An Illustrious and exigent trek to Eagle Hill (Part-1)

In this winter when the climate is just perfect for trekking our journey began with a rather four hours drive from Mangalore we reached the village at mid-night and camped rest of night at lakeshore. The next early morning we climbed up even higher to visit Eagle hill ranges in freezing cold weather. Just after 15minutes move upward from the Lake we reached higher attitude place after moving for sometime we arrived at edge of the BM Valley. There we took deep left into the Western edge passed through the grass canopied hill ranges.

Further up for some time we reached top of the beginning hill. Standing on top of the hill made catch us for full glimpse of the whole BM Range. It was a real challenging to start further level the trail goes thru edge of the hills on the other two side beautiful valleys, to my left and in front are the chimney like hills that are not too high but sprout everywhere until the eye can see no more in the distance. The plateau too is at the right height to catch the eastern sun at a slant. It just lights up the grass.

The grass is a lovely golden color and a treat to watch. The trail climbs through the grass and each time the grass changes color. Sometimes it glows golden in the setting light, at other times it turns a shade of purple. Black streaks through the grass in some places and least expect it turns a magical brown.

The plateau ends in trees and shrubs not very high. Skirt around the trees and again veer right to catch a faint trail (Made by Animals) that circumvents the trees near the outer edge of the hill. By 9.30 we had light food and headed to further hill ranges. About an hour Climb up to the pampas hill we reached on the summit.

It’s a superb landscape all around from the summit of Baremale every direction is treating to watch. Each hill is isolated and below the myriad patterns of evergreen and Shoala forests makes dissimilar patterns until the landscape disappears into the horizon and also wind flow was also too high. The hill holds a bounty of beauty and the breeze blowing refreshes our body and fatigue is set apart.

After spending enough time on summit we headed to northwest get down the hill from another side and headed to Eagle Hill. We tempted to walk slowly here so that we can catch every trace of beauty spread over here.

To be continued...

Charmadi Ghat

Every time when I pass through the Charmadi Ghat, I start dreaming about to spend at least a short time in this beautiful piece of hill-land. Each and every curves of Charmadi Ghat are has got its unique attraction and it is really amazing. These curves make you stop your vehicle, invites you to enjoy the natural beauty. Hats of NH department! Thanks for giving such wonderful road!! It is nestled in the Western Ghats and connecting both Dakshina Kannada with Chikkamagaluru district.

It would be a good idea to spend a day in Monsoon, just roaming back and forth in this stretch. Every inch is so scenic across the Ghat road you may want to stop at all places & get lost in nature!! You will get your own private scenic spots in each visit!! Actually it’s a humid place on a sunny day you will feel steaming with sweat.

Charmadi Ghat being a hillock attracts trekkers and rock climbers, just need to take care that the hills are meant only be with expert trekkers. In monsoon the climate changes every few minutes, a sudden fog gets quickly vanished with beautiful sun rays for few seconds that enhances the beauty of Mother Nature at Western Ghats..!!

This green land also attracts many birds towards its purest climate alone with other flora and faunas. This road is quite narrow and one has to be careful while on drive. At Annappa Gudi the scenery twists from pleasant to Exotic. As if someone has spread a green carpet, the sides of road were lush and moist grassy green. The road tarmac is smooth in dark pitch black the air so pure and chill. We couldn't ask for more.

Jenkallu Gudda -Charmadi

The real beauty of Charmadi lies in its small waterfalls which come alive throughout the year. Alekan, Kallarbi, Kallugundi, Nagaragundi, Kabbinasanka, Dhaivika are some famous waterfalls in this Ghat region. From Annappa Gudi you can find few milky waterfalls in between the thick forest. There is lot of peaks which is heaven for the trekking activities. One thing is sure the journey gets more and more exciting for those eyes deprived with scenic nature, Charmadi Ghat Stretch offers solace.

Butterfly Hill and Gali Gudda

God’s House on the Knoll (DM)- Part-2

In the middle of the morning after climbing several mountains we reached a highland landscape.  A group of grey copper butterflies feeding on a grass and they were gliding around us. We all sort of melted together at that point, enthralled by what we were seeing. It’s infinite...!!

Butterfly Hill embraced by the uncountable grassland mountains, and they offering what appears to be an almost infinite numbers with assortment of colors frankly, my own, brought us together as lovers of these beautiful creatures.  We all took pictures; we were all talking, joined together in this experience by the grace of a butterfly.

It stayed there for an uncanny amount of time even I was surprised and I’ve had plenty of butterflies landed just next to me.  It really felt like this butterfly was trying to tell me something, something very important. I encountered few butterflies in very close there were more sounds of wonderment that gladdened my heart. Out of a bit of excitement we went on our way after that and I felt very good about the entire experience. 

Then as we continued further trail and came in the sight of the roofs of Galigudda. From cliff we saw far to the valley, soaring to incredible heights into the bright sky, and the famous mountains in Charmadi like Minchulakku, Kumbhakallu, Yerikallu, Kodekallu-Barekallu, Jenkallu and also we saw far to the north the glistening peaks of  Kudremukh like a glimpse into heaven. There are no words to describe such beauty.

Climbing out of Galigudda, the landscapes became even more magnificent. Clear sky, white clouds, rolling mountains, vast valleys, serene pastures - These natural wonders flowed like artful watercolors to please our eyes and purify our city souls. We awoke on the trail and looked out on the western corner of the flat grassland terrain. However I under-estimated the difficulty of the trek and then began long tedious climb towards Baremale range.

 It was just the kind of vast grassland hill ranges surrounded with untamed Shola forests, we had been traveling through all half day and we began to see to the rising Baremale hills range. Just as the sun came up we entered one Shoala forest the air growing cooler inside the forest and had some snaks inside the Shola forest.

In the deep forest mossy and fresh the sunlight filtered through a canopy of leaves in patches of dancing gold. The shadows of coolness played about the orchids and the maiden fair ferns which grew from every rock and tree. The canopy inside the forest is where it's at and it hums with an incredible diversity of life. 

After the food we crossed Shoala forest and walked for few more hours up into the steep open grazer hills crossing with the fertile grasslands were necklaced by a collection of delicate Shoala forests.

This grassland supports an incredibly rich and diverse flora. The thin, lime-rich soils of this grassland habitat are derived from the underlying limestone rocks, and attract plants that don't grow in other soils. The grass’s unlike other plants grows from its roots instead of the tip. This gives it astonishing powers of regeneration. It also means it can be almost constantly cropped a never ending supply of food for animals.

 Its home for too many beautiful orchids and wildflowers, and the insects they attract including rare blue butterflies. This indestructible plant has taken over the Devaramane valley plains and in so doing it supports the greatest numbers and diversity of large grazers in WesterGhant area. We were transformed as a part if this elegant, mysterious atmosphere in this fairyland.

Looks like -Half Indian Map