Nishane Gudda & Doddagudda – Agumbe

There is a unique enchantment that occurs sometimes when find an unknown territory that results in seeing the world differently. Who travel for the sake of travel he will find himself on a journey an adventure that transcends his expectations and imaginations. Western Ghats still today offers many unexplored territories and species. Western Ghats have many heavenly peaks and many are famous hill stations.

 The mountains always enthralled me! So are the clouds, the joy mounts when both these mingle together and produce a visual spectacle! Once again I was very much excited to travel around Agumbe region just to enjoy the feel of the dense forest of this land. Agumbe is unique for many things it offers many unexplored territories and species. Getting onto the peak of Agumbe is nothing.

The morning that we landed Agumbe first we visited 14^th century beautiful Gopalkrishna Temple of the Hoysala period; we had decided not to waste much time in city so that first we took permission from concerned department. We had light food and started to head towards NishaneGudda. Anyway the sky was pretty clear for the first few hours of the morning.

 As we approached forest, crossed a dazzling brook and certainly sense the cool breeze and there we see in front of you the majestic and sudden elevation throughout chunky jungle.

The glory that it gets in the early mornings, when sun rays passes hits between trees something that is indescribable! The way is abandoned as the accessibility is a bit tough and enormous blood sucking leaches are horrible! The leeches were everywhere and were looking very well built.

 As we trudged through overgrown weeds and twisted branches we took right deviation after 500 meters climb stopped at ledge and realized that we were directly at open grassland place. The grass was green and so were the deciduous forest patches! All in all the feeling was fantastic.

 It was after an hour of leisurely walk that we reached the pinnacle of DoddaGudda; this afforded a panoramic view of the area & we become conscious of the magnitude of these forests. So it forms a nice open space around the thick forest and ideal for the bird activity. The forest beneath was echoing with the whistles of the Malabar Whistling Thrushes!

 Later we get back to the same track and headed for next level. After 15 minutes hike we landed the top of NishaneGudda. Dense forests, small and attractive waterfalls provide rich treat to the eyes. Warm weather and heavy rains are ideal for the numerous waterfalls drop over the mountain walls and hill sides. The abundant growth of tropical vegetation covers the whole Valley with thick forests.

 Cold wet air from the cost ascending up these mountains lent a nip to the soggy air while the sun continued to be hidden by the languorous clouds.

We hit by the sudden showers while we were climbing down through the grasslands, all of sudden clouds rolled over and it rained off the rain wasn't extremely heavy and dint have much impact on us. Every trouble melts away when you see the huge dense clouds hitting right at the high peaks of the Agumbe! The eyes start to think if it’s a reality or any kind of illusion!

While we were on back when the forest is covered with clouds and the heat from the canopy forms fantastic scenery. On a sunny day can find the horizon glittering of Arabian Sea. 

Agumbe has always been very close to my heart, an amazing place. You should see it to believe it! All these will remain green in my memories in the time to come. All in all that day was the day which I enjoyed the most.

Bolle Mane Waterfalls

We started in the lower Kudremukh region in rainy time, a beautiful unexplored waterfalls with a set of Eighteen members. The trekking to the waterfall can be hard specially during the monsoon but the natural beauty, sound of the flowing water and the cool breeze is sure to mesmerize and keep up the energy high with enthusiasm.

The up hill trek was challenging demanding endurance at every moment. The purity of the place was commendable, pumping and making good the required energy to our tired body and soul. Most of the folks from our group not trekked to Bolle Mane Waterfall and most of the them were quite happy about the decision to be courageous for trekking and having a lifetime experience.

After another 90 minutes of delicate treading and fighting against severe arachnophobia, we stumbled into paradise. What literally gleamed in front of us was an infinity pool that cascaded over the top of the cliff and presented a view of untouched, luscious mountains, and it was all ours. At the closer view of the falls all of our tiredness vanished & all of a sudden there was zest in mind, which started jumping with great happiness seeing the falls.

We spent some time around waterfall to relax and have some splashes under the fall. Nervously we entered the depths of its waters and after another 10 minutes of ice-cold bathing and we were ready to climb back.

Bolle Mane Waterfalls is most beautiful during the monsoons, which happens with most of the waterfalls. The natural beauty sound of the flowing water and the cool breeze is sure to mesmerize and leave you spellbound.

Patali Waterfalls -The Hidden Gem

Patali Waterfalls framed by the lush green diversity of the lush tropical rainforest, the trail passes in National Park through the diverse scenery and culminates at the top of an absolutely spectacular waterfall. Patali Falls is quite difficult and arduous to reach the trek involves thick jungle, stream fords and scaling nearly vertical rock faces. There is no trail and the journey despite the falls being located under a 2-3 kilometers from a road, will take most of half day.

I had been hearing from various sources that such a waterfall exists in National Park, of all the waterfalls in National Park that I've seen so far, this one is by far the most remote and hidden. One of my senior friend almost approached this place before and he is the only person had known the presence of this waterfalls. My friend Rajesh Naik and I decided to explore this unmarked region, and proposed the idea to the other four and they immediately agreed.

As though our plan we left our car at forest gate and took some useful information from the forest-officer, first 10 minutes walk is simple later we entered to the thick forest zone, a real rain forest immediately after the rainy season one that is virtually untouched. The trail vanishes exactly at this point!

We walked towards the forest through the barely visible trail suggested by the Forest-Officer and it starts descending steeply. Within 15 minutes, upper stream is visible to our sight a green reservoir surrounded by thick plant life all around.

We made the trail to ourselves in both directions; anyway the trail starts out being moderate and adventures until eventually when we reached stream bed, it became more tough and striking. We followed upper stream for another 30 minutes, within half hour, we reached the top of Paataali waterfalls.

The falls initially slide down from small jump before veiling down the largest drop to the below valley and cascading for the final step from 150 feet height. After the risky attempt I managed to reach base of the first stage and all my teammates joined me.

The view from the top of the waterfalls is absolutely beautiful. It is the perfect getaway and really is immersed in nature. The most unfortunate factor is that due to both the size and shape of the falls - as well as the thick forest in the area - the entire waterfall can not be seen from any one vista until we reach bottom.

 

We start to descend steeply into the gorge to reach the base of the waterfalls. Climbing down in perpendicular cliff with the help of root and branches those pinch your heart, as you can only try inserting that beauty in a photo, but it doesn’t reflect the complete fascination of the landscape. I managed to take couple of picks in a hanging position from right side of the cascade but I couldn’t able to reach bottom. My friend Sndesh, Sunil and I tried our best to approach the base but lack of time and some other factor we returned back, after spending an hour of time we headed back to home with some glories experience.

Really it does conjure up a picture of what stairway to heaven really would look like. Endless! But totally worth the trip! Don’t give up! A beautiful, scenic hike that's worth all the sweat! Yeah sure at one point or another you might just want to run off because of all the efforts but the view from up top of the waterfalls is absolutely perfect!

Stairway to heaven....Part-2

It was a great experience to watching beauty of nature which can’t explain by simple words. Here we can see real beauty of Shola forest & It was a unique place were never anywhere count see like this view & this type of forest. Here Suitable and extensive rainforest habitat for Lion-tailed Macaque existed in this range and that the tract probably harbored the largest contiguous population of lion tailed macaques in the Western Ghats.

Beautiful Krishnagiri Range

There is a rich avifauna collection in this forest. You can find around 195 avian species, which are rarely found outside this national park. Some of the typical birds, which finds home in Kudremukh National Park, are Malabar whistling thrush, imperial pigeon and great pied hornbill and Malabar trogon.

 

All so can escape it under a day and find paradise in your backyard. Even before a time when I think of the rat-race, pointed out long ago, thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity;

 

that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life. Yes, it all makes sense now why we live in the City, why we put up with the stress, the crowds, the never-ending hassles of urban living.