropped off at the respective places and had a good sleep in the morning.
Actually speaking, we were not really that much tired because of constant rehydration and eating. But, still covering 25 km in one day would have been too much. So, we all decided to take the jeep back. On the whole the trip was nice fun. This time of the year, as there were no rains, the trekking was not slippery too. So we reached back safely without any cuts or bruises.
The trek was worth it for all the effort. My suggestion wouild have been to stay overnite there and see both the sunset and the sunrise next day morning and start the treking downwards. But, the effort was worth it, enjoying nature at its pristine best. I would certainly recommend the trek.
posted by Arun Narasimhan @ 10:25 PM
0 comments
