Seeta Bhoomi (Part-2)

A non-stop 8 km’s Ridge walk on the beautiful Grassland was beautiful we never had an experience like this before. The Shola grassland ecosystem is characterized by dense growth of trees in the depressions and folds of the Ghats surrounded by extensive areas of grasslands.

 

After crossing each mountain another new group was ready to cross. Each slope each group of hill ranges each hike would open a new world in front of us & its increase our energy in each level.

 

After a 4 hours non-stop hike we reached our destiny point where we can see 360 degree panoramic view. One side of the Hilltop a beautiful sight of the clear green water of River & it’s besides Hill ranges makes most panoramic view & remaining 3 sides thousands of mountains bunching together with wearing greenish blanket.

 

 

 

The view from here shows clearly the many pinnacles that rise out of this land that surrounds us. When we were on the top we spotted lot of animals around us Gaurs & Spotted dears, Sambars, verity of birds….

First time we saw such uncountable animals around us I felt it was like watching Animal Planet on TV. We had light food everybody was in their own mood their own dreamland. We spent enough time on the top & that’s the time to tell bye bye to the heaven. 

 

On return we preferred a different route for a change. As our decision we started to climb down on edge of the hill top. Had one hour mountaineering downward we entered lower groups of Shola forest.

 

One more surprise in front of us our guide brings us one beautiful small 30feet height LakkiHole waterfalls in forest. First we reached the top some of us climbed down with a help of one aerial root we reached bottom of the waterfalls. A beautiful rainbow welcomes us some of us had freshened up in this chilly water.

Breathtaking LakkiHole Waterfalls

 I had an opportunity to discover another aspect of Western Ghat with its lush beauty, breathtaking views and cooler temperatures. After all, it was the mountains we were enraptured by its beauty.

A solitaire mountain..Sita Bhoomi (Part-1)

 

A Solitary mountain stands in solitary grace in the center of the sanctuary which none can surpass this place in its different beauty. To visit this unknown beauty after lot of preparation finally last Saturday morning we got the permission from the required department & also one of them willing us to join our team. After lot of struggling to find to stay for one night & finally a different unexpected help we got 2 rooms in a 30years old forest Guest House by night 8 we occupied our room & also discussed with our guide about our conformed next day plan.

 

Next day early morning after taking a breakfast we picked our guide from his place & we started to walk from one place. After few minutes’ walk we entered thick evergreen thick forest which richness becomes dramatically the most pristine forest area is found in the rugged or non-existent and many areas remain uncharted wilderness.

 

It 

was amongst that rugged, uncharted and mostly trail-less wilderness area that the wandering this delightful forest that has been landscaped to encompass hills and it’s a natural waterways.

Across our journey we find a large foot mark of elephant still the patch was wet & was seems the habitation of these giant surrounding areas. But we are not willing to believe we are following them but one point in time we felt we are in its home. Without meeting any strange animals in initial stage we crossing one beautiful stream & started to climb between thick forests & finally we entered the bottom of one big open grassland mountain.

In the haze of down & the glow of sunrise the whole mountain turned gold & colorful. What a pleasant surprise walking in greenish grasslands touching on a cool breeze between uncountable Hip-Hop Mountains, Open hilltops, sun-drenched rocky bluff were a tremendous experience once I felt this is a real heaven on earth.

Across our journey we saw a beautiful Shola forests between mountains which becomes more numerous again the mountainous regions of this part which suitable for the abundant specious & it is infrequently seen in elsewhere on the western Ghat 
 

 

forest trees are characterized by their short stature with low to medium girth Trees show stunted growth with spreading canopy twiggy branch lets and foliage of different colors. Many endemic flora and fauna occur in these forests with extreme microclimatic conditions.

 

Trip to Mekedatu & Chunchi Waterfalls

 Bike trips are always excellent for me but this time instead of a bike we took "Scooty" we had no other choice so some wheels to take us to the fall was only choice left when we decided to go this wonderful place. Last December after a heavy breakfast I and my bro Ani started our journey around 9 in the morning towards Kanakpura our journey was not much interesting we took some fruits at Kanakpura and decided to visit Mekedatu first.

The drive in the evergreen forests to the falls is extremely beautiful. We drove only up to Cauvery-Akravati Sangama left our bike in a safe place and later we crossed the river doing by adventures walk, we had to pay 40Rs each for 4kms trip in Dakota bus. The journey was bumpy we just couldn’t sit after being thrown around we finally reached the final vantage point.

 

Mekedatu means Goat's Leap in Kannada. ‘Mekedatu’ is the place where the Kaveri River flows through a narrow ravine. Legend has it that the channel was so narrow that only a goat could jump across and hence the name Mekedatu. We climbed down on a rocky mountain & could see a close-up view of the small rough waterfalls & also a beautiful valley. We spent around one hour & had great adventure between rocky valleys.
Later after another 20 minutes drive we reached up to top of the Chunchi waterfalls. The waterfall is nestled among the amazing ranges of rocks on the banks of the River Arkavati. It is located on the way to Yelehalli from Sangam. The waterfall is in the backdrop of scenic settings and it offers eye catching panoramic views of the surroundings. It is surrounded by dense and green forests.

The scenery was marred only by the constant influx of visitors, but there was nothing to be done about that, and after a while at the falls, we went out clambering on the rocks that surround it. We visit to one more unknown beautiful waterfall which situated at another terrain was just 1hour thrilling walk from Chunchi. Evening shining in the mild sunlight in the valleys adds to the scenic beauty.