When I half opened my eyes it was 4 am, our vehicle was manoeuvering the curves covered up in mist. With hardly 20 metre visibility the vehicle was going past the coffee plantations in Madikeri, Coorg. By the time sun came out, we were speeding past further plantations and paddy fields to Kabinakkad. After a break for tea at the diversion to Honey valley estate where we were put up, we clung on to the four wheeler that took us up to the estate. By then it began drizzling and the drive through a 10 feet wide stoned and slushy pathway turned exhilarating. We went higher and higher past the coffee plantations and gurgling streams. Chingara waterfalls could be seen from a distance and being monsoon, the falls was at its fieriest best.
Before long, we covered the 3 Km stretch and were at the entrance of our resort- Honey Valley. Nestled amidst coffee plantations and with stunning hills in the background, the resort is perfectly placed in the lap of nature. The magnificent views of the plantations from the cottages was a sight to behold.
View of the coffee plantations from the resort |
The initial stretch was slightly steep and went above the plantations and resort. Laden with stones, the pathway turned green on either sides and then became a smooth track. Two dogs from the resort accompanied us when we began the trek. To my surprise they trekked the whole stretch with us. The 20 minute initial walk gave us a glimpse of what lay ahead as it began drizzling and a leech or two was seen clinging on to our shoes. We crossed a small forest patch before reaching a clearing. Two locals who were to be our guides through the trek was waiting for us. By then the drizzle had become incessant, the distant hills were engulfed in fog, earth look so red and wet and we followed our guides along a trek path into the green hills.
The initial stretch |
Our local guides |
Open lands |
The open lands turned into goat tracks which were slippery and the vantage points were engulfed in mist denying us the beautiful vistas. From the open vast lands we moved into forest patches and from there to hill tops which were soaked in rain. The tracks in certain places had become slushy with small puddles. We then for a long while trekked along the ridges with the engulfing mist which had reduced the visibility to less than a hundred feet The slopes looked gorgeous with vistas showing up intermittently. However the rain gods weren't that kind enough. But this is exactly how a monsoon trek is like and I had absolutely no complaints.
Forest patch |
Mist engulfed hills |
Yes, that is the track! |
Slowly the landscape changed and turned tougher as the track we followed were covered by tall grasses. The rains became stronger and we had another 3-4 kilometers to the top of the peak. All we could see were our two guides and the dogs a few meters ahead of us and we just kept following them along the covered track. This was supposedly the dangerous stretch during the trek as there was hardly any support and the tracks were either slippery or had gravel . With low visibility and incessant rain we trod forward precariously.
Hill slopes |
With drooping shoulders we walked along the palace estate track to the starting point of the shorter route. This stretch seemed much easier and was mostly devoid of leeches, but a few were spotted. The big attraction was the numerous monsoon waterfalls which we passed by. With monsoon at its peak, all the streams and creeks were at their glorious best. They were full and gushing down the hills. Each time I passed a waterfall, I looked at my camera and gave a sigh. This part of the trek was definitely a walk in the lap of nature. When I waded past the ankle high waters, I could feel the slimy blood suckers inside the shoes getting active and wriggling through my toes. The rain had receded by then and the first thing to run into my mind was Murphy's law.
In between we stopped by for lunch at an abandoned house en route. I was amused when I removed my shoes and blood soaked socks as five or six blood drunk leeches rolled out of it. They almost resembled balls and were half the size of my index finger. People pay a big price for a leech therapy and here I have it as a compliment with my trek. After all the cleaning and gulping down the lunch that was carried, we began our walk further down to where the resort vehicles were to take us back. The vehicle came in some time and we clambered into it along with our local guides and the dogs. This was definitely a tailor made monsoon trek. Rains, mist, vistas, vantage points, greenery, waterfalls, leeches and wet earth all made it a perfect one. Except for the low point of not trekking to the summit of Tadiyandamol, the trek was an absolute rejuvenation. Now I have a reason to trek Tadiandamol again.
Woods are lovely, dark, deep and misty too! |
After an initial stretch of calm waters of more than half a kilometer, our guide stopped rowing and asked us to take a plunge. The river was mostly stagnant were we had stopped and one by one all just jumped into the cold waters of Barapole. This was to get ourselves accustomed to the water in case of a topple. We swam, frolicked, clicked photographs and played for about half an hour before getting back on the raft. Then began the rafting with instructions flowing from the guide along with quirky names of rapids like The Big Bang and Ram Jaane. Each rapid has a name but these two were the prominent ones and as the name suggests, were definitely the most adrenaline rushing ones. Each rapid had dips and rocks which we had to raft through and the excitement grew as we passed each rapid. Our already soaked bodies were further drenched and the two hour adventure was definitely exhilarating. The adventure finally came to an end after almost a two and a half kilometer stretch of rafting. We then drove back carrying the rafts for a hot cup of coffee by the free flowing Barapole river.
Signing Note- Coorg is undoubtedly an adventure seeker's paradise...!!
Route- Bangalore- Mandya- Srirangapatna- Hunsur- Gonikoppal- Virajpet- Kabinakkad
Distance- 270 Kms
Lovely narrations. Advantage of not completing is that there is always another chance to do it. Photography becomes extremely challenging during monsoon treks.
ReplyDeleteThank you TGS. Yeah, definitely heading there again. It was my first experience of photography during monsoon treks and I have learnt it the hard way. :)
DeleteCoorg is so beautiful...pictures are amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteNice Post and Nice Shots, It looks like a Lovely Place will going to try it some day. Have a Nice Day. . :)
ReplyDeleteWow! How I wish I had also taken that trek....but LEECHES!! Yeow!! You, on the other hand, had an amazing time. I can see that. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Leeches are a part of all monsoon treks. Just ignore them after a while and enjoy the trek. That is the best that you can do.
DeleteBeautiful pictures. Have you tired rafting in Ganges too? Some of the rapids are really scary particularly 'The Wall'.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mridula. I have not tried rafting in Ganges. This infact was my first experience. Am sure places like Rishikesh has some wonderful options. :)
DeleteInteresting write up and beautiful pictures as always ---what a treat
ReplyDeleteThank you. Glad that you liked it.
DeleteLovely shots!
ReplyDeleteintresting post with lovely pics :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteLeeches are part and parcel of the package anywhere in the evergreen or rainforests, you just need to know how to ignore them and some take some precautions. As Dhiraj said, not doing it means, there is always another opportunity to do it :)
ReplyDelete..and the palace is Nalknad Palace
my article on the same - http://adventureanytime.blogspot.in/2009/01/tadiandamol.html
Absolutely ignorance is bliss w.r.t leeches. Nalkanad palace is an interesting place. Had been there on my last visit to Coorg.
DeleteI don't see myself doing either the trek or the rafting so thank you for sharing. I enjoyed your narration and the photographs very much.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you liked it but I would have definitely been happier if I could have inspired you to do it.
DeleteVery lucid narration...very beautiful place..
ReplyDeletehttp://virginspots.com
Thank you.
DeleteBeautiful place and great writing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Aravind.
DeleteAn experience to remember forever.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteI read about Tadiyandamol before.... It must have been so adventurous for you! BTW those lines are beautiful- "Woods are lovely dark and deep...."
ReplyDelete:-)
It was a wonderful experience. Those are the lines by Robert Frost, just that I added 'Mist' into it.
DeleteLovely pictures...all of them :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Siddhartha.
Deletewe'd gone there once in summer. You went in right time. nice pics
ReplyDeleteThank you. Am sure during summer or winter it would be a different experience. I would love to go again during the winters.
Deletesuch beautiful images but it reads like a difficult trek coz of rains & leeches!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.myunfinishedlife.com
Thanks Sushmita. Monsoon treks come with rains and leeches and without them the trek is always incomplete. :)
DeleteGreat post Niranjan! Nice pictures. I have never made it to this Thadiandamol peak but leeches are things which make me puke! River rafting is tempting though :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kusum. You can try this trek post the monsoons when it would be devoid of the leeches.
Deletenice greenery :)
ReplyDeleteMonsoon brings out the best shades of green. :)
Delete
ReplyDeleteAll that greenery reminds me of home. :)
Hmm... a monsoon trek and rafting when the rivers are probably in full volume? Bravo! And you braved all those leeches for the great views, right? My salutes to you, Nomad. :)
Lovely writing. Just curious -- any idea what Tadiyandamol means? :)
Thanks a lot Divya. :) Wayanad is equally green. Passed through its winding tea estates 3 days back.
DeleteTadiyandamol means- Thadi- broad base, mol (mukalil)- top. So it translates to the top of the broad base(thadiyude mukalil).
ah ha. :)
DeleteThank you.
Very well written post...
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteGreat Blog post. Really exciting. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete