I've been enjoying hiking to the waterfalls as i think they're very romantic, so this time i was quite excited to explore a new waterfall in UttarKannada District with my team. The entire morning hours Prsanna was driving, as navigation is difficult due to the lack of info and so many deviations. As we arrived the intersection where the road divides into South road and South-east Rd, the skies were now cloudy and Grey. And yes, there were visible raindrops.
Shakily driving up a steep and slippery muddy hill road unknowingly we lost our way and the ground turned so slippery the poor discovery which runs on NetGD region tires had no choice than to follow the ruts. After cresting a little butte the track dipped into a large, terribly rutted slippery. Then the unavoidable happened our vehicle clanked into a mud, the back tires damp clay sucks in vehicle foolish enough to stray across its path during the wet season. It was completely trapped.
I floored the right pedal but the vehicle didn't respond well. With a soft Smack the Discovery found its resting place, after careful watching the vehicle from every angle, stumbling in the mud and getting wet we came to the conclusion that it was well stuck. I was proud of myself about this deduction. So I had to come to the conclusion that I'd need some helping hand.
A local farmer man came walking down the track and I quickly approached him for help. We both together went up to the high attitude terrain to get mobile network. Thanks to modern electronics the phone was working. He phoned to his few resourceful friends to ask more technical help, a local farmer eventually helped out by offering the rope while villagers gathered at the scene and after half an hour few more added all of their support with their immense help finally we came out from the biggest trouble. We began to relax for while and one villager agreed to join with us for further trail and we ventured to further south.
The further trail was still quite challenging with a good deal of soapy ground and very nasty fallen trees. After 2.5kms drive we left our vehicle and started to walk on leaches surrounded muddy track.
The trek started in a little village with an uphill than the track went along a large forest before plunging in it and following a small stream. Beginning part of the walk, the trail looks good and for most part the trail was bearable but about half in the trail passes through the vast paddy fields and it became very muddy and a hazard.
After crossing the Paddy fields we crossed a small stream and a pale trail leading up into the deep forest again. The trail looked so beautiful and untouched that we would totally see a brontosaurus roll out into the valley. The vegetation was predominantly thick evergreen forests with green grass and the cluster of trees.
Most of the trail in under the cover of trees so it wasn't too bad. I love that the trees above provide a lot of shade so it is a cool hike. I love the lush plants and enjoy the various giant banyan trees, bamboo forest and flowers. Didn't take too long to get to the waterfall, probably 45 minutes there and the same walking back. By the time we reached hill top opposite to amazing Canyon is the waterfalls all that effort it now seemed, had been in vain. The water is fresh water and its amazing after a sweaty hike up to it.
When we see the falls, wow it's high. With deep narrow gorges sheltered by impressive woodland and the scenery is marvelous and generally sheltered terrain makes it an ideal outing when cloud obscures the peaks. This waterfall is most beautiful during the monsoons when the falls creates a spectacular view with water plunging down in 4 tiers of approx 500 feet height creating deafening noise that could be heard from a distance.
Our day at NetGd Waterfalls opened up a new world of Western-Ghat to us and our philosophy of avoiding the crowds and exploring the unbeaten track once again lead us to unforgettable tales.
