Kodachadri Trekking : Epic Eight's journey up the mountains!
Hey all, I hope you all are doing good and healthy. June's blog is early and this time it is a travel blog. Yes, I travelled, made friends, talked to strangers, climbed up the Kodachadri Peak, witnessed the Western Ghats, Enjoyed the scenic beauty of Malenadu, Visited Kavimane, and created core memories. It is an achievement for me. As you read through this blog, try to imagine you being there and experience that joy along with me.
From the person who talked less, stayed in her shell, unexplored places, was too shy to talk to people, was scared to make new friends, had fear of getting attached, fear of heights, and doubting my abilities and strengths to going on a trip with a set of new friends, talking to strangers, climbing up the mountain and writing about it, I have come a long way. 9-year-old Shambhavi will be really proud of who I am today and what I have become.
It has always been mountains over beaches for me. I had climbed a small hill in Bannerghatta in 2022 with my best friend when we were volunteering for WCG(Wildlife Conservation Group) and technically that was my first trekking experience. I still remember the explicit feeling and the joy I felt being on the top of that hill. I wanted to do more of it and when my friend pitched in the idea of going to Kodachadri for trekking, I was excited! But everything has to come the hard way, isn't it? It took me a good amount of time to convince my mother and assure her of my safety. The plan had almost got cancelled, but I guess the universe wanted me to be there and finally, everything fell into place and we started our journey, the 8 of us, THE EPIC EIGHT!
My friends and a lot of other people who had booked tickets for the 15th and 16th of June for trekking were the first batch of people climbing the Kodachadri Hills this monsoon season in 2024.
Me and my friends started our journey from the Majestic Bus stand where we started the bus journey with endless stories and unlimited laughter. Some of us slept while some of my friends could not sleep as the bus ride was adventurous and especially to the ones who sat in the last seat.
Kodachadri Hills forms an integral part of the Western Ghat Mountain ranges and being at an altitude of 1343m above sea level, it is said to be reached by a five-hour trek. It took us a lot more time, that is different! The journey to reach the top has 6 pitstops as per I remember. By the top, I mean to reach the Sarvajna Peetha where Sri Shankaracharyaru meditated. A flat land that can be reached in first few hours and then crossing the forest office checkpost to walk through the muddy and slippery path to reach Hidlumane Waterfalls before which we get 2 small waterfalls. Next is the shooting spot where the famous Kannada Movie 'Gaalipata' was shot and after that comes the place on the top of the mountain which is said to be the place where Goddess Mookambika killed the asura, Mookasura. To reach the Mookambika Temple, we again have to walk a bit or go on a jeep ride. From there it is about 1 hour journey up and down to witness Sarvajna Peetha.
After reaching our homestay- Hallimane Homestay, we were given time to get trek-ready with proper clothing, raincoats, shoes, and high spirits to start our journey up the hill. We ate a good breakfast and started off our journey say about by 10:30 a.m. after a jeep left us at the starting point. We could see the mountain up there and it was so sunny when we started that some of us who wore raincoats were made fun of by others who thought it was too early to be in that attire. Who cares? It rained eventually, Ha Ha!
It started raining heavily after we reached the first pitstop and that is when I first slipped and fell as I looked back to see if my friends were behind. The ground had become so slippery! With trekking shoes, it felt slippery and I was thinking of wearing the regular shoes and now I feel how naive I was to think like that ever since I realised the need for trekking shoes being an utmost necessity because those slippery paths scared me.
I was all ready with a backpack full of first aid kit and items to ward off/prevent/post care from the leech bite. Unfortunately, I could not experience that one thing...I badly wanted to get bitten by a leech just to see how it felt. But sad, that didn't happen. We had to climb steep paths with the help of ropes and it was a fun feeling. Before we could reach Hidlumane Falls, two other small falls greeted us with pleasantness. Soaked in water, boots full of water we had to still go up to reach the peak. Four of us among eight went up to the shooting spot before the other four could join us and there we got our first break from our long hours of climbing. It took us a few more hours from there to reach the first peak. On the way, it was sunny, started to rain heavily, it again was sunny, but on the top of the hill, it was windy and cold. I was astonished to see all the weather simultaneously in a day and that too which changed so fast. It is unpredictable weather there!
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In some places, I might be technically wrong with some details, but I have written it as per my understanding and whatever I could remember. Ignore them and just read or correct me (if there is anything as such) by commenting under this blog.
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Bye!
WOW Shambhavi !! The blog was fantastic! Reading it made me feel like I was experiencing a moment on the mountain all over again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I am glad you felt so.
DeleteBeautiful blog Shambhu!!
ReplyDeleteReading this made me feel that I was there all along :-)
Kudos!!
Thank you so much Prapthi.
DeleteThat is beautifully written account of your trip Shambhavi! You've definitely achieved your goal of taking us all with you on your trip through your words. Your writing has come a long and I can't wait to read more about the world through your eyes❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Pannaga :)
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