Tiny Unknown Fort – Rayakottai
Rayakottai Fort an one day trek on 12.01.13 was my 3rd event with Bangalore Ascenders. This is a very special for me than the previous treks. Firstly my daughter [SINDHU] accompanied with me; secondly the event was organized by Mudassar, BASC founder member.
Registered for Tadiyandamol/4
event whereas my luck did not knock and I was in waiting list. When my cousin (Chandrakanth) called me and
informed about one day event organized by Mudassar to Rayakottai registration
is opened, did not delay and registered immediately along with my daughter
participation. I am happy that my
daughter is more interested in the treks and earlier she did few small treks
with me decided to accompany her for this event. Always she was reading blogs of BASC and I use
to share the experiences of BASC brave trekkers, naturally she was motivated to
be part of this event. Every day she was
keep on asking about the short list ‘Appa namma hesaru shortlist ayta?’. Finally mine and daughter name found in the
shortlisted participants on 11 January 2013.
Mean time daughter called me and more curious to know about her name in
list, when I informed about her she was so happy. At last she was engaged in preparation and
given a big list to buy it while coming back from office.
12.01.2013
When opened the eyes, the time
was 5.50 am, alarm did not ring at 5am.
I was more worried about reaching the Baiyyappanahalli railway station
at 7.40 am and moreover I need to start from Kolar (around 70 km away from
Bangalore). I am a daily traveler from
Kolar to Bangalore. Both got ready
within 20 minutes and rushed to bus stop.
Luckily we got bus immediately and reached Baiyyappanahalli
in-time. On the way my daughter keeps on
asking so many queries about BASC. She
was more worried about missing the train and getting name in Do Not Consider
list.
We required to board 56514
Bangalore-Nagore Passenger train which leave Bangalore City Railway Station at
7.15am and reach at Baiyyappanahalli around 7.40am. Well in advance informed Mudassar about the
boarding point in the mail and understood few more friends joining us at the
same station. The Railway station
welcomed with huge crowd!!!!!!!!!!! Due
to Pongal season and Saturday, the station was fully crowded and expected the
journey will not be so smooth. On
Platform-2 we met Patrick, Santosh, Ambika & Raveendhrian We had brief
introduction and later joined Chandrakanth & his wife (My cousin).
We all boarded train and warm welcomed by
Mudassar. As expected the train was very
crowded and luckily we could able to make seat to my daughter and cousin (Triveni
G), thank you friends. After few more stops rest of the event friends joined
us. The team size is become 22 including
very young trekker just 3 years old cute Nisha.
Journey was pathetic due to fully loaded bogies. People were going native to celebrate the
Pongal. We had good and tough time in
the journey. All were waiting to get
down as early possible. At last we
reached the Rayakottai station around 10 am, the train was delayed by almost
one hour as per schedule.
The Rayakottai fort is visible from
the railway station and it’s very close to town. Everyone was very hungry and decided have
breakfast and get packed lunch. The team
divided into two groups, few had parotha and others Dosa. Got little delayed getting packed lunch, by
the time we asked to move the base point.
Understood from Suresh that, in Tamil Nadu, small towns have specific
timings of Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
We were in odd time for ordering the lunch, so need to wait.
The ascending of the fort started
around 11 am with great enthusiasm.
Rayakottai is a small town with beautiful view from the top. On the way we had multiple photography
session. Surprised to see many more
camera and DSLRs. The passionate about
the photography is really crazy. They
all aligned us in different pose and took many group photographs. We can find a temple on half of the way to peak. Relaxed some time and moved further.
Reached the top by 12.30
Noon. Now the entire Rayakottai is
visible 360 degree. The panorama of the
valley is really beautiful. We can see
the snake curve railway track which one of the attraction from the top. Now the time for lunch, we all had yummy food
and shared among all of us.
The friends split in multiple
groups and engaged in photography. The
cool breeze gave relaxation to mind and body.
My daughter was more interactive with other trekkers and trying to get
more tricks about the trek.
Now we started to turn back to
Bengaluru. The descending part took
hardly half an hour. On the way we had
tender coconut. Reached the railway
station well in advance to avoid any mischief.
Mudassar briefed about the BASC plans and how it grown up.
Train was in time and we all
boarded comfortably. We are enough lucky
to get seats and the journey was pleasant.
Tiny Unknown Fort – Rayakottai
Reviewed by Vidya S
on
January 12, 2013
Rating:
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