t's been an year
since my last trek in which I hiked
Tadiyandamol. Some or the other stuff
came about and I was not able to think of a trek. At last I got a weekend at hand with my
family away at hometown. Trek was the
plan which quickly came to my mind. I
have heard about the Kodachadri trek since very long time from my friend who
introduced trekking to me. Back then he
almost hiked every weekend covering all the ranges in the western ghats. I think he did the silent valley trek as well
spanning days together in the wild.
Tadiyandamol range |
I haven't done many
treks but a couple I would say. For the
last trek I got a wealth of information from the internet which helped to climb
the peak. So thankful to the open information
available to anyone. This time around I
pledged myself to give back as much as possible to the open community. Thanks to many many bloggers who have poured
a wealth of information regarding the trek trail to Kodachadri I made this trek because of the information
volunteers and owe my thanks to all of them.
From my first set of
search I found that there are two trekking trails (Actually three) to Kudremukh
peak. First and the very popular one
being the path via "Hidlumane Falls"
and the second one being the "Karigatte gate" route. There is a third route as well and since I
did not do a diligent search I am unable to comment anything more about the
third path here.
Honestly there has
been quite a few write ups about the "Hidlumane village" route but
still vague I would say. And moreover
the trek across the "Hidluemane falls" needs a guide. Photos over the net were very attractive and
I badly wanted to trek via that path.
One of the blog was very very informative and I indeed took down all the
points and made my mind to hit the trail.
There was one another blog which was very detailed regarding the
"Karigatte gate" route and like the general opinion, the post
re-iterated that the trail is a single trail and anyone can do including the
first timers. I noted down the details
of this route as well as a plan
"if-in-case".
As a any other
Bengalurean, quickly checked the tickets and found that tickets are
available. I got confused whether to
reach Kundapur and then take another but to Kollur. But immedietly it striked me that since
Kollur is a popular destination for the temple, I expected few direct buses
from Bangalore and my thought was indeed right.
There were direct operated by KSRTC but it started at 7 or 8 pm I guess
and that is too much to ask from a Marathaillite :P :P Although KSRTC is very very dependable (I
have a personal reason for KSRTC and not for any particular reason) time factor made me to search for other
operators. A quick search gave me that there was one trip from SRS. I checked the price and booked immedietly to
Kollur. So here I come Kodachadri!!!!!!!
Last couple of
times, always I have been running on the road at the last moment to catch a
bus.. Be it the KSRTC at 9.30 or TNSTC at 9.40.
With the pick up scheduled at 8
pm, I understood that it is going to be difficult unless I leave the house at
5.45. As usual I left at 6.5 and when I
hit the bus stop and saw the first bus, without second thought I stepped in
considering the painful marathahalli
junction. As expected it was huffing and
puffing to cross the Marathalli bridge and the worst part is that the citi bus
driver wants to pick every person possible in every stop. He drove as slow as possible and by the time
I reached Domlur bus-stop it was 7.10 pm.
With roughtly 40 minutes, and considering shooley circle, richmond
circle.. I forgot bus and hired an auto.
The driver accepted to turn meter and at last smartly took me to
Kalasipalya at 7.50 pm. But still I have
to run the last couple of steps. Hooofff… You know what time the pick up bus
came??? It came at 8.40… I had all the time to grab a set dosa in a nearby 'kai
yendhi bavan' (Tamil for road side shop)
SRS depo at Anand Rao circle |
The pick up bus
reached the SRS depo on the Anand Rao circle and my bus was scheduled at 9.30
pm. It eventually came at 10 and got
settled in my upper berth with wishes from my family. I managed to catch some sleep a bit later and
the bus scheduled for arrival at 7.30 reached Kollur by 8.30 am. So Kollur at last