Saturday 7 November 2015

Ahaaaa Kudremukha !!

                                                                                                                                        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.!!



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