ಅಂಬರ ಚುಂಬಿತ ಪರ್ವತ ಚಾರಣ

ಕರುನಾಡ ದಟ್ಟಡವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ಚಾರಣ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳಿವೆ, ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಮನುಜ ಕಲ್ಮಶವಿಲ್ಲದ ಸ್ಥಳ "ಕುಮಾರ ಪರ್ವತ". ಅನೇಕ ವಿಫಲ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳ ನಂತರ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಕಾಲಿಡುವ ಅವಕಾಶ ನನ್ನದಾಯಿತು. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಚಾರಣಿಗರ ಗುಂಪಿನಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಆಹ್ವಾನವನ್ನು ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೊರಟೆ. ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ ಬಿಸಿಲಿನಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತಿಯೂ ಬೇಕಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಿಂದ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಹೊರತು ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಸೋಮವಾರಪೇಟೆ ತಲುಪಿದಿವು. ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕಾನೇಕ ಇಡ್ಲಿಗಳನ್ನು ಇಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಕಾಡು ದಾರಿಯ ವೋಲ್ವೋ (ಜೀಪ್) ನಲ್ಲಿ, ಚಾರಣ ಶುರುವಾಗುವ ಸ್ತಳಕ್ಕೆ ದಾವಿಸಿದೆವು. ಒಟ್ಟು ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಮಂಡೆಗಳು (ಜನ), ಪರಿಚಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪರಿಚಿತರು, ಹವ್ಯಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂಧುಗಳು...

ಪುಷ್ಪಗಿರಿ ಧಾಮವು ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಮೋಡದ ಮುಸುಕಿ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು   ಮಲಗಿದಂತಿತ್ತು, ಎಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿದರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೋಡದ ಛಾಯೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಮೊಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಉತ್ಸಾಹದ ಛಾಯೆ. ಇಂಬಳಗಳ ಚುಂಬನಗಳು, ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಚಲನ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಯಕ  ನಟನಿಗೆ ಕಾಟ ಕೊಡುವಂಥ ವಿಚಿತ್ರ ಜೀವಿಗಳ ನೆನಪು ತರುವಂತಹ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ. ನಿತ್ಯ ಹರಿದ್ವರ್ಣ, ನಿತ್ಯ ಸುಂದರ ಕಾಡುಗಳ ನಡುವೆ  ಹರಿಯುವ ಜಲಧಾರೆಗಳು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವನ್ನು  ಇಮ್ಮಡಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದವು . ೪ ಗಂಟೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ  ಪರ್ವತದ ತುತ್ತ ತುದಿಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿದೆವು. ಜಾರುವ ಬಂಡೆಗಳ ದಾರಿ, ಪರಿಸರ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದ  ದೈಹಿಕ ವ್ಯಾಯಾಮ ಶಾಲೆಯಂತಿತ್ತು. ಪರ್ವತದ ತುದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರವ ಮೌನ, ನಾವು ಕಾಲಿಡುವ ತನಕ ಮಾತ್ರ :) . ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ  ಇಂಧನವನ್ನು ತುಂಬಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಧೋ ಎಂದು ಸುರಿಯುವ ವರ್ಷಧಾರೆಯ ನಡುವೆ ಕಳೆದು ಹೋದ ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಿ,  ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಕುಕ್ಕೆಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದೆವು. ಸುರಿಯುವ ಮಳೆ, ಸಮಾನ ಮನಸ್ಕ ಚಾರಣಗಿರು, ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ ಭರಿತ ಪ್ರಕ್ರತಿ, ಇದು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಚಾರಣಿಗನ ಹಂಬಲ. ಇದನ್ನು ಒಂದು ದಿನದ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಪಡೆದ ನಾನೇ ಧನ್ಯ. 

In search of Monsoon………… Kumara Parvata

Being a member of BASC for close to 3 years, I was never able to make it to their trekking programs. Always wanted to be there and timing never worked in my favor. Finally decided to be there for a wonderful adventure.  Was happy to be shortlisted for the Kumaara Parvata trek.

Landed in Bangalore a day before, was really excited about this trek. Trekked a lot in last four years, but KP remained a distant dream. There are numerous trekking places in namma Karnataka, but corrupt human made his way all over. Kumaara Parvata gives you opportunity to see a different world where you can get glimpse of the real heaven.   

Reached Kempegauda Bus stand at 10.  Didn’t know anyone from the group, Karthik identified us in the bus stand, The code word was  “Kuamara Parvata”… J

Got introduced to the few members, shared few Trekking experiences, and It was time to snore off. Reached Somavara Pete at 6. I was expecting it to pour over there. Surprisingly, the sky was silent, heard from few localities that it’s raining drought everywhere.

Refreshed at a lodge nearby and had huge number Idlies to refill our energy. Jeep was ready to take us to the starting point and we fitted our self comfortably in it. The trek starting point was a wonderful scenic place and a temple nearby added to its glory.

A quick introductory session helped us know the other members and it was the Beginning of a wonderful journey at 8.45 in the morning. Everybody we met advised us not to venture out alone, as the mist makes the search impossible. After taking the permission from the forest department, we started towards the destination.

We could see absolutely nothing of the mountains due to the arrogant clouds. Leeches were happy to see their food coming their way. They chose their favorite blood group and every person in the team had their own medicine to avoid them. I stay in Hyderabad, and a leech costs here anywhere between 100 to 500 Rs. It costs thousands to get the leech therapy. Hence, I was happy to get it free of cost.

We found a snake.  Few from the group called it as Malabar Pit Viper! As per Ajay it was “Trimeresurus malabaricus” (oof Science). I defined it as just a “Haavu”. 

There were plenty of streams on our way, the forest was at its best. Mr. Dalvir and Sarvanan was in the great form and was always ahead in the trekking race. Though it was a complete climbing exercise, the pleasant weather didn’t let us get tired.  The rocks were damn slippery and the way guys made it looked like a heavy adventureJ. Me and Amruth took the safest way and enjoyed seeing others adventure in some places. We were pretty quick and made it to the top by 12.30 in the afternoon. For few of us it was first time KP experience and needless to say the effort is worth it. 

We had a quick buffet at the top and the variety of food was great. We met a small group over there who were looking for the way to go back. One of our team enthusiastic team member guided them, and slipped on the way out of excitement. Heard he got a nice “First Aid”J.

It was time to head back after a noisy photographic session. The Rain god sighted us there and thought of giving us a bath. There it started raining. The view from the top was completely missing as expected.

The entire trekking Group

We were heading back, and the other group was returning as they didn’t get the way right. Few of us took a left and right turns to find the right way. It took like close to an hour and the rain created lot of temporary water falls by then. It was a completely new experience finding way into the deep ascends, and Karthik’s experience was of great help.  There was a way out but terribly slippery. We spent close to an hour and half to move out of the place, as the team was busy helping the unknown group.

Post that it was a smooth way down and beginning of a long walk in the Monsoon. Intermittent but heavy rain made us feel the real monsoon. The ascend down gave us some good moments for photography. We had to move fast to reach Kukke before its gets dark. We were however prepared for the worst with all of us having a torch.  We didn’t take rest in “Bhattra Mane” in the interest of time………

We got few very good glimpse of nature for few minutes on our way. We reached the trek ending point at around 7PM. We were happy to finish the trek in one day which not many suggests. Kumara Parvata is definitely a two day trek, but if you have the fitness and the Will, then you can definitely make it in one day.    

The trek was the most challenging trek I have ever done and a memorable one which got me quite a lot of nature enthusiastic friends. Hopefully I will get a chance to go for many more treks with BASC and newly acquired friends….  What’s say? Amruth, Sayeesha, Vishwas, Sumanth, Ajay, Karthik, Dalvir, Saravanan……………………..

Special Thanks to Karthik for leading the team and It is just the beginning……………












Link to the photos - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150884883031734.384038.694181733&type=3