17/10/2015
It all started around 9.30pm when I called one of my friends saying I had decided to join for the trip, whatever and whoever might be the
reason behind my decision.
It was at the eleventh hour when I started packing up. So I
could just pull out whatever I could see and get in my hands from my wardrobe
and wrap up and get set ready go….all the way to one of the trekking spots,
Kudremukha.
At 6.30 in the morning, when we stepped at the foot of
Kudremukha which is usually called as Tirumala
Guppe, not sure though, I did not have a pinch of idea how the forest was,
where and how we had to trek, where we were staying, where we were heading to. Blindly,
I had to shift to another jeep where we had to travel for another 10 km up the
hill to reach our exact destination.
Though the way was not severely curvy but it was pathetic
for the vehicles to travel. But the sight outside the window would give
pleasure to eyes. The drivers are very expert here. Tall trees, green paddy
fields, small streams and, here and there countable huts, and not to miss, huge
mountains which stood as walls at the boundaries. Finally after one hour of
this inevitable journey, we reached the cottage where we were supposed to stay
for almost next 24 hours with the least facilities amidst the giant mountains, completely isolated from
the hotchpotch of urban life. It was then I
remembered the liner, “Life begins when
we come out of our comfort zone”. Well said.
Filled stomach, headphones placed, music turned on, I was
all set for trekking with my buddies. It was after another 500 meters distance
from our stay where the procedures of trekking under forest department got
over. Once again we were excited at the sight of green mountains around us.
We had a guide and his 8 years old son to take us through the
way to reach the top of the mountain. The trek began around 10.30 am. It was so
exciting to be in between the tall grass and plants which had grown till my
shoulders, in between the bushes where the soil was hardly visible. We encountered almost around 10 – 15 streams where we took series of selfies, groupies, especially one of
my friends' selfies were countless with his new goggles and hairstyle(guess about whom I am talking of :p).
Fortunately, the population of leech was very low near water bodies.
The trek was more of like walking up and down the hill,
plain lands, rock climbing for certain distance, steep hill climbing for almost
1800-1900 meters. This was the adventurous journey for all of us. But once we
reached the below spot, it seemed priceless and wordless. The view was
mesmerizing.
I had to stop after walking for another 2 km as I was
completely exhausted and did not want to take a risk. To accompany me, I had
Mohan, Bilen and Suva Kalyan. Rest of my daring buddies went up the hill and
continued to reach the summit. Really appreciated their stamina.
It was always my dream that I had to be in a mountain or a
place where clouds could walk through me and I could feel them. This would come
true only if I would have continued my journey till the summit. But luckily,
while returning from where we had reached, the clouds started covering us, the sun started disappearing, the
cool breeze began to blow, giving a sense of satisfaction and joy. That moment
was Ahaaaa!!. We stood there for sometime to enjoy and feel the nature. It
seemed like I was walking in the garden of nature where no one to restrict, no
one to hold, free from all worries and constraints.
Bilen, you missed the “Bear” in the opposite mountain
though, but did not miss the "Giant Squirrel". The conversation from office to
friends to rose to hairstyle to provoking animals to silly things to my muscle
cramps to so on,… was cool buddy. Thanks for your help during my return journey at
times. Mohan, less talkative, come with your girl here :p(if you are married by
then). Finally reached the cottage at 6.30 pm.
Looking at the demography of that place, people hardly have
countable facilities, networks, power, roads. Hope our government provides
proper basic facilities to the people here in the future days.
Words are very less to express whatever I experienced. As
the saying goes, “Experiences can only be
experienced not expressed”. It was
indeed an adventurous day out in jungle and man vs wild feeling. Altogether it
was a breathtaking trekking.!!
