21 February 2007

Meghane trek log - VI

25/12/2006
06:30 AM:
“Tea ready” screams were loud and unwelcome. All got up, some brushed, some didn’t. Everyone came out with their lotas (glass/cup). Had steaming tea, felt relaxed, throwing away the early morning blues;). It was decided that we will trek to the falls, come back and then have breakfast. The family head himself agreed to accompany us and show us the way to falls. He walked barefoot all the way.

It was an hour-long walk across the fields, green lands, forest, and grassland. We had to cross a section of forest where water flows across the road. Had to carry the shoes across. One good thing about this trek was that there was no baggage on the shoulder.

I was in the very front, talking to the local head himself about the life in the forest, their cultural celebrations, familial occasions, etc.

He said Deepavali was their major festival, and they worshipped Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha in the village. Marriages at home consist of a three-day-long celebration with many people coming from all over and staying at their house all thru the season. The celebration happens at home itself, most of the time with the stuff they grow, unlike the cities. His household had seen all the marriages, he meant all his children were married off, and his family had 8 people including three young children. Their prime food was “AKKI ROTTI” (Rotis prepared from rice grams)

He also said that the forest officers and cops strained them by saying that they had occupied forest lands and they could be executed for the crime. When they carry a wood log, foresters come calling them, and won't return until these villagers bribe them. He expressed his displeasure over the behavior of these officers.


We had to trek thru a thick section of forest where large trees were accompanied by little thorny shrubs, mountain kind of area, and the shoals (sand breaks), slippery. It was getting more exciting and challenging when we came across a river line, which we had to cross to reach the other side. Nayka asked us to walk barefooted from then, leaving away the foot-wear there itself, which we did. With pricking stones, thorny road,s and muddy lands, we walked barefooted to reach that corner of the road where water from mountains and forest assembled and fell from atop.

A three-stepped, single-threaded waterfall fell from a distance of a few hundred feet at the first part, onto a big rock, then fell again taking a break, to a larger area where a lake was formed, where one could swim across. From there it would fall much deeper to much larger land and flow across a vast valley. Another side of the falls was a lush green mountain surface that waved as if to welcome us in a “Mexican wave” fashion with the wind that blew them off gently. To our astonishment, we saw water carving big rocks to make hollow structures with their sheer force and energy. Nature at its best was on display for us. All stood under the waterfall which washed away our sins and negative thoughts, which blew away our tiredness and pessimism. Some people also swam across the lake that was formed with water falling onto the land. I couldn’t take part in this, even though I wanted to, because, I experienced a strange and sudden blanking of my eyes; everything seemed so blurred and happening in a different world. I was just inches away from falling unconscious. Dwarka advised me to keep my eyes shut and sleep for some time. It was tough to believe that I could be so much weak. I did as Dwarka suggested, and in mins time, I recovered.


We trekked back to Padu Beedu, took the same road as was taken during our forward trek. It was an exciting waterfall at Godangundi. Reached home, prepared avalakki, and ate as if we never had food in the last few weeks.



Prepared our bags and said Good Bye to the hosts. When I said that I would like to be their guest for three days every year, the man was happy and welcomed me by saying warmly “KHANDITA Baappa” (Please do come).



We had to trek back to Kattina Kaaru, 5KMs away to take a bus to Sagara. We started our walk at 12PM. This time though it was thru the forest, it seemed more like a country road with landscape on both sides. During this journey, we found a few prickles of Porcupine (Mullu Handi/ quill pig), which were shared among Usha and Manja. Usha also collected a peacock feather from somewhere. We reached Kattina Karu exactly at 1:30 when a bus flew away honking. We thought we missed the bus, but locals said the bus was at 3:30 and we had to wait near the bus stop to get it.

Meanwhile, there was a bike that stopped just in front of us, with the rider wearing a police uniform. He enquired all about us and after learning about Nayana and a few references he gave, the cop stopped being inquisitive and kept defending his action. We let him pass off and headed to the bus stop. We waited for the bus till 4 o’clock.

A well-broken bus came our way. We all got in. The driver was struggling hard to change the gear and put the breaks, it was such a Dakota bus that could’ve broken down anywhere on the way. The road it took was phenomenal as we were traveling by the outer cover of Linganamakki backwaters. The bus was traveling very slow, so we had ample time to say bye to the catchy valley that treated us with its warmth and unpredictableness.


We reached a place called Kogaaru where the bus dropped us. We were still around 30Kms away from Kargal from where we had queried a vehicle to pick us up. While waiting for the same, we prepared Maggi at a nearby hotel and had it with contention. All squeezed inside the 10-seater trax when it arrived. Reached Kargal at around 5:30-5:45PM. We boarded a bus to Sagara from there; no one of us got a seat, as it was crowded.

Reached Sagara, waited for trip organizer Mahesh. He had booked for the 10:30 Rajahamsa. Collected tickets from him, and freshened up at the same hotel, as Subbu and Manja decided to stay back at Sagara for that night. We all used their room for freshening up. Then took auto-rickshaws to hotel Harsha Paradise for the dinner. It was an awesome dinner; the brilliant soup was in store for us. All exchanged their experiences and gave some suggestions to Mahesh for better organization of such treks in the future. All seemed to contend about the organization, places covered, and the way it was carried out.

That’s why they say life’s uncertain. Barely a few hours ago we were walking, had no association of people, but in a matter of few hours, we were again in the company of a crowd, were relishing hot and sour soup, visualizing a lot of houses and some noise. Experiencing both of them the same day, we were there.

We boarded our bus and were back in the maddening city by the next morning.

It was a very educative trip for me, where I met a host of good people, spent invaluable days in the company of forest dwellers, wild animals, cheering birds, rushing waters, cloudless skies, millions of stars, beautiful mountain ranges, artistic lands, and all the other exquisite things.

All in all, a refreshing trip, a much welcome change of environment, and a wonderful experience of vanavaasa for three days :).

Concluded.

Disclaimer: Hope my account was not boring and wrong. The intention was to recollect all the minute details of it. I have hidden the host’s names purposefully.

Picture courtesy: Ganesh Kudva and Usha/Dwaraka.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

lovely series. thanks for sharing the whole experience with us.
best wishes
bellur

Anonymous said...

Overall very good write up with apt pics and details srik,

It was a very enjoyable trek after good number of yrs :)

Yes trekking in western ghats have beocme difficult these days becoz of many restriction to interiors, of course with proper permissions of Forest department trekkers cansstill venture out :) All happy trekking :)

Srik said...

Bellur, Usha,

Thanks for the encouraging words.
It has been a gr8 feeling presenting such a series. I was excited as well as keeping myself crossed over the response.

Thanks for staying by and going thru whole of it, even though it was boring.

Anonymous said...

heart felt condolenses to three trekkers who lost their lives during their adventure and their bodies identified now after nine months.
May god give sufficient strength to all the bereaved families to withstand this great loss
a tragedy in the life of adventurists. silent tribute to each one of them

Anonymous said...

srik
very vividly written trekking expedition report wonderful narration with very good photos placed optly at appropriate places
it was pleasure to read.
mega serial mugide hoitalla
good one and best wishes to all trekkers who were part of this expedition

Srik said...

Praneshachar,

Yeah. Its a sad incidence. I feel really sorry for those adventurists. Some of us (Sometimes me too) have that tendency to take unprecedented risks in the name of adventure.
After this incidence has been posted on papers, my parents have started telling me "No more treks for you"!! And then I had to reply them "I will never trek without any guide. Okay na?"!!
Imagine, even if one is verymuch familiar with the forest, nature always has an upper hand. That little bit of risk factor will have to be carried along when we go on some adventure ventures.
Only thing is we can do a bit better homework to avoid unnecessary torrents. I am coming up with a post on these things shortly.

Thanks a lot to you for following the series with interest, encouraging me to comeup with the next part...It is invaluable. I have no words to thank you much, Sir.

Prashanth M said...

nice log... and btw you have been tagged. Please do the needful :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, Srik..Excellent recap.

All the while I was feeling I was also trekking alongside.

Am happy you chose to share this lovely experience with us.

Keep up the good work.

ರಾಜೇಶ್ ನಾಯ್ಕ said...

Hi Srik,

Good account of the trip.

I am planning to visit goodanagundi falls in november. do you have any more pics of that waterfall? can you please tell me how far a walk it is from Kattinakaru?

I had been to Kattinakaru on March 10, 2007. I was told that after a motorable road of 5kms the falls is 15minutes walk. Is that info right?

Regards..Rajesh.

Srik said...

Its an honour to have you reading my account Rajesh Naik sir.

Please send me an e-mail at destinationsrik at yahoo dot com, I will provide you with more details you queried me.

Thanks a lot for those encouraging words. And please do visit again. I have a strange will to go on such expedition with you, some day, if you dont mind....please..

Vipul said...

Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful travelogue.
I am planning to do the same trek over the weekend.

Can you tell me which would be the best place spend the night? Would a tent & sleeping bag be required?
Further is it possible to spend the night at the Meghane hilltop or do we have to necessarily climb down to a nearby village?

I would really appreciate any kind of help.