Shingani Gudda

Shingani Gudda

 After finishing my work I directly joined Mangalore YHA team on March 19th evening and around 7 we left Mangalore & within a span of 3 hours journey reached to Shishila GopuGokule’s home stay. More guys joined our team and all had a very tasty dinner at his house. After dinner I & some of my teammates decided to sleep in the open Machan under the Full moon night (the moon will swing around Earth more closely than it has in the past 18 years, lighting up the night sky from just 356,577Km away.). It was a wonderful experience to sleep peacefully under the open sky watching the Moon stars till our eyes started to close in the chilly night.

Nice breeze blowing calmly and all was very relaxing and soothing to the mind and body I fell asleep dreaming of loveable memories in the beautiful night. After a hot bath had breakfast & took pack lunch & left that place at 7 in the morning. A few minutes’ walk we took some deviations into the forest & followed one route which passes through thick jungles with a decent uphill.

When we entered the jungle we had been swallowed by a canopy of green, our eyes snatching only an occasional glimpse of blue sky. There were many birds making mixture of hysterical sounds in the jungle which was encouraging in our journey. Eventually in the distance we heard a band of Howler monkeys.

 

Russell Viper photo taken by Mr.Subash Pai

 

We continued the 2 hours nice walking admiring the scenery of rain forest. It was very dense and encloses a mixture of local fruit variations. On the way along we learned about some insects and wild animals (Water dogs or Neer Nai & Mara Nai all belong to the subfamily of Lutrinae under the Mustelidae family living only in Western Ghat region in India) which are in those areas explained by Mr. Dinesh Holla. The natural flora of the surrounding is different from any other rainforest and it is beautiful in its variety.

After spending some time near water point we started to climb final destination. Crossing a few gigantic trees across the trail beneath the jungle canopy we gazed upon a carpet of dry red leaves rolling unencumbered to the horizon. Bizarrely, as we emerged onto a small clearing atop the mound, we were now above the forest canopy - standing in the sky - peering down on the largest tract of Western rain forest.

Nishane Gudda



This was the unique mountain in Charmadi range was 99% trail goes through the thick evergreen forests. We stood silently on top of the Shingani Gudda and listened to the stillness of the jungle. The only sound we heard was the heaving of our chests, the rhythmic thumping of our hearts banged in our ears. This hills surrounded by KalluPade, Nishanigudda, UdayaGiri, Amedikallu, Ettinabuja, Jenkallu & Ettinabuja on 360 degree panoramic view.

After spending enough time we left the peak & we changed our track for change. On return journey miracle I got back my mobile & Cam which I had lost on track. A long downward walk I reached the road & had bath in a river. After taking hot coffee in Gokule house we turned back to our home. It was opportunity to experience different things and a phenomenal dance of nature that transcended our imaginations after this trip.