‘Hidden Beauty of the North’

One of the most resplendent waterfalls was what we got to see this weekend a great trip worth all the effort and very rejuvenating in the end, though the night journey was little uncomfortable early in the morning I joined Rajesh Sir and his team, 

after a quick breakfast we started in two cars, on the way a flat tyre stopped us but that did not deter us from continuing we parked both the cars before entering a village and decided to complete our task and later see to the flat tyre.

4kms of walk was not much but intense heat was little tiring, finally we reached the last house of that village ,we had tea and requested one of the person to guide us to the waterfall though they were busy Mr Vinayaka hegde obliged and led our team towards the fall.

All along our journey we had many small waterfalls and at one place in middle of our journey we got one beautiful cascade one place we had excite when we climbing down with a help of tangled lianas. Some of our teammate’s freshened up in one small beautiful falls on our journey we consider this step as 4^th step.

 

From here our Guide took us further upstream to a Main cascade of the same stream. After a non-stop hour walk we came to the top of the falls. The view of the mountain ranges was simply breathtaking it Disclose a stunning vista of craggy mountains and deep valleys. Watching the bottom of the waterfalls on the edge of the top was really breathtaking.

We decided to have a look from the bottom and even our guide also same mood to climb down so took a very risky dissection without any proper tools. We entered nearby shrub meander down a greasy cliff edge near the left side of the falls. This attempt was very risky but we did with a great spirit.

 

A 0.5 km climb down slippery very precipitous inside the forest brought us to a place just below the first big drop of the pretty falls. Wow!!! what a gorgeous sight it was I love the rich greens in the background, and that fall on the middle was exquisite. The rainbow lasting a few seconds created a pretty ambiance.

 

On return few of us (Rajesh& Vivek Sir) did pretty more adventure with a help of shrubs we reached second stage. Specialty of this step is here there is sufficient space to stand flipside of the cascade. Here we enjoyed the great beauty of the valley beside the Crystal shining drops of the waterfalls Clearings strewn with views from the edge of the cliff was no words to say. Surely this place is a worthwhile to walk for another visit. On our return we freshen with a cool bath at 4^rd step.

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.

Gateway to paradise-KarkiBetta

Fortunately everything worked out albeit last minute and we were able to enjoy a rejuvenating day by the pristine waterfalls, forests, mountains and grasslands of KarkiGudda. We took our usual route with usual team. First saw a beauty of Tirthkere waterfalls & later few kilo meters drive in terrible mud road we turned to walk instead of taking any risk to our vehicle.

We reached my friend Ashok house after a few minutes of walk. Whole house welcome us heartily & we all filled our stomach with very delicious foods & next started to walk inside his estate. First we visit a beautiful small waterfall Kerkolalu near to Ashok house which situated between thick coffee estates.

First few hours path was surrounded by a beautiful chilliness Coffee estates & a very large swathe of dense Shola forests still these estates retain large tracts of Shola, grasslands and naturalized forests between the Coffee plantations. After nonstop walk we entered open vast grassland which bottom of the greenish mountain.

First we hike initial small peak and then able to see a real hygienic beauty of this beautiful mountain. It’s a heaven to seeing a whole beauty from this step. From the top of the First step we are not even willing to believe we could climb it because from there it seems very step &sharp. But doing adventure is a great part of our journey so everyone happily energetically facture of times reached the top.

This time it was not at all warmth in the whole journey, it was a Salubrious weather in our whole journey. Even the mid day was bitterly cold. We started to shiver heavily in the peak at midday only. But still we manage to spend almost an hour of time on the peak.

Watching the groups of Mountains from the top was undoubtedly scenic being a large expanse of gentle grass mountains with Shola forest so after enjoying the scene briefly; we decided to return to back because of lack of time.

On return we chosen another side of the mountain n while walking through the meadows by the grasslands, we soon came across a feral lone large wild Sambar strolling just little distance from us. how shy these enormous beasts are. One look at us and them soon turned tail and scooted off into the forest. It ought to have been the other way around!

It is amazing how many new places are waiting to be discovered on every visit. New mountain tops, new meadows, new Sholas, new views, new waterfalls and plenty of new wildflowers and birds.

The Karki landscape never ceases to amaze with its stark beauty, vast expanses of true grasslands, swathes of Shola in the gentle valleys with gushing streams, and the ethereally beautiful crystal waterfalls.