Intro:
Anywayz, we took the permission from the forest authorities and started for the trek by 0930hrs. The first step was to cross a slippery bridge due to heavy rains. We were warned that more than one person cannot go.. In addition, heavy weights should avoid. Who cares!!
At around 1300hrs we stopped for our lunch near one of the
stream. It was still raining. Here, we had query on going ahead as we saw a
large monolith in front of us from which water was flowing down vigorously. We
were not able to see any other path. Also, due to passing cloud the visibility
was at minimum. Anywayz, we started climbing from left side of the BIG ROCK by
holding the small trees nearby, struggling to get in place our feet.. And somehow,
everyone with few challenges was able to reach the top of the rock.
Soon, we went into our tents after washing ourselves from
greedy leeches. Soon, we had our dinner and went for sleep. There were 3 Tents.
Tent 1:- Girish, Prabhakar, Naveen - Discussing about future plans and to go back successfully toBangalore
All I can say.. its truly a TREKKERS PARADISE....
Love to visit you again.
KumarParvatha trek was alwayz on my mind since I started
trekking. It is often referred as one of the most challenging, adventures and
beautiful trek... In all "A Trekker's Paradise ". Kumara Parvatha is a mountain located in Subramanya (village) of Sullia taluka, Karnataka. The village is known for the Hindu Kukke Subramanya Temple.
Preparation:
When Girish (Organizer with Naveen & Prabhakar) called
me on 7th Aug, I said "YES" without any hesitation. Soon, the mails
where exchanged and a total of 11 Member gang was finalized to go the paradise.
It was raining so we needed "Poncho". I thank Prabhakar who
personally went to bring 5 Poncho for the team members including me. In
addition, since we had to put up @Top we needed Tent. Naveen took the
responsibility and rented only two tents for 8People at Rs150/- per day since
organizers had their own tent. Prabhakar brought the "walkie talkie" for the communication within the team.
Day - 0:
I had been a member of BASC and my other best friends where
going for Green Route
trek with them. I started with them and reached Majectic by 2100hrs. Chatted
with other known BASC members like Abhi, Shiva etc and soon by 2145hrs received
a call from Prabhakar that he has reached. Soon, others reached and we boarded
the bus by 2300hrs to reach...
Team: Girish, Naveen, Prabhakar, Sandeep, Navneet, Kanta, Tanoy,
Rohan, Lokesh, Shivpraksah and Pratap
Day - 1:
We reached the Somvarapete by 0500hrs in the morning. Our
next task was to board the bus @0720hrs to reach 3km from Pushpagiri forest
office. We used the time available to fresh up and have breakfast. The bus took
about 0100hrs to reach the point mentioned before. Here, a mini trek through
road starts... and goes on for 3Km. Not an easy one with some down and lots of
UPs!!.
This the place where bus dropped us and hence, starting point of the trek to reach the forest office.
On the way to Forest Guest House.. Girish & Prabhakar in front with their Tent... Rohan and Pratap with other Tent. |
Butterfly captured on the way
Thts me stretching my arms..
At the entry of Trek from Somvarapete
Anywayz, we took the permission from the forest authorities and started for the trek by 0930hrs. The first step was to cross a slippery bridge due to heavy rains. We were warned that more than one person cannot go.. In addition, heavy weights should avoid. Who cares!!
We crossed it smoothly except Rohan whose right leg got
struck on the side-fences.
The dense jungle, leeches waiting for sweet bloods and un-known
animals roaming around. The plan was to reach the top by 4.00pm max.
We started well with leeches plunging onto our shoes/legs.. There
are sign board after every 1-1.25km about the more distance to be traveled. Navneet
& Naveen were leading and Myself, Prabhakar and Girish (Sweeper) were at
the end. After crossing few streams, the ascend started. Soon, it was come to
known that Pratap has hurt himself via cramp. He was moving slowly... We were
moving smoothly when suddenly rain started and leeches became more. The poncho activity
started here. We also had Glucose and
other stuffs here.
Girish crossing one of the Stream.. |
We started again with Naveen, Prabhakar in front, (as I can
recall). In order to go fast Prabhakar slipped and hurt himself in his leg. But,
as TIGER he roared again and started with same pace. From here the actual ascend
to the peak starts. After a half-n-hour, again a big monolith arrives with lots
of water flowing down making it slippery and challenging.
One more monolith followed, but we were there to accomplish
the task with gr8 excitement. After finishing the 3rd BIG Rock, we can see the
a notice stating "Pushpagiri" is a kilometer away. But, we were amused
to the fact that we are still trekking upwards and there are no grasslands. We
rested for half-n-hr just 500mts away from the peak, working on leeches and
eating the stuffs. After charged up, we started again and reached the peak by 1545hrs
therby achieving by time bound. It felt awesome to be at top of one of the
tallest peak in western ghats. We were able to view NOTHING!!! Thts because we
were in the Heaven. The cloud were kissing our body and removing the tiredness literary
speaking.
We are at top of KP!!!! |
Tent 1:- Girish, Prabhakar, Naveen - Discussing about future plans and to go back successfully to
Tent 2:- Myself, Naveent and Kanta - Myself & Naveent
were buzy in listening to songs whereas Kanta was in Tent 3 discussing.
Tent 3:- Rest people - They shared crazy stories before going
for sleep.
Day 2:
I woke up around 0500hrs just to realize its still dark
outside and visibility down to 10mts literally. I woke up again by 0630Hrs to
find improved visibility. Soon, others joined and we packed to move to Base i.e.
Kukke Subramanya. Well, here was the challenge.. we didn't knew where to head!!
Prahakar as usual spotted the route by seeing the arrow markings on the rock. We
had to go back in the same route for about 500mts before taking the diversion
for reaching Kukke Subramanya base.
Now, while going down we were at the top of the waterfall
and with cloud/mist we didn’t knew how to proceed. We were even un-certain
about the route. We were at the top of cliff and a wrong step would have send
anyone of us directly to Heaven. I thought of taking that route but restricted
myself as others may envy of me for reaching the Heaven so early. Anywayz, there
was a point when Sandeep, Lokesh shouting while standing on edge to go back the
Day 1 trek route while taking conformation from Girish & others. But... then
all of sudden Navneet shouted "I got the route, we have the route here..."
But where... he was Invisible to us. He came back and took us to that path. In
the mean time, Prabhakar was wandering for search of route. We soon proceeded
with the route and found a dustbin, proofing ourselves that we are in right
path.:) I felt so happy.
While going down we met few members of other group who were
ascending. We shove them away by stating the TRUTH that the there is simply no
view from the Top of KP. They went upwards for few Kms before coming back again
and meeting us while we were having our breakfast. Girish was telling "The
First Aid never comes to use". Well, soon it came .. but not for our team.
One of the person from the other team had a cut on his back due to a loose knife
coming out from his bag and scrapping his back. It was dreadful. Anywayz, He
got well soon and he started our descend.
In the meanwhile, during breakfast one of our member (Name Hidden
to Protect Identity) had went for doing "shit" in the leech infected
zone. Well, the result he had leech bites near his private parts. He was in
real pain when we saw him in next pit-stop, which is at the view point.
The view from the breakfast point... The bridge is @Kukke Subramanya Temple
At view point, we met some local person who was in search of a missing person. It was a team of two people with one of them missing. The searching person went to forest checkpost where we took the permission (on day 1) and sent a message to the other forest check post near Bhatra Mane. We didn't heard further on this issue. We hope the person was traced in good health.
Anywayz, after shots at this place we packed ourselves. And
here the Indra god opened his arm and it rained cats & dogs for next 20min.
We waited at the same place like statue!! Then, we decided to start by measuring
at the probability of rain stopping very soon. I thought it would be tough.. but
literally speaking it was a smooth ride. We next reach forest guest house where
we act fresh guava before starting again. After 1Km, we could see "Bhattara
Mane". We moved on...
As we started to descend into the forest, pace slowed down. Few
peoples without the tents went ahead. In between while coming down Sandeep lost
his cool for only the person to carry the tent for his team. With Rohan down
and myself also in carrying the tent & walking. it left with last bunch of
peoples. I here thank Kanta & Navneet who carried the tent whole way. I
carried only for few kms only.
Nothing special here after for me.. Just kept moving and I &
Kanta reached the Base by 4.00pm to find other members. Soon, others including
Girish reached by 4.30pm. Later we visited "Kukke Subramanya" temple,
had our dinner and boarded the bus to reach home.
Leech Bite counts:
Myself : 28
Girish : 35
Naveen : 3
Katha : 10
Sandeep : 15
All I can say.. its truly a TREKKERS PARADISE....
Love to visit you again.
Pic Gallery:
Girish: KP Conquered
Tanoy: KP Tour
Naveen: Pushpagiri Trek
Rohan: KumarParvatha Trek
Summary:
Tanoy: KP Tour
Naveen: Pushpagiri Trek
Rohan: KumarParvatha Trek
Summary:
- Bangalore to Somvarapete via KSRTC.
- Camping at the Top
- Get Down to Kukke Subramanya
- Kukke Subramanya to Bangalore via KSRTC.