Trek to Narasimha Parvata (Agumbe Trek)

It was on 27th May when our dreams turned into real of trekking at Narasimha parvata, lying in range of Agumbe and Sringeri. Initially it is proposed through Haridwarna – The Greens and response was quick and enthusiastic with 22 participants. Due to count restrictions it is reduced to 12 a short and sweet.

The arrangements and information regarding the place were prepared earlier with help of Mr. Timmappa / Krishnappa a local guide at agumbe (9483496142 BSNL) and we left the Bengaluru at around 2200 Hrs starting at Rajajinagar with pickup at Ring road Jn, Jalahalli cross and Nelamangala Toll. The team composed with some experienced, some new comers and ranging from student to MBA Graduate.

28th May 2011

We reached a silent agumbe bus stand around 0600 hrs and tried to call Mr. Timmappa on his mobile confirming our arrival. As suggested by him we had our breakfast at hotel in agumbe bus stand and reached guide’s house around 3-4 kms from bus stand enroute sringeri. (Take deviate to right at signpost Barkana falls) after 1 km from agumbe bus stand to reach guide house (Belandur).

Participants refreshed themselves, distributed the packing’s and prepared to go on after a brief about do and don’t during the trial. It was a quick trial about 2-3 hrs to the barkana falls where we had our lunch and drinks and had a quick view of the falls and bathing in the same. Our journey continued and the lunch we had were heavy atleast for some participants.

The trial hereafter is little tricky as we do not have a clear landmark of the route. At some extent the guide himself had a confused and missed track. Thanks for the no-rain day. Even in absence of rain the leeches had a fair buffet particularly with the newcomers. The finding of leeches could be identified only after it had a good satisfied enough blood from the victim. The best example from our team is Mr. Santosh and Mr. Nagaraj. By the time of clearing of 2-3 leeches it would have attracted 6-8 leeches instantly. Good we had enough snuff to get rid of leeches.

Enroute we do not find any water sources until the target camp and even at camp we have two cradles like water tank which will be stagnant water but pure if utilized properly.

At the day 1 end the plan was to prepare noodles. More votes came against it. Instantly it is converted to noodle soup which is hot and tasty enough for the tired souls. Later rice had boiled and the same converted to Iyengar’s Puliogare.

During the preparation we had little introduction’s to each other and about their experiences and other stuff.

GOOD NIGHT.

29th May 2011

Early morning around 0600 hrs everyone had refreshed and we had bread jam, pickles, vegetables etc enough to our breakfast and high spiriting Black Tea (Masala Tea with sugar and no milk) which had a great feedback.

Around 0900 Hrs with a group photo at the peak we started descending towards Kigga (A small town appx 12 kms from sringeri. Kigga is known for RishyaShringa Temple). We reached the destination around 1030 Hrs and with 15 relaxations we had our vehicle in which we reached Sirimane Falls (small but relaxing water falls particularly for us – trekkers).

Refreshed and reached sringeri around 1230 hrs. Visited the temple and witnessed the great food and Good GudBud Icecream (Suggested by Sanjay) and started towards Bengaluru.

Reached well-in-time to Bengaluru. 2300 Hrs was the Last drop of the participant.

Participants:

Sridhar Padaki
Sanjay Padaki
Ajay Padaki
Prasanna Bhat
Vishwesh
Santosh Varadaraju
Suresh kumar
Leela Krishnan
Chandra shekara
Venkatesh
Ramachandra
Nagaraj Srinivasaih

Reference Link: http://trekwiki.wetpaint.com/page/Narasimha+Parvatha
http://www.grex.org/~ranga/narasimhaparvatha/index.html

Approximate Cost / Head: 1100.00


Memorable Events: Funny, Happy, Sad etc participants can add here:

1: EAST Ramachandra
2: Santosh Blood Donation Camp.
3: Ramachandra Happy of seeing the House at top.
4: Vasanta Geeta.

Trek to Ettinabhuja

We are pretty happy that there is lot of enthusiastic participants for the trek programs. The day called on 14^th Nov 2008 when we left for ETTINABHUJAA a tough trekkers paradise located between Dharmastala and Kukkesubramanya.

Ettinabhuja is a name provided by localities as the peak resembles the shoulder of the OX from a sight. This time on announce of the trek brought us the immediate reply from nearly 35 participants. Since we had already had a limitation with a NRS Travel service vehicle to 22 persons we sincerely cut-off to 22 first come basis. we left for the day on 14^th Nov 2008 to Shishila (base camp for the trek) which is enroute dharmastala – Gundya cross – Shishila. The road to shishila is quite worst and not a pleasurable one.

Day 1: 15^th Nov 2008

We reached Shishila around 7.00 Hrs in the morning and as already planned contacted Mr. Gopu Gokhale, a well known person in the region for his hospitality for providing breakfast, lunch and guide for the trek. We had refreshed ourselves and had Kottu (a form of IDLY in canara regions) with vegetable gravy salad as side dish. Everyone geared for the trek and had our backpack with light snacks, water bottles and most necessary CAMERA. We were accompanied by Guide, a local person who carried our lunch along with.

The starting 13 Kms of the trek can be easily traveled by Jeep who charges around Rs. 250 for 10 persons in a Jeep. We hired 2 numbers and reached the spot from where we need and must trek. The trek is around 8-9 kms from here and nearly hard as the path ascends continuously without any flat route. The route is quite dry and densly covered making no room to view any surrounding. After about 4-5 kms we witness the Grassland from where we can mark up the EttinaBhuja Peak and nice location for relaxation. Continue the way towards the peak from here is quite confusing as the grass here can grow upto 8-9 ft high and nearly covers the persons who travel front or back of us and tracking them will be quite difficult. Nearly at about 1 kms to Peak you will find the water paths and that to be needed to identify as we need to go the shallows tracing the sound of the water flow. REMEMBER: THERE IS NO ANY WATER POINT ONCE YOU START TREKKING AND CAN FIND ONLY NEAR THE PEAK.

Since we are all exhausted and already 4-5 members totally dried out without water to drink, they just turned back half the way, we just relaxed at the water point and had our lunch (The time as remember was around 1530 Hrs). Relaxed for a while and our guide warned that the reaching the peak may be impossible as the time runs out and the days were nearly to the NO MOON day. The path back to base is also quite confusing as we started descending in a batch and lights were already vanished with heavy dark in the forest region.

With help of only 5-6 Torch and supporting mobile lights and Guide we reached the base around 2030 Hrs. The road was totally dark without moonlight, without street lights, without vehicles. Out guide called the Jeep persons and by around 2200 hrs we reached Shishila and left to Dharmastala.

Day 2:

16^th Nov 2008

We had a early morning dharshan of Sri Manjunatha SwamI around 0600 Hrs and had a breakfast and left to SAUTADKA SRI VINAYAKA TEMPLE. Had a dharshan and reached SRI KUKKE SUBRAMANYA. Witnessed pooja and some rituals and had lunch in the temple. Left for the day via Bisale Ghat Section and reached bengalooru around 2200 Hrs.

INTERESTING FACTS:

1: The New variety of Breakfast for some new comers, who enjoyed the breakfast and had a lot.

2: Crossing the river barefooted and on sharp, slippery stones providing entertaining by skidding.

3: Carrying 2 fullpack lunch items for 22 persons.

4: VALUE of water (even for few droplets)

5: Offering from some participants of Rs. 2000/- for 1 litre of water

6: Challenging to Rs. 2000/- few offered to give their credit card in exchange for water.

trekking to Dabbe falls, Kanoor kote, gerusoppa

The day came of our dreams. Initially due to some health problems and other reasons (mainly rain) we could not able to make any decision regarding our trek to Kanooru fort or Doodh sagar (Goa region). It was on 16^th November 2007, we had a 12 members a strong team headed to Kanooru Fort with all that enthusiastic. We had a reservation to Linganamakki off Jog falls by Rajahamsa transport service of KSRTC at 21.45 hrs and guys joined at platform 4 are Vasu, Giri, Nitin, Prabhakar, Shreekar, Suresh and myself sridhar padaki and other members pradeep, Kripanand, Venu, Purushotama and chandra. A happy journey to Linganamakki

Day 1:

The bus went through sagara – Joga – Kargal – Linganamakki. Our destination was Kargal. We reached Kargal around 7-15 Hrs on 17^th Nov 2007 and had a good breakfast of Idli – Chutney. Well after breakfast we catched the local bus leading to KATTINAKAARU – SULLALLI and dropped at Hosagadde Cross a 30 min drive (15 Kms) at pleasant country-side. This is our starting destination “ Hosagadde Cross”.

You will find a petty shop with a mud road (jeep road) aside. Move in the jeep road until you find a wood bridge leading to right and a jeep road continuing straight. Now take the wood bridge and continue upwards. A pretty time you need to pass through entry gates of some estate (owned houses) but people are much hospatality in nature to guide you through the way. The jeep road continues again and now you can hear a roaring sound of water channel on your right side and a enough big mud road leading downwards apart from straight road you are passing by. Take the deviated route and within 2 min you find a proper bridge (not temporary wooden bridge) making you to feel the way is correct. Continue upwards until you find a lonely house at your right. Yes that is gowdara mane and relaxing point for DABBE FALLS. Reach the house keep all the luggage in the house and a straight opposite paddy field is the way to DABBE FALLS. The way is not so pleasant to enter after paddy field and is a straight downwards way and some tricky ways with really enjoyable. It takes around 30- 40 min to reach the enchanting Falls. Once reaching the falls you really appreciate yourself for finding it. Enjoyable moments for one hour or so. Take the same path to come back to gowdaramane (gowda house). Approximately time will be around 12-30 by this activity you can have your lunch here itself and starts the journey towards kaanoor village.

After starting from gowdaramane keep trekking at climbing sides and within20-30 min you find a deviating route one going straight and other a sharp turn to left. Take the left route and after a mean while you again encounter with jeep tracks. Follow the way and the jeep tracks come to end at two houses one at straight and another at the left shallow. Take the shallow route again which is through a village house and continue. After a mean while you find a track again. The track leads to KUNCHALLI village . the end house at the turning is the path for kanoor. Enter into the house premises and start ascending there. All the passions go with similarity. You will find a paddy fields – house – 2 persons (Minimum) a dog – wooden gate. Cross this and you find a climbing region and a shallow field and repeaing process .. paddy fields….

Do not forget to take help from house members to lead to kaanoor as it is little confusing ways. One is a long jeep track route and a other through the paddy fields and Jungle – forest and ofcourse a interesting short-cut road. At around 1600-1630 you will pass through the forest for a long period without any house or paddy fields. All of a sudden you will encounter with regular road- tarred. Just take the right side and move around 500- 1000 mts and you can see the mud road at the left. Take the mud road and at around 100 mts you can see primary school with Anganavadi – Kanooru. Now the time will be approximate 1600- 1630 Hrs. The First day camp site. Please take the permission from house just opposite to this school for your confortable stay at teacher rest room. At a time 10 members can be accomodated in the inner room and 6-10 member in the verandah. Have a great dinner and enjoy the night and sleep.

Day 2:

Have a break fast here itself and start your journey to kaanooru Fort which is around 8 kms from here. You can see a water tank with borewell opposite to this school and a wooden gate deep inside the path. Get through that gate and cross the paddy fields and you will encounter with a house painted WHITE and RED. Pass through the house and people here guide to Fort. It starts again with paddy fields and in no time you will go through the forest. A long journey through the forest and at very near to Fort you will see two roads one leading straight and other left.( Hint is you can see one house at right and within few mts another house at left and the way take uphill). Take the left road. After these two house the uphill starts and the mono way until you see a well defined pond. Continue the way and at some point you come across two roads one to the left and other to the right. If you find a ruined check point house at right hand side of right side road stop there. This is the junction point fact the check point house (a small temple type) right hand side way is the path for Kanooru Fort (appx. 10 min walk) left hand side road to Kaanooru village and back side jungle way is to Gerusoppa village. If route is correct you will be in this spot around 11.30 –12.00 in afternoon.

Enter to Kaanooru fort and a worth watch for 1 – 1 1/2 hrs. come back to check point and take the way to gerusoppa. Gerusoppa is around 12-15 kms from here and all the way maximum is downhill. Just move the way and at many points you encounter with dry water ways. Now you come to a junction where you find a two ways one at right ending at a house and a straight way also ending at the house. Take the straight way and cross through the fence and you can see the cow shelter at the left in the premises. Pass through the same and immediately it will be a fresh up spot with river flowing waterway, a good enough to take a 30-45 min break and lunch or snacks whatever. Cross the river way and follow the electricity pole lining and you come across the jeep track. Continue the path and occasionaly you can also encounter with local people on their bikes in the path. It is around 3-4 kms from gerusoppa village. At the end of the road you will find tea-shop at the right side. Refresh for a while and move left side way and take the right immediately leading to sharavati river way. Cross this river and it is all Gerusoppa Colony. From here you can take the cabs taking to honnavara and if you are still enthusiatic walk for a km and be at highway junction of sagara – honnavara. The approximate time will be around 1800 hrs by the time you reach here. From 1900 hrs to 2300 hrs you can catch plenty of buses to sagara shivamogga, bengalooru directly.

At last we reached bengalooru at 0600 hrs with lots of memories confusions and lost film camera at gerusoppa.