Trek to Brahmagiri – An Elephant Corridor
Brahmagiri always sounds for adventurous trekking place. It is quite difficult to get the permission in season due to more demand. The actual plan was to go in October month, however by great difficulty and continuous follow up, we got the permission on 12th December 2015. The kudos goes to my lovely friend Shanthi Prasad.
The team is set for 12 members
and booked a Tempo Traveler. We put the pickup points Majestic Shanthala Silk –
Kathriguppe – Raja Rajeshwari Nagar. The
TT came on time and left the Bengaluru around 10.30 pm. The journey was as usual joyful with lot of
fun.
12.12.2015
Reached early morning around
4 am to Srimangala. This the place, where
Forest Office is situated and we need to finish trekking official formalities. The weather was very cold
and it was misty. Most of the friends
settled in the TT to get a good sleep, few of us tried in the Bus stop. We could not able to get sleep, so thought to
explore around places. No specific
destination, pushed the time till 7 am.
We all got freshen up in the public toilet and set ready for breakfast.
Many of us brought the home made breakfast and lunch. We
all gathered in a plain ground near the Forest Office. Put our food in the mid
and all enjoyed the yummy homemade breakfast.
The forest officials reached around 8 am. Shanthi Prasad quickly finished the
formalities and we paid the trekking fees.
Now again we have to travel in the TT till the starting point of the
trek.
Irppu falls is the beginning
point of this trek. The distance is
approximately 8 – 10 KMs. We all boarded
the TT and continued the journey. The
guide was waiting for us at the Irppu Falls.
Everyone got ready to hike the Brahmagiri. We took the group photograph and headed
towards the trail.
Initial trail take you to Irrpu
falls, before 500 meters of the falls, took a deviation and entered the forest. It is thick forest with complete shade. Of course it is very tough during peak
monsoon with Leeches. Continued our
journey with guide. The trail was really
awesome in thick vegetation.
Taking a small breaks we entered
into the grassland. Now we can see the
360 degree view. All peaks are decorated
with green carpet. Spent good time for
photography and had lot of fun.
Soon we reached the Narimale Guest
House. This is the only place where we
can camp during the night. This range is
strictly prohibited to camp in the forest and also elephant attack is quite
common. Little part of the guest house is abounded, it is well maintained with
all kitchen vessels. The guest has double
bedroom with cot, a big Hall, Kitchen section, veranda, sit-out and back
yard. It is fully protected by
electrical fencing to prevent from the Elephant attack. This is very ideal place for camping in the
Brahmagiri.
Dropped our luggage and quickly
finished our lunch. Again it is sharing
homemade lunch, finished the lunch and ready to scale the Brahmagiri. We all got relief from our luggage, carried a
small backpack with snacks and water. Our
guide gave brief instruction about the trail and wild animal movement in this
area. Asked us to unite in the group and
not to go individual away from the group.
It is complete open grassland
with flat terrain. We can easily view
the entire valley. Crossing the small
stream continued our journey. You will
get an opportunity to put your foot one in Karnataka and another one is in
Kerala.
Clearly you can find out the state boundaries. Continued our journey enjoying the awesome nature and weather. Suddenly guide said “silent, look at the bunch of Elephant”. We spotted some 8 – 9 elephant group.
Clearly you can find out the state boundaries. Continued our journey enjoying the awesome nature and weather. Suddenly guide said “silent, look at the bunch of Elephant”. We spotted some 8 – 9 elephant group.
We all happy to spot the bunch of
Elephants. Enjoying the valley again we
come across Tusker. Guide little
deviated the trail and safely crossed the elephant area. We all continuously shouting to push it into
forest.
Now the real fun and challenging
part of the trek. The final stretch of the Brahmagiri is not so easy to
ascend. Guide was watching the tusker
not to rush towards us, so he asked us to ascend the final stretch.
It was really fun, we all literally crawling to reach the peak. The path was very slippery and there was nothing to hold the grip. By great difficulty we all reached the peak. The joy of reaching the peak was awesome, no words to explain the joy. Spent good time on the peak.
It was really fun, we all literally crawling to reach the peak. The path was very slippery and there was nothing to hold the grip. By great difficulty we all reached the peak. The joy of reaching the peak was awesome, no words to explain the joy. Spent good time on the peak.
The descending was more
challenging than the ascending. Again
taking more time we all came down to the base point. The guide was suggesting us to move fast
since it is getting dark. The tusker was
still at the same place.
We all moved so fast to reach the
Narimale guest house. Again we spotted a
bunch of elephants. Reached the camp site by 6 pm.
Dinner team was busy in preparation, few of us helped them in cutting the vegetables, bringing the water from stream. Hot Bisibelebath was ready, we all finished the yummy dinner. The time was to open our sleeping bags, by the time it was 10 pm.
Dinner team was busy in preparation, few of us helped them in cutting the vegetables, bringing the water from stream. Hot Bisibelebath was ready, we all finished the yummy dinner. The time was to open our sleeping bags, by the time it was 10 pm.
13.12.2015
Night we had a good sleep, when
opened the eyes the time was 5 am. Guide
was about take us a beautiful view point where we can witness the sunrise. It
was again a small hike, we witnessed beautiful sunrise.
Now the time to prepare
the breakfast. Quickly we all engaged preparation of breakfast. Many of us were busy in photography and
fun. Finished yummy breakfast and good
bye to Narimale guest house.
The trail was remain same, taking multiple breaks reached the basepoint Irrpu falls. The humidity was more and we all badly required to dip in water. Enjoyed in the stream and had good fun time.
Trek to Brahmagiri – An Elephant Corridor
Reviewed by Vidya S
on
December 12, 2015
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