Narsimha Parvatha
Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.― Ed Viesturs
I was wondering, someday what these mountains do all day, standing tall, do they talk to each other. Even if they do, what will be they talking about, Probably De-forestation, Garbage or Indian Politics. I don’t know. I guess with such thoughts were going inside my head. I saw an invitation for Hiking at Narasimha Parvat, Situated in Agumbe forest near Sringeri. No wonder I had to go, I felt mountains were calling me.
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| Narsimha Parvat |
The Journey started on 5th Feb evening from Shantala Silk centre, all 12 participants and all male. Lohith organised the trek.At around 11:00 PM we started our journey. With usual introduction session, we talked about general things, most of us slept. I guess everyone had a hectic week. We had 350 km to cover and a lovely Morning waiting for us. The Journey began.
The Malgudi Morning
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| The Malgudi House |
During the introduction session, Lohith had mentioned about doing breakfast in a very special place. It was the place where the Malgudi days shooting had happened. We reached early morning around 5-6 AM. When we got down, and I saw the place, I was in awe. It felt like reliving those childhood moments. The Malgudi day’s music was playing inside my head. That House was kept as it is what it looked like in the show; the owner had preserved it well, all the wooden works, chairs, and everything surrounding it. It simply felt soothing. My mind was playing a rewinding tape of all the episodes I had seen. I was trying to remember the best episodes. It is hard you know; it was such long time back. I was thinking non-stop about it, rest all other friends of mine were busy in getting freshened up. Then I remembered I had to get ready. The house owner had given probably one of the best Breakfast I had, Masala Rice and Dry Masala Poha. Food should always go down my memory lane with the Malgudi house. They also served us something different type of tea, made in Jaggery. It was simply delicious.
The Real Malgudi Encounter
As we all got ready to go, everyone was clicking the photos of the house. We asked can we explore the house; the owner was okay with it. As a child, I was down looking at such an awesome place. Just while I was Mani and me getting out, candid pics clicked I came across a wonderful old lady. She had such warm smile, probably she was staying there and was just checking what we were doing. We went towards her said Hi, since I don’t know the local language I was sure I should not speak. I asked Mani to tell her such a wonderful house it is; she asked Mani and me from which place you are. Mani told his and told mine I was from Mumbai. And to my surprise she turned and talked in Marathi, which is my mother tongue, I was like so awestruck. She spoke such a wonderful Marathi, asked me about my details, my work. I was simply so happy to talk to her. Even though we were the little bit of late, I just felt like talking to such a wonderful person. She was telling us about her stay in Maharashtra and other languages she knows. It was just an awesome morning. I didn’t even ask her name, we said bye and told her we will leave now while going she just said go safely and come safely. It felt like a blessing. With such a wonderful experience I was forced to move on with next part of our journey. I packed my bags headed out of the house taking one last look at such holy place.
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| A place to be |
Let's go trekking
Narasimha Parvatha is a place where getting permission from forest officers for hiking is difficult you know, but our awesome leader Lohith had got it already. But to our surprise, we came to know that already two more groups would join us. Suddenly from 12 people going it was now 36 people to go on the same route now. Our TT took us to far place, near a farm. It was a place hardly with 4-5 houses. All the 36 people were there. One of the house would be our place of stay during the night. As all of us were guys all the time everyone was talking in a double meaning way, lots of x rated jokes. Each reference made had another meaning to it. It was simply awesome time going along. After all 36 of us got ready (12 of us were already ready and rest were late). We started Journey. This time, around I had planned to capture the whole trek through my mobile cam and selfie stick.
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| First Water Source |
The weather was hot and humid, ranging about 28-32 degrees, we had information that there won't be much of water sources during the path possibly only one. So we had to use the water carefully.
The Early walk.
The first 1 to 2 hours of walking was through dry lands. It was part of gumbo forest only but I felt little weird, I expected the forest to be very dense. We had two guides with us. One of them said this is a short route to enter the forest. The walk was flat at first.
First one or two hours went fine, now and then I was busy in capturing the video of the journey. The highlight of the walk was an encounter with the partially decomposed dead leopard. I saw the first time a wild animal, that too dead. People took pics, Guide mentioned not to say anything about it, and we moved on. The trail comprised not much of inclination; most of the 2-3 km walk were on the flat surface, and we would now enter dense forest now. The guide warned us not to make any sudden noise.
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| The Hikers |
Green Cover
As we moved deep into the forest, the trail was the mix of climb ups and climb down. Just life our life with usual ups n downs. For much of the moments we 12 people were dispersed and Lohith the trek leader also was not seen anywhere. We all took a halt. The conversation was going on about which next treks people were planning to go. Some were discussing the Himalayans one. I was discussing just reaching the top. The landscape was lush green even in such a harsh and humid weather. Summer was about to start, but this trail was still lush green. I wondered how it would be during monsoons. The guide said the whole trail is not walkable during monsoon season.And I realised it was true. It was the mighty Agumbe forest with the highest rainfall all around the year. This trail was more on the inclined side. Gradual incline and in the cover of trees. Nobody was sweating much. In an hour, we had covered like 4-5 km. The Top was 9 km one way. We still had not reached the mid-way and water stream.
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| The First Pit Stop and Lunch Time |
The Side view
As we continued hiking for almost 2 hours now, especially the terrain now was continuously hull, there were many fallen big trees in the way, and we had to stretch a lot in such time. All 12 of us were together, Pradip and I was singing aloud. It was a fun walk, we were continuously walking for 2-3 hours now, and few breaks are scheduled.Lunch time was upon us now. We all were hungry. Someone asked to guide about the water source; he said it was just around the corner. Follow the sound of water he said. We just did. And like in another 5-10 minutes there it was, awesome water stream, it was directly going down the-the cliff and forming a waterfall. I really cannot describe how this stream was. A small narrow stream, the large tree had fallen making it as a bridge. It felt just like a movie scenario. Instead of sitting down we all explored the cliff. There were warning while taking pics. But the view was breath-taking, and it was simply awesome. The best part the way leading to the cliff. You had to walk on a large log to go to the cliff and below that log, there was water, probably 5-10 feet deep. It was risky, but it was awesome. We all sat down for some time, had our Rice, which we had packed for lunch from the Malgudi day house. The rice was especially awesome. Probably one of the memorable lunch breaks I ever had was there. I will always cherish it. Look at some pics.
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| Way towards the Cliff |
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| Crossing Over |
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| The Bridge |
The Real Hike.
After the usual Pet Pooja, we continued our journey towards the south with a heavy stomach. The walk after lunch is always difficult you know. We had almost a 50-60 degree incline to climb now. The peak of the hill cannot be seen from that point as it was still further three km to hike. The last walk in the jungle was tiresome. It was more of a confusing trail, we never saw the peak initially, and we didn’t know where to go also. Though the guide was there, it was like the path was unclear. We climbed almost for 40-45 mins, and out of the sudden we are out of the jungle, and we were on top of a hill. Guide told us just to go ahead along the pathway and wait. We had to climb a small hill. It took quite a lot of sweat from us. We took another ten mins break, ate candies and started again.
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| Walk into the forest Again |
Now the trail was fairly steep now. We were just walking, someone said we still had three more km to go and I was like OMG. It was almost 2:00 pm now and heat was also there. But somehow, I found the courage to move on, with short breaks now and then we kept marching like soldiers on the mission.
After a brief break we resumed the hike, we had entered the forest again now, the little bit of shade was a nice blessing. But again we walked out of the shadows, and what we saw is was the top of the mountain. We confirmed with Guide again, he was like this is the top of Narasimha Parvati, I didn’t believe him for a moment. Peak was not a peak, it was more of a hill, we could see other tops from the edges, but it was felt small. But there was no point arguing or wondering, all 12 of us decided it was time to go to a good place, take an awesome selfie some clicks, rest and then have food.
The Rest and Oasis
As we reached the peak, as all 12 of us felt like heroes, everyone was trying to find a spot where they can stand and pose and click their pictures. Eventually, we found one. Like a queue in the supermarket, we were standing to click our pics on that point by group’s official photographer, Modi and Subbu. After a brief photography session, we were trying to find a spot to rest down. For us the return way was straightforward and downhill and the trail was visible, the guide told us you guys can take rest somewhere, we will eat.
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| On the Top |
So on the top of the hill in the middle of nowhere, we were trying to find a place to rest and source of water. I guess most had utilised their water.After asking guides, we went in search for a water source, we did found one, but water didn’t look hygienic, but was thirsty. So after taking water and filtering it out, at least, three times, we got water, found a place to rest. I, Ahmed, and Pradip just sat near a small tree in the shed. A lovely stray dog had accompanied us now. We gave him food. Sitting under a tree in the middle of the afternoon, we had snacks, I just took rest, leaning on my bag, reflecting on the day spent. Trying to think how our life is. The journey was not tiresome, but it had its challenges through the sun and a shed. Road is leading to nowhere sometimes, sometimes leading up to a hill with a view. Sometimes to a river. And when you reach the top, you are left wondering what to do now.But after some time again you think. Now, what next. Probably all I needed at that point was sleep. I had just closed my eyes for few mins, took a power nap. After a timeout organiser, Lohith came up and said it's time to move now, other 24 people from had already started their return journey.
The Return Journey
Our Return Journey was little exciting, it was simply dry trail not much of a cover, and we were simply marching. We were doing one complete circle, and we had to arrive at the point where we started but from a different route. Anyway, what all of us were thinking was, what we will have for dinner. As per Lohith, we had to cook our food. Since I lack in that knowledge in that department, I didn’t have what we would do. But eventually, I said everything will be fine. The walk not tiresome, Decline all around, not lush green cover also, we could see homes also far down. As we walked down and reached, we entered a village. All of them had those big supari trees. As we reached a point where there was an ancient temple. Most of us visited, went inside. I offered my thanks for a safe journey. It was time to go back to base camp now; TT was there we hopped on it and were back at Homestay from where we started.
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| One ove the Views |
The Master Chef Competition
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| The Master Chefs |
I didn’t believe trek was over, I mean it felt little short, but we were back at a lovely homestay. Other people had also joined us. But they had their food with them, we had to cook our food now. We got freshened up, and it was time to cook now. I had to prepare tea, though a little watery in consistency, it was good. It was then time for the main course now. In the meantime, we were setting up the Tents to sleep during the night time. Ashish, Mani and Chandru were given chopping vegetables. The stay home guy would give us rice; we had to cook dal/sambar now. Now and then someone was coming and putting his point of view on how to make it. But guys performed well. We took 3 hours to get the dinner ready, but it was fun. I mean I will again cherish this memory. I still remember testing that Daal. We were supposed to put Potato in it, but we put it on fire so we will put it in later once they get cooked, but we forgot to take it out while cooking, when we tried finding it, we really couldn’t. For tasting the daal, Rice and Daal was one of the best combination I had. As Customary, we finished the dinner and played cards, an awesome game of bluff, this time, the biggest loser was Chandru. But we had nice fun, we talk about general things, all 12 of us behaved like a team, we were making quite a lot of Noise as compared to another group who were also there. As the clock was almost about to touch 12 in the night, I retired for the day, I didn’t know what to expect tomorrow, the plan was not clear, but still with uncertainty I went ahead for a peaceful Sleep, reflecting on an awesome day spent.
Fast Forward Day 2
The Tourist Day
We didn’t Plan any hike for the day; we went to early morning walk to some falls, which was like three km, clicked a lot of pictures, and took a bath in that water. Then went into the city for awesome breakfast. Next destination was Famous falls called Kudle falls, govt there were charging 50 bucks to see the waterfall, we travelled till there, on the way we had decided that we will go to dip and Malpe beach. The second day had simply turned into a tourist day; I was so happy about it. On the way we ate pineapple at ghat road, our beloved Ahmed got bitten by monkey there trying to shoo him away We visited Kudle falls, spent time in the waterfall, clicked n number of selfies and swam in the water, Most of us were just standing down the waterfall, and it was an awesome waterfall, one of the best I would have seen.
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| Tha Falls |
The Next Stop
Malpe Beach, We spent time on the beach, but visit St.Mary Island was closed, it was little disappointing, but we had awesome fish at the stalls, then again went to the beach, some of us including me got into the warm sea water, had fun, Played kabaddi on the beach. It was fun filled the evening.
The Holy time
As we took the bath in the small beach, afterwards we went to Sri Krishna Math in Udupi, Chad had done part of his schooling there, so he knew the whole place, he was our guide there, we had food in temple served to us by temple priests. It was an amazing fun filled the day for us. It felt like we should now go to next destination now, but I guess time was over now, we had to travel back to Bangalore now, Monday was looming on us. As we walked back, Lohit had a feedback session with all 12 of us, and we started our return journey. Throughout the journey, I was reflecting on awesome two days spent. It felt serene, I was now ready to face my Monday with a brave heart, and I had a fantastic weekend. I was sure now I will feel no Monday blues. But actually for the whole week I spent next these memories kept on appearing in my head.
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| Sri Krishnna Math |
PS. Thanks all the participants, Especially Modi, Ahmed for fantastic pics and Mani, Chandru and other for awesome food, Also last but not least to Lohith for awesome arrangements.
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