A Toddle into the Wild…(Part -1)

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Deepadakallu

My mind was not seeking to hike another drier mountain in this season & also how could I leave a wonderful first one-day cricket match. I am not in the mood to move out from watching cricket but finally I sacrificed Indian bowling session & moved towards not a well planned trip. I Was having a great dinner in Kamath Sir House we left Manglore at night 9pm and after a not much Hassle journey we were able to reach a nice sheltering place at late mid night. It was very chilling night and we got sound sleep since all were tired we slept barely 3-4 hours.

 When I opened my eyes the whole area was covered by thick haze & i freshened my lungs pleading with unadulterated my body inherently looking for more vivacity whatsoever we had to leave that place our intention was to start trekking early in the morning and everybody Comprehended  the value to start early.

So we freshened-up in nearby pond quickly (!) with a small ride we reached Bettada Bhiraveswara temple which was situated at top of a small hill. We parked our car in a safe place & collected the required information from the temple priest, had breakfast & everyone was well prepared for further voyage.

It was a nice journey walking in the chilling morning; there to feel the chilly and deafening wind blow. Early stretches we went towards exterior of the Pandavara Hill another side was a deep valley fully covered by milky mist looked very dramatic & beautiful. The white fog was all-over which was surrounded by mountains along with the blue sky, which proved as a perfect outlook. Our journey was through mix forest and unadorned harsh rugged grasslands & dry mountains.

As we hiked the foggy clouds we reached a level terrain Then we had 2 option to hike from right & left side we chose the right side of the path and we took deviation inside the forest & simply laid on us a trouble, nothing could stop our eagerness we endeavored with great effort into the deep forest we were able to find the rout with small scratches. 30 minutes later by a normal walk we were able to stand at the open grassland area in the bottom of Dipadakallu.

Next our trail was not easy the initial trek of 1.5 Kms proved little knotty as most the terrain had an incline of 70 degrees till the top stage of the hill. With our team-effort we reached the top and had taken enough time under the big rock-strewn which was situated on top most of the mountain. The setting over the bottom of the rock was strangely serene and harmonious. We had taken some food to recharge our energy level & rest our body & mind for a while.

Few of us climbed the top steep huge rocky without any equipment & explored each part of it. Here was a remarkable mix of natural gravity-defying rock formations; the boulder-strewn area was rich in small caves and hollows. We discovered some small caves & at one cave we saw some human activities later I got information through a local villager that yearly once combining together & lamp the light at night & worship local gods under another side of the hill.

 

The most striking elements of these ranges are the eerie formations, with huge rocks balancing precariously upon each other. Though appearing to be stacked by giants, they are purely a result of erosion and time. Softer volcanic rock is eaten away leaving the harder granite, the normal weathering process separating the rocks from each other fascinating rocks with its centre rock looking like falling at any moment. We enjoyed in this rocky mountain later we 3 joined our rest of the team when they already left us & walking towards to next hill range.

 

to be continued...

Photos By Myself &Ashok

A Green-tinged View point -Bheemanavare

Bhimanvare though a less explored location was very beautiful with great view, a short distance and very easy approach from the village side. Though me & Rajesh Sir had started early when we reached the village it was already mid afternoon very hot and sizzling. Completing the first part of the ascend, which is about half a kilometer, the trekking path gets narrower and goes slightly down before it climbs up again.

Now the vegetation on the side’s changes to small small shrubbery land, including the variety grass & small plants, we made our way through loose boulders in the scorching heat though it drained us we moved slowly watching out for slippery rocks and pits. The narrow path goes further up and suddenly opens up into a panoramic view, with the mountain folds of the Western Ghats on left and a hill slope replete with thick evergreen forest on the right.

 

Meandering to the right path would leaden us to the spot, where we would find ourselves an immaculate sight in the hill is an awesome sight to watching a beautiful Valley standing on the top cool breeze was soaking & passing through us, as it dries out the sweat, looking around to spot some butterflies with rare color and size, gliding down the slopes.  We spotted some place from top glimpse a beautiful lazily meandering river passing through this green mosaic amidst valley & spent enough time on the hill top. Finally we started down roasted in the sun we reached the village and headed back home....

Light of the Hills…(Part-2)

 

Further the trail seemed hidden as we made turns between the open grasslands and rocks. Walking along the ridge at the top gave views over the mountain valleys showing  Bynekanda hills tops in the distance. After crossing few small hills we reached the top of the hill. At the edge of a cliff I looked over and wondered the beauty of Bynekanda Valley & Balligekan Mountain view.

 

One side of the Valley ruined completely by fire & green turned into black because much of the area consists of rolling hills covered with grassland, which are renewed annually following the fires that occur at the end of the dry season. Some valleys contain areas of tropical rain-forest, with a high canopy and rich undergrowth. There are larger areas of dry forest at higher altitudes in places where the ground is well watered and on drier slopes patches of forest & vast Grassland areas at higher elevations.

Bynekanda hills

Balligekan Mountain

After a long ridge walk we reached one small upper stream, had enough water & snacks after considerably climbing we reached top of the GaliBetta. From the top we could see in all directions mountains and more mountains. Because of non-stop wind this hill was named so. Due to lack of time we dropped Pandavara Upparige a beautiful 5 Hill ranges nearby.

On return we climbed Kagikallu Hill, me & another 3 teammates entered Shola forest to minimize the distance but we had a shock of our life, waiting for us one big Bee Nest just few meters away on a small tree. By god's grace we found it before condition could turn worse we ran back to the grassland area at the same time one scared rabbit also jumped from a small bush & started to sprint between our legs though everything seemed scary and confusing in the running it did seem very amusing too.

GaliBetta.

Pandavara Upparige Hills range

Jagal Hill

While we descending we saw a rocky hill called Nalage Kallu & also one more big rocky hill called Jagal across the journey. Finally we had a great time in a fine weekend & our weary legs turned to our home back.

Light of the Hills- Part(1)

 

Once again after a short plan we decided to go to Hanate Betta on Saturday evening & we 6 got together started our journey at10pm,we were able to find a school  near our starting point which was situated in a small isolated village with  help of our teammate Ashok who is a local  of that place. Few years back this village was famous for some Nexal shoot-out incident, still that place was highly red alerted. So we didn’t dare to step into the risky village at Mid-Night.

 

Everybody slept very late in the night but I just couldn’t get a wink of sleep. Early in the morning due to lack of sleep I just couldn't get to move my body it just refused to budge even for morning activities. After a small drive we reached our target village; we spent so much time to find a suitable local person to guide us but no one was ready to come with us due to it being very risky, once again our teammate Ashok used his influence and finally we were able to get one person to guide us.

Though we approached the village early because of lot of issues we started around 9 in the morning.  I was in no mood to hike; I felt my body was so dull & heavy. I also tired in the beginning searching a guide with Ashok even then I was not enough to improve my hopeless condition. We followed a trail which continues through the village and goes steadily uphill. Initial few stretches was very tough almost impossible dragging my already tired body taking lot of rest throughout the journey I was able to reach the top of the Hanate Betta after 1 hour of tough climb

Hanate Betta name came for this hill because top of the hills seems like a small circle its looks like a Clay oil lamp this in Kannada we call Hanate. It was the best sight from the top of that hill; here we could gaze till the end of the horizon of the earth all around us it was such a great sight to see.

Bastikallu &KaradiHaneBetta

Beautyiful KaradiHaneBetta

On the top we had a Spectacular uncountable group of hills scenery along with charming villages and panoramic view of the deep valleys in bottom side. We spent some time on top & after a small photo session we descended steeply through a rough rocky terrain to Bastikallu. Had enough water near the forest and then the trail seemed easy as we reached the bottom of KaradiHaneBetta.

Then the trail continues to ascend more gently, through fine grasslands towards the Upper Hill, an hour’s walk brings us a vast upper meadow Area surrounded by ridges on two sides, it is open on the another side to sultry currents of air.

Hanate Betta

KoppalaGudda

 

A vertical division of grassland belts has been formed ranging through frigid meadows, shrub lands meadows & meadow steppe where the land is vast, and low hills are interspersed with valleys. We had food at the top of the Hill & after taking enough rest stepped to our next destiny.

To be continued…