Monsoon came to an end and whole of western ghats were calling us with its all glory of green mountains.
Nov 1st and 2nd 2014.
The plan was hitched to trek Charmadi range. Near ujire and dharmasthala.
Nov 1st and 2nd 2014.
The plan was hitched to trek Charmadi range. Near ujire and dharmasthala.
We left Bangalore bit late on Friday night, blames on Bangalore weekend traffic. It was 11 30pm when everyone were fit into tempo traveller and say Hi to highway. Arrangements for stay n guide were made in prior. Our sincere thanks to Keshav Mulya from Charmadi.
Day 1:
6 30 am we reached Charmadi gate, and took deviation to panchalinga temple where we have a small hall to rest and halt. Lets call this as base camp. Everyone got fresh and all set for the day, while few of them prepared breakfast n lunch. We quickly had breakfast and packed our lunch.
Our guide Nemanna was with us on time, he is the well known person of that region and should appreciate his activeness even in his 50+ age.
Starting point of trek is near annappa swamy temple, this temple is on the road side of the Charmadi ghat, vehicles stop here for pooja and proceed.
500 meters from the temple we started the ascend. It was sunny and soon everyone started to sweat. One should carry sufficient water as there is no water source till 4kms. After crossing one hill we get water source a small stream, we had our packed lunch there. The hill is full of knee length grasses and after few kms there is no accrual trail path to gowri gudda. It is having a steep accent. The view from the top was mesmerising, we could find elephant dungs and skid marks on the top. Wondering how a big creature can climb that steep peak.
The entire Charmadi n shiradi range can be seen from the top. We spent sometime on top and started to descend, there is no trail path one should make there own path, should be careful chances of stepping into a pit and can slip.
We could see our next destination of the day kode kallu from the top, our guide Nemanna was really fast in walking compared to our group. Soon we started to put big steps towards giant rock. On the way we met a big group of collage students hiking towards gowri gudda. Wishing them a good luck we proceeded, in 40 mins we reached the kode kallu, from far it's doesn't seem like that huge, but it is really huge, 30 to 50 people can camp under the mammoth rock, but no water source near by. We could see the road from rock, although reaching the road is not that easy it's very steep. We spent some silent time on the rock just looking at the mountains ahead. We spotted some wild boars on the top. Everyone's bottle was empty n we started to descent time was 4 30, at last 500 meters was very tiring. we reached the camp site and screen down to day 1 with mouth watering food.
Day 2:
6 30 am we reached Charmadi gate, and took deviation to panchalinga temple where we have a small hall to rest and halt. Lets call this as base camp. Everyone got fresh and all set for the day, while few of them prepared breakfast n lunch. We quickly had breakfast and packed our lunch.
Our guide Nemanna was with us on time, he is the well known person of that region and should appreciate his activeness even in his 50+ age.
Starting point of trek is near annappa swamy temple, this temple is on the road side of the Charmadi ghat, vehicles stop here for pooja and proceed.
500 meters from the temple we started the ascend. It was sunny and soon everyone started to sweat. One should carry sufficient water as there is no water source till 4kms. After crossing one hill we get water source a small stream, we had our packed lunch there. The hill is full of knee length grasses and after few kms there is no accrual trail path to gowri gudda. It is having a steep accent. The view from the top was mesmerising, we could find elephant dungs and skid marks on the top. Wondering how a big creature can climb that steep peak.
The entire Charmadi n shiradi range can be seen from the top. We spent sometime on top and started to descend, there is no trail path one should make there own path, should be careful chances of stepping into a pit and can slip.
We could see our next destination of the day kode kallu from the top, our guide Nemanna was really fast in walking compared to our group. Soon we started to put big steps towards giant rock. On the way we met a big group of collage students hiking towards gowri gudda. Wishing them a good luck we proceeded, in 40 mins we reached the kode kallu, from far it's doesn't seem like that huge, but it is really huge, 30 to 50 people can camp under the mammoth rock, but no water source near by. We could see the road from rock, although reaching the road is not that easy it's very steep. We spent some silent time on the rock just looking at the mountains ahead. We spotted some wild boars on the top. Everyone's bottle was empty n we started to descent time was 4 30, at last 500 meters was very tiring. we reached the camp site and screen down to day 1 with mouth watering food.
Day 2:
Alarm woke us at 5 and soon after brush some got busy cooking breakfast and lunch for the day while the rest were busy with other chores for the day. Finally at 7.30 all bags packed with lunch and shoes on we started towards Banjarumale Hills which is located in the 9th hairpin curve and is home to "Malekudiya" tribal people living deep inside the forests on the Charmadi Ghat Road. It is 18 km from Kakkinje and private estate has fenced the route, there is a need for any trekker going on this route to take prior permission from the private estate managerial staff. Just an oral permission is not sufficient as the private estate party demands for written and sealed permission to pass through the route.Some 2 kms inside the estate we stopped our TT and started our trek thou their is a clear walk path their is still chances of missing the path but with our guide namanna we walked on seeing the beautiful forest view and communicating with the Malekudiya people, must admit their hospitality is superb. At half way one group halted near small falls while the other enthusiastic group stepped further to explore more. We reached a stream finally and was upset by missing the route and our cleaver nemanna found the route to a waterfalls which was unexplored (told by guide).The path getting denser step by step and the leeches welcoming us made the route tuff and the challenge came our way when we had to get down a steep of 75 degree or more steeper and the leeches having their lunch lavishly we finally made our path steep reached the mesmerizing (must admit) water falls . Our greed never stopped here we went on climbing rocks to reach edge of waterfalls played for an hour clicked pics had our lunch and biding good bye to the falls we took same path to return to the place where we rest of our group was waiting for us. we thanked the private estate incharge for letting us in. we reached charmadi and stopped for a coffee and there by thanked our guide Nemanna and keshav mulya for the accomodation at temple.
we heard there is a temple near by ujire which is called as "temple of secrets" anything wished here by praying to sadashiva rudra swamy will come true in ones life is the belief. we visited surya temple before it closes for the day and had darshana of sadashiva rudra swamy.
"Shree Sadashiva Rudra Temple is very near to Ujire (3-4 KM) there will
be lots of Autos & Jeeps are available from Ujire bus stop. Its
15-20 Mins drive from Ujire. Please note that temple is opened from
7.30AM to 2PM and 4PM to 6.30PM only. As said by the Archakaru,
Initially when you are making sankalpa (offering you wanted go & do
there) need not go there, from your place only you can do the sankapla.
Once your sankapla fulfilled you can go there & do the offerings."
on the way back to bengaluru we stopped at kottigehara for its famous mouth watering neer dosas.
we were back to home by 1 am.
one of the good hikes with moderate difficulty, thanks to the group spirit and the hospitality of the temple people.
Key points :
Charmadi gate -- the landmark
Take permissions in prior.
leach alert in monsoon.
