Kudremukha

Bhagawathi Nature camp

 Kudremukha
 Let me have brief description about Kudremukha before I start penning my own experiences J


95 kms southwest of Chikmaglur town is Kudremukha hill station. It is so named because of the horse-faced range that overlooks the Arabian Sea. Situated at 1894 meters above sea level the mountain ranges are interlinked with one another with deep vales and steep cliffs. It is trekkers delight to trace out new paths to reach the summit. Rich in flora and fauna, Kudremukha hill station Karnataka has lush green forests, cascading waterfalls and rare orchids. It is an ideal destination for tourists to spend their vacation. The hill station Kudremukha is also a trekker’s territory since besides the rich flora and fauna much is left to be discovered in the unexplored hills of Kudremukha.
Our Plans
1. Friday Night:  Our planned Route was
Bengalooru>>Hassan>>Belur>>Chikmaglur>>Kalasa>>Kudremukha
2. Saturday Program: Stay @ Bhaghawathi Nature Camp well maintained by Forest Department. Need to take Permission from Karkala Range office before you enter the this Heaven
3. Sunday Program: visiting near by places, Hornadu and back to Bangalore. Route was Hornadu >> Kalasa>> Kotigehara>>Mudigere>> Hassan>> Bengalooru


Travel begins here………….


This time our team was big, 9 members includes 
me, Phani, Varuni, Naren, Shubha (sis–in-law),
 Srinidhi ,newly married couple Srikanth & Archana
( heartily welcome to our family )
last but not the least MR BEN10
 (PRANAV V DAS my nephew)
We started out trip at 10.30 pm in TT from my place, we had planned to cook our own food so every arrangement was done by communicating each other and collecting necessary items, finally we missed basic thing toor dal …huh..!!! Never mind we have talent of making any recipe with any kind of dal’s Hehhe.













As usual we had nice time traveling after so many days, chatting, cracking jokes, teasing made us journey more interesting. Since seating was 2 + 1, couples were occupied in two seated and idiot bachelors were on the other side without any option, It was around 12.30 everyone was hungry, 
we were stopped by roadside dhaba near Hassan, had food nicely even though it was nice food Jand continued our journey. It was around 2.20 we noticed our vehicle was moving in zigzag manner, we had some close shave also… later we realized that driver was feeling drowsy and asked him to sleep for sometime. 
It was around 5.45 am, Finally Driver took charge of his vehicle and we started enjoying nature since it was early morning with cool breeze and mild sun light  which made us feel warm in that crouching cold . Around 7 we stopped near Bhadra coffee stop J it was nice place surrounded with coffee estates, fresh, hot and filtered coffee was served with a desi touch. Taste was really good and we just loved it…!!!Enjoying the flavor we started out journey towards Kalasa...As we moved further roads were narrow with very dangerous curves, with onward coming vehicles with higher speed. We passed though many streams, lakes it was an awesome view, once can enjoy nature in different angles, adding to it heavy rains made us more scary and thrilling. On the way we stopped at well maintained widely spread Tea Estate, walked along the path inside the estate it was festival for both real and virtual eyes J  we had cup of tea from estate and continued journey to Kalasa, we reached Kalasa around 10 am even though it was late but we enjoyed the journey all the way it dint matter for us actually. we had break fast  hot idly sambar and famous Mangalore bun and chutney it was nice combination. After breakfast we took roamed around market took some vegetables and left. Around 12 noon we reached Kudremukha and it was raining badly, we were so upset with continuous rains thinking that it may flop our show. Some sort of confused state, unsatisfied mode In spite of these we took Permission letter and guidance at Kudremukha guest house to reach BHAGWATHI NATURE CAMP, which is 10 km away from the Kudremukha town on the way to Karkala. You can also visit Lakya Dam where the sludge of Iron ore project is dumped.  As we moved further intensity of rain was less and sun light started to reach our skin. Everyone was just waiting for this exact moment ……enthusiasm to enjoyment was doubled … smile on every faces started blooming, we reached Nature camp gate inside we had to travel 1 km to reach the nature camp. We felt there were many caves and mountain tracks still left unexplored in the hill station of Kudremukha.

Nature camp which is well maintained, tidy and improved basic amenities. We were surprised to see government undertaken guest house in this conditions. Thanks to Govt of Karnataka and Karnataka Tourism Department. Guest house with two bed room with nice cot, bed, blankets also includes attached bathroom. Dining hall with dining table in common space inside the building. Solar Lighting is one of the main sources in that jungle. We just felt it like private resort. Everyone just roamed around nature camp and enjoyed the nature’s beauty; one can see bamboo chairs along the path, tents with bathroom are also available, separate space for camp fire is also available provided u should have permission. A cook is appointed by Govt who makes u clean and delicious food with nominal fee.

Very much pleased with the Nature camp environment and facilities, everyone planned to take bath in Bhadra River which flows by side of Nature camp. Even thought I was drizzling we got used such kind of rains and started jumping into river. It’s just clean and crystal clear .Even though it was too much cold we enjoyed playing and diving in the river. Around 3.30 all of us got ready to prepare our own food, since there was kitchen with basic amenities we dint find much trouble to cook. Helping hands made us to prepare delicious sambar, bhendi fry. Addition to it we had some pickles and chutneypudi made us to eat MRUSTANNA BHOJANA, Vaatapi Jeernobhava  J later everyone cleaned utensils and handed over to Meti. we walked around guest house for sometime, later entered the guest house and started playing dumb- shards, had  dinner in between and continued playing till 1 am and slept Peacefully aha… what a day….came to an end
 in the jungle……..!!  

Got up at 7, quick fresh up and left the nature camp and traveled towards Hanumagundi falls, On the way we saw Rudra Tirtha is at 3 km from valley resort, next is Vasishtha Tirtha at 4 km Amba Tirtha, Varaha Tirtha at 5th km. At 6 km we can see way to Gangamoola A place where river Tunga, Bhadra and Netravati originate from a cave. grassy slopes, silent streams are main attraction. Be careful of Leaches which sucks blood silently without disturbing anyone J .A picturesque locations where u don’t reasons to leave the place without taking snap. We gave most of work to our virtual Lens at this place since it was raining, took nearly 400 snaps in and around Gangamoola. Left to Hanumagundi falls on the way we finished breakfast at roadside hotel, Puliyogre was testy though.

                                                      


Hanuman Gundi: 17 kms from Valley resort on the way to Karkala we got down and visited this waterfall where the water cascade from a height of more than 100 feet.  Reaching this spot requires walking down on the narrow steps nearly around 400 built by forest department and it was risky since it was slippery at some places. But precautionary measured have been taken by govt.The water was ice cool and good for swimming. But we just took bath in rain enjoyed to the core; since water gushes out of big rocks one can get nice therapy to back with free of cost. Remember anything un usual act or stunts may cost your life too that to free of cost ha-ha.
After a nice time at falls, traveled towards Hornadu which is  around 48 km from that place need to come back to Kudremukha, Kalasa to reach Hornadu, At 2 we reached Hornadu Took darshana of devi Annapoorneshwari ,followed by nice tasty lunch served at Temple premises. Everyone was hungry and just batted like 20-20 format game. Left from Hornadu at 4 pm and reached bengalooru at 2 am in the morning.
Road is very bad and full of ghat section till kotigehara, be cautious while driving
This Time we traveled via Kalasa>> Kotigehara>>Mudigere>> Hassan>> Bengalooru

Some Unforgettable Moments which I couldn’t resist sharing it.
On way to Kudremukha from Bangalore:
Since seating was 2 + 1, couples were occupied in two seated and idiot bachelors were on the other side without any option, But standing instruction was given to couples especially newly married couple Archana and Srikanth that every five mins they have to raise there respective hands and say “HU”  J just to make sure that they were with usJ. Since Archana was fresher, she promptly answered as per direction given by us...Paapa...Untill we reached Hassan!!! But Varuni has almost 1 + years experience she easily bypassed all rules and slept nicely…..will see u later Varuni..!!!! Wait for u r turn…Hehhe..!!
Everyone was hungry, we were stopped by roadside dhaba near Hassan had food nicely even though it was nice food Jand continued our journey.
TT driven by Kanta
 it was around 2.20 we noticed our vehicle was moving in zigzag manner, we had some close shave also… later we realized that driver was feeling drowsy and asked him to sleep for sometime, sincerely he followed our directions, by that time Mr. and Mrs. Naren completed their 50% of sleep. Rest of us sat outside talking to each other in the cold. it was nice experience, even after 90 mins we dint find any clue how to make him(driver) awake, he was enjoying his sleep. Later we decided to drive TT, my cousin Kanta was the pilot J  since all were unnoticed of his driving TT, so everyone was awake and standing behind Kanta to give direction and also moral support ha-ha J in fact he drove smoothly compared to regular TT driver…Kudos to u Kanta …!! Memorable experience …just can’t forget that..!!
In spite of this tension, we heard some one talking from behind...yes it was Varuni she was talking asleep…  “Hey chinnu……”.That’s what we heard clearly……!!!After some time Naren started saying “am in siddi Vinayaka Mandir” he was in Mumbai’s Vinayaka temple in his dreamland……oh my god….they made us laugh out of our tensions J thanks once again to those lovely couples J
While returning back from Hanumagundi Falls to Hornadu:
We met an accident with onward coming Tata Indica taxi, Bangalore registered vehicle the driver was very careless and rash , he was on the right side of the road at deep curve. Am penning it since I just want to warn you guys….Ghat section driving is not as easy as you drive in Bangalore/city traffic’s .You may end up with huge loss without any mistake of yours.
While returning to Bangalore:
We had stop for light refreshment at Kotigehara, but it turned out to be heavy for us LOL. We 6 members nearly ate 58 neer dose and chutney which is very famous in that region. As soon he serves everyone was jumping and grabbing dose. If you were late by one second probably you need to wait for next dose to come. An Unforgettable moment J