The green landscape of Kodachadri
July 2021 — Kodachadri peak is a challenging yet rewarding trek in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. Let me share my experience of this trek.
As was evident in Gokarna, beach trek was great. But if you ask me, nothing can beat the fascinating views of Western ghats during monsoon. Mookambika Wildlife sanctuary lies at the southern end of Western Ghats. And at the heart of Mookambika, Kodachadri peak stands tall. Kodachadri in Sanskrit means Jasmine of the hills.
Unlike my earlier solo trips in Karnataka, this time I registered for a group trek through an organisation called Bangalore Mountaineering Club. That means transport, accommodation, food and guide will all be handled by professionals.
On the day of travel, a total of 32 trekkers including two trek-coordinators started the journey in two separate vehicles — a bus and a tempo traveller. We were introduced with each other in the bus through a fun game. Post dinner we all settled in our recliner seats for the night — a first time for me on an over-night journey.
We reached Kodachadri early morning at 6. We settled in a cozy homestay which is built on an elevated area offering a 360 degree view of the surrounding. Boys and girls were segregated and sent to different rooms.
We freshened up quickly and gathered in the dining hall for breakfast. Idli and hot coffee complements each other very well. Having packed our lunch, we started the hike in light drizzle by 8 am.
Leeches are a common issue in this tropical jungle during monsoon. We were warned beforehand. A few points to consider are —
- Leeches can stick to skin and suck blood even when you are moving. The sensation is very minimal.
- There are a few ways to counter — Rubbing salt at your skin or applying Dettol before putting socks. Trousers can be tucked inside the socks for extra protection.
- Leeches can jump and stick if you are standing in a place for a long time.
- But in all sense, leeches are not harmful. They only suck blood and fall off. It can leave a temporary scar, thats it.
The crowd was descent in the trail. Our group of 30 was navigated by three leaders — each at the front, middle and back. We moved according to our own pace. There are three trails to reach the peak. The one we chose is the most popular and challenging. The trails mostly runs through the thick bushes of the Shola forest. There were occasional meadow areas offered stunning view of the nearby hills.
After an hour of trek we reached the Hidlumane falls. The falls was a staggered one — our trek guide explained. It waterfall looked impressive from far and daunting from near beacause of the force of the water and slippery stones. We spent a good time there taking photos from numerous angles.
The hike got steeper after the falls. We had to tread with caution for the next one kilometre or so. That took most of the energy. But we had more road to cover before we reach the peak.
We finally were greeted with open air. We found ourselves over on a narrow ledge as a shortcut to reach faster. After a steep 75 Degree climb for 15 minutes, we reached the mud road aka jeep road.
The 11 km trek trail can be covered in a Jeep from the base. The cost varies from season to season. Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 is the range per head.
We were famished by then. As we found a proper place, we finished our lunch. Dense fog covered the area like a white sheet. It was continuously drizzling, sometimes it was raining heavily too. Sunlight was playing hide and seek.
As we moved ahead along the mud road, Jeeps became a frequent sight wheezing right past us in unbelievable speed. A jeep only can handle this uneven terrain.
An hour more of strenuous hike led us to the summit where the ancient Mookambika Devi temple stands. We were exhausted to the T. The surroundings were clouded in white sheet of fog and thus robbed us for a nice vantage point.
We started our descent by 2.30 PM along the same trail till the point where we had lunch. For the trail to the base, we were directed to the mud road. We didn’t notice any other option either.
The final patch we climbed till the mud road looked scary for the descent. And virtually no one was going.
And thus the 10 kms long descent followed in the mud road. We had to made way frequently for the Jeeps to pass by. At one point I was so exhausted to the point of contemplating a Jeep ride to the base. But my fellow trekkers showed vigour and insisted to walk. The constant drizzling made it even more difficult.
By the time we reached the homestay, which is another 1 km from the base, already 5 to 6 trekkers from our group were relaxing. One by one made their way to the homestay. The last group of 3 people reached at 7.30 pm. Snacks and hot tea brought back life to our soul.
Dinner was served early by 9 pm. Post dinner, a few the game called Mafia. The rest of us including me were dead tired to keep our eyes open. We soon found ourselves fast asleep.
Next morning brought fresh energy to our body. Although the gloomy weather was disappointing, the enthusiasm among the group was contagious. It was the day of return also.
We had some delicious south Indian dishes in our breakfast accompanied by hot tea and coffee. We started our return journey by 9 am in light drizzle. On our way, we stopped at Nagara Fort as a part of the Itinerary.
It was raining and so not all wanted to come out of the warmness inside the bus. With no tickets required, I along with 8 others entered the fort.
The 500 year old stone fort seemed like wearing a green shroud. Due to lack of maintenance, the place looked more like a marshy land than a fort. A few photos were captured at the peak of the fort before returning to the bus.
To avoid boredom, we entertained ourselves with a few interesting games like 20 questions, taboo and Dumb charades. It was insane fun and we get to know each other well.
Our halt for lunch in Kadur became a time-consuming one as the service was very slow. With full belly, we resumed our games in the bus till evening. A tea break was arranged for all at 7 PM. There, we celebrated the birthday of one trek mate — Tanmay. We surprised him by a birthday cake. Later I came to know that a fellow trek mate eavesdropped on Tanmay’s call and made the surprise arrangement. It was heartwarming to see how just-friends came together to celebrate birthday of a fellow trekker who was a stranger two days back.
The bus reached Bangalore at 9.30 pm. I and a few others were dropped off at Guruguntapalya while others continued their journey to the next drop points. It was an incredible experience to know each one of them in those 2 days.
Cost Breakdown
Kodachadri Trek package — Rs. 3850
Lunch in Kadur — Rs. 250
