Trek to Dabbe Falls and Gerusoppa (Sharavati) Valley.....

                                                                 
Gerusoppa valley (Sharavati valley) is one of the beautiful places in Karnataka... When my friend and I got to know about this trek, we were very excited n eagerly waiting for it. The day came and our journey started towards Shivamogha. This was our first trek with BTC. Trek was well organised and I personally thank all the organisers (Ishan, Aman and Srikanth).

BTC has a unique way of introductory sessions.. Ha ha.. We have to enact our name(without speaking and just in symbols and actions) and the rest of the team guesses our name, which was so funny and entertaining. After the introduction, organisers briefed about the next two days plan and then our sleeping session started. Haha.

Team:)

Morning we reached Sagara ( town nearby Shivamogha). We had our breakfast and took a group picture n started our journey towards Hosagadde (trek start point). Local guide Ganapati joined us. We had taken all the provisions, vegetables for the rest of the days of our trek for cooking purposes. Ganapati sir briefed us about the plan and it was around 16-17 km trek for the day. Everyone carried sleeping mats, vegetables and other stuff and our journey began.

Our first point of attraction was Dabbe Falls. To reach Dabbe Falls we need to trek for around 6-7 kms and then we reach to a place called Dabbe. There is a small house here. The most important thing about these treks is we get to know different people and get to meet new people which is one of the best thing. I met many new people like Suma ma'am ( very enthusiastic lady) all the organisers were so friendly and cool.

Talking to local guides gives us a chance to know about local food( this is how I start the conversation, as I m a foodie :P), local places, local people and their lifestyle. The lifestyle of Malnad people is so different. They live amidst nature. All these talks give us a great understanding about the life of people who live in these regions. On the way we crossed lot of small streams, there were a few leach bites to few of our team members as well. Haha. This was nothing when compared to our second day trek(trek to leaches paradise.. Haha).

We reached Dabbe. There was a small house here. Local chef (Ganapati Sir's friend, I m sorry am not able to recall his name.. So let's give him a new name... :P from now onwards his name is Mandanna:P ha ha) collected all the vegetables and provisions and started cooking. Meanwhile our plan was to visit Dabbe Falls. From here one can get beautiful view of paddy fields... Lush green paddy fields and clear blue sky... You will definitely be lost in enjoying the beauty of nature... Nature is always beautiful :) serene, pure and simply beautiful :)

From here, it is a very steep descend and one should be very careful while getting down. Triangle formula works here as explained by Ganapati Sir. The roots of trees act as natural steps to get down. The trick is we need to hold a root of the tree from one hand n the root below from the other, take grip n keep your leg down on another root.. This s how we need to get down.. It was very adventurous and thrilling.. As we were in team we helped each other n got down to a place from where we can see the waterfalls ( very close view). We can even get down but the route is very steep. But the waterfalls is so beautiful:) We got to know that it is not that deep and we can easily get into water and enjoy to the core in the cold water.

       
But unfortunately due to time constraint, we could not get down. But we spent some quality time there enjoying the beauty of the falls and took some good clicks. It was worth visiting the place. We loved the place. We then started back n reached the house where our Mandanna had prepared food for us. Everyone was so tired and so hungry.. It was time for us to start batting.. Haha..  I can never forget the pickle which they had brought for us... It was so yum.. I can get the taste of the pickle even now.. I am a great fan of pickle.. Haha just for your information :P

Our next plan was to trek for 10 kms and then reach a place called Hebbanakere and stay there for the rest of the day. But due to some change in rules we were not allowed to stay inside the forest after 6 in the evening. This was the major turning point to our trek. Our whole plan changed for the day. It was decided that we will be staying at Muppane nature camp on the banks of  sharavati backwaters... We didn't know that this is gonna be the most beautiful part of our trek. We started towards Muppane. We trekked half of the way and then the next half of way was covered by open jeep ride( which was fun filled experience). Open jeep ride, antyakshari, sunset time, and the beautiful roads, cool breeze... Wowww!!!! I have no words to describe the experience. It was simply superb!

We then reached Muppane and started walking towards the forest IB. There were some confusions and finally we reached the place. By the time we reach it was around 9-10 pm. We all were damn hungry... So our master chefs Ganapati sir and Mandanna started cooking.. We helped them in chopping vegetables and stuff. Got some pure water from sharavati river. The most adventurous part was we were staying in the forest, we just had a shelter and there was no safety and anything can happen during night time as it was forest. But I don't know we were not at all scared... It was risky but at the same time we were enjoying it.. Enjoying every moment of it. We played food antyakshari. Haha. And I can never forget Ishan's tarbujar ka recipes. Ha ha ha..

We had stomach full of food and slept. Morning when we woke up, we were so surprised to see the beautiful sharavati backwaters... Awesome it was... Sharavati ... You are so beautiful :) there was one old boat and it was so nice to see it. We had a great time and then we started our trek to Gerusoppa valley.

White chillies.. (Gandhari menasu)

Our second day plan was to visit Kaanur Fort(600 yrs old fort), Basadi and hanging bridge. The total distance was more than 20 kms. We were entering the leaches paradise, thick forest. Trek inside the dense forest is a again a very good experience.  We had packed our lunch and started our trek. On the way we visited hebbankere. They prepared lime juice for us.. God! It was sooooo good... Prepared out of fresh nimbu... Specially after walking for 5-6 kms if u get to have these kind of juice, there is no word to describe that happiness. Haha. We again crossed lot of paddy fields, small streams and reached Kaanur fort. I used to keep saying you guys that it is leaches paradise. Haha yes it is. If u keep a step, 10 new leaches ll climb on your shoes.. Haha.. Leach bite is very common and we really can't help it. There is a secret exit to this fort. It was nice visiting the place and then we reached back to our meeting point and had our lunch and then started our trek.

Kaanur Fort

I collected some leaf skeleton here and I also did some artwork using those. I will share pics. :) Our next attraction was Basadi and then hanging bridge. We covered half of the distance and there comes another adventurous part of our trek. Yes! It is river crossing. I was so scared when I got to know that we need to cross the river. But we did it. It was again a team effort. We supported each other and with Ganapati Sir's guidance we were able to cross the river.. I thank everyone :) it was really a teamwork. We played in water for sometime and then left to Basadi.

The sad part was we couldn't visit Basadi as we were bit late and it was already dark. We had to skip this place and continued towards hanging bridge. It was nice to walk on the hanging bridge. We get a beautiful view of Sharavati river here. Thick forest and a river.. Great experience. We were almost done with our trek. We reached the end point of the trek, i.e., again a sharavati river. We need to cross the river with the help of a boat and reach the other side of the river where our vehicle was waiting to welcome us. Haha.

Overall it was a very different experience and at the same time very adventurous too. I am very happy that I was a part of this beautiful trek. Wish to do more of these kind of treks with BTC. Miss you all... Cya soon.
:) :) :)

Artwork on leaf skeleton....:)

Artwork on Leaf Skeleton..:)

Kerala Diaries - Chembra Trek

ತುಂಬಾ ದಿನ ಆಗಿತ್ತು ಯಾವ್ದೆ travel experience share ಮಾಡಿ. ಏನಾದ್ರು ಬರೆಯುವ ಅಂತ ಅನ್ನಿಸಿದಾಗ ನೆನಪಾದದ್ದು Chembra Peak Trek. So, ಇವತ್ತು ನಾ share ಮಾಡ್ತಿರೋದು ನನ್ನ Chembra trek experience! 

Beautiful Chembra Peak :)

If you love to have an adventure trip, then Chembra Peak will be a perfect place for you. Nature lovers, trek freaks ಗೆ ಹೇಳಿ ಮಾಡಿಸಿರೊ ಜಾಗ ಇದು. ಇನ್ನು ಈ ಜಾಗದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ಬೇಕಂದ್ರೆ ಇದಿರೋದು ಕೇರಳದ Waynad ಅನ್ನೋ districtನಲ್ಲಿ. ಮೆಪ್ಪಾಡಿ ಅನ್ನೋ placeಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲಿದೆ Chembra peak. 

Beautiful view....

ಇನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ trek ಮಾಡ್ಲಿಕ್ಕೆ permission ಬೇಕು. ಹಾಗಂತ ಎಲ್ಲೂ ಅಲೆದಾಡೋ ಪ್ರಮೇಯ ಇಲ್ಲ. Ticket counter ನಲ್ಲೇ trekಗೆ  permission ಸಿಗುತ್ತೆ. Trekking fee around 600-700 rupees ಇತ್ತು. Recent prices ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟಾಗಿ idea ಇಲ್ಲ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ  guide compulsory ಬಂದೇ ಬರ್ತಾರೆ. 

Another beautiful view of tea estate :)

Actually vehicle parking place ಇಂದ view point ವರೆಗೂ ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು. Around a kilometre distance. Here, one can get a beautiful views of Chembra tea estate. Actual trek ಶುರು ಆಗೋದು view point ಇಂದ. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರದವರೆಗೂ ಮರ ಗಿಡ ಇರೋದ್ರಿಂದ ನೆರಳಿರುತ್ತೆ. ಅದಾದ ನಂತರ ನೆರಳು ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹಸಿರು, ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಇದೆಲ್ಲ ನೋಡ್ತಾ enjoy ಮಾಡೋಕೆ best time ಅಂದ್ರೆ August and September. But if you are a person who loves rain, then June-July is the best time to enjoy the beauty of rain and western ghats.

Trek route

Wild flower

ಇದೊಂದು moderate trek. It is neither too difficult nor too easy. It is around 4-5 km trek(one way). ಹೋಗ್ತಾ ದಾರೀಲಿ luck ಇದ್ರೆ orchid flowers ಕೂಡ ಕಾಣಸಿಗುತ್ವೆ. ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೂ ಹಸಿರು, tea estate, ಬೆಟ್ಟಗಳು, ತಂಪು ಗಾಳಿ.. ಇನ್ನೇನ್ ಬೇಕು ಅಲ್ವಾ nature ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದೋಗೋಕೆ..

It is a beautiful place. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ವಿಷೇಷ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿರೋ heart shape lake. ದೂರದಿಂದ ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಇದು heart shape ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣ್ಸುತ್ತೆ. Trek ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಯಾದ್ರು ಸುಸ್ತಾದ್ರೆ, ಈ heart shape lake ನೋಡೋ ಆಸೆ peak ವರೆಗೂ ಖಂಡಿತ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯುತ್ತೆ. ಹ ಹ್ಹ ಹ್ಹ!!! 

Beautiful heart shape lake <3

ತುಂಬಾ time ತಗೊಳೊ ಅಂತ trek ಏನಲ್ಲ. ಹತ್ತೋವಾಗ ಕೊಂಚ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಸಮಯ ಬೇಕಾಗ್ಬೋದು (around 2-3 hrs). ಇಳಿಯುವಾಗ hardly 1.5 hrs ಆಗ್ಬೋದು. So, if you go to Waynad, don't miss this place. Do visit once:)

On top of Chembra Peak

Another beautiful view....

Rain.. Tea estate... Mountains... Love for nature <3

Keralaನಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನು ಬೇರೆಡೆ ಹೋದದ್ದಿದೆ. ಆ experience ಮತ್ತೊಂದು post ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರಿತೇನೆ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಸಿಗುವ.... :)

Haarangi Backwaters...(ಹಾರಂಗಿ ಹಿನ್ನೀರು)

 

ಇವತ್ತಿನ ಈ post ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ journey ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಇಂದ ಶುರುವಾಗಿ ಕೇರಳದಲ್ಲಿ end ಆಗೋದು.ನಮ್ಗೆ ಕೇರಳಾಗೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು ಅನ್ನೋ ಆಸೆ ತುಂಬಾ ದಿನದಿಂದ ಇತ್ತು.ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಕಾಲ ಕೂಡಿ ಬಂದೇಬಿಡ್ತು. ನಮ್ಮ ಕೇರಳ trip plan ready ಆಯ್ತು. It was a two day trip to Kerala. ಆದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ first destination ಇದ್ದದ್ದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ. Yes! ಅದೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ Haarangi Backwaters!

 

Haarangi Backwaters

                             
ನಾವು Friday ರಾತ್ರಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಂದ ಹೊರಟದ್ದು. Haarangi Backwaters ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಾಗಿಂದ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಬರೋ ಆಸೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಇತ್ತು. ಇಲ್ಲಿ sunset ತುಂಬ ಚೆಂದ ಕಾಣ್ಸುತ್ತೆ. But unfortunately ನಮ್ಮ route map ಬೇರೆ ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಾವು ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೇನೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕಾಗಿ ಬಂತು. ತುಂಬಾ ಕಡೆ Haarangi Backwaters ಇದೆ ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೆ. But ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆಂದ ಕಾಣ್ಸೋದು Herur ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇರೋ ಈ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ.

 

ನಾವು ಮಂಡ್ಯ - ಕುಶಾಲನಗರ route select ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು. ಈ road condition ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ. ಸಂಜೆ ಹೊತ್ತಲ್ಲಿ ಮಳೆ ಹನಿತಿರೊ timeನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂತ placesನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು long drive ಹೋಗೋದ್ರಲ್ಲಿ ಇರೋ ಮಜಾನೆ ಬೇರೆ. Imagine ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಂಡ್ರೆ ಮಸ್ತ್ ಅನ್ಸುತ್ತಲ್ಲ. ಹ ಹ್ಹ ಹ್ಹ!!!

On the way to Haarangi Backwaters....

ಆದ್ರೆ ನಮ್ಮದು night journey. ನಿದ್ರೆ ಅಂತು ಬರ್ತಿಲಿಲ್ಲ. ರೋಡಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಒಂದೊಂದು vehicles ಮಾತ್ರ ಕಾಣಿಸ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದದ್ದು. Night drive ಹೋಗೋವಾಗ window open ಮಾಡಿ, ಹೊರಗಡೆ ಬಗ್ಗಿ cool breeze enjoy ಮಾಡ್ತಾ, ಆಕಾಶದಲ್ಲಿರೋ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ ನೋಡೋದ್ರಲ್ಲಿ ಇರೋ ಮಜಾನೆ ಬೇರೆ. ನಿಮ್ಗೂ try ಮಾಡ್ಲಿಕ್ಕುಂಟಾ??? ಹ ಹ್ಹ ಹ್ಹ!!!

ನಾವು early morning 4:00ಗೆಲ್ಲಾ Herur reach ಆಗಿದ್ವಿ. 5:30 ವರೆಗೂ ಆರಾಮಾಗಿ ನಿದ್ರೆ ಮಾಡಿ ನಂತರ ಹೊರಟದ್ದೇ Haarangi Backwaters ಕಡೆಗೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೆ sign board ಇಲ್ಲ.Google map follow ಮಾಡಿ main road ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರ ಬಳಿಯಾದ್ರು ಕೇಳಿದ್ರೆ exact road ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತೆ. Main road ಇಂದ deviation ತಗೊಂಡ ನಂತರ ಸಿಗೋ road condition ಸರಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. But road ನ ಎರಡೂ ಬದಿ ಹೊಲ ತೋಟಗಳಿವೆ. ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಜಾವ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳ ಚಿಲಿಪಿಲಿ ಕೂಗು ಕೇಳಿಸ್ತಾ ಇರುತ್ತೆ. ತುಂಬಾ ಖುಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತೆ ಇಂತ ಜಾಗಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗೆಲ್ಲ. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗ್ತಾ ಸಿಗೋದೆಲ್ಲ ಕಾಡು. ಒಂದು check post ಕಾಣಸಿಗುತ್ತೆ.ಆದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಇರೋ ಹಾಗೆ ಕಾಣ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. Open ಇದ್ದೇ ಇರುತ್ತೆ ಅಂದ್ಕೊಳ್ತೇನೆ. Early morning ಕಾಡಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಮೂವರೆ ಹುಡುಗೀರು. ಯಾರೂ ಇರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. Wow! Amazing feeling.. ಭಯ ಆಗೋ ಅಂತದ್ದೇನೂ ಇರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ತುಂಬಾ ಎತ್ತರವಾದ ಮರಗಳು. ಕಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಏನೋ attraction ಇದೆ ಅನ್ಸುತ್ತೆ. ನಂಗೆ ಯಾವಾಗ್ಲೂ ಕಾಡಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಷೇಶವಾದ ಆಸಕ್ತಿ. ಆ attraction ನನ್ನನ್ನ ಯಾವಾಗ್ಲೂ ಕಾಡಿನತ್ತ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತೆ. ಕಾಡನ್ನ ಇಷ್ಟ ಪಡೋ ಅಂತವರಿಗೆ ಈ ಅನುಭವ ಆಗಿರಬಹುದು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ time spend ಮಾಡಿ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೊರಟದ್ದು backwaters ಕಡೆಗೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ backwaters ವರೆಗೂ vehicles ಹೋಗಬಹುದು. ನಾವು car park ಮಾಡಿ ಕಾರಿಂದ ಇಳಿದು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಕಂಡದ್ದು beautiful haarangi backwaters.

ಸೂರ್ಯ ಇನ್ನೂ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ, ಬೆಳಕಾಗಿತ್ತು,ತಂಪು ಗಾಳಿ, ಎದುರಿಗೆ ನೀರು, ಅದರ ಹಿಂದೆ ಬೆಟ್ಟ, ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾರಾಡೋ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು.... ‌‌‌ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಸುಂದರ ಅನ್ಸುತ್ತೆ. We spent an hour or so. Sunrise ಗಿಂತ sunset beautiful ಆಗಿರುತ್ತೆ ಅಂದ್ಕೊಳ್ತೇನೆ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಖಂಡಿತ sunset ನೋಡ್ಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬರ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಿದೆ ನಂಗೆ. Beautiful scenery ನ ಕಣ್ತುಂಬ ನೋಡಿ photos click ಮಾಡಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಹೊರಟದ್ದು ನಮ್ಮ next destination ಆದ ಅಲಕಪುರಿ waterfallsಗೆ. ಇದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ-ಕೇರಳ borderನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕುತ್ತೆ.

 

We 3:-)

ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಗ್ಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ನಾವು ವಿರಾಜಪೇಟೆ route ತಗೊಂಡದ್ದು. ಹಸಿವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಬೇರೆ ತಾಳ ಹಾಕ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಹ ಹ್ಹ! So, ವಿರಾಜಪೇಟೆನಲ್ಲಿ ತಿಂಡಿ ತಿನ್ನೋಕೆ ಅಂತ ನಿಲ್ಸಿದ್ವಿ. ಇಲ್ಲ ಕೊಂಚ non-veg restaurants ಜಾಸ್ತಿ. Vegetariansಗೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಕಷ್ಟ. ಹ ಹ್ಹ ಹ್ಹ! ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಒಂದು ಕಡೆ veg food ಸಿಕ್ತು‌. ಇಲ್ಲಿ local dishes ಅಂತ ಬಂದಾಗ ಪತ್ತಲ್, ಅಪ್ಪಮ್ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಿಕ್ಕುತ್ವೆ. ನಂಗೆ ಪತ್ತಲ್ (ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಪುರಿ ತರಹದ dish) ಒಂದು ತರಹ ಇಷ್ಟ ಆಯ್ತು.

ನಾನು ನನ್ನ Camera :-P

ವಿರಾಜಪೇಟೆಯಿಂದ ಅಲಕಪುರಿ waterfallsಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕಂದ್ರೆ ನಾವು Brahmagiri Forest Zone cross ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು. ಈ route ತುಂಬ ಚೆಂದ ಇದೆ. ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೂ greenery. ಕಾಡು-ಮೇಡು ಇಷ್ಟ ಪಡೋರು ಈ routeನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು. ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೇರಳ trip ಶುರು. ಆ storyನ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು postನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರಿತೇನೆ. Keep waiting..... ಕೇರಳ storyಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಸಿಗುವ......