Trek to Bandaje Arbi

I was travelling in the office cab on December third week with Anantha Shayana. He gave me the information that trek is arranged to Bandaje from office trek team. He also asked if I would be interested in going for trek along with them. Actually, I was craving for hardcore trek in western ghat for couple of years. I had been for small treks in past few years, but it was along with pleasure trips. Actually, my eyes lit up with the offer and immediately accepted the offer. Thanks to Anantha.

Friday December 23rd 2011, we all assembled at the ThomsonReuters Pinnacle office. The team left for the trek in Swaraz Majda around 11pm. We all introduced our self. After the introduction found that it was officially unofficial trip, because few of the members moved from ThomosonReuters world. There was a question raised, who will be the silent person in this trip. All pointed towards me without second thought. I know all my friends will strongly disagree with this. I am not silent but I do take sometime getting adjusted to the new team.

Alcohol can dissolve in water easily, but honey takes sometime to dissolve.

We reached Nethravathi River at Dharmastala on Saturday morning around 7am. We freshened up in the river, before heading to our destination. Nope, destination was not the peak, but Breakfast. All had nice breakfast at hotel GuruPrasad at Ujire. Anantha wanted extra energy, so with the courtesy of Vijay(without Mustache) had special energy drink – cocktail of Bournvita and Coffee. After 20 minutes journey, we reached Kadidudyavara village from where the trek begins. There is an estate house of Narayana Gowda, who helps trekkers.

Behind the estate there is a way, which leads to top of the hill. We all took photograph with sunscreen-protected faces with big smile. Vijay(with Mustache - Hebsur) gave the instruction to the team and briefed about trek. He also announced Mr. Krishna as trek lead and all should follow him. He will stay right at the back and team should always be between them. Team consisted of 4 female and 12 males. A 16-member squad on a Mission Bandaje, which is known to be one of the difficult treks in Western Ghat. Vijay Hebsur asked did we take all the essential material and Ramesh acknowledged with yes.

Around 11 am, team started the up hill trek with full of enthusiasm. The hill was very steep in nature. Every ten minutes of trek consumed lots of energy and need to stop for breath. The body got dehydrated and required water supply into it. We trekked for 90 minutes and found the water stream. As soon as we saw the stream, all thrown the baggage and rushed towards it. Every one splashed the water into face and filled the stomach with water. The water stream was very clear and soothing. This is a common feature of all the water resource in ‘Malenadu’. The team found fresh energy from this break and moved further.

But nature was very tough on us. It was becoming uphill task literally as you move further. Few of them were first time trekkers. The excitement has started giving way for tiredness and thought came for them why did I choose this. Let alone the first timers, even the experienced trekkers were feeling it hard. For a moment even that thought came to me. If I was at home at that time would be having nice lunch. It was almost 2 pm and time for lunch. But Vijay Hebsur asked the team to climb little bit further before lunch break. It would have been difficult to climb, if we had lunch at that point. We all moved and reached around 2/3rd of the hill. Now it was difficult to climb without food.

We stopped the trek and had lunch. We have taken Chapatti, Jam and Pickle from Bangalore for lunch. There is also mixture. Some made chapatti role using jam, pickle and mixture. Food was awesome. But water was at scarcity and we tried to consume less water. But all were tired and drank more water. Only few bottles left with water that too half. The next water point only is at the top of the hill i.e. Bandaje falls. Still, we need to climb 1/3rd of the hill. The steepness of the hill also kept increasing.

Trek Law - Steepness of the hill always indirectly proportional to water.

By the time we reached 7/8th of the hill, water level has gone down drastically. Only one or two liters were left. But at that point we were able to see the beauty of the nature. In between the trees and rock waterfall was teasing us. We got the courage to consume the reserve also. We also took photograph of the waterfalls from there. All were tired at that point of time and last stretch looked very far from the destination.

But finally with great difficulty we all reached Bandaje Waterfalls. The destination has been reached. There was a sense of achievement in everyone’s face. All removed the baggage and rushed towards water. Again, we repeated the same exercise, which we did during our first break. It was around 5:45pm and sun was saying goodbye to us. One group did set up the tents beside the waterfalls. Others started searching for the wood. Cooking team set up the fire and wanted to prepare tea. There was search for the milk. We have left the milk, lemon and curry leaves at the bus only. We all had nice black tea and it tasted too good. Milk is not the essential ingredient to have tea.

Tent is ready for the tight sleep. Time for the food preparation. We cooked rice and sambar with potato and onion. We have taken the packet oil to cook bajji’s. Hot onion bajji’s was prepared and served along with dinner. Dinner was out of this world. The tamarind has been put bit more, which made us to recover the body salt. We all ate nicely. Thanks to Krishnamurty, Mohan and Vijay Hebsur for this wonderful food. Also thanks to Kavitha who helped them. We also played ‘anthyakshari’. All old kannada songs came out.

I was lazing around on the rock and watching the sky. It reminded me a trivia in Kannada. “ammana seere madisokke aagolla, appana duddu yenisokke aagolla”. You cannot fold mom’s saree and cannot count dads money. The answer for this was sky and stars. The sky was filled with infinite stars. I was curious to count it, but was unsuccessful. Due to the trouble from the artificial light in cities, these stars hide in the sky. But here they were free birds and enjoying the night with moon. Probably, they all came to celebrate the Christmas Eve. This was the moment of trek for me as it was so peaceful and pleasant. Around 10pm, we all settled in tent and slept. There was light music of water stream. Felt as if Mother Nature singing song for her kids to sleep.

Malenadina bettada tutta tudiya mele jhariya ninadada naduve malagi nakshatra enisuvde ondu ananda. Anubhavisabhadu aste arthisuvudu bahala kasta.

Sunday morning, we woke up at around 7:30 am. Night was not that cold. It was below par of normal Christmas weather on the Western Ghats. Morning was even more pleasant. Finished daily morning nature call. Time for getting into waterfalls. Water was very cold and bit freezing. There is a area below the upper part of the falls where we can swim. I did take a dip along with Vijay Shivkumar. The dip did take away all the pain in the body due to trek. Very refreshing. Played for half an hour in the water came out. Got ready and ate breakfast. Then went to see the waterfalls from where it starts downward journey.

I was standing at edge of the Bandaje falls. It has a very nice view, and it is believed to be 700 Mtres above the sea level. It flows as a single stream, and falls from approximately 400+ metres in between the vallies of Western Ghat. This flows further and joins the river Netravathi as a tributary. Nature from that point was awesome. Some mountain looked like Shivalinga and some looked like Ganesh. There were various other structures formed by combination of mountain and trees, which is difficult to explain. It was also bit scary if looked below as we cannot see foot of the hill.

Prakruti Rudra Ramaneeya…!!!!

It was time to leave for down hill trek. We all removed the tents and packed luggage. I would have stayed one more day, but it was not possible. Vijaya Shivakumar turned into director and anchor mode along with cameraman Anantha to shoot the individual experience. Everyone was ecstatic. With heavy heart left said goodbye to Bandaje Falls.

Trek for getting down is also not an easy task. It creates pressure on knee and calves. It is more strenuous than the up hill trek. Also bit dangerous as you might slip. We climbed down with good pace. Reached the water stream and took break for almost an hour. We started moving again. Poornima told that we spent too much of time near water stream. But it’s worth every second as we do not go there very often. Being in nature is the best relaxing time. Ramesh, Poornima and myself did remember the works of Kuvempu and Shivaram Karanth. They have explained the Malenadu beautifully in their books.

By 4:30pm we have reached our bus. Again we took photo of individuals. The smiling face has been replaced with tiredness. But heart and head was smiling with satisfaction. Team reached the Netravati River hoping to meet Bandaje waterfalls. But we could not find it there. It was hiding inside Netravati River. The river is polluted by people. During trek, we did not leave any wastage. We did collect and thrown into dustbin in village. We did not even use the soap to take bath in waterfalls. We kept the nature clean.

Now team got freshened up in river and moved to Dharmastala temple. It is the place where most believed god of Kannadiga’s live. Lord Manjunathatha. It is also special place for Anantha as Lord Manjunatha blessed him with special sister Poornima. She has prayed for his Brother (annayya) that he will treat all females either as sister or mother. She told Anantha Annayya I have prayed for you. Anantha was spell bound by her wish and does not know how to react. Raghavendra consoled Anantha. Now boys got scared of Sister Poornima.

Monday morning we came back to Bangalore at 5:30am. During the trip we had loads of funny moments. It was a most memorable trek because of both toughness and fun. Once in a while we should go for trek. It is a great experience. Also Mother Nature teaches you lots of lessons and showers with abundance of love. No matter how you treat her, but she is always fair.

May Mother Nature bless you all….!!!!!