Well let me start off with my most favorite trek. This was my first ever overnight trek.
Location: Kodachadri
Duration: 2days and three nights including travel from bangalore
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
Since i live in bangalore most of my travel instructions will be with travel in mind. Firstly catch a bus or train to Shimoga. Reach Shimoga early in the morning. Catch a bus from Shimoga that goes to Kollur. Elite at a place called Gowrikere. This is where the trek begins. From Gowrikere by road, trek another 2kms to reach the local school. Here starts the actual trek to Kodachadri.
Once you take the turn towards Hindlu mane falls at the school, you will see the vast expanse of the thick jungle in this region. Though you will find a jeep track running till the Hindlu mane, its still quite a nice pleasent trek till there!. Once you reach Hindlu mane ask the local people in the house for directions. Also ask them for some local made jaggery. A friend of mine got me this on my second visit. Its really tasty and its made by the locals. Speaking of jaggery, off course there are sugarcanes which are grown in their backyard which are not to be plucked[must tell you, they are really tasty .First hand experience you see...;)]. Once you get to Hindlu mane not many would disagree with me at the fact that its one of the best waterfalls to take bath in[assuming that you have come here in summer.In winter getting a glimpse of the falls itself is a big thing]. Not the biggest of falls but the sheer smallness of it is what makes it really special. They say a bath in one such falls is a cure to many diseases. Who cares if it is!. All that matters really is that its fun to take bath so shed ur clothes and get under the falls! After having a bath for around a half n hour its time to leave else the night mite have to be spent at the falls!. Not very ideal!!.
Once sone with the falls make sure you fill in a lot of water in your water bottles and move on!. WEll as one of my friend once on this trek said "Take a left after the Tree". So you know where to go now exactly, except that the jungle is full of trees!. On your climb up after the falls make sure you are a little left oriented. Once you cross the thick woods, you will find vast expanse of grassland!. No the trek is certainly not over yet! If anything its just started. On keen observation you will be able to find a nicely defined path which leads straight to a jeep track but after a little bit of trekking off course!. Make sure you have some time time in hand before you reach the jeep track. On the jeep track its another 3-4 kms trek. Dont mind asking the locals there since they do not know anything above a furlong's measurement. Taking their words seriously could lead to severe mental stress since that furlong is never ending.
The jeep track will lead straight to the top of Kodachadri. Up there is a temple and a guest house. What this means is that there is a comfortable place to stay in and there is good provision for food!. Try taking your own ration along as the hotel up there is quite highly priced!. You can probably cook in the hotel's kitchen and pay him a little for it later!. Stay at the guest house if available. Post 'GAALIPATA' the place is infested with too many people so be ready with an alternative to camp. Carry a tent along if possible. Savor the food, get a massage done by a friend and have a good nap. Try and wake up early and catch up with Sunrise at the sunset point at the peak of this hill!. DO not miss this opportunity of catching the first rays of sunlight at the peak! Once finished with the click clicks! get set again for another arduous 2-3 hrs of trekking down the hill. On asking the locals they will show you the route downwards. Follow the trail to reach a jeep track at the arrival of which there is KAKA ANGDI. Have a cuppa coffee and move on!.
On reaching the main road on this jeep track you have completed the trek successfully. Pat yourself on your shoulder a few times on this achievement. Try getting a lift to Kollur in one of the local vehicles out there, else wait for the bus which might come anytime soon!. If finished early this day, you could check out the KOLLUR MUUKAMBIKA TEMPLE. Quite a beautiful place or go to some beach near kundapur which is what we did the first time we went there!. Go play with the mermaids on MARVANTE beach and then head towards a bus stand once it gets dark!. Catch a bus directly to bangalore but only after tasting the local made fish curry or fish fry at kundapur's Shetty's Tiffan House!
Get back home and plan for the next trek which will be the next post on this blog...;)
