Pristine Waterfall- Marakalagudda.

This year, the rains have played good so the waterfalls are full in spate and it is green and lush Post monsoons sees them at their optimal best. For nature lovers always enjoy peace and quiet sans hordes of other people. Desperate for an escape to nature, we headed out to one of our favorite forested area in Western Ghat. We preferred to walk instead of biking on easy mud road. As the weather was dry but pleasantly overcast initial walk was not much attractive but for Kamat Sir's caper. We entered a small hamlet after about 3kms walk &had great hopes to get a good guide, after much enquiry one villager joined us till one junction of the track after a surprising 30 minutes walk we collected some useful information from him & headed towards thick forest.

Walking between the tangled lianas overgrown forest trail was fantastic experience. The entire hill looked dense because of the lush, evergreen canopy. After a few hours walk we reached the 5^th step where water cascades almost 350ft down step by step. Getting a glimpse of countryside from top of the 5^th step was really good.

First we crossed the wide upper stream on the top & later with much gymnastics reached the final 6^th step which was covered by very thick forest. We spent lot of time & had our fill though simple food it was no less than a feast later we started to climb down to reach 4^th & 3^rdstep.

On our return few of us decided to go to bottom of the cascade because of this mad attempt we found 3 more beautiful steps. After a lot of effort we were able to find a gap between thick forests an 80 degree step down back right to the top of the main cascade. From here the walk was off track into the wild jungle right down and precipice!!! With no hold any where we held on to plants &roots.

We were treated all along the way to this very beautiful cascade. This is one the most amazing places I have ever ventured into. The beauty of the pristine mountain waterfalls need to be seen to be believed this vanishing world is beautiful beyond our dreams and contains in itself rewards never found in man-made objects. Finally on our way back we could amble along for miles on end without much fatigue.