Mighty Kudremukh

 Here is the story of how we hiked Kudremukh in the witty western ghats.

Trekking is fun in a painful way; it invigorates the body, and soothes the soul, From my experience, it painfully heals you. A trail through the sprawling greenery of mountains, and experience the uniqueness of nature, with surreal views and much more!

Kudremukh takes you on a whole new adventure, with breathtaking views, soothing ambiance, and a cluster of flora, and fauna owing to the dense Western Ghats. Kudremukh is nestled in the heart of the western ghats in the Chikkamagaluru district. It comes under Kudremukh National Park, which is the second-largest wildlife-protected area in the western ghats. It is situated at an altitude of 6,207 ft and is the 3rd highest peak in Karnataka after Mullayyangiri and Baba Budangiri.

It all happened with a sudden plan, and the next minute we were on a train to the Western Ghats. Our plan is to reach Bangalore by train, and we booked a van from there to Chikmagalur. It was an overnight journey, and we reached our homestay at the river edge in Kalasa at 6 a.m., and I must say it is such a wonderful place. The beauty of the place is having a water stream at the front, which is so soothing. So, everyone took their turns to freshen up and ease for breakfast in our homestay. Later, we were prepped for the trek got our packed lunch, and then came our ride to the forest camp. Our organizer booked us a small tempo instead of the 4X4, and his idea is always to get everyone out of their comfort zone.

We were already excited about the trek, and the idea of tempo got us much more excited about the adventure. The roads to the forest camp are not idle ones; they are off-road. Everyone is holding on to iron rods at the back of the tempo, where we have intense ups and downs on the way.

Our luggage was searched for plastic covers as we arrived at the forest camp, and not even a single single-use plastic item was allowed into the forest. We then met our local guide for the day. The forest rangers are constantly reminding us to make the walk back before 5 o'clock. However, everyone kept picturing Kumaraparvatha in their heads while trembling and giggling because there, despite being told to get to the base camp by 6 p.m., we only managed to leave at 1 a.m.

The majority of this somewhat difficult walk may be performed in a single day, but it is not particularly simple. The trek route features dark tropical forests, streams, misty valleys, lots of crisp, brown leaves scattered about, incredibly tall bamboo bushes, lush green slopes, and a windy atmosphere. The trek is around 18 kilometers long in total. We were all eager to reach the summit on a beautiful day, but we had no idea how much of an impact the sun would have on the journey. We find a lot of various perspectives to be pretty stunning.

A panoramic view of the many peaks of Kudremukh may be seen from the base camp. A happy encounter is sparked by the chilly forest breeze, preparing you for an amazing trek. We crossed a little brook after a 15-minute gentle hike from the forest camp. The little streams and waterfalls in this area are among its most captivating features. You will remain engrossed the entire time because of how lovely the forest scenery is. The vista gets increasingly captivating and appealing.

The Ontimara is waiting for you with space underneath as soon as you leave the wooded area. The area is encircled by a large canopy. From here, you can see a magnificent hill in the distance that was hidden throughout the forest walk.

On the route, we stayed in close-knit groups and shot as many photos as we could. We continued walking even though the heat had already sapped the majority of our vitality.

The second viewpoint is close to the Ontimara, which serves as the trek's halfway point. The valley entirely opens up at this point, providing a 360-degree panorama of the valley.  The ontimara, which is the trail's 6 km marker, is where everyone can stop for a rest before we continue hiking a little further with our remaining energy. And for some reason, we are divided into groups; three people are snapping pictures in the rear, a few in the middle, and a few in the front.

My knees are in excruciating discomfort, and I must admit that I am already exhausted. My legs are waggling in a pendulous motion while I walk. And I can see small little kids making their way to the top while I'm crying, not knowing whether I'll ever make it. But nevertheless, I persisted in the last part.

After the ontimara, however, one of us was unable to continue hiking, so he rested there while the rest of us in the back continued.

The first and second viewpoints are also included in the background of the third one, which is right next to the last ascent. Because we are only 3 kilometers from the peak and the stretch continues to widen, it was also one of the toughest aspects of the hike. But gosh, it was tough for me to get over that bottleneck. Everyone from our gang was in front of us, and two other people and I were slowly climbing to the top.

While taking slow movements on the trail and thinking about something, I laughed out loud when I saw two members of our group taking childlike bites while hiding from the sun in the bushes. The decision to walk up slowly like me ended up being chosen after much deliberation on whether to walk up or stay there.

You will remain engrossed the entire time because of how lovely the scenery is. The views become more fascinating and worthwhile. You can access the last track that leads to the peak by ascending a hard incline on the Zig-Zag trail. The top is 1 km away from there, but the trail we must climb—not hike—the final leg is at about a 45-degree angle.

My legs are begging me to stop, but I've always wanted to reach the top. Some have already started climbing, while others paused at the 1 km point. I ultimately made the decision to finish the hike with the other two. As a result, we moved slowly and with our hands on our hips, like zombies. Breathe in, then exhale. Walk, rest, sit, walk, etc. It continues happening, but we are never close to the top.

The calmness inside our minds, as we ascend the mountain, teaches us a lot. We all gained a greater understanding of patience and the necessity to continue the journey no matter what happen in between.

Finally!

Always worth the climb is the view from the top!

It was enjoyable to think about the Kudremukh since it was wild and free. that tranquility after a long walk.

The mountain has a way of healing you in a harsh way. Standing in front of something so large and majestic felt mesmerizing.

On a clear day, the entire valley can be seen sprawled over a thick layer of lush greenery, and the trail can be clearly seen all the way from the forest stretch to the summit. You feel delighted because of the peace in the area. The tranquility around makes you feel satisfied. We found a lunch spot in that setting - after some pictures, our guides requested us to trek down or else we won't reach camp by 6.

We've always believed that climbing to the summit of a mountain is the hardest part, but those who have been there know that it's actually the descent that is challenging.

We were already divided into groups and started to trek down this arduous path. We had a guy who is younger than all of us, and damn he is really terrified of heights. Trekking is incomplete without one of us who isn't afraid of heights. He was actually crawling on the trail while we are supposed to be walking on ridges. Though it was amusing, he was actually too brave to ponder the stroll in the face of his trepidation.

However, we were moving so quickly that we finished the 4.5 kilometers in less than 2 hours. We had this flow, and it didn’t stop us anywhere near ontimara. We kept on trek down like water flowing through the path from top to bottom. Even If we were trying to take a rest, our guide always tell “sire ardha ganta ontimara, next to that bend” just this. We believe it means ontimara is half hour away. But we have crossed more than 5 bends from there…!

As soon as we reached the ontimara, we took a break so that those in the back could join us. But we didn't comprehend the real pain in the next half of the trek.  After this, it got difficult since we ran out of energy and were stumbling along the trail while still believing the end was in sight.

Wow, I'm sore, we're sore—our bodies are pleading with us. Nothing aches now, and I sort of feel numb.

We, therefore, took a break wherever we could while still being compelled to proceed by our guide. The last 2 kilometers were quite taxing and uncomfortable for me. It appeared as though the trail was moving alongside us.

I felt stuck but had the bravery to imagine a new path and start moving along it.

After a filling meal and hot shower at our homestay, we had nothing to do except relax in front of the bonfire next to the water stream at night.

Without the individuals I traveled with, my trip would not have been better. The warmth of belonging, great lives, and stories pervade everything. They appreciate one another more, lend a hand more frequently, and listen more often.

I feel fervency and camaraderie again with folks like that, and I don't feel the need to run away from that.

The next day morning, a few of us went to take a dip in the water stream in our homestay, but it was really chilly. As cold as it may seem, cold dips leave me feeling exhilarated.

After packing up all of our stuff and vacated the homestay to the next spot in Kalasa.  After a brief tour of the Tea estate, we went shopping. We had lunch in the nearby Annapoorani shrine. The food was elegant, I must say. We headed straight to the Soormane waterfall after lunch. We made a short walk to the waterfall, where we were treated to an amazing fall.

There is continuity in abruptness, there is calm in the gushing flow, and there is confidence in consciousness! Water gushes down from a height of over a hundred feet, this towering spectacle is nothing short of a picturesque extravaganza.

We took a lengthy cool plunge at the falls and were there for a while in the water. we lay our eyes on the frothy water cascading down a nearly vertical 60-meter-tall hillside. A small crowd of young and old is frolicking under the waters.

One of us came up with the idea to visit the Kyatanmakki Hills to watch the sunset while we had some time to cool off before heading to Bangalore. Everyone asked him that it should not involve our legs.

He mockingly responds, "No, we'll drive our own jeep to the top," and he keeps gushing about what an incredible off-road experience it will be. As a result, we all piled into the van's back and stood. Near the checkpoint, there was a regular road. Where the paved road ends is where the fun started. We were concerned when we observed the incline of the course. But I got to see what a 4X4 is capable of for the first time. In reality, it isn't a road for cars; rather, it was a path for rainwater, which flows from the mountain's summit to the river. The slope's highest point provides a 360-degree view of the valleys and mists underneath.

Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.

Eternity's secret is revealed by stillness; whenever the sun sets behind mountains. the magnificent sun rising, the mighty wind, the graceful fog, and the rich silence.

One of the most memorable moments is the sunset above Kyatanmakki.

The wind blew through our hair as the sun's rays brushed over our faces. By focusing on the present moment, we may have sat there for longer. After all, we had been eagerly anticipating visiting one of the most stunning mountain ranges, but then time started to get on our nerves. However, time temporarily stopped at that point, allowing us to take a deep breath and reconnect with ourselves.

You can’t beat a good sunset.

To put it mildly, the view from Kyathanmakki is strange, and the ride there is excruciating.

Sometimes it's just embracing the little things that will have the most profound effect. I strongly believe that - Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.

It's odd how the forces of nature, such as the ocean, mountains, and forests, teach us lessons that initially appear little but end up being true gems.

I honestly hope that!