I was so excited when i signed up for Bandaje trek (First trek of my life), the most craziest thing which anybody would have done in their life. You may think, whats so crazy in signing up for a trek(Difficulty level 8 of 10). Its the time, i took for making my decision, no guesses please, It was just 5 minutes. and then Half an hour more, i was in an auto started off to majestic( yes, it was Friday evening around 6 30 pm, we got the info about the trek and Bus to Dharmastala was at 9 pm from Majestic). Including me , we were 14 people, who were going to be the players for next two days.
It was the devotional songs of Lord shiva in the bus which woke us up at 4 am the next day(Saturday), and yes it was from the Radio station of Dharmastala(Famous for Shri Manjunatha temple). Radio station at 4 am , making us think about the god so early in the morning, well, i was impressed(at least after my experience with some of the corporate temples(As i call them) in Bangalore which are open from 8 am to 10am, 6pm to 8pm on weekdays -Targeting software professionals). Anyway, A good start to the day, i thought. it was too early for many, though.
As soon as we got down at Ujjire ( 8km from dharmastala), we got in to a hotel to freshen up and then headed to a upidi tiffin center for a heavy breakfast. then we had to go to Forest department for an approval for the trek. There we are supposed to give an alternate number and address along with your name, which will be needed for them,if in case we are missing.
Day 1: The actual trek started , from a village in ujjire, with all my excitement intact, i started-off with a zeal. It was October (Rains and winter both), and was just a half an hour journey, and i had to meet the deadliest creatures on earth (For me)- The leeches. May be because of the Mist or the humidity in the forest, I donno, but the forest was full of Leeches, I had a weapon (Salt) with me against them anyway.
Probably because of the rain (the day before our trek) or Mist or the season, The track or the trial was not clear and in a matter of 1 hr, we lost the way. and then We found a villager "Surya" ( a kid of 10-15 yrs) to help us out. He showed us a way which took us to a stream and then, he asked us to cross the stream and move upwards along the stream, but he was not interested to cross the stream with us and so he left.
The most experienced trekkers(seniors i call them :D) of the team decided to look for a trial and asked us not to follow them till they think that we are in the right direction. so we decide to cross the stream and wait for their green flag.
And the seniors were right,we lost our way again. There was no trial along the stream and again we were stuck. It was 12 pm and we were no where in the actual plan. we decided to have our lunch and mean while some folks returned back to get some inputs on the trial. they figured out that we took a wrong way initially and headed to this stream, so we had to go back to almost the starting point and it was 2 pm already. Mean while, we saw two snakes(Breed: water snake) in the same water stream which we had to walk through to return. Welcome to the forest , i told my self after figuring it out as harmless.
We started the actual trek now, still keeping our spirits high to reach the falls before sun set. We had to trek in forest with our leaches for around 4 hrs (struggling to get ride of them, with salt, with water and tricks- tactics etc) but, they were unavoidable. Though we found two rattle snakes (Poisonous), leeches were the one worrying us more. Fortunately We reached the grasslands just before it totally became dark. Otherwise i can't even imagine my whole night in the forest with those deadly leeches. We made it finally was the other's thoughts, but for me, i was on top with happiness after getting out of the territory of leeches, though the trek was still on, we were already felt as Achievers.
Grass lands, better than the leeches world , but were hard to climb for me, may be because they were very steep, may be because we had to hold the grass and climb, because the glass was so rough to even touch, because the grass was full of mist and of course because it was already dark. With torches we managed to go to a place where there was less grass to put on our Tents.
The silence all over the place, the darkness next to me, not even Moon to see at, pleasant weather and the feel that there are only 14 people on earth. Yes it was life :-) (Atleast for a person who needed a break from the crowded bangalore). We had no water left out with us, so had to eat some oranges to keep off the thirsty and decided to sleep, praying for a quick night (because we sensed some Elephant dung while climbing up the hill). fortunately we din't get a chance to say hello to any elephants.
Day 2:
When i came out of the tent, I was almost on top of a hill and i can see only Hills with greenery (glass lands and some forest ) all around. It was a cloudy morning, Mist every where, Cool breeze making you more fresh .. yea I had a reason to celebrate after i get back.
It was one of my memorable mornings in my life. The weather lifted all our spirits again to have a kick start to second day.
Our First mission was to find water to drink, and then head towards the gigantic Bandaje falls. We reached the falls in Half an hour and started off with breakfast to celebrate the success of reaching the desired destination.
Now its time to find a Fort which will make our mission complete half way and then return back from the fort in another route to reach Horanadu before sun set. Fortunately we found a trail after some time and our rate of trekking increased exponentially. More than the trail, i was happy because of the absence of leeches.
We finally reached the fort without many twists and had our Lunch there. after a one and half day food constituting of bread , jam , bun etc , Eating an Methi ka parata with Mango pickle was heaven.
Then, we thought we were sure of the return trial when we started from fort and after a half an hour of journey, we figured out that we are in a wrong trail and we can't afford to return as it was already 3 30 pm.
Our Columbus( of the team) found a new trail but he was not sure if that will lead to the village down, which we could see from up the hill. Because i was happy that whole day because of not having much difficulties since morning, which din't last anymore, was hit with a big twist . The trial was very difficult because the train has a space for Only one person can walk at a time, towards my Left was a steep cliff and right was a deep valley, had to make use of rope at one point of time as the surface was slipping and if you slip, you will end up in that deep valley(if you are alive). To our shock (at least for me ), that trial led to a forest which was full of leeches .They were climbing up like hell, making our life more miserable and of course it was 4 30 pm and we still in forest searching for a proper trial which will lead us to a way which Forest department use for getting their Jeeps up.
We kept our hopes on and speed-ed up trekking in the direction of the village which we were able to see , and counting on the Altitude levels to check if we are really heading down the hill. finally found the Trail of Forest department and then we were sure that from there it was just 2 km to reach the village and everybody were really happy with a wow!! as soon as we made Found a village and some villagers. I was happy being Alive :-).
And with the help of the villagers we reached the place where we found a jeep which will take us to Horanadu (Our boarding point for return). Our bus was parked in front of the Famous Annapoorneshwari temple. So we got a chance to visit the temple and had our dinner in a small hotel near by before we got into the bus and got into deep sleep remembering the 2 day experience and realizing that "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience".
It was the devotional songs of Lord shiva in the bus which woke us up at 4 am the next day(Saturday), and yes it was from the Radio station of Dharmastala(Famous for Shri Manjunatha temple). Radio station at 4 am , making us think about the god so early in the morning, well, i was impressed(at least after my experience with some of the corporate temples(As i call them) in Bangalore which are open from 8 am to 10am, 6pm to 8pm on weekdays -Targeting software professionals). Anyway, A good start to the day, i thought. it was too early for many, though.
As soon as we got down at Ujjire ( 8km from dharmastala), we got in to a hotel to freshen up and then headed to a upidi tiffin center for a heavy breakfast. then we had to go to Forest department for an approval for the trek. There we are supposed to give an alternate number and address along with your name, which will be needed for them,if in case we are missing.
Day 1: The actual trek started , from a village in ujjire, with all my excitement intact, i started-off with a zeal. It was October (Rains and winter both), and was just a half an hour journey, and i had to meet the deadliest creatures on earth (For me)- The leeches. May be because of the Mist or the humidity in the forest, I donno, but the forest was full of Leeches, I had a weapon (Salt) with me against them anyway.
 |
| Introducing --- The Leech |
The most experienced trekkers(seniors i call them :D) of the team decided to look for a trial and asked us not to follow them till they think that we are in the right direction. so we decide to cross the stream and wait for their green flag.
And the seniors were right,we lost our way again. There was no trial along the stream and again we were stuck. It was 12 pm and we were no where in the actual plan. we decided to have our lunch and mean while some folks returned back to get some inputs on the trial. they figured out that we took a wrong way initially and headed to this stream, so we had to go back to almost the starting point and it was 2 pm already. Mean while, we saw two snakes(Breed: water snake) in the same water stream which we had to walk through to return. Welcome to the forest , i told my self after figuring it out as harmless.
We started the actual trek now, still keeping our spirits high to reach the falls before sun set. We had to trek in forest with our leaches for around 4 hrs (struggling to get ride of them, with salt, with water and tricks- tactics etc) but, they were unavoidable. Though we found two rattle snakes (Poisonous), leeches were the one worrying us more. Fortunately We reached the grasslands just before it totally became dark. Otherwise i can't even imagine my whole night in the forest with those deadly leeches. We made it finally was the other's thoughts, but for me, i was on top with happiness after getting out of the territory of leeches, though the trek was still on, we were already felt as Achievers.
Grass lands, better than the leeches world , but were hard to climb for me, may be because they were very steep, may be because we had to hold the grass and climb, because the glass was so rough to even touch, because the grass was full of mist and of course because it was already dark. With torches we managed to go to a place where there was less grass to put on our Tents.
The silence all over the place, the darkness next to me, not even Moon to see at, pleasant weather and the feel that there are only 14 people on earth. Yes it was life :-) (Atleast for a person who needed a break from the crowded bangalore). We had no water left out with us, so had to eat some oranges to keep off the thirsty and decided to sleep, praying for a quick night (because we sensed some Elephant dung while climbing up the hill). fortunately we din't get a chance to say hello to any elephants.
 |
| My tent |
Day 2:
When i came out of the tent, I was almost on top of a hill and i can see only Hills with greenery (glass lands and some forest ) all around. It was a cloudy morning, Mist every where, Cool breeze making you more fresh .. yea I had a reason to celebrate after i get back.
It was one of my memorable mornings in my life. The weather lifted all our spirits again to have a kick start to second day.
 |
| Our Team |
Now its time to find a Fort which will make our mission complete half way and then return back from the fort in another route to reach Horanadu before sun set. Fortunately we found a trail after some time and our rate of trekking increased exponentially. More than the trail, i was happy because of the absence of leeches.
 |
| The Wonderland |
We finally reached the fort without many twists and had our Lunch there. after a one and half day food constituting of bread , jam , bun etc , Eating an Methi ka parata with Mango pickle was heaven.
Then, we thought we were sure of the return trial when we started from fort and after a half an hour of journey, we figured out that we are in a wrong trail and we can't afford to return as it was already 3 30 pm.
Our Columbus( of the team) found a new trail but he was not sure if that will lead to the village down, which we could see from up the hill. Because i was happy that whole day because of not having much difficulties since morning, which din't last anymore, was hit with a big twist . The trial was very difficult because the train has a space for Only one person can walk at a time, towards my Left was a steep cliff and right was a deep valley, had to make use of rope at one point of time as the surface was slipping and if you slip, you will end up in that deep valley(if you are alive). To our shock (at least for me ), that trial led to a forest which was full of leeches .They were climbing up like hell, making our life more miserable and of course it was 4 30 pm and we still in forest searching for a proper trial which will lead us to a way which Forest department use for getting their Jeeps up.
We kept our hopes on and speed-ed up trekking in the direction of the village which we were able to see , and counting on the Altitude levels to check if we are really heading down the hill. finally found the Trail of Forest department and then we were sure that from there it was just 2 km to reach the village and everybody were really happy with a wow!! as soon as we made Found a village and some villagers. I was happy being Alive :-).
And with the help of the villagers we reached the place where we found a jeep which will take us to Horanadu (Our boarding point for return). Our bus was parked in front of the Famous Annapoorneshwari temple. So we got a chance to visit the temple and had our dinner in a small hotel near by before we got into the bus and got into deep sleep remembering the 2 day experience and realizing that "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience".
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