Kudremukha Trek

Travel is an addiction and I have to have my dose of it every now and then. It was April 2013 and I desperately needed a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. And as happens all the time I started planning a trip. I wanted to exert myself and the 15 km trek to the Kudremukha peak and 15 km downhill really titillated my travel buds. I instantly did some research on the place as I usually do and everything fell into place all by itself.

I fixed the journey date and booked the bus tickets and my travel partners followed commands.

There was no direct bus from Bangalore to Kudremukha. The nearest bus station was Kalasa which was about 311 kms from Bangalore and about 22.5 kms from Kudremukha.

So on 26th April we reached Majestic at around 8.30 pm. Abhisek could not join us due to some last minute official commitment. So it was the three of us this time around; myself, Joga and Debanjan.

We had dinner at our all-time favorite eatery in Majestic, “National Restaurant”. Our patriotism (not the food as you might have been guessing) takes us there every time.

After some real hard time trying to register directions thrown at us in Kannada we reached the exact spot from where buses to Kalasa leave. And after another gruesome ten minutes we were finally able to firmly settle our asses in the bus that was supposed to take us to Kalasa.

The road condition was good. The ride wasn’t all that bumpy.

We reached Kalasa the next morning at around 7 am. We had tea and biscuits from a nearby tea shop and enquired the teashop owner regarding how to reach Kudremukha. We do that all the time. He said that local buses ply every one hour and the bus stand was right opposite his shop. Aha! Bliss.

At around 7.40 am we got the bus to Kudremukha. It was an enchanting ride along the winding trail and ample eye soothing green outside the window.

After about half an hour we reached Kudremukha.

We had to take the trekking permission from Kudremukha tourism office which was like 2 minutes’ walk from the bus stop. And another ecstatic moment. It was almost around 9.30 am when we got the permission (which costed us 250 rupees each, guide separate) in our hands. And then we had to go all the way to Mullodhi which was the base of the trek. Joga wasn’t really for it. We gave into Joga’s ardent pleas and postponed the trek to next day. Instead we decided to go to Hanumangundi falls which was like 40 minutes ride from Kudremukha.

And like the last travel update I will not describe the place but let the picture do it all.

And after coming back to Kudremukha we were like hungry wolves ready to devour anything that our hands would lay on. We had tea, biscuits and cakes from a local tea shop and enquired about  non-veg eateries nearby. He told us to go to Kalasa if we were in real need of chicken and fish. We were in real need. Nothing could be more real than our love for good food.

We went to Kalasa and the first thing that our eyes met was a non-veg restaurant (Raj restaurant) with pictures of succulent fish and tender chicken just near the bus-stand. We gorged on fish fries and chicken kebabs. The price was quite reasonable. After our tummies had no more complains we started with our hotel hunting. It wasn't difficult to find one. Just nearby was "Chandan Lodge" which looked pretty decent. The charges were 600 rupees/ night for a double bed room. Good enough.

Next day we started early. We reached Balagal by bus which took us around 15 minutes. From there we went to Mullodhi by auto which charged us 200 rupees. There are jeeps available but they charge around 600 rupees but since we were three in number auto seemed a better option. The auto dropped us at Mullodhi from where our guide, Rajesh took over. The auto driver had called Rajesh earlier to be our guide and he had agreed.

So we started our trek. Some 2 kms away we saw home stays. We asked Rajesh about the charges. He said they costed around 600/person/day. To that he added that his home is a home stay too and the charges were 500/person/day.

After a 15 km walk through forests and steep inclines we reached the Kudremukha peak. It was tiring to say the least. Joga cursed us heavily every time he was able to take some breath. It was his first trek and for a first timer I would not suggest this trek. The route is not difficult but the distance to the peak does the trick. You need to be a regular trekker to cover 15 kms to reach the top.

While coming down we faced a hail storm. And it made the ascend difficult but made our experience all the more enriching and of course burnt a hole in my pocket (my camera went for a permanent holiday). Rajesh took us to his house, offered us towels to dry ourselves up and served us coffee. He lit fire for us. He had a brother and mother at home. All of them were so humble and welcoming. The other went on incessantly ln Kannada. What I could figure out was that she was asking us to visit them again. The atmosphere at Rajesh's house made up for all the sweat we had shed, all the trouble we had taken. Such experiences  are treasures in the chest called 'life'.

The rain made the hilly roads slippery ande no vehicle was ready to come to Mullodhi. So we had to walk all the way down. I could not dare to look at Joga's face. He was pissed off to the extent of planning our funeral. However a localite whom we met midway helped us out. He called his friend who was a auto driver who agreed to take us to Kalasa. He charged us 150 rupees which was like the best that could have happene. When we reached Kalasa it was 5.30 pm and we were drenched to our skin. We desperately needed to change bt we had already checked out in the morning. But Debanjan took the responsibility to talk to the hostel authorities and request them to give us the keys for some 30 mins and he was able to manage them. Some of the few things he successfully accomplished.

Myself

Rolling hills

Forest trails

Fallen Legend - Joga

Cloud nine

Stretches of Savanna grasslands

Rajesh's home

After leaving the hotel room we had dinner and waited for our bus to arrive.
At around 10.30 pm we boarded our bus back to Bangalore and ended another trek and another handful of memories got added to my travel diary.

Something good.....

NOTEBOOK DISTRIBUTION, MAGADI.

The “Notebook distribution” programme organized by the “Notebook Drive”, an IISc students’ initiative, was in its second last day today (Friday the 21^st of June, 2013) and we were supposed to cover 6 Govt. primary schools in Magadi, Karnataka. Today’s area coordinator was Himani Galagali, a final year UG student.

 We had earlier decided on starting  at 8.30 am sharp but loading of notebooks and stationeries, arranging for vehicles, gathering of all the volunteers took some time and finally it was almost 9.30 am when we started rolling. I, Gaurav, Omkar, Abhay and Himani made ourselves comfortable in an Alto , Deepak decided to stick with the tempo carrying books and stationeries driven by Karthick. Mahesh and Arventh followed us in bikes.

When we reached the first school we were greeted with cheerful “good morning” from the kids. That rhythmic and musical “good morning” reminded me of my very own childhood days. There is an inexpressible joy in spending time with kids, seeing them laugh to their heart’s content, seeing happiness sipping through their souls when they lay their hands on something new and you get every bit of all that when you are part of the “Notebook distribution”.

Every time we went to a new school the happiness kept on growing. The happy faces of the kids, their ear-to-ear grins, their glittering eyes were a sight so fulfilling. The schools kept on changing and I while writing this article could not quite recall their names, but the atmosphere invariably remained the same. And as wise men say, “Happiness has no language”, though I could not understand what the kids tried to convey in Kannada, I knew that they were happy and that is all that matters.

The teachers were warm and inviting. They did all they could to make us feel at home. They were very appreciative of our efforts and it really made everything worth it. Their humble efforts touched our hearts.

With the efforts of all and sundry the distribution was carried out in a very orderly manner. Everything was almost perfect. Yeah, we took a little longer than planned but who cares as long as we enjoyed every bit of the experience. Good things after all should be relished slowly.

We were back by 5 pm and by that time I was feeling exhausted and liberated at the same time. It was not the first event of “Notebook drive” that I participated in, but the fervor invariably remains unaltered. Every time I spend time with these kids I realize how I miss my childhood. I feel a little grown up. I feel a little innocence lost. I feel how I take simple joys of life for granted and how I can be a little better person. Hats off to all the members of NBD who have taken the responsibility (I can raise my collars, I being one) for organizing such a gala event.

WAYANAD: A Little Piece of Heaven

I have a penchant for details. My travelogues are usually like pages out of a novel. But well that is my style. This time I have planned to do something different. I will put details in a very scientific manner. Easier for people to find every little details they need. And about the description of the place I will leave everything on the photographs. As wise men say, "A picture says a thousand stories"......

Destination: Wayanad (north-eastern district of Kerala formed in 1980).

How to reach: From Bangalore there are several K.S.R.T.C. as well as private buses plying to Kalpetta ( a town and municipality in Wayanad) where you need to get down. Some of the ticket booking websites are given below for convenience:

1. http://www.ksrtc.in/site/
2. http://www.redbus.in/
3. http://www.goibibo.com/bus/
4. http://www.makemytrip.com/bus-tickets/?intid=OldHP_to_Bus_Menu

(You have to book tickets from Bangalore to Kalpetta)

Road condition: Gear yourself up for a bumpy ride. The roads are not good. I would always suggest you to avail for K.S.R.T.C. buses over private buses. the drivers seem to more careful and responsible.

Places you can visit: The places that I jot dot down are numbered according to their appeal (Opinions may vary)

1. Chembra peak: A must visit. It is the highest peak in Wayanad at 2011 meters (6900 ft.) above sea-level.
                            The trekking is moderately difficult. Not suggested for first timers. But it is worth every      drop of sweat. It is located near Meppady which is 8 kms. south of Kalpetta. Local buses are available every now and then. It is a good idea to lodge in Mepaddy since many of the attractions are near Mepaddy. We had lodged in The Hotel Malabar Cools and it was quite reasonable (600/night for double bed rooms) and clean lapped amidst the tea gardens. You can take an auto to the base (from where trekking starts or rather you can reach the base by walk (if you are roughing it/your budget is low). You have to take permission from the forest department (The office is on the way and the rate is Rs. 500 for a group of 10 or less. For groups larger than 10, the rates are different. A guide is mandatory and it comes within that Rs. 500). The trek to the peak takes about 3 and a half hours. The climb down takes another two. There is a guest house at the base. the rates are reasonable. You can lodge out there if you want to soak in the beauty for a little longer.

Meppadi

Heart-shaped lake en route the top

2. Soochipara falls: An indelible beauty will strike you after almost a 2 km  walk down  the ticket       counter (The tickets cost Rs. 30/head). You can take an auto from Meppady. It will charge you Rs 200 (as per December 2012). The ride to the falls is as scenic as it can get.

3. Meenmutthy falls: It sure is the largest and most astonishing falls in Wayanad district. But unfortunately it is closed for the time being. Please gather sufficient iinformation from localites before you plan a visit.

4. Tholpetty/Muthanga forest range: These are in opposite directions but quite the same. You can visit any of them.

a. Muthanga directions: Kalpetta to Sulthan Bathery to Muthanga (buses are available). Beware you have to reach the gates before 3 pm. Plan accordingly. The entry fees are 250 rupees/person and the jeep ride costs 500 rupees (and it is compulsory).



b. Tholpetty directions: Kalpetta to Manyatavadi to Tholpetty. The rates are same as Muthanga forest range.

 5. Edakkal caves: It wasn't as exciting as we had anticipated. If you have time in hand visit it. Else give it a miss. You can take a bus from Kalpetta to Ambukutty valley and then an auto to Edakkal caves. You can take a cab directly to Edakkal caves if you want to save time. It is about 28 kms from Kalpetta and will take you about 40 minutes.

Expenses: Approximately Rs. 3500 per person for 3 days and two nights. If luxury is your style then you can very well guess that the budget isn't for you.

Food: Don't forget to goge on beef if you are a non-veg and have no inhibitions. Beef cooked in coconut oil is pure bliss.It is available everywhere (can call it a staple food there) and is cheap. chilly beef and Kerala Paratha is something you should not miss out on.

Must-haves: 
1. A nice pair of trekking shoes.
2. Warm clothes are not necessary. The weather is quite moderate.
3. Caps and shades.
4. And an eye for beauty.
                  

A tale of the "DONKEYS"

I really don’t know how to begin. There are so many emotions that come and clog my mind right now that I cannot narrow down to a mere one or a coherent few for that matter. Yes, Indian politics is that myriad and that queer.

I take resort to my teenage science books and begin with the definition of the word “politics” itself. Yeah, I remember that is how they took care of “matter”, “scalar” and “vector”. Everything under the sun would invariably begin with a definition.

Politics originate from the Greek word “politikos” meaning “of, for or relating to citizens”. And immediately you know why current Indian politics does not stand for what it should. It has become an eccentric ball game that cannot be really put into words. And the people in charge of the grand affair sometimes force you discombobulate between politics and circus. Indian politics sure has been taken for granted. To cut a long story short, there are these hoard of “goats” and a stable full of “cows” and we the “donkeys” have to choose between the “cows” and “goats”. That is how democracy is exercised in our country. Yet the above scenario is the best possible. The others are even worse. There are these “hungry” donkeys and some “blind” and “painted” ones and the situation keeps getting worse.

A healthy democracy can never survive without the very elementary wisdom of differentiating good from bad. And when you cannot differentiate you will be very susceptible to modulation. You can be made to believe that “good” is “bad” and vice versa. Indian democracy thrives on exactly that. Indian literacy rates will make any proud Indian squirm and wiggle. There may be hundreds of reasons that can/may justify the numbers but the figures remain shameful nevertheless. And the so called “politicians” see a silver lining in this cloud of chagrin. They bask in the glory of contemptible reflection. Indian education scenario looked more preponderant under British rule than it does now. You will now be able to know why we are “slaves” turned “donkeys”. I believe slavery is a situation and donkeys are what we made ourselves to be. The difference isn’t subtle. We just try to make it so.

Education is only a shade of this gloomy picture. The deeper you try to go the murkier it becomes. The caliginosity blinds you. It takes away your will to see the world in your inner light. And right then you decide to go with the flow. You become a “donkey”. And the “donkeys” who realize they can be “donkeys” no more, cultivate wings and fly away. An easy escapade. But the aftermath is indeed strong. Some try to become horses and they go deeper and deeper into the sinking sand till they give up.

India is a fascinating tale in itself. And complicated to say the least. Multilingual, multicultural, multi religion. A heady concoction of spirits. A cocktail of emotions. It is never easy to write the sequel of an already spellbinding epic. But the efforts have been so apocryphal from the very beginning that now there is only a heap of carcass left. Every sincere effort that you now try and take seems to be a drop of water in the amaranthine desert.

This country has always been shrouded by a religious war sometimes intermingled with class and caste. If we try to take a closer look we can surely ascertain the origin. ‘Politics’ it is. ‘Politics’ it will be. And every time we succumb. ‘Religion’ is an inseparable part of us. It is the beliefs that we hold within us. It is the way we choose to live our lives. Religion as we customarily think is not merely related to “God” and “The Holy book”. It is more deep-seated. It is not an art or a science. It begins when all that ends. But “politics” is what we make it. And we make “politics” come in between “religion” and paint an ugly war scene in the canvas. As is the rule of the jungle, “When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers”, the “donkeys” in this case suffer.

There always has been times when “donkeys” have revolted. They have sharpened themselves under cover, they have strengthened stone to stone. They have stood against oppression and they have glinted like horses. They have changed the entire story and I only wish that my story changes. Sooner the better.

 

The "DONKEY" Man

The top ten waterfalls of India (Beauties that bowled me over)

      Dudhsagar falls: It is a branched waterfall located on the Mandovi River in Goa on the Goa-Karnataka border. It is about 60kms from Panaji (capital of Goa) by road and about 45 kms from Madgaon railway junction by train. It derives its name from the gushing water stream which literally appears milky white. The roads leading to the falls are maintained by the Goa forest Department. A small rest house is maintained in the forest by the Karnataka Forest Department and is the only place to stay there. 

     Athirappilly Falls: Athirappilly Falls is situated in Athirappilly panchayath in Thrissur district of Kerala, on the southwest coast of India. Located on west-flowing Chalakudy River near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar ranges, this is a 24-metre (80 ft.) waterfall.

       Jog falls: It is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India. Located near Sagara, Karnataka, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. They are also called Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi. Sagara is located in the Simoga district of Karnataka which is about 240 kms from Bangalore (Time required is approximately 5 hours).

      Vantawng falls: The nick point of the waterfall is situated at a height of 751 feet in Serchhip district of Mizoram. This is largest waterfall in Mizoram. The most magnificent falls is surrounded by lush forest teeming and a vast stretch of thick bamboo forests.

     Attukal falls: Attukal Waterfalls is located about 48 kms from Munnar bus stand. It is a panoramic view but assumes a cascading and roaring beauty during the monsoons. It is one of the most attractive scenes that you can look at during your stay at Munnar, Kerala.

           Jonha falls: The Jonha Falls (also called Gautamdhara Falls) is a waterfall located in Ranchi district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Situated at an edge of the Ranchi plateau, the Jonha Falls is an example of a hanging valley falls.

      Shivsanasamudra falls: Shivsanasamudra Falls is on the Kaveri River after the river has wound its way through the rocks and ravines of the Deccan Plateau and drops off to form waterfalls. This is a segmented waterfall. From Bangalore would it is around 135 kilometers (~3 hours).

    

     Dhuandhar falls: It is a waterfall in Jabalpur district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Dhuandhar Falls is located on Narmada River in Bhedaghat and are 10m high. River Narmada, making its way through the world-famous Marble Rocks, narrows down and then plunges in the aforementioned waterfall. The plunge, which creates a bouncing mass of mist, is so powerful that its roar is heard from a far distance.

     Nohkalikai Falls: It is the tallest plunge waterfall in India. Its height is 1100 feet (335 meters). The waterfall is located near Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth.  Below the falls has formed a plunge pool with unusual green colored water giving it an unusual green color.

       Hogennakal falls: It is a waterfall in South India on the river Kaveri. It is located in the Dharmapuri district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, about 180 km (110 miles) from Bangalore and 46 km (29 miles) from Dharmapuri town.  It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India".  Carbonate rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world. 

      Special entry: I think this list would be incomplete without the mention of Soochipara falls located in the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is surrounded by Deciduous, Evergreen and Montane forests giving it an earthly charm. Locally referred to as Soochipara ("Soochi" meaning "Needle" and "Para" meaning "Rock"), the 15-20 minute drive from Meppadi to Sentinel Rock Waterfalls offers scenic views of some of the best tea estates in Wayanad.

Note: The order is purely random and not based on biased opinions.