Kudremukh( the horse face)

Eleven of likeminded people set out for yet another rendezvous with the flora and fauna of the countryside. This time it was Kudremukh.We all boarded a bus bound to Dharmastala and bid adieu to Bangalore at 11:45pm. We reached Dharmastala at 5:30 am and from there we took a bus to Belthangady and from there we took a bus to reach our starting point called ‘Navoor’. We took the permission ticket from the forest department there and without much ado started our trek at around 8:30am.Many were first timers and the zeal and zest to trek was also fresh. 

We all started walking at a brisk pace until we found a river flowing nearby. All of us ran heading into the water, took bath there and had our breakfast too.  It was here that we met with the scourge of nature i.e.. The LEECHES. All of us had a fair experience of what leeches look like and some were lucky enough to experience its smooch as well. They made their presence felt so prominently that we  had to leave the place in a jiffy. After some plain land walking we had to ascend a mountain. 

From here began the arduous journey, climbing was never easy with the leeches not allowing to take rest even for a minute.But it is worth climbing, the greenery, the landscapes are simply fantabulous.They made their presence felt so prominently that we had to leave the place in a jiffy. After some plain land walking we had to ascend a mountain.

But it is worth climbing, the greenery, the landscapes are simply fantabulous.We kept on walking maintaining the continuum of trek and the leeches kept on crawling to the new found hosts. It was a daunting task to deny the parasites of their food. Leeches annoyed one of us so much so that he started to have a tirade against them. 

After some time we reached a plain surface on a hill top. This very location was so good, that it sent us into a pleasant trance within matter of seconds. We took rest here for some time and then again continued our journey. Even after walking for a long time there was no sign of the Lobo’s house. This was the place we were supposed to put up that night. It was getting dark and the wonderful nature was getting ready  to show the other side of its face ‘the fear inducing face’.

Finally at around 6:00 pm to the much relief of us all, we found the Lobos house.After settling down at Lobos house we all began to boast of the leech bite counts. One guy took pride in claiming some 80 bites at least and mind you this is no joke. It was like a fact married to fiction. The leeches really had celebrated a festival out of us. We started to cook the dinner. Some of them took turns in fetching the water from the river nearby and some were

ready to show off their culinary expertise. And finally the Lemon Rice was prepared and we all had the dinner. Some of us took the different types of painkillers and went to bed.

Next day morning everyone got up with newfound puissance (and with a few cramps of course). We had our breakfast and packed our lunch. Unfazed by the leech menace we all set out to scale the peak. The peak we were about to climb was very steep.

Slowly but surely we began climbing it. After climbing for a while, from there we could see the beautiful jungle clad hills bedecked with wild flowers. We continued our paramour journey and finally at around 1:00  we reached the peak.

We had our lunch and before we could enjoy the heavenly beauty of nature we had a warning thunder from the overcast clouds.

And within a matter of seconds the incessant rain showered us for 30 minutes. Even though the rain drenched us completely but never were our spirits dampened. The rain forced us to retreat much earlier than planned. 

On our way back we visited the ruins of a Church built over there.I began wondering why the places of worship are being built at such an altitude (maybe because its nearer to heaven from here).

The descent form the peak was bit difficult because of the dampness caused by the rain. We all carefully descended down by 6:00 pm to the Lobo’s house. We had a good dinner that night and went to sleep. Next day we woke up and prepared to leave. Such was the calm that it refused to let go of us. But still we had to come back carrying the pleasant memories with us.

By evening we reached Horanadu and from there came back to Bangalore.

The wolf gang that had a day out with the wild was:

CREATED BY: DHANANJAYA NB [email protected]