THE KODACHADRI EXPEDITION
The BMS Bulls from MSK (MECHANICAL SOMARI KATTE) were on their way to an exotic trek called kodachadri. We were 10 of us. This was my first over-night trek.
Trek Team - Satya,Sujay,CM, Somesh, Sujit, Varadan, Manju, Vishwa, Vijaya and me. Just a bunch of fun-lovers.
Date - 19th May 2003
Kodachadri is a mountain peak (altitude - 1843 m above sea level) in the Western Ghats. The name is a corruption of the Sanskrit word "Kutakachalam." Kodachadri forms a picturesque background to the famous temple of Mookambika in Kollur. Situated in the middle of the Mookambika National Park, it is home to several endemic and endangered species of flora and fauna. The rain forests loom in a perpetual layer of mist around the peak. This peak it where 'Shankaracharya' did meditation. You will find a 'Sarvajna Peetha' of Sri Shankaracharya at the top. Adi-Mookambika temple at Kodachadri is believed to be the 'moola sthana' (the origin) of 'Sri Mookambika Devi'. It is also an excellent place for Trekkers and backpackers.
View of KODACHADRI
We left Bangalore for Shivamogga in a private bus. Reached there by 5 am. We boarded a bus to kolloru from Shimoga Old Bus station. The place we were going was a solid 40 kms from Shivamogga.Road that took us to Kodachadri passed through the Western ghats and fog. I was very cold.The road passed through dense forest called MOOKAMBIKA WILDLIFE SANTUARY.
We left Bangalore for Shivamogga in a private bus. Reached there by 5 am. We boarded a bus to kolloru from Shimoga Old Bus station. The place we were going was a solid 40 kms from Shivamogga.Road that took us to Kodachadri passed through the Western ghats and fog. I was very cold.The road passed through dense forest called MOOKAMBIKA WILDLIFE SANTUARY.
The route that we took to the top
We got down from the bus at a point where we had to start trekking. Suddenly we realised that --> a) We are hungry b) There are tons and millions of leaches all over. CM took out his master plan, SALT. We applied salt and started the trek after a short stomach pooja.
The base of the mountain of KODACHADRI is 7 kms from the main road.The route is bugged with a lot of leaches and thick jungle. We were able to spot peacocks. At the base of the mountain we found a small shop. It looked like a house to me initially. It was a typical MALLU CHAYAKKADA ( Malayalee Tea shop). We had our world famous combination TEA-BUN. There was an ayurvedic ashram close by. We took time-off but never realized that the actual trek has not started yet.
View of Mookambika Temple from the base of the Mountain (circled)
We started to climb the mountain. The trees along the path were filled up with leaches. Greenery, Greenery everywhere but not a place to sit. Still dint get it? well, we knew exactly what the leaches will do to us if we sit. lol!!!
Look what we found!! A King Cobra!!!
Well we reached half way. Our shoes were dirty and wet now. No one would know if the leaches had crept in our shoe. We took a time-off. By now the nuisance called leach had reduced as we were moving up the altitude. We had a sound snack. It was 2 pm now. Time to move. We started walking along the thick jungle. We heard some strange sound. But no one was sure about that. Guess it was some Wild Boar. (Fingers crossed!!!)
Dense Jungle
We reached a point where the jungle had turned into grasslands. Vow!! This was more of a trekking. We were amongst the tall tress and suddenly we find ourselves in the middle of tall grasses. The color of this grass was spicy green with due drops. The Nuisance of leach had almost ended by now. We passed through the tall grassland for some time. The view from there was exotic.
Grasslands on top
Soon we reached the MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE. This is not the top of the mountain. But surely the only place you can find humans. We were happy to see the some humans apart from us (Vardhan wont agree to this!!).
The veiw from this place was simply bombastic!!!!We could see dense forest, SHARAVATHI RIVER and ARABIAN SEA.
View from top of the mountain
The top of the mountain was just half hour walk from here. It was 5.30 pm and was getting dark. Suddenly i realized that there was a leach i my right leg shoe. i removed the leach from my leg with bare hands. It was bleeding profusely. But i was happy that it was not paining.
We had the Darshan of Goddess Mookambika after a small wash in a waterfalls closeby. Well you may find a lot of small waterfalls especially during this rainy season.We were spell bound to watch the sunset. The sun went under the ARABIAN SEA.
One of the waterfalls
The priest of the temple was very humble. He accepted our request to stay in his house for the night. His house is small. He gave us a room to stay. Quite small for 10 of us though. There was no power too. Hey we are not supposed to complain ,as this is a 5 star hotel hospitality considering the place we are camping now. But look at the brighter side we don’t have problem finding water. The priest had a private big waterfalls in this backyard.
The priest of the temple was very humble. He accepted our request to stay in his house for the night. His house is small. He gave us a room to stay. Quite small for 10 of us though. There was no power too. Hey we are not supposed to complain ,as this is a 5 star hotel hospitality considering the place we are camping now. But look at the brighter side we don’t have problem finding water. The priest had a private big waterfalls in this backyard.
Date2: 20th May 2003
We were all excited to get out of the room in the morning to go for a walk. Guess what it had started DRIZZLING now. We left for the top of the mountain. The top of the mountain had a SHANKARACHARYA PEETA. This is the place were the great ADI SHANKARACHARYA performed penance. We found the clouds below from where we stood. The cliff is gotto be heaven on earth!!!
We then went to a waterfall where we had our bath and returned back to the temple priest's house.It had started raining now. The priest advised us to leave early as this drizzle might get heavy. Cant predict the MONSOONS.
We backed our bags by 11 am, thanked the priest for his hospitality and started our downhill trek. As usual, the trek downhill was not tiring but was slippery. We took a lot of breaks as we dint want to leave this place this fast. But the rain was getting heavier now.We reached the base of the hill. Had a coffee at the malayalee's tea shop and waited for the others to catch-up. We were playing brizzbe until then.
After a long break we started our journey to the main route. This time not that conscious of the leaches and the wild animals. We were playing antakshari all the way for 7 kms until we reached the main road. Now the rain had reduced now. It was now 5pm.
We finally got a bus to Shimoga after an hour's wait. As you know this area is a wild life
sanctuary called MOOKAMBIKA WILDLIFE RESERVE. We had our own moments of nervousness.
Reached Shimoga by 8pm. Left for Bangalore by 10pm in a train. Must say an enchanting mystical experience but dead tired.