Kudremuk Trek : Gangadikal and Kurinjal peak

Date: 1^st and 2^nd October 2008

Places : Kudremuk- Trek to Gangadikal and Kurinjal. Visited Hanumangundi water falls and Lakya dam

Participants: Harish M,Jatin,Rohit,Vivek, Ravi,Mamatha,Soumya,Rashmi,Praveen,Sameer,Venkat,Vinay,Nagesh,Harish G,Gururaj

Mode of Transport: Tempo Traveller (Driver :Kantaraj)

Route: Bangalore->Kunigal->Hassan->Belur->Mudigere->Kottigehaara->Kalasa->Kudremuk – Distance approximately 350 kms

Accomodation : Bhagavathi Nature camp

Book Bhagavathi Nature camp in advance by calling:

RFO Kudremuk, Phone: 08263-255998

OR

DCF Karkala Phone : 08258-231183

Permission to Trek : RFO Kudremuk, Phone: 08263-255998

Trek and Accomodation charges:

Entry Fee : Rs 40 per head

Trek Fee per day : Rs75 per day

Guide Fee : Rs 150 per day

Dormitary Fee at Bhagavathi : Rs 75 per day / per person

SunRise on way to Kudremuk


Trekking routes at Kudremuk

Background of Trek:

Rohit, Vivek and Co had planned for this trek cum trip almost 3 weeks in advance. I had opted out as I was busy with some arrangements for my Elder brothers marriage. Their plan was trek for 2 days and trip for next 2 days. I was OK with 2 day plan, so I had opted out. Suddenly on Saturday (27 th Sep),Jatin called me asking me whether I can book a TT for them, as they could not get Bus tickets and he also informed that I can join them for first 2 days, as only 9 of them are going and 3 more were supposed to join them on 2^nd day. So I was OK with the plan. I went ahead and booked the TT from Naveen (our usual TT owner Mob : 9740866433) and requested him to send Kantraj as driver. TT was in good condition having Pushback seats and Video coach.

As per the plan we picked up all and left Bangalore around 11:30 PM on Oct 1^st. Stopped in between in Cafeday, had some coffee, snacks and reached Kudremuk by 7 AM.

Details of Places:

About Bhagavathi Nature Camp:

It is located at a distance of 9 Kms from Kudremuk towards Karkala side. It is located in centre of Forest surrounded by lush greenery and mountains. Even a stream flows behind the Dormitary. You can even opt for Tents, which will cost you Rs 100 per head. Book bhagavathi Nature camp in advance by Calling the above mentioned numbers.

Reg Food : There is cook at Bhagavathi, who will take care of your food. It is recommended that you carry all necessary food materials required to prepare food. You need not carry utensils, plates, firewood , gas etc. Smoking, Alcohol, Firecamp are prohibited in Bhagavathi. Bhagavathi is located in centre location by which you can easily access bhagavathi temple – 1 km, Hanumangundi water falls - 8 kms, Gangamoola 6.0 kms, Kurinjal trek 0 kms, Gangidal trek , Lakya dam 4.5 kms and Kudremuk town -10 kms.

Bhagavathi Nature camp entrance

Group photo @ Entrance of Bhagavathi Nature Camp

Bhagavathi Nature Camp

Tents @ Bhagavathi Nature Camp


Roads leading to Dormitary inside Nature camp


Dormitary


Enjoying morning walk @ Bhagavathi nature camp

About Gangadikal Trek : The Trek route starts approximately 4-5 kms from Bhagavathi nature camp . It is recommended that you have your own mode of transport to easily access all these places. The trek is 4km a side and is fully through grassland and finally you scale the Gangadikal peak. Atop the peak you get beautiful view of Kurdemuk range of peaks and in between you can spot the backwaters of Lakya dam, an mind blowing screenery. Even we were able to spot a group of bisons and a snake. The Trek route is a proper trekking route. Trek can be easily completed in 3-4 hours. We covered it on oct 1^st by 3 PM.


Starting point of Gangadikal peak


Trek route to Gangadikal peak


Trek Route to Gangadikal peak


View from top of Gangadikal peak


View from top of Gangadikal peak


On Top of Gangadikal peak

Hanumangundi Falls: After finishing Gangadikal trek, we visited Hanumangundi falls. This is a beautiful falls which is well maintained. You need to scale down 150-200 steps to reach the base of falls. Entry fee is Rs 20 per person and entry is allowed till 4:30 pm. The water falls from a descent height of approximately 50 feet and is a real beauty to watch. You can swim at the base of falls and even take bath. Myself , Vivek and Vinay got into the water and took a refresing bath and did some swimming. Others just watched the beauty of the falls and were fully involved in Photography sessions

Hanumangundi water falls

Lakya Dam : After visiting Hanuman gundi falls,we visited Lakya Dam. Entry is Free of cost, but Photography is strictly prohibited. This is damn constructed by KIOCL (Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited) to fill it with the tailing left behind after recovery of the iron ore. There is no water here that can be used.You can see a layer of fine sand layer across the entire dam surrounded by lush green mountain ranges. We took icecream and walked across the dam enjoying the beauty of the surroundings.

Lakya Dam view (Snap copied from Net)

Halt At Bhagavathi : After visiting Lakya dam, we went to Kudremuk town to buy food material required to prepare for our dinner and next morning breakfast. As 4 of us were returning back on 2’nd night, we even booked our return tickets at Kudremuk. We got 4 Sleeper coach tickets for suguma tourist bus costing Rs 350 per head.Most of us called up our homes here, as all our cells were out of coverage. Only BSNL coverage is there in Kudremuk.We reached Bhagavathi nature camp, had our dinner (Rice / Sambar) and went to sleep by 1 pm, as few of us were very much involved in playing Poker.

Next day morning, I went to Kudremuk town in TT in order to pickup Nagesh, Gururaj and Harish G who were supposed to land from Bangalore . After picking up them and getting permission for them also to trek, we returned to Bhagavathi, had our breakfast ( Lemon rice, Maggi) and Tea. We were also accompanied by a new person, named Mallikarjun , who was waiting in Kudremuk RFO eager to join for trek with some group.

Kurinjal Trek : Our initial plan was to trek to Kudremuk peak. But as 3 of them were joining us only by 7 am or late and 4 of us were supposed to leave the same night by 8 pm back to Bangalore, we opted for Kurinjal trek. Kudremuk trek is a lengthy trek , almost 18 km per side, out of which 6 kms can be covered by jeep. Kurinjal trek starts from Bhagavathi nature camp. We crossed 2 small streams and came across a tunnel which was constructed for carrying out mining activities. Now the tunnel is closed. After that we contined our trek which is entirely through jeep track , which was quite boring. We were welcomed by many leeches and uprotten trees on the way. The trek route is through the forests for 50 % and grassland for next 25 %. The entire trek route is however covered by beautiful peaks all around you. You find a haunted house few meters below the peak. We had our lunch (MTR , snacks etc) here. From here only 7 of us went to peak which is through huge grassland and rocks. Others went back from this place. Scenic view from the peak is really mind blowing. You can see the entire peak ranges on all 4 sides from the peak. After scaling the peak we returned back, spending some time in the stream.

Crossing stream on way to Kurinjal Trek


Tunnel on way to Kurinjal peak

Uprooten trees enroute Kurinjal trek

Scaling Kurinjal peak


Relaxing @ Stream while returning from Kurinjal peak


On way to Kurinjal peak


On Way to Kurinal peak


On Top of Kurinjal peak

End of trek : After finishing Kurinjal trek, we gathered at Bhagavathi. Myself, Vinay, Praveen and Venkat said bye to others and went to Kudremuk town to catch our bus back to Bangalore. Others continued their journey in TT to halt at Karkala and then visit Udupi temple, St mary’s Island and Kapu beach on 3^rd Oct and Koodlu teeretha falls, Agumbe sunset and Sringeri temple on 4^th October. I will be missing Koodlu teertha falls, as it is a beautiful falls and I have not visited it till now. Other places I had already visited, so wont miss them much.

Plan will be to either trek Kudremuk peak or Narasimha parvatha or Sita Bhumi or Valikunja peak and Visit Koodlu teertha in December 2008 .Hope that it works out.

Points to Note:

1. You can call up Kudremuk RFO and check in advance wheter trekking is allowed or not. Usual in rainy season and during heavy rains, trekking is prohibited
2. You can call up Karkala DCF or Kudremuk RFO and book you accommodation in Bhagvathi Nature camp. It is a beautiful place to stay and has easy access to all places. Even the Guide will be available from the Nature camp.
3. Carry material required to prepare food from Kudremuk town, as Bhagvathi is located 10 kms from Kudremuk town and usually the cook will not have much material to prepare food.
4. Recommended to have your own modes of transport, as frequency of buses to Bhagvathi and other places is very less from Kudremuk
5. You need not worry about researching Trek routes, as guide will be sent from RFO office. You can choose any trek.
6. Carry umbrella, extra cloting, snuff / dettol etc for leeches
7. If you want to reach Kudremuk using public transport, there is only 1 direct KSRTC Sarige bus from Bangalore to Kudremuk. There are plenty of KSRTC bus / tourist buses which go to Kalasa. You can get down at Kalasa and from Kalasa , Kudremuk is 20 kms. There are plenty of private buses which ply from Kalasa to Kudremuk. From Kudremuk, if you want to return to Bangalore, you can book Sugama travels, who take care of your journey till Kalasa through local private bus and from Kalasa, Sugama tourist buses are available