Brahmagiri

This is my second trek with Kamesh's Group. Needless to say, another wonderful experience.

Friday night we boarded a TT near Kanteerava Stadium at 10 PM. After picking up few guys from Majestic we headed towards Sreemangala, Kodagu. By 5.30 in the morning we reached the IB at Sreemangala. You need to book your trekking well before the date at the range forest office at Sreemangala. They will arrange a Forest Guard as a guide and adviser throughout the trek.
Pavan, a friendly forest guard accompanied us from here onwards.

After having good breakfast at a house nearby the Irupu temple, we headed towards Narimale Forest Camp. This is a forest guest house in between the forest, 5 kms from Irupu Falls. This stretch is heavily infested by leeches. I have at least 10 scars on my feet even after 10 days.

[Leeches do not kill you, they just bite you and suck your blood till they want and then leave. They do all these activities without your knowledge. Bleeding will take some time to stop even after they leave you. Best medicine is to carry some powdered salt and put it on the leech when you see them sucking your blood. You can use Tobacco leaves or lime for the same purpose.]

We started the trek from Irupu Falls at 10 AM and reached the Guest House by 12.45 PM. We walked for ~5 Kms and the path ranges from moderate to difficult. Here we settled down for 30 minutes 'plucking' the leeches, rearranging the bags, having some chocolates etc. We started towards Brahmagiri Peak at 1.30 PM and reached the peak by 3.30 PM. Total distance walked was around 7~9 kms. The trail takes you through almost flat grasslands. Only the last km of the trek is enough to take the breath out of you. But this is the most beautiful part of the trek.
The peak was windy and we started back immediately and reached the IB at 6 PM.

During the entire trek of Day 1, rain was playing hide and seek with us. We had packed everything in plastic covers and that saved our clothes, food, cameras etc from getting wet.

After we returned, Kamesh started cooking food for us. It was rice and Sambar!!!!!!!!!. I cannot explain how delicious it was. Plate full of steaming rice and spicy sambar and pickle. Kamesh, Thanks, You made our day. After dinner, we slipped into the sleeping bags and what a sleep that was!!!!. There was solid background music of beetles and sound of lashing rain.

We got up at 7 AM. Had Maggi. Started walking towards Munikal Caves. This is around 5 kms from the IB and the terrain was same as previous day's. We took two hours to reach the caves. These caves were used by sages in the earlier days. This place can be used as camping site as this has a source of water. After this we returned to the IB at 11 AM. Packed our bags and started walking towards Irupu Falls. It took two hours. By 1.30 We were under the Irupu Falls, enjoying the 'water massage'.
At 2 we went to the same house (where we had breakfast previous day) for lunch, and again a stupendous lunch. At 3.30 we started towards Bangalore and reached home at 12 AM.
PHOTOS:

My Camera

Chethan's Camera

Irupu Falls:

Brahmagiri Peak: Data:
Team: 13
Vehicle: TT
Cost: 2500 per head, all Inclusive.
Distance Travelled: Bangalore to Irupu: 280 Kms Approx.
Distance Trekked: Two days and 38~40 Kms Approx.
Precautions and Preparations: Permission at Range Forest Office, No Littering, Possibility of wildlife sightings, LEECHES, No Alcohol / Smoking, Rain/ winter gear and lot more

Tadiyandamol

Saturday morning was again memorable for us. We were at Virajpet bus stand by 6 AM on Saturday. Our bus to ‘Kabbinakaadu’ junction was at 6.45 AM from here. We walked towards private bus stand and ‘Anuradha’, the bus, came at 6.45 AM. It took roughly an hour to reach the Kabbinakaadu junction.

At 8 Am we were in the junction. Five minutes after we got down, a 4x4 Bolero Invader came to pick us. We had called ‘Honey Valley’ by 6 in the morning from Virajpet to inform that we will be coming by ‘Anuradha’. I had already booked a 10 bed dorm there. It was an unforgettable journey of 3 kms. No vehicle other than jeep is drivable here.

We reached Honey valley by 8.30 and freshened ourselves and had breakfast. At 9.40 AM we were walking uphill in a new route to Tadiyandamol. Group lead by a guide from the home stay. It was around 11 to 12 kms and the route was exciting. It took the air out of us and we reached the top at 2.30 PM.

All of us were tired by this time. We took rest and had some food. Honey Valley people will give picnic packets on request. It will contain cucumber, tomatoes, bread, cheese, biscuits etc. In addition to this we had carried some other junk food.

[After 3-3.5 hours of walking form honey valley, we reached a flat ground near a waterfall. This is the place where all the routes meet. From here it is a single path leading to the peak. The waterfall at this place is the last source of water. Filled the bottles and took some rest here. This is also a good place to camp. It took an hour from here to the peak.]

We started walking down at 3.30 PM. This time we descended in another way leading towards ‘nalku naadu’ palace. It was around 6.30 and it was dark when we reached this place. Borrowed a cell phone from another group of trekkers and called Honey Valley for a jeep. It was 8 PM when we reached the estate. Had a filling dinner after freshening up and had a good sleep. Outside it was terribly cold.

Got up at 7 Am, had breakfast and a pick –up truck dropped us at the junction. We were at Virajpet by 11 Am. Took a Volvo bus (Starts at 11.20 Am from Virajpet) back to Bangalore. We reached here by 5.30 in the evening.

Details:
Route: Bangalore -> Virajpet -> Kabbinakadu junction (if going to Honey Valley) or Ask for aramane stop .

Cost: Rs 1,250.00 if going by bus (Bangalore-Bangalore)

Team size – 7

Trekking length +/- 20 kms.

Date - 02-12-2006 and 03-12-2006

[We took a Rajahamsa from Majestic at 12 AM to Virajpet. From Virajpet to Kabbinakadu Junction we took a private bus ‘Anuradha’ which leaves at 6.45 AM. ]

[A ten bed dorm at honey valley costs 1,500 rs per day, veg food per person around 250 rs per day, transport from junction to the estate is 80 rs. The place is very nice to stay and experience]

Photos :
All photos by Chethan.

Flowers @ Honey Valley

View from the peak

A water fall on the way