Trek to Narasimha Parvata

It’s been quite a long time since last trek, I haven't gone out into natures nest. This time decided to go for Ettina bhuja, which was on the list from long time. But Sandeep  suggested Narasimha Parvata.  To our surprise got exciting inputs from Santhosh, who had been to Narsimaha parvata recently. We (Naveen, Sandeep and I) finalized on Narasimha parvata.  Naveen took care of trekking arrangements like guide, permissions etc. Sandeep collected more inputs and contacts from his friend (Pradeep who had been to Narsimha parvata previously).

The Plan

Though the plan was finalized we need people. Thanks to Sandeep and Naveen!! For gathering good number of like minded people (Even though I tried to reach out to folks most of them either turned down the plan or didn’t pick up my call). So the initial list stud up to 15 member team, but later the count went up to 18. We ended up cancelling KSRTC tickets and arranged own vehicle for the trip. The plan was

1.       To start from Bangalore on 28 Feb 2014 to Agumbe by 10pm
2.       Reach Agumbe on 1 Mar 2014, 
• have breakfast
• get lunch packed and meet guide.
• Start trek to reach Narasimha parvata peak from Malandur
3.       2-Mar-2014 trek back to Kigga, where we have asked our vehicle to pick us up. 
• If time permits visit nearby falls
• Visit Sringeri temple 
• Start return journey to Bangalore by afternoon.

About Narasimha Parvata

Agumbe 

is a small village ~ 360 kms away from Bangalore, located in Shimoga district, Thirthahalli taluk in the Malnad region. It is 643m above sea level and is also called “The Chirapunji of the South”.

Narasimha Parvata 

also known as Agumbe peak located in Agumbe situated 826 m above sea level and is the tallest peak in Agumbe ghats. The journey to peak goes through thick rain forest to shola forest. 

Trekking paths:

There are two trekking paths to Narasimha Parvata

•  From Agumbe --> Malandur --> Narasimha parvata peak --> Kigga --> Sringeri
• From Sringeri --> Kigga --> Narasimha parvata peak --> Malandur --> Agumbe

How to reach Agumbe/Trekking Basecamp:

There is a KSRTC bus to Agumbe from Bangalore

Or

There are KSRTC buses to Shimoga/Sringeri from Bangalore

From Shimoga/Sringeri you can get private/ksrtc buses to Agumbe.

From Agumbe, Malandur(Base camp) is around 6 km;Auto-rickshaws are available from Agumbe to Malandur.  

Private vehicles and auto-rickshaws are available from Kigga to Sringeri.

Contact:

Venkatesh/Avin: 8277411618 and 9480329458

Thimmappa:      9483496142

The Trekking experience:

As per plan the journey started from Doddaballapur at around 7:45pm on 28 Feb 2014, I and Naveen boarded minibus at Doddaballapur. Plan was to pick up folks at Hebbal and Corporation circle, Bangalore. We reached Hebbal by 8:30 pm where Sandeep and gang boarded bus [I got loads of calls mean while from Sandeep and co, asking where are we right now?  How long it would to take reach Hebbal? etc..] Then we went to pick Vinod, Gaurav and Ravi from Corporation circle. At around 9:30 80% of the team was on board and journey started towards Agumbe by 10 pm. On the way we picked up Krishna, Praveen and Enoch in Yeshwanthpur and continued towards our destination.

Finally, it was fifteen members team:  Sandeep, Srikanth, Ram, Sashi, Gaurav, Ravi, Indresh, Vinodh, Manu (me), Naveen, Amar, Vishwa, Enoch, Praveen, and Krishna.

On the way to Agumbe we stopped at a dhaba near Nelamangala to have dinner (since many folks boarded bus with empty stomach). After having dinner the journey continued to Agumbe. The journey was joyful and few of us enjoyed the journey playing cards and rest sleeping!!!.  I was awake till 4am [to make sure Driver won’t fall asleep]. At 4 am Naveen woke up and accompanied me. After 4 am I don’t remember when and how I closed my eyes, when I opened my eyes we were in Agumbe in front of Doddamane, Agumbe.

130 yr old house Doddamane

 By the time we reached Doddamane our guide Venkatesh and Avin (Venkatesh’s son) were waiting for us. After freshen up, we had our typical Malnad style breakfast (Kadabu, chattni, homemade jam and kashaya[drink made from malts & milk]) at Doddamane.  After picking our packed lunch from local hotel (which Amar and Naveen had arranged) we started our journey by mini bus to reach base camp (Venkatesh’s house [ Malandur]). In 10 minutes we reached trek start point, where we paid entry fee and obtained permission to enter the forest. By 9 am we were all set and the trekking begun.

Just after entering dense forest

The initial path till Bharkana falls was inside dense rain forest with literally no trails but the difficulty was moderate. The path was ascending, descending knolls and walk through valley between knolls. At 11:30 am we reached Bharkana falls and breakout at the falls for a while.  The view from falls was eye refreshing and tantalizing.

The ramp walk to reach view point @ Bharkana falls

View of almost drained falls on opposite mountain from Bharkana falls

 After lunch and drinking energizing water in the falls, we filled our empty bottles and started the trek towards the peak.  The walk started again at ~1 pm. We realized that we had just covered 1/3^rd of the trekking path in around 3hrs and haven’t yet faced difficult trail of the trek. Trail between Bharkana falls and peak was the difficult part of the trek. We were supposed to cover remaining distance which has uphill knolls with 60⁰-65⁰ inclination to offer. After half the way from Bharkana falls we were out of rain forest and entered shola forest.  It was around 2 pm we were out in the bright hot sun and we were yet cover around 2 hrs of trail. By the time I reached this point, I could sense lot of changes in my body. And by the time we reached open area, I was totally exhausted (possible cause – dehydration and lack of physical fitness). I was totally dehydrated and got muscle catch in both legs (both calf and thy muscles started to pain like hell). To my bad luck my water bottle was empty and I had to catch up the group ahead of me. I shouted and stopped the group ahead of me and with lot of struggle reached them (after 20mins to cover < 100 mts) got some water and did first aid [wanted to drink salt water but ended up drinking electrolyte water]. Thanks to Krishna, Enoch, Amar and Naveen for waiting; Vinodh and Ravi for giving water.

Tired Krishna resting [and waiting for me to climb up]

Last part of our trail - peak is just behind this mountain

 By the time I reached the group, my guide Avin came back in search of us and informed that we have crossed all the terrains and left with one last peak. After ascending for a while I sensed the difficulty [I could see the steep peak behind two or three peaks!!!]. We crossed two peaks with ease and reached final peak which looked very difficult because of its inclination (was around 65⁰ angle). Somehow we (specifically me) managed to climb the peak and in another 30 minutes we conquered the mountain. It was around 3:45 or 4pm when we reached the camping site.

Team resting after reaching the peak

Camp site

 After few minutes of rest and sending off guide and other team, we put on tents and collected good amount of wood which was required for bonfire and cooking. By 6pm we had tea and sat down for sunset. The view in and around was mesmerizing and refreshing

The curtain raiser -- just before sunset

Most of the kids art start with sun rise/set between mountain surrounding clouds [that is imagination], its reality now [totally nostalgic isn’t it???]

 After sunset we prepared our dinner, puliogare and boiled eggs, we put on the bon-fire around 7pm and chit chatted till 9 pm. By 9 pm had dinner and chit chat went around all the current/past/future affairs. At 10 pm I started pushing people into tents since we had to start early morning. And by 10:30pm everyone were inside tent, sleeping (I could hear snore form all directions/tents!!!)

I couldn’t sleep easily that night [usual won’t get sleep in unknown places]; I was lying down forcing myself to give rest to my body. By 4:30am I just couldn’t continue trying to sleep; I woke up and sat down waiting for sunshine. By 6am got out of the tent and folks joined in a while. It was clear and nice morning everyone was eagerly waiting for the colorful sunrise. Few of the folks were more excited (since it was first trek for them) by 6:35 am almost everyone was up and waiting for the show (sunrise). It was again nostalgic sunrise the typical sunrise painting one might have done as a kid(sun rising in between valley of two hills).

Early morning folks waiting for sunrise

There it comes

The diamond ring

After the wonderful sunrise, we packed our tents, luggage and collected all the waste (plastic waste). We managed to have light breakfast with bread, jam, biscuits and apples. By 8 am we were ready to climb down.  We had last sip of fresh water from the pond on the peak, filled empty bottles and started descending toward Kigga. By 10- 10:30am we reached Kigga.  Trail from Narasimha parvata peak to Kigga path was moderate; Except for the initial descent, rest was not difficult. At Kigga we had tender coconut and snacks. 

The team without Amar

Team without - Me !!!

Kiggeshwara temple entrance

 After reaching Kigga, we called up our bus driver to pick us up from Kigga and sat down near Kigga temple waiting for bus. In around 20-30 minutes our bus arrived at Kigga and by 12 pm we were on our way to Sringeri. By 12:30 we reached Sringeri, had bath in Tunga river and went to Sharada temple. The plan to visit nearby falls (magebailu and sirimane falls) was dropped on demand, since few of the folks wanted to reach Bangalore as early as possible. So after having lunch at Sringeri(temple),  we started our journey back to Bangalore at around 2:30 pm and reached Bangalore around 11 pm.

Beautiful Sringeri temple [Built on Hoysala /Vijayanagar style architecture].

Fishes in the tunga river (near temple shore)