Kodachadri Trek- October 22nd and 23rd, 2016

After our first event Kuduremukha that turned out successful as organizers, we now planned our second one to another famous trek destination Kodachadri. Suchith and I both hadn't been there and since we had all the contacts, we decided for this place. As usual, we left on Friday night, with all our friends - 27 in all including us. I had asked everyone to be on time since the distance to be covered was a little more, to reach the Kodachadri base on time. But still, we ended up leaving late, by almost an hour.

Day 1, October 22nd: (Trek to the peak and back to base, stay in home-stay)

Though we started very late, the bus driver was fast enough in taking us there at 7 AM, just half an hour late than we thought. We had talked almost whole night and hadn't slept. We went to the home-stay, freshened up and gathered for breakfast and packed lunch. Since we were a big group, it took more time. We were all set to start our trek by 9:30 AM.

Our home-stay owner had arranged a guide for us, and we only had to take forest department permission on the way. We were opting for forest route, and we had to be fast since we had started late. We wanted to spend some time in Hidlumane falls as well. Initial 2 km was jeep route and then the deviation came, taking right inside the forest.

Initial jeep route

For a few more minutes, the trek was easy. We reached a home in between, at 11 AM, and we stopped for a break. There was a small shop selling refreshments like lemon juice, cool drinks and some snacks, and everyone wanted to relax for a while before moving on. After a while we started again, and now the trek got a little difficult, since we entered the forest. We came across a few small waterfalls, and we walked along with the water stream. It was a little difficult to keep everyone moving, since they were all wanting to take pics all along the way.

Near the home, just before entering the forest 

Water stream

We finally made it to Hidlumane falls at 12 PM. This is the last falls in the forest route and of course the best of all. We didn't have time to play in water, and thus moved on after taking some pics.

Hidlumane falls

Here the group split to two. Few friends went ahead and the rest of us were behind and a little slow. We had many first timers, and the pace was not that great. After 15 minutes of trek from falls, the forest ended and it was an open patch of land. Sun was right above us and it was tiring. I had to lie to a few people that we almost reached to keep them moving. We then got another stretch of forest, which didn't last for long anyway. We couldn't see our friends anywhere ahead, so we decided to stop for lunch, in the shade of that last line of the forest.

After having lunch and a good break of half a hour, we started our trek again at 1:30 PM. There were no more trees to shade us, but the clouds above made it easy for us, shading us from the hot sun. We had to walk for about another km to reach the jeep road, and we finally reached there at 2:30 PM.

Trekking towards Jeep route

Some movie shooting was going on there and though I didn't want to stop there, it was kind of an unannounced break point, since there was a guy selling cucumber and lime juice. Everyone were tired, and wanted some break. We still had to cover half way more to the peak. Since it was jeep route, it would be much easier now. I forced everyone to start again, but getting them to walk fast was not an easy task. Few were very tired and slow, and we had to wait. Thus walking together, we reached the IB at 3:30 PM.

Jeep route, Before reaching IB

Jeep route

There was no way we could go to peak and then go back to base within another 4 hours, if we walked in the same pace. We thus said everyone to think and take a jeep down if they wished to, if they are already too tired and think that it would be difficult for them to walk fast. After 5 PM, even jeeps would be unavailable and they had to decide soon. And thus 9 of them decided to go back, while the rest of us continued to the peak.

We didn't give any break in between while trekking toward the peak. We also visited the Ganesha temple and then continued. We were still not sure of the other friends who had gone ahead after falls; no idea if they had reached the peak or not, and we were not able to reach them on phone as well. After much tiredness, we finally reached the peak at 4:15 PM, and found our friends there, much to our relief.

Almost near the peak

We couldn't spend much time here, since we had to cross forest department office by 7:30 latest. We thus decided to leave by 5 PM, and visited the temple and relaxed. We also took some pics and had some fun teasing each other.

At the peak

We started our trek down, deciding not to take any breaks, since going down wouldn't be that difficult. We had to go in the jeep route till the base, for about 11 km. It was getting darker, and we were trying to go as fast as possible. In between, there were 2 guys struggling to start their RE Himalayan, and Suchith tried helping them, but of no use. Without wasting much time, we walked past them and reached the forest office by 7:45 PM. The guide managed by giving some reasons and we were not queried by the officer. We were relieved now, and a walk of another 2 km took us to home-stay at 8:15 PM.

Sunset while trekking down

Dinner was ready and so was the hot water to take bath. People who had gone down by jeep were already fresh and relaxed, and we were now waiting for the bathrooms to be freed, with everyone reserving their turns one after other. We had dinner, and took bath at around 10:30 PM. Now it felt completely fresh and relaxed, and we went and sat in front of the fire. We were 6-7 of us, and we were singing songs. Specially Uday was singing one after the other, continuously without even a small break. This went on for about an hour, and one by one started getting into the room to sleep. It was 2 AM, with Suchith, Jeevan and I still sitting in front of fire, while Chethan was sleeping there on the other side. We then slept there, on the mats, staring at the million stars at the sky.

Day 2, October 23rd: (Visit Kolluru temple and Bheemeshwara falls)

We had informed everyone to be ready by 8, so that we keep up with our plan. But I myself got up at 6, inspite of an alarm at 5 AM :-P By then, few were already up and were getting ready. I expected we would be very late, but we somehow managed to leave by 9 AM, which was good enough. In the bus, some crazy friends had some 'sanmaana' program for me, by putting a shawl (which was mine), for organizing the event :-P

Home Stay

Our first stop was Kolluru Mookambika temple. We reached there in an hour and half and visited the temple. It was very sunny and we were desperate to go to falls, so that we can have some cool time. We started in bus at 12 PM towards falls, which was another hour's journey.

We had to trek for the falls for 2 km from the main road. There is a deviation, and the walk was on a plain mud road. It wasn't too steep anywhere though, so the trek was pretty easy. It was already 2 PM and everyone were hungry. We walked fast and reached Bhattara mane, while few of them were yet to reach. We all decided to visit the falls first and then have lunch. We were waiting for the others to arrive and then leave, but they were all no where to be seen. All my other friends left for falls, which is just a 5 min walk besides Bhattara mane. I waited for them for another 15 minutes, and they all came. They wanted to have lunch first since they were hungry and tired. I then went towards the falls.

The first sight of the falls was mesmerizing. It was very different form all of other falls that I have visited. It was serene, with no much water. Enough water to play safely. My friends were already playing in water and I, without even bothering to take pics, kept my camera aside and ran towards the falls. I just couldn't wait to take a couple pics as well, and I joined my friends who were already enjoying.

Bheemeshwara Falls

I thought I will come back with everyone else to Bhattara mane, have lunch and leave by 4:30 so that we can visit even Jog Falls. But I simply didn't want to leave the place, and just stayed in water
for more than an hour. Then my other friends came, after finishing their lunch. They also got into water and still I was not willing to go out of the water. My friends had to force me, since I was yet to have lunch and to change into fresh clothes before we could leave.

Bheemeshwara Falls - Tanmaya, Myself, Akshata and Chethan

I came back to Bhattaramane at 4:30 PM, with a heavy heart- Wishing I could spend more time in falls (Though I was the one who spent more time than others :-P ) Vatsa, Chethan and I had lunch quickly, while Akshata left with Pradeep and others towards the bus to change to fresh clothes. I settled the payment with Bhattaru and started the walk towards the bus at 5 PM.

One of the funny incidents happened here while walking back. A calf was running towards us, and Tanmaya got scared and she entered a plot of land through a small opening through the fence, thinking it wouldn't enter there. Chethan was already inside the plot with Vijay, next to a water stream. Me and Vatsa stood there near the opening, knowing well that it wouldn't harm us. Tanmaya stood very near to entrance with full confidence that the calf will not enter there, but to her surprise, it entered that plot, running towards her. She didn't know what to do, and she started shouting 'Chethan bachalo, mujhe bachalo'. Vatsa, Chethan, Vijay and I started laughing, seeing her screaming and then she started running towards an inclined land towards the road, trying to climb it with her hands. This was even more funny and we couldn't stop it. Meanwhile, the calf ran away into the plot, and then we guessed that it's home was somewhere inside that land. We reached the road laughing all through the remaining walk until we reached the bus, and for the rest of the two hours, we shared this incident with everyone and laughed until our stomachs hurt badly!

It was 6:30 PM when everyone came back and was ready to start. We decided to simply chuck the visit to Jog Falls and thought of moving to Bengaluru directly. We thus settled down in bus and then we started dancing for the music. The bus even had some special lights which gave a disco effect. We danced for almost 2 hours continuously, until we stopped for dinner at Sagara at 8:30 PM. We had our dinner and then everyone settled to sleep, without anymore energy to dance or enjoy. For the whole night, I struggled to get sleep, and I slept only for 2 hours. We were back to Bengaluru by 5:30 AM, and bid goodbye to everyone, hoping for another such wonderful trip with all of them again.

P.S: Pic credits to Shrivathsa Udupa, Yuvaraj Bennur