I (Puneeth) took the accounts department, Naveen became the HR guy, Junk Ravi the logistics manager, Manju the post planning manager, Babu, Director Naveen and another manju became one among our employees.
Plan: Actually there was no any strong plan except some handouts that I had collected from the blogs to educate myself.
24/12/2009
We left Rajajinagar at 21:54 in Tavera which headed tumkur road, since there was a long week end with Christmas holiday and also Annual shut down for many companies had made traffic worse and the construction of the fly over added its contribution to the woe.
With all hullaballoo which delayed our schedule by 3-4 hours made enough to have our first pit stop near to Gubbi at 1:00. Guys started having tea and some murukus. Our next pit stop was in Shimoga, a gateway of Malnad at around 4:30. After 4 hours of journey very near to kodachadri foot mesmerized by the morning glory of the scene we alighted to capture the beauty where a river (no name) welcoming the Sun in its way was a splendid indeed. One Km ahead we found a
25/12/2009
Trekking to Kodachadri:
We reached Sampekatte, foot of the Kodachadri where we had nice home made finger licking dosas in Kodachari hotel at 8:30. 1-2kms away from the hotel is the spot where you start your trekking, we came there changed our attire to suit trekking, packed some eatables available there. Trekking hmm a whooping 5 hours mega marathon, very steep and bit risky. We finally started at 9:40.
2km stretch form the start we found a shop had soda and opted out a guide there after taking forcible advices from the shop owner for 250 Rupees (it was 300, Naveen bargained it for 250), but guide is necessary which we realized later. With the guide we stretched our journey into the deep forest.
Wow! What a pleasant journey it was, albeit I stood last in the group while trekking I was actually enjoying that heaven by looking at the sky, trees, breathing deeply the fresh air. Rest of them was in a presto. Every one kept moving listening to unknown, unreachable background music of birds, and even to the soothing sounds of small several streams that had spread entire forest. Of course photo session was a common act.
After few kms of trekking in the forest we hit Hidlumane (mean backyard) falls. A thin fall which could stun u for the height it is falling from. We nicely enjoyed by taking bath with that chilled cold water which was hitting our back in force was actually a respite from all the strain and stress. Later we finished the eatables. Since we trekked during day time and it was a quite sunny day we didn’t encountered any problems from leeches.
I kept asking guide as to how long still we need to trek, he used to tell in a horrifying
way, which read like this “Still it is just a sample and half the way”. Meanwhile Babu Mama has gone crazy behaving abnormally due to the result of beverage consumption, where he started torturing everyone especially me which was quite funny.Km by Km we walked, took rest at some points, saw the locations that were shot for Galipata movie and had butter milk when we were about to reach the peak. At 15:30 we did it, we climbed Kodachadri, such an experience I feel will only come once in a life time. At the top where in December with the scorching sun if u find a temple and a nice Bhatara mane hotel which one would you select, the answer is tricky. As usual we went to moola mookambika temple for paying respect and in no time reached Bhatara mane where we ordered the food before. We had nicely with naveen hitting beyond the threshold level of his stomach. The water there really so sweet not only for drinking but when u get fresh you feel heaven is in your hands.
No one was interested in climbing 2km stretched
Sarvajna peeta, where Adi Shankaracharya had meditated, so we started to descend at 16:30 which was swift and easier too.Kollur:
When we reached kollur at 19:30 we never expected such a huge crowd. We felt all the roads from Kerala lead to Kollur. We found Malayalees thronging to the temple like a waves of an ocean. Every road in kollur was blocked which made us to reach the temple by walk from a long distance just to see a bee-like never ending queue for dharshanam. We joined the queue and after 2 hours able to get Devi dharshanam. I took prasadam which was our dinner for that day.
It was a very painful day for us with all the rooms in all the lodges of Kollur filled. We headed to kundapur in search of empty rooms where we got one but in vain, the constraint was that only 3 people were allowed to sleep but we were 7. We moved further enquiring in near by places but returned back seeing houseful boards. So book the rooms early if you are planning to trip at this time.
Mama our lifer saver for that night took to Bhatkal where he completed his Engineering 5 years ago. He requested the hostel warden for our stay that night; Warden agreed and arranged a room in distinction block. It was quite a nostalgic for Mama who explained that he couldn’t able to score distinction to live in that block in his active days, but God has fulfilled his wish in this way. Ha ah very funny. When we went to bed at around 2:00 we felt much relaxed after crossing all the hurdles and hassles in our way. We are very much thankful to Anjuman No! No! Mama.
26/12/2009
Murudeshwara:
We got up at 7:30 immediately left bhatkal to reach Murudeshwara. One piece of Atmalinga thrown by Ravana is called Mrideshwara renamed Murudeshwara, very near to Bhatkal. World’s largest Lord Shiva’s idol besides Arabian Sea is an amazing location except the simmering heat during this time. We reached at 9:00, booked a lodge, finished our morning business and visited the temple for Lord’s blessings. Clicked some snaps left the place without touching the beach because of its dirtiness. Our tavera headed towards NH-17 road.
Maravanthe beach:
We did not step in to the beach at Murudeshwara because to enjoy the beach at this place which was clam, tidy and almost no crowd. On the NH-17 road, 30km away from Murudeshwara you come across this beach which is an exotic place where nature blends salt and sweet water. To the left side of the NH-17 road one can find vast Arabian Sea and to the right sweet watered river. We utilized both to the fullest.
Anegudda: (Elephant hillock)
A few km ahead on NH-17 itself we found this sacred Vinayaka temple. Quite interesting about the fact that Agastya performed fire rituals to please the rain God when drought attacked during which Kumbhasura started bothering sages. To rescue the sages, bhima killed the daemon with sword given by Lord Ganesha.
We went to dharshnam, fascinated by the Lord there, took his blessing and had a rear entry for the meals that will be provided at the temple because it was already closed. Somehow they served us, once again had stomach full. It is only place in our journey with fewer crowds.
Udupi:
It’s a divine shrine in the coastal region. This place is MadhvaCharaya’s sanctum, now flooded by all the Krishna devotees. At around 16:30 we reached Udupi but to see a heavily hit mob. The dharshanam got cancelled and we only had to see Kanakana Kindi, a small window where Lord Krishna pleased by the intense devotion of dalit worshipper Kanakadasa turned back to give him dharshanam when he was not allowed to enter into the temple. We left the place immediately heading towards our next destination.
Shringeri:
One more Adi Shankaracharaya’s divinity indication is Shringeri with many shrines and temples situated on the banks of river Tunga. There are ample numbers of fishes spilling up to get fed by you. It is a center of learning and many intellectual activities all along. Sri Sharadha Vidya peetam is one among them. We reached here at 20:30, visited the temple and came out to wear slippers, but Mama’s slippers was missing, he searched it like any thing, once again went for refine searching no use he didn’t get this time too. With heavy heart Mama was returning but splashed with an idea he grabbed another slippers pair lying orphan there which almost resembling to his lost slippers. We started him to call Chappli Kalla (Slipper thief) irritated by the slogans Mama started justifying his act by giving big theories. With a hilarious drama left the place to halt at Chikkamagalur.
We reached Chikkamagalur at around 00:00 had dinner at KSRTC bus stand which was pathetic and en routed to Manju’s relative home to sleep.
27/12/2009
Mullayanagiri:
This is a beautiful trekking spot 20km from Chikkamagalur once again covered with snow, touched and kissed by milky clouds. We were fortunate enough to see such weather even at seasons like December. Sun was hiding himself inside the clouds so we could not able to see sunrise.
The journey mesmerizes you by purifying the blood from the polluted bodies like us who hails from Bangalore. Decent, clean and chilling weather takes you to a different world. We left Chikkamagalur at 9:05, reached Seetallayangiri where the road to mullayanagiri starts; unfortunately it was closed for some repair work. All we got disappointed but still enjoyed Seetallaynagiri’s scenic beauty, and turned towards BabaBudanGiri. One thing, we did not trek from here, the route is good enough to ride.
BabaBudanGiri:
Almost 25km from Chikkamagalur, this mountain is a pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims. It started burning many years from now, for controversy between both communities which is quite a political drama. It also called Datta peeta. We reached at 12:50 and tried to enter into the shrine, but entry was restricted for some renovation. This is the second disappointment in our journey, so left the place after viewing the outer look of the shrine.
Manikyadhara:
One of the main attractions of BB giri is this falls, which is scared place for both Hindus and Muslims and 1km away from BB Giri. The water is icy cold, chilling, just we washed our faces which gave us a great respite. Even in the summer season the water wont drain, it remains cold all the time. I personally feel the water in this falls has medicinal traces so near by we can find many herbal shops. We captured the falls both in the camera and heart and returned back to head kemmangundi.
Kemmangundi:
Lush greenery, silver cascades, several streams and enchanting mountains are the definition to kemmangundi. Kemmannu means Red Soil and Gundi means Valley; naturally you can find red soil on the way you travel here. It is a Mining capital of Malnad. For adventurous heart this provides many peaks to scale, and for romantic hearts the name itself is a tremendous treat. This was a summer retreat of Krishna raja wadeyar, so as a token of respect it is also called KR hills. We were to face third disappointment here as the road condition was pathetic hardly our vehicle moved on the entry point. We dropped the idea of going by walk, headed towards our next location.
Kallathgiri Falls:
16:40 we reached kallathgiri falls, there is a temple which is sandwiched between rocks and water falls. The water falls from 10/15 meters height get divided into two parts, making it a nature’s built serene for bathing itself; so people rush here to drench in pure nectar called Kallathgiri falls.
From here we reached Manju’s village to have his Mom’s Love along with Ragi balls, chicken curries, Boiled egg, and rice. Every one had stomach full and around 19:00 we bid good bye to every one especially to Malnad, pipelining the memories into our hearts for ever and ever and ever.
