Monsoon Walk to Misty Forthill

The clouds are back; the rains are back and its showering heavily in Western-Ghats   range so we decided to do another monsoon trek here. It’s very special to go for trek during rainy season. Gadaikallu is the best place to explore during Monsoon, one of the easiest and safest treks. The experienced shared here a trek which happened during last weekend.

I left my home at morning 5 o clock and joined my enthusiastic travelogue team in Belthangady. Actually our agenda was to go somewhere wild in Charmadi range but when we traveling through the Ghat road we heard further Ghat road has been blocked since morning 3AM due to landslide. Last night here recorded heavy rain fall and it’s caused for nastiest land slides in these areas. So without any chance finally we headed to Gadaikallu hill.

A pleasant ride through the winding roads will take us to the bottom of this fort hill. There was no security guard on that day he might think no one will dare to come in such rainy day. It’s raining throughout our journey we were all set to get totally drenched in rains, yet its fun and we were craving to once again to hike our favorite trek point. Trails shrouded in an atmosphere which is totally unlike a blue clean day.

The climb starts off with some well maintained steps, and then we slowly start climbing steeper and steeper domains. In the hills patches of clouds will roll through, reducing visibility to only a dozen or so feet in any direction with only the faint black shapes of trees around. Things here in the Monsoon Smoky Mountain take on a spooky, misty quality in the rain. After crossing two fort walls we entered an interesting part our journey started through steep slippery Rocky terrain.

 We continued on set of huge stony steps which connected to upper fort entrance wall, across the hike on one side you have the rock surface of the fort while on the other side nothing except a small cut out of the same rock surface some places the rock walls are on the edge of this hill. Because of rain it went more slippery and you can sight some small seasonal cascades across the journey.

 Continued on this steps we reached next level which almost top. We just had some open space and shorter grass at a place that we spent our time. As the wind velocity is very high on top, luckily the rain stopped as we reached the peak. After a small break first we headed to northern end of the hill top. We had been to this fort in rainy season so the grass had grown to be tall and it was really hard to find any path to look around the fort.

 After a small walk we reached to the top of northern end but we can’t get any clear view because of thick mist the mist which had engulfed the whole valley. The running white Clouds generally kiss this hill and that would give some more nice scenes on rainy season.

Another side of the hill top at the peak a small shelter made by kings time. This hill is isolated from surrounding hill ranges stands tall and dominant even from a distance; it gives a good view of all the villages in the surrounding on one side you see the Western Ghats and another vast plains.

It’s a very panoramic view especially in Monsoon time the place is really nice and is a paradise for nature lover and trekkers. Getting down was a little tricky as we were slipping and sliding while getting down. We took an hour to get down and were at the base of the hill. I love to hike in the rain it always seems to add adventure. I ended up finding great views, It’s a different world altogether and seems somewhat magical.