In Natures' Lap - Part 1

After some 3 months we all plan the trek for the 2 days of Aug 1st weekend. But due to some reasons got it preponed by 2 weeks... Left Bangalore on Friday 23rd of July night at 11:00, catching a train to Shimoga!!!

Mahesh, the one who accompanies me from Bangalore to the destination almost all the time, since I shifted to Bangalore. He is the best find for us as we have started to enjoy the food in the trek. Yes the Cook of our Gang, I use this word as we term our grp as a Gang!!! And coming to the cooking stuff let me not forget the other cooks too, but one thing it would always be a Nala or a Bhima who cooks, I mean only guys cook. No offense girls but we care for you so much that we grant you few days off.

Datta, called him up to ask if he had left Mysore along with six others. He is the organizer of our treks. He takes the responsibility for the whole grp. And he is very possessive about that. We do call him as 'Scope Raja' - The one who shows of a lot and aspires for attraction in the grp. :) He answered that they had left some half an hour back. Then me and Mahesh slept on our sleepers that we had reserved and by the time we could open up our eyes we were in Shimoga and it was 4:55 a.m. Right time. We wondered as if we were in Japan. Ah first time in my motherland that I had reached in time, by traveling in a Govt. transport. Cool improving:).

As we reached the Bus stand, was happy to see 2 of my buddies, Deepu - I don’t want to bore you by briefing abt him as it might take kb of kbs together, might also go to MBs. It takes so much as he is one of my best so far. The other Sidda - the kid of our Gang, 2 yrs younger to us, but no one can say that he really is so young. :) Sweet guy who's company will be liked by almost all.

Said hi to Sriranga - Want any help you can ask him, kind of a reserved, has no intention of troubling others and can trust and depend on him, but most ppl will not like him initially - as they get a taste of his friendship no one will let him GO, such a nice pal. Then Giri, the ‘Tarle’ of the Gang, a finance minister of our Gang and wildly adventurousJ. And almost at the end the One and only couple of our Gang, Vinod and Asha - one more adventurous freak, a crazy driver of anything, and the coolest amg us (obviously next to me, even if it is superlative) and his wife silent observer.

Last but not the least, Jyotsna - Jyo to some, Kapi to few, but a kid to all. We wanted a Doc among us to take care of us and here comes. Liked by all. Her lively dance, happy mood, short temper for no reason, sudden upset, high voltage return, what not and what else the list goes on. Kudos to have such a kid among us.

Fine so all the 10 gathered together and started our Journey to Muppane... It was raining and we were marching towards the green, cloudy tropical rain forests of Karnataka. A day before me and Deepu had done lots of research on all kind of animals that are said to be there in this region. And we were most frightened by the sheer presence of King Cobra. For those who want a taste of its looks can go to NatGeo and have a look at it. But still we were called by that wonderful green bed with some whitish smoke like passing by. Amid of all these things the national highway making way into the forests was the sight not to be missed.

Hired a Gypsy and reached the starting point to Dabbe falls. Then trekked for around 8 Kms to the falls. The journey was so o good, have no words to explain. Had to cross 2 small mountains, lye down on the green velvet, cross a small stream which was flowing swiftly and the water level had been upto our chests, then finally walk along the plantations and rappel down for some 120 mts.

Wow!!! Worth all the effort. Only 4 at a time could stand together to see the Dabbe Fall, which falls at a height of some 450 – 500 ft. Amazing sight, watching the virgin fall in the middle of the untamed forest……….. Don’t miss it if you are adventurous. J

By night fall managed to go to the IB – Inspection Bungalow of Muppane Forest Dept. Cool they had everything including water filter. We had never seen such luxury in the forests. The IB was situated right in front of the Sharavathi backwaters of Linganamakki Dam and the middle of the Muppane reserve forest. I had caught very mild fever. I used to shiver during evening times for the past 3 days, and was feeling extremely tired and weak. Of all this I got drenched in rain right from the morning to night. At last got treated and had the tablet from Ranga. Funny is I was very active by 9:00 in the night while most of them were tired and sleeping. Datta for the first time did cook something great. He fried the Bajjis. Then had our dinner and went to bed with a hope of waking up early so that we can watch the beautiful sunrise @ Muppane.

Next day morning, with all energy woke up, but had missed the sunrise. Traced along the borders of the backwaters and had lots of photo session. These snaps are never to be missed ones. After trekking for 2 km, entered the heaven – wild jungle, with a hope of watching some animal, which remained as a hope. The jungle was sounding very fishy. It was smelling so badly that I almost had nostalgia. At the end of it everyone were very disappointed, no King Cobra, no wild, but yes found few monkeys in jungleJ.

After all this had our breakfast and bid adieu to the lovely place we had halted the previous night. Then started our Journey to Jog Falls, the highest fall in India. I had been there thrice before but this visit was something special. Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer are the four amazing falls that add upto the famous Jog falls. I had never observed this before as to why those names were given. I saw Raja – the King horizontally, lying on a cliff that was just near the King. It’s the only fall which doesn’t touch anything on its way down. It looks so majestic and hence the name Raja. Rani – the Queen, falls as far as possible from Raja. She is soo thin, beautiful and elegant – no doubt shes’ the Queen. Rocket hurries down and falls abruptly. It appears as though its in a competition and it should somehow reach the final line first. This one fall makes all the sound in the world as it hits the rock every sigle second on its way down, rightly termed as Roarer. Amazing right, to observe all theseJ.

After this nothing much had been to Honnemarudu, where we went on koracling to a small island near by and then took some beautiful snaps and disappeared from there. One more thing that I enjoyed was the journey from Sagara to Shimoga. Its 72 kms and a National Highway without much traffic and the driver, rather I can call him as chauffer as we were the only people in the bus, drove it just as wild that we wanted. Of all these I was playing Kishores’ melodious old hindi songs. Missed Deepu and Sidda a lot here, as they had left us few hours before. I had also missed someone soo much even though I had the presence there. Fine so finally reached Shimoga and we departed, as me and Mahesha got into Bangalore bus while rest all got into the Mysore bus.

Its Hard for all of us to go back to the civilization but reality calls us back.

Will be back with another story with nature in few months.

would luv your comments
naren