Memorable Trek to Kumara Parvatha by an Amateur!

After recovering from the pandemic hits, a trek to KP was planned and I knew it’s the time to broaden my limits for the thrill and not for the heck of it.

So, the tickets were booked. Trekking shoes and thermal foam were packed.

Away from the bustling city of Bangalore over the Dussehera weekend, the journey started with thirteen fellow trekkers. With ice breaker conversations to stories to scolding from uncles (of the noise :P), we snuggled into our berths.

We reached the Subramanya Station and freshened up and hauled our backpacks. After savouring idly-vada & buns, we grabbed the tents on the way. In about 1.5km from Kukke Subramanya Temple, we entered the forest trails. 

The course started through the thick forest where sunlight is trying tough to reach the ground.  Soon enough our pumped up energy and excitement was being tested with the steep steps and loose mud, gravel & boulders and occasional grasslands. 

The refreshing dip in the waterfall at Bheema Rock recharged us to continue to Bhattra Mane. Since our trip was post-monsoon, we were welcomed with streams and need not be worried about the humid dehydrating weather. We quenched our thirst with the streams flowing alongside. 

Before descending to Bhatta’s place, we soaked in lush green scenery from the viewpoint. In fact, I sensed the chirping of birds and gliding of breeze far better than the instrumental music. The scent of flora and fauna is invigorating and better than the all the fragrances we wear. It was 3pm and we made our halt. Washing plates under the stream, relishing the piping hot Rice & Sambhar with buttermilk at Bhatta Mane’s mud floor while it was bucketing down outside – come with their own set of enchantment. The entire experience underlined that it’s easy to be content with the simple pleasures of life.  

After informing our arrival to the forest office, we pitched in our tents. It was interesting to learn and play in the process. Unrolling thermal foam, some took a nap while some got hypnotized by the sunset. With a flashlight guiding the slithery muddy trails, we reached for the dinner at Bhattra mane. I was spellbound by the night sky constellations and touched the stillness of the cool breeze while meditating at the view point. (P.S. Be prepared to be greeted by leeches along the way.)

 

We got up before dawn, submitted our bags at the forest office, carried just the water bottles & snacks and slowly paced up. When the eyes met the mountain peak surrounded by the cloud cover filled me with ceaseless amazement at what Mother Nature might present. 

As we plodded through the steep steps, balancing with hands and trekking poles, we reached Kallu Mantapa. After a kitkat-selfie break, we resumed to tread up overlooking the floating clouds.

As the sun was shining bright but magnanimous view ahead fueled us through the most challenging terrains, we reached the Shesha peak. It was breathtaking view down from the edge of the cliff. From the summit, one can feast his/her eyes on the panoramic view of the Pushpagiri range of Western ghats. Mother Nature’s beauty is too deep to explore.While pictures clicked tried to get into its soul, I looked at it and captured the moment instead. 

While this could be satisfying but not for us. With curvy bends and steep slippery slopes through the thick forest with streams of water running on the sides, the sheer experience of it all made a wonderful sight as well as tested our patience. But the destination was close and our enthusiasm was high, so we didn’t let anything deter us on the last leg of the trip. 

And once we crossed this adventurous zone, we made it to the Pushpagiri/Kumara Parvatha peak at the height of 1712 m. Took a bow and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Shivalinga (a small temple made by assembling rocks). The peak forms a picture-perfect backdrop to the famous Subramanya temple amidst the mesmerizing dense evergreen forests of Coorg. 

After snacking, we started descending since it was 12 noon and now lies a long way to our cozy beds. Though descending should be effortless but not here since one has to be very careful of the loose mud & steep steps. It was late afternoon that we touched Bhattra mane and just like yesterday, we enjoyed our lunch alongside the downpour.

As the twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with stars, we got ready with the rain covers and torches and resumed trudging through the trail. Into the pitch dark forest, the spooky sounds of creatures and hoo calls of our troop kept us moving. The light drizzle added the spark to an already amazing trek through the ghats. We lodged ourselves near to the temple. I was amazed that one of the difficult treks of Karnataka is done & dusted by an amateur.

I woke up with a tea vendor call and got ready to visit Kukke Subramanya Temple. The savoury odour of dosa and poori-sabji made me hungry long before the tables were set. I bought an idol of Shesha Naag as a souvenir. 

 

 

Since it was already too late to catch the train, we could reach just in time as the driver put the pedal to the metal. While the train journey is incomplete without stories and chana jor garam, the charismatic views of Western Ghats and tunnels made the trip to a close back to the concrete city jungle where it had started. And I said good bye to the group after a lip-smacking dinner.

This trip helped me to push myself off the limits and gave me a lifetime experience to venture out to the unknown and to introspect. (P.S. I too learnt few Kannada words along with Nanna Trekking Gumpu 😊).