GREEN ROUTE TREK {DONIGAL-EDAKUMARI-SHIRIBAGILU-ANILA}

The Name itself tells everything. Only Greenery. If you want to enjoy the greenery in Western Ghats then there is no place other than Green Route.  If you can’t trek, still there is a chance to enjoy this serene beauty by taking a trip to Mangalore thru Train.

MISSION:

Our plan was to start trek from Donigal; Halt at Edakumari and conclude trek at Subramanya Road Railway station.

But our plan got changed as the distance to cover was more. So we halted below a railway bridge after Arebetta tunnel no. 22, took diversion from Shiribagilu station and concluded trek at Anila bus stand which is on the way to Subramanya because of Cramps & severe leg pain.

ATTRACTIONS IN VICINITY:

Greenery; Breath taking views; Abandoned railway stations; Huge tunnels up to 1/2kms length which are pitch black inside; Frightening 1/2kms lengthy 150 feet deep railway bridges & Plenty of natural streams to enjoy.

TREK DATE:

This was our Christmas bonanza. Trek was planned on 25th and 26th of December 2009.

TREK LENGTH:

Manjarabad fort tea stalls to Donigal – 6kms

Donigal to Edakumari – 23km (KM49-KM72)

Edakumari to Shiribagilu – 13km (KM72-KM85)

Shirabagilu to Anila bus stand – 6km

ROUTE:

Bangalore>>>Hassan>>>Sakleshpura>>>Donigal>>>Kadagaravalli>>>Edakumari>>>Arebetta>>>Shirabagilu>>>Anila Bus Stand>>>Kukke Subramanya>>>Bangalore

THE TEAM:

Our teams of 5 members involved in this trek are:

Naveen, Vishwa, Shiva, Mayur and Sandeep (me).

PREPARATION:

Tent for 5 members got arranged. It was a typical military tent which I took from Shivajinagar Military shop. Onward journey tickets were booked in a private transport as we did not have reservation in KSRTC. Return journey tickets were booked from Subramanya in KSRTC. Shiva arranged Breakfast & Lunch for the first day (Nice Chapatti’s with Pulioghare gojju, Pickle’s & Chatni pudi which was prepared by his mother). Cooking items & utensils, First aid kit, crackers, Machete, chocolates & biscuit’s, fruits got purchased. We took copies of some blogs for reference.

JOURNEY:

As it was a Christmas holiday. The traffic becomes night mare for us. It took almost 3 hours just to get out of Bangalore. After that the journey was smooth. We got down near Manjarabad fort tea stalls around 5.00am which is 5kms after Sakleshpur. We had Tea & from here started our trek. We started heading towards Donigal.

At Donigal there was another group of trekkers. In that group some of them were friends of Vishwa. We did some chat with them & started towards our next destination Edakumari. We were so excited that we were enjoying each moment of the trek. Shiva & Vishwa were singing throughout the trek, I & Mayur were clicking the snaps & Naveen was trying his skills on his handy cam. We knew there are tunnels & bridges throughout the trek but were eager to see one. After travelling some distance we came across the first bridge. It was curious & scary moments for us as there were only iron plates of 2 feet width fully rusted, placed in center of the track & no support on either side. In 2 places there were 2 safety stand points. 

We discussed that once we start on the bridge we need to move quickly till the safety stand point & from there to next stand point. The iron plates were shaking and making noise. Everyone will get fear while crossing the bridge as one can see 150 to 200 feet deep valley below. Later on this became routine for us as we crossed more than 100 bridges.  We further walked 2 kms & we found a small stream. Here we got freshened up & had our breakfast.

After having breakfast we proceeded the trek. We crossed 2 more bridges & came across the 1^st tunnel. The tunnel was shorter as one could see a small exit at the end of the tunnel. Here on wards the torch came into active as inside the tunnels was dark. 

After covering some distance we came across a bridge. Below the bridge we saw & heard the roaring of a stream. We headed further by crossing tunnels & bridges on the way & were in Kadagaravalli. We took rest here and started at 12 noon. We headed further & reached near tunnel 7. We heard sound of an engine. We waited for few minutes & we saw 2 engines emerging out of the tunnel. It took more than 10min. for the train to emerge out fully. It was a goods carrying train & had more than 80 bogies and 4 engines, 2 in front & 2 in rear.

We continued the trek & around 1.00pm we were near Kempuhole River Bridge. Here some trekkers were playing in water & some were taking snaps. We took some rest here & proceeded further.

This is where we encountered with train inside the tunnel. Immediately after the bridge, tunnel 11 which is around 572m starts. The tunnel was pitch black & curvy. When we were around center of the tunnel we heard sound of the engine and later the light of the train. Immediately everyone ran into the drenches of rain water at the sides of the tunnel as we did not had time to proceed till stand point. The train passed next to us, we could feel the extensive heat of the engine & lights passing inside the train as it was a passenger vehicle. The whole tunnel was covered with smoke. When we came out of the tunnel our body got turned out into black. 

Around 3.00pm we were in Edakumari. At the same time train from Yeshwanthpur to Mangalore has also arrived. People in the train were waving at us. We had our lunch here and took rest for an hour. Earlier we planned to halt here. But we decided to hike further so that it will ease our next day’s journey. So we started again quickly towards next destination Arebetta which was an abandoned station and at a distance of 9km from Edakumari.  But the sun was going down fastly and darkness was rising.  So we were movingly pretty fastly. After crossing tunnel 22, there was a bridge and below the bridge a small stream was running, and safe place to pitch the tent. I & Mayur wanted to proceed till Arebetta as it was much safer. But later on we agreed to stay below the bridge as it was getting dark and it was pretty safe as it was 70-80 feet below & three sides we had covering. We got down pitched the tent, collected fire wood & started fire. It was my time to cook food. I cooked Popcorn with tomato soup as starters and Avalakki chitranna as main dish. Everyone supported me in cooking. We had dinner & we put one more fire behind the tent to ward off any animals which may come near tent and went for sleep as everyone has heavy legs. 

Next morning I was the last one to wake up. We finished our morning activities, took bath in the stream & had Avalakki chitranna & started the trek.  When we reached Arebetta, the station was looking like booth bungalow without any facilities. But there was awesome scenic beauty behind the station.

We took rest & again proceeded towards Shirabagilu. We passed many more tunnels & bridges on the route. We took almost an hour rest near a bridge as legs were paining severely. We finally reached Shirabagilu. We came to know that a goods train gonna come. I & Shiva went to station master to ask whether we can take that train till Subramanya, but he disagreed. So we discussed to trek till Subramanya. But Vishwa & Mayur had severed cramps in legs and already gave-up. The workmen working on railway track were also heading towards Subramanya. So we took their help & followed them. 

On the way we saw an engine fallen in the valley below the bridge long back. From here we took a deviation towards right & entered into a forest. There was a small path. We followed the same path behind the workmen.

We reached the road. We thanked the workmen & headed to the bus stand named Anila. We had tender coconut water, snacks, Coffee/tea in a stall near the bus stand. 

We took bus from there to Subramanya, got down near river Kumaradhaara, did swimming practice, visited the temple & spent night there. 

Next day we had breakfast & took bus back to Bangalore, concluding the trek successfully.

TIPS FOR TREKKERS:

Carry powerful torches to make the way, as inside the tunnel will be pitch black.

Always walk in center of the track in tunnels as there are venomous snakes & scorpions in water drenches.

People with Height phobia should not trek here as the valleys below the bridges are too deep & make them nervous.

Take extra precaution while crossing the Bridges & tunnels, if trains seen don’t get panic. Walk to the nearest Stand points.

Carry Tobacco/Salt/Dettol as there are Leeches entire the route.

    

PERMISSIONS:

Trekking on this track is no longer allowed as movement of goods & passenger trains were increased. However, People still continue to do trek on this route. Seek permission before trek else take care not to get caught by a Track Supervisor /Station Master/ PWD Engineer. 

Catch you soon with my next blog.

………………………………Bye.

TREK TO MAKALIDURGA

This trek was planned by our company colleagues. Our team wanted to go for an outing & spend time. We wanted a place which should be nearer to Bangalore. Then this outing was planned.

ATTRACTIONS IN VICINITY:

There are remains of fort on top of Granite hillock. There is a Shiva temple on top of the hill & a huge lake at one side of the foot hill.

TREK DATE:

This was executed on 5^th of September, 2009.

Total trek length was around 6kms.

ROUTE:

 Yelahanka New Town ~ Doddaballapura ~ Gauribidanur Road ~ Makalidurga ~ Doddaballapura ~ Yelahanka New Town.

THE TEAM:

Our teams of 23 members were involved in this outing.

This outing was planned by one of my colleague in Kennametal called Naveen.

Only 12 of us only did hiking & rest of them spent time by playing & cooking near Lake.

JOURNEY:

The Journey started @8.00am in 3 cars & I have been picked up at Puttenahalli near Yelahanka around 8.30am. We got down near the hill around 9.30am. Crossed the railway track & parked the vehicles in an open space. Here only we had breakfast which we brought. We headed towards lake along with utensils, water bottle & fire wood. Here we arranged everything for cooking & at 10.30am 12 of us started to trek towards the hill top.

As we started trek from lake side, there was no defined path & the taller grass had grown all over. Initially we ventured thru a little dense area of small trees & later on the trees given up with tall grass & boulders. While hiking thru these boulders we saw 2 rabbits jumping & running away from us. In some places the ascent was almost vertical to 90 degrees.

Further we trekked & saw the ruins of the fort. From here the view was beautiful as one could see huge lake below in one side & railway track towards the other. We further climbed & saw the ruins of fort & when started discussing we came to know that this was constructed by Vijayanagar emperors for army exercise and later on ruled by Magadi Kempegowda. It took almost 1.5hrs to reach the hill top. On top of the hill there is a Shiva temple. Also we saw ruins of Shivalinga, Basavanna & Garudagamba. We felt sorrow after seeing damages done to our historical sculptures. In some areas near the temple, was dug up by some greedy people in search of treasure. We felt pathetic by seeing the litter all over the hill top. I request all my fellow trekkers not to litter the place.

From top of the hill one can see the railway station, trains plying, curvy road & vehicle travelling on the road in miniature size, lakes on the other side & agricultural land. We spent an hour at top & got down in the regular trek path. It was around 2.30pm when we reached bottom of the hill.  By the time we reached near the lake my fellow colleagues had cooked lunch for us. The Vangibath, Rice & rasam, Halva & curd rice everything tasted mouthwatering. We did batting very nicely. 

Later on we played cricket & some fun games. Later on we had Tea in the evening, packed all items & started back towards the home. Finally I got down near NES-Yelahanka at around 6.00pm.  

    

TIPS FOR TREKKERS:

Carry water & food as it is not available.

Please do not litter the place.

PERMISSIONS:

Permission is not required. But do carry Local guy’s contact no. in case of emergency.

Plenty of trains & buses ply in this route. So there is no necessity to take own vehicle.

I will catch you soon with my next blog.

Till then…………………………Bye.