Kumaraparvatha Trek
It was one of adventure treks.. Started with rain.. then whole trek was full of leeches attack.. then it ended as Night trek of nearly 2 hours through dense forest. Really a memorable trek.
Kumaraparvatha, also called as Pushpagiri is situated on the border between South Kanara and Coorg district of Karnataka. It is 5478 feet above sea level. It's the fourth highest peak in Karnataka. Its called Pushpagiri because during the months of Feb and March, the valleys surrounding the peak are literally covered with wild flowers. There is no road route to reach Kumaraparvatha. One has to trek 14 km form Kukke subramanya to reach Kumaraparvatha.
All happened completely unplanned. I was really not sure whether i will be able to trek this weekend. Then Thursday night i decided to go for a trek. I forwarded my mails to most of the friends to join the trek and as usual no one other the Vibuthi were ready to come. Packed a little heavy backpack, assuming as a preperation for a heavy winter trek ahead. Left for the pick up point at Balgalore railway station. I really hate taking an auto on a long weekend, as most of the auto refuse to come to Bangalore city railway station. I took my Spartan and went to the station. To my surprise the guy in parking said " Sorry this bike is too big to keep in the parking.." I then asked are ppl with big bikes not allowed to park for two nights? he said to check the next parking.. Somehow he understood and allowed to park. I was bit relaxed. Then joined the group standing next to the Reservation counter.
Withing few minutes after into to other trekkers, we started for Kukke Subramanya, in two Tempo Travellers.As usual i had a disturbed sleep ( this are few instances when i curse my height .. and envy those with lesser height). Reached Kukke Subramanya at around 8 am in morning. It was raining heavily there. I was afraid that the rain might affect the trek, but it added more adventure on the way. We refreshed and then started the trek around trek. Not knowing how adventure the next two days would be.
Started our trek around 10. As usual i was one among the last trekkers in the group, joining the sweep, doing my amateur photography and sharing what i know or do to get photos i think are good. It was a cloudy day and the first stretch was via thick cover jungle, with leeches all around. I was not the only one who hate leeches.I too think that leeches are the dirty looking things which suck the blood and then fall and die. All trekkers has nice time removing leeches all the trek. Once we were through with the forest then came nice mountain view. As it was cloudy and raining we could sometimes see nice views, and sometimes not see even the people who were 20 meters away from us. We reached the place after walking all the way to the base camp. This place is run by two pandits and they provide food and shelter to the trekkers. We reached the base camp and hogged well.
By this time we made few new sweet friends called Sanam , Varna, Joydeep and Aravind. we all were in the last, generally reffered as slow trekkers. Joydeep was a fundu person, with lot of information and with some great gadgets which i have never seen before with trekking. I had seen some GPS systems installed in the Car etc.. never so small as cell phone. It really helps. He was the complete trekker, with all the things required for trekking. But as a lazy fellow like me always argue that whats the fun if one comes so prepared for trek, saying its fun encountering the nature with what we have. ( I know its funny but it's what i always do ).
Varna a sweet soft spoken girl who is doing her first trek in life. Well hats of to her and her determination with which she did her complete trek. She is really a girl with lot of mental strength. Her friend Sanam - Sorry i really did not get her name right all the time ( This blog i had done search and replace after seeing ur mail id name ;-) ). She looks to be weak and lean.. but is always bubbling with energy, very tough. Hats off to you ladies. Aravind is a cool dude. ;-) little smart ( any girls who need to have a sec look can check his photo here.) Lastly our organizer Karthika, who is doing her first hand trial of her new Nikon D40, with lot of questions as if i am a professional photographer. :-)) .. all i know /learned is from this site Karthika U too can have a look and try out the settings ;-) ( link). Of Course Vibhuti my friend. To know him u have to meet him, he is one such person u will never forget in life. Very sweet, information store house.
We had a nice time the rest of the day, with just Vibhuthi talking and rest of all sitting around and listening. Well in the mid night i had to fight for the bedsheets with Vibhuthi.. other than that there were no hiccups in the Sleep. Well we all got up in the midnight 5.00 am. Thanks to Gopi, shouting our names all in the turn so that he ensured we all get up on time. After really long time i had my Break fast that too very early 6.00 am. All started our trek to Kumaraparvatha. Taking every visible scene so that i would get atleast one very great snap. We reached Mandapa after more than 2 hours of trek. Well i was challenged to get some nice profile photos. but i am too bad taking persons photos. I know where i am lagging.. I mark it as area of improvement and work on it. Thanks Sanam and murali ;-)..
We reached the "Shesha Parvatha" On reaching here we had our some stomach filling. The last leg of the journey is to be made. Few entered the jungle to get some water and came out running with Leeches as big as little finger of smart female. that too in huge quantity around there legs. This caused a fear among the trekkers. Most of them started backing up. We last batch were ready with a mission. All did some engineering work among the legs to save them from those dirty leeches. Some used lime and we used plastic papers to fool the leeches. Further moved ahead forming a team of 10. Others returned back. We marched as brave soldiers. The Jungle stretch was like a bed of leeches. You keep a step and leeches are all around climbing around. all rushed through the place to find a beautiful slippery falls. ;-) It was a steep and slipery rise from there. Finally reached the destination " Kumaraparvatha". There was a small temple on top.
At this location we came to know that we were pranked by Gopi- who introduced his friend as Ranger of this forest actually works for i-flex.Had nice time laughing with all that happened. and Returned back to the base camp. and finally down to the Kukke subramanya. The trek from base camp to Kukke subramanya almost became a night trek with no light inside the forest and GPS letting us down. All had enough suspicion in mind about the way we were returning back. Finally reached the Road around 8.00. Big relief in every ones faces. Yes it was tiring, adventurous, filled with fun .. a complete trek altogether one would expect.
link to photo album
Kumaraparvatha, also called as Pushpagiri is situated on the border between South Kanara and Coorg district of Karnataka. It is 5478 feet above sea level. It's the fourth highest peak in Karnataka. Its called Pushpagiri because during the months of Feb and March, the valleys surrounding the peak are literally covered with wild flowers. There is no road route to reach Kumaraparvatha. One has to trek 14 km form Kukke subramanya to reach Kumaraparvatha.
All happened completely unplanned. I was really not sure whether i will be able to trek this weekend. Then Thursday night i decided to go for a trek. I forwarded my mails to most of the friends to join the trek and as usual no one other the Vibuthi were ready to come. Packed a little heavy backpack, assuming as a preperation for a heavy winter trek ahead. Left for the pick up point at Balgalore railway station. I really hate taking an auto on a long weekend, as most of the auto refuse to come to Bangalore city railway station. I took my Spartan and went to the station. To my surprise the guy in parking said " Sorry this bike is too big to keep in the parking.." I then asked are ppl with big bikes not allowed to park for two nights? he said to check the next parking.. Somehow he understood and allowed to park. I was bit relaxed. Then joined the group standing next to the Reservation counter.
Withing few minutes after into to other trekkers, we started for Kukke Subramanya, in two Tempo Travellers.As usual i had a disturbed sleep ( this are few instances when i curse my height .. and envy those with lesser height). Reached Kukke Subramanya at around 8 am in morning. It was raining heavily there. I was afraid that the rain might affect the trek, but it added more adventure on the way. We refreshed and then started the trek around trek. Not knowing how adventure the next two days would be.
Started our trek around 10. As usual i was one among the last trekkers in the group, joining the sweep, doing my amateur photography and sharing what i know or do to get photos i think are good. It was a cloudy day and the first stretch was via thick cover jungle, with leeches all around. I was not the only one who hate leeches.I too think that leeches are the dirty looking things which suck the blood and then fall and die. All trekkers has nice time removing leeches all the trek. Once we were through with the forest then came nice mountain view. As it was cloudy and raining we could sometimes see nice views, and sometimes not see even the people who were 20 meters away from us. We reached the place after walking all the way to the base camp. This place is run by two pandits and they provide food and shelter to the trekkers. We reached the base camp and hogged well.
By this time we made few new sweet friends called Sanam , Varna, Joydeep and Aravind. we all were in the last, generally reffered as slow trekkers. Joydeep was a fundu person, with lot of information and with some great gadgets which i have never seen before with trekking. I had seen some GPS systems installed in the Car etc.. never so small as cell phone. It really helps. He was the complete trekker, with all the things required for trekking. But as a lazy fellow like me always argue that whats the fun if one comes so prepared for trek, saying its fun encountering the nature with what we have. ( I know its funny but it's what i always do ).
Varna a sweet soft spoken girl who is doing her first trek in life. Well hats of to her and her determination with which she did her complete trek. She is really a girl with lot of mental strength. Her friend Sanam - Sorry i really did not get her name right all the time ( This blog i had done search and replace after seeing ur mail id name ;-) ). She looks to be weak and lean.. but is always bubbling with energy, very tough. Hats off to you ladies. Aravind is a cool dude. ;-) little smart ( any girls who need to have a sec look can check his photo here.) Lastly our organizer Karthika, who is doing her first hand trial of her new Nikon D40, with lot of questions as if i am a professional photographer. :-)) .. all i know /learned is from this site Karthika U too can have a look and try out the settings ;-) ( link). Of Course Vibhuti my friend. To know him u have to meet him, he is one such person u will never forget in life. Very sweet, information store house.
We had a nice time the rest of the day, with just Vibhuthi talking and rest of all sitting around and listening. Well in the mid night i had to fight for the bedsheets with Vibhuthi.. other than that there were no hiccups in the Sleep. Well we all got up in the midnight 5.00 am. Thanks to Gopi, shouting our names all in the turn so that he ensured we all get up on time. After really long time i had my Break fast that too very early 6.00 am. All started our trek to Kumaraparvatha. Taking every visible scene so that i would get atleast one very great snap. We reached Mandapa after more than 2 hours of trek. Well i was challenged to get some nice profile photos. but i am too bad taking persons photos. I know where i am lagging.. I mark it as area of improvement and work on it. Thanks Sanam and murali ;-)..
We reached the "Shesha Parvatha" On reaching here we had our some stomach filling. The last leg of the journey is to be made. Few entered the jungle to get some water and came out running with Leeches as big as little finger of smart female. that too in huge quantity around there legs. This caused a fear among the trekkers. Most of them started backing up. We last batch were ready with a mission. All did some engineering work among the legs to save them from those dirty leeches. Some used lime and we used plastic papers to fool the leeches. Further moved ahead forming a team of 10. Others returned back. We marched as brave soldiers. The Jungle stretch was like a bed of leeches. You keep a step and leeches are all around climbing around. all rushed through the place to find a beautiful slippery falls. ;-) It was a steep and slipery rise from there. Finally reached the destination " Kumaraparvatha". There was a small temple on top.
At this location we came to know that we were pranked by Gopi- who introduced his friend as Ranger of this forest actually works for i-flex.Had nice time laughing with all that happened. and Returned back to the base camp. and finally down to the Kukke subramanya. The trek from base camp to Kukke subramanya almost became a night trek with no light inside the forest and GPS letting us down. All had enough suspicion in mind about the way we were returning back. Finally reached the Road around 8.00. Big relief in every ones faces. Yes it was tiring, adventurous, filled with fun .. a complete trek altogether one would expect.
link to photo album
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| kumarapara |
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