Trek on 22/23rd Janurary 2011

Hi All

This weekend ie., on 22/23rd Jan 2011, we have organised a open group trek to the fallowing route. Those who have not done this route can join us. If joining us, please send me scaned copy of some ID proof like DL, PAN card etc ASAP.

Sampath

Welcome to Sharavathi Nature Trails.....

Who we are?:- The sharavathi Nature Trails. is a non-profit Registered organization working on nature conservation and to generate rural employment. We conduct island camping, kayaking, canoeing in Sharavathi backwater and Trekking to very serene tarils in sharavathi valley where u will be exploring lots of hidden water falls.

The Sharavathi Valley:- The Sharavathi river valley nestled in the central Western Ghats, Shimoga district has been an ecological paradise. The Sharavathi River, rising at Ambuthirtha in Thirthahalli taluk flows north-west and drops down in the Ghats at the world famous Jog falls. The sharavathi Valley is home for many water falls and to some of the beautiful streams. The valley is evergreen to semi-evergreen forest along with moist deciduous type of forests dominate the entire basin along with scrub savannah, grasslands, marshy areas and plantation of acacia, cash crops like areca and rubber providing diverse niches for a variety of taxa. Rare evergreen species such as Dipterocarpus, Syzygium, Cinnamon, Diospyros, Aglaia, endemic Palms along with the globally endangered Myrist-icasps makes this an ecologically sensitive region to be conserved and not marketed.

Accomdation:- Stay in tribals house.
Food:- Food is going to be Simple Vegetarian food and it will be freshly cooked food at the camp site.


Route:- Veegi falls ---> Melnur --> Kanoor Fort ---> Hebbayana keri --> kanoor..

Itinerary:-

* Deaprture from Bangalore by around 10:00 PM.

Day1:-
* Reach Sagar by 6:00 AM in the morning.
* Catch a jeep or van to reach trek starting point and freshen up on the way in a stream.
* Reach Trek starting point and have Breakfast.
* Start the trek towards first veegi falls. Spend some time in falls
* Trek to second veegi falls. Play in the falls if interested.
* Have lunch and trek towards melnur tribals house..
* Reach Melnur and Camp in tribal's house.
* Have fun time around camp fire.
* Have dinner and retire for the day.

Day2:-
* Wake up by 5:00 AM and get freshen up quickly.
* Have Tea and start the trek towards Kanoor fort.
* Reach kanoor fort lake and have breakfast
* Trek inside and ruined fort and then trek towards Hebbayyana keri
* Have lunch and play in the river and trek to kanoor
* Start the journey back to Bangalore

For part of trek blog and photos, check the fallowing link
http://sharavathi.blogspot.com/2008/11/1-2nd-nov-2008-trek-report.html

Nature Etiquette (Every campers must fallow):-

• Our programs are basic and minimalist; do not expect city-like comfort, adjust with what ever is being provided. Any additional requests need to be made prior to the start of the program
• We strictly do not allow smoking, drinking (alcohol) and consumption of non-veg on our programs. (If anyone voilates these rules, we will stop the activities right at that point)
  
• We follow the 'leave no trace' & 'zero impact camping' practice; do not litter on the trail, please carry back all the material garbage you generate on the program
• The forests have their own orchestra of sounds; use of Walkman's & music systems is strictly prohibited; we would like you listen to birds, animals, leaves and the wind
• The locals, animals, birds have the right of 'way' and 'say' in our programs. We wish to respect their dignity to the fullest extent possible.

Things to bring for the camping:-

• A proper BackPack. (A bag which can be put on our back and other kinds of bags wont do).

A plate with a spoon for eating food. (Must) (please dont bring disposable like paper plate etc))

One cup for drinking water, tea etc. (Must) (please dont bring disposable like paper plate etc))
• Please bring One lite bed sheet. Foam sleeping Mat will be arranged by us.
A small hand torche. (Must)

A 1 ltr. water bottle.
• Please wear sandals, wearing shoe may be a problem as u have to removing when u r getting in to Boat.
  
Toilet kit (brush, toothpaste, comb

Sun cap and Sun lotion.

Please carry only items which we have mentioned. Please dont carry anything extra, if ur bag weighs heavy it will be discomfort to u.

Please feel free Mail to prapancha@gmail.com or call me on my mobile if you need any more information

A Very Happy and Green New Year

My Dear fellow Trekkers,

We have come to end of another year. The year 2010 was so good and buzzing with activities. Only regret is we did not have chance to announce many treks as we were full almost all the weekends with our standard camp activities. The year 2010 monsoon treks were amazing as usual. We explored 3 more new water falls in the season. We had a clean up session along with students of 'Madras Christian college' in the valley. We cleaned up a common tourist point in the valley. It was another memorable moments with you all for the activities in the valley. Thank you all for making such a wonderful year of activities.

Moving forward,

We, the staff of "The Sharavathi Nature Trails.." Wish You Very Happy and Green New Year" in advance. We look forward to have you back in the valley.

With Best Wishes and Regards,

Staff of "The Sharavathi Nature Trails..."

Unforgetable Trek-trip

Many of my trekkers after exploring Sharavathi valley trek routes, used to ask me if i have trek/camps and other programs in other parts of western ghats. As it used to be busy weekends in our camp, i had not thought of anything for a while. But i had some free weekends in august as there was less water sports activity.
We planned to explore some new routes and we planned to combine various activity to make it more diverse activity program. Accordingly, we explored a 1 day trek route near sakaleshpur and combined it with wild life safari in Nagarhole sanctuary, rappelling and playing in a lake with life jacket.
We announced this activity in the group for the weekend of 21/22nd of august. Though the initial response was less we could get about about 10 trekkers for the program finally. We hired a Tempo traveller. We planned to leave on Saturday early morning. As planned we started off at 4 am in the morning. But by the time we pickup everyone and leave Bangalore it was 6:45am. I was thinking it will b too late, but cab driver was just excellent and we were in channarayapattana by 9 am. We had quick breakfast and started off journey. We reached trek starting point by 11am and started off the trek.
It was pleasant weather with now and then drizzling and mostly cloudy. Initially it was all over lush green coffee plantation. Then it was great evergreen forest cover. We were engaged in lot of talks while trekking and suddenly our fellow trekker kinjal pointed to a lake which was hiding under the thick forest cover. It was just an amazing view from the top. Though it was small the vegetation cover around the lake had given so much beauty to the lake. Trekkers took some nice shots of the place and moved on. After this point the talks got less and everyone was enjoying the natures wonderful creation. Few had gone ahead and had stopped on a small rock formation. This rock formation has been destroyed for granite quarrying. In the same place we had held a massive protest rally against this in the year 2006. Luckily it is now stopped though the damage is visible. It was a breath taking view from this point. There were small grass patches (locally called ByaNa) which were so green with budding grass. It was a treat for eyes.
After a small stop over we moved further. We came across a small stream where we tanked up some mineral water. After some trek we came to a junction where we had to deviate to the peak where caves are there. But our lunch was getting ready down near another lake. We had to decide which is first. According to majority we decided to have lunch and moved towards lake, where our chief cook Dharmanna was preparing delicious lunch. Some got down to see a small water fall near the lake , others rested on the lake bed. It was an amazing place to be. The lake bed was looking like natural gulf course. Lunch was ready to b served. We just collected some plantain leaf to have the lunch which gave extra flavor to the delicious lunch. Dharmanna had prepared rice, eere kaayi sambaar, papad and pickle. It was just amazing to eat such a tasty food in such an amazing place.
After the lunch we wasted no time and trekked towards peak. It started raining heavily.This peak gets covered with fog in almost all seasons. Its an amazing peak with 360 degree view of the western ghat. In this peak there is a rock formation which is almost 500 mts in length and about 100 ft depth. And this rock formation looks like curved stones and it has flat surface which is idea for claiming and rappelling . In the same rock formation there is a cave. We got in to the cave. Getting in to the cave is difficult as it as very small entrance. so once is pot bellied then its truly difficult ;).
After the cave exploration we started going down the peak. It was raining heavily still. We reached the foothill of the peak , where our cab was waiting for us. It was truly awesome trek though it was short trek. We came across string of small lakes which are treat to nature lovers eyes. We got in to cab and drove towards Nagarahole. It was drizzling still. We drove through somvarpet , kushalnagar and hunsur. we reached camp leopard rock, where we supposed to stay by 10:30PM. Dinner was ready by then. As everyone were tired and sleepy just stuffed some food and slept off.
Sharp 5 AM, Our instructor woke us up and asked us to get ready quickly to go for wild life safari. We had tea and left for the nagarahole sanctuary. After entering the gate we were observing both sides keenly for any movement of animals. After some distance , we came across spotted deer, which are very common. Then we came across wild boar. We reached nagarhole sanctuary office, where we opted to go on safari in to the sanctuary by department bus. We could not any special animals, we came across only deers and langur. All of us were really hungry , so planned move out of the sanctuary and reached the rappelling spot near the camp. By then our cook dharmanna had prepared nice "malnad akki rotti" and avalakki. we wasted no time filled up our stomach. It was nice breakfast.
Our instructor Ram was readying the rappelling kit and by then we rested for a while. First Ram gave us demo and then asked all of us to go to the top of the rock one by one. First it was santhosh. He was daring, we were amazed to see his enthu. then all of us had a great experience.
After the rappelling event, we traveled back to camp and rested for a while. Then we went to near by lake with life jacket and swam for a while. Then came a raft. we had bit of still water rafting. Came back to the camp and dressed up and assembled at the dining hall for the lunch. Dharmanna had prepared delicious bisi bele baath and curdrice with hesaru bele payasa. Had stomach full lunch. It was superb lunch. Then we had a final group photo session and said good bye to the camp and traveled towards Bangalore.
Reached bangaore by 10:30pm. It was a great trek-trip with various adventure activities. I must say group was just great. An another awesome weekend we had in the ghat. And readying for another weekend camp and leaving tonight!!.

Trekkers:-

• Sachidanand banegal
• Prashanth pathak
• Benzamin
• Nancy
• Lal ringzuala
• Rimi goswami
• Kinjal shah
• Praveen
• Santosh
• Muknd
• Sampath

Photos by trekkers:-
By Prshanth:-
http://picasaweb.google.com/prashant.c.pathak/GaviBettaTrek_21_22Aug2010
By Benzamin:-
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/benjaminrtz/TrekToGaviBettaWithSampath
By Sachidanand
http://picasaweb.google.com/sachidananda.bs/GaviBetta#
By Mukund
http://picasaweb.google.com/111658344772397225103/GaviBetta?feat=email#
By Praveen
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/praveendbit/GaviBetta082010?authkey=Gv1sRgCMurj76K2OWShgE&feat=email#

NOTE:- Our next trek is on 4/5th Spet 2010, which is next weekend. The route will b Bheemswara falls-->Dabbe falls. Bheemeswara is heaven on earth in the monsoon season. Please check the fallowing link for more info on this route:- http://sharavathi.blogspot.com/2008/07/mungaaru-maleye-yenu-ninna-hanigala.html . Please mail me ASAP if u r joining us.

A Dream Trek after long time....

A Dream Trek after long time....

Usually people enjoy the trek in many of their own way, like some people enjoy climbing to the peaks, some people enjoy trekking on snow clad mountains etc., but I enjoy walking along with the streams and watching water falls in evergreen forests a lot. So in every trek route of ours, we include at least 1 water falls. So far we have had at least 2 water falls in all our trek routes.
It has been our endeavor to keep exploring new water falls in the western ghat and take the true nature lovers to these serene water falls and make them enjoy. As part of this. this year i had requested our trek guides there to search for new water falls. About 2 weeks back, finally our guides found out about new water falls and informed me about the same. Usually i go and align the trek trails always when we make new trek trails. This time i decide to trek on 17/18th April 2010 weekend and align the trail. Initially i thought i will go alone with my guides, but i decided against it and decide to have few of my old trek pals. Accordingly, i fired a mail to some , whom i could remember. response was not that great but few replied and i too wanted very few for the exploration trek. But finally whoever had confirmed they also started having some or other personnel issues. so i was forced to fire mail in google group. But that could bring only one addition. Whatever, we had decided and finally we were five of us. Me, Ananth, Mahesh, Samit and siddarth were in the group. we booked the bus ticket in Linganamakki Bus. On 16th friday night we met up at mejestic and got in to bus. After intial hand shake and introduction we all fell asleep. Bus was punctual and reached the Kargal in time. By then jeep was also ready to pick us up and drop to trek starting point as we had informed earlier. It was pleasant morning. We reached kallugodlu after an hour jeep journey. Kallugodlu was our trek starting point. Dharma, our cook, had gone there on previous day itself and had camped there in a tribals house. We reached the house and dhrama invited us with the same smile. We had a quick freshen up session. After that it was time for hogging :p. Dharma had prepared nice masala "Idli , sambar, chatni". It was awesome taste as usual. We were hogging like anything but, there was a newbie in our team. He is siddarth. After having 2 idlis , he was getting ready to wash his hands!! then we explained about whats in store for rest of the day and adviced him to do what we were doing !. He reluctantly fallowed our advice and he came to know the importance of the advice after we returned from trek!. After the breakfast, as usual there was a tea and Khshaya. Mahesh started coursing me for the heavy food as he wanted to reduce some weight by trekking :p. this curse he continued for all 2 days !. After nice breakfast we wasted no time and started off the trek. Our guides yoga and dharma lead us and i was in the back. After a km of flat walk we started off descent to the stream. The trail had a loose sail and slope was too steep. Everyone had a great deal of fall and moved on by hanging on to the shrubs. Finally we got in to the stream.
It was a very pleasant feeling as there was cool breeze. All of us had stomach full of water, some drank like cow, tiger etc :p. Rested for a while and then stated off towards our destination in the stream. After Trekking in stream for a while, our navigator diverted us out of the stream and we had to claimb up. Again the trail was full of loose soil , so it was really tough patch. after just 10 mins of claimb all of us collapsed on a flat land !. After this pit stop we never stopped. The trails was full thorny bush. Everyone were bruised with the daggers like thorns. Now the next and important strech of trail. we had to go down the valley to reach the falls. This is what the most important aspect of the whole trek. The trail was almost like Trail of DABBE falls. But in Dabbe trail there were bushes, routes, creepers to hold on...But here there was abs no such facility !. Added to the misery, the soils was so loose and small stone slabs were hidden in the loose soil. One foot u keep, we used to go down about 4 to 5 feet down !! If there was little mistake by us, we would have fallen on rocks which were about 200ft down the gorge !. Finally with all the pain and fun we got down the valley and we were greeted by an amazing, awesome sight! There the majestic "Thumbe" Water falls!. It was amazing.....just awesome. I had experienced this pleasure when i had visited the Dabbe falls in way back in 1998. After that this is was the first time i was seeing such a place. It was worth taking all the risks and pain.
Water fall is almost 200 ft deep. But what makes this so great is it falls in a completely rock covered narrow gorge. This makes falls so elegant. It was a rare treat for eyes and soul. The weather was was bit cloudy but it was so humid. So all of us just stripped and jumped in to the pool formed by falls. Samit swam till the falls edge, which was about 100ft from the shore. But others did not dare to swim till there as the pool is supposed to b very deep. Meanwhile dharma (our cook) started off lunch preparation. We played in the water for almost an hour. By then we were hungry to the core. But we were not ready to leave the pool !. Dharma gave a final call! "saar ooTa Ready !". Dharma had prepared the mouth watering drumstick "Sambaar". Menu was rice, sambaar, pickle and papad!. We hogged like anything. After nice lunch some napped, some had a photo shoot session. We spent about an hour more and then decided to trek back. Coming up the valley was equally tough as the loose soil used to drag us down many times. We wanted to see the falls from top tip of the falls, so we trek down to the stream again. We went near the tip of the falls and had a photo shoot. It was an amazing gorge view. Started off the trek back along with the stream. On the way back we came across lots off falls. Mahesh decided to take dip in every falls and pool he finds on the way !!. The Stream was so beautiful. It had many hidden falls. Dharma quit us and rushed back home to prepare food for us. In the last falls, samit and mahesh took dip again in the falls. We trekked back to the tribals house. As it was humid, we were sweating again. So decide to take a final dip of the day. We rushed to the stream near the house. we played in the water for almost 30 mins and came back. By then dharma had prepared nice "Mirchi bajji , Tea and Khshaya". Bajji was superb. Dharma has become finest chef of late!. After the high tea, we had great deal of debate over many (unwanted) debates on politics etc., Later we had a call from dharma for dinner. Menu was chapathi, palya, pulav and payasa. We hogged again as the food was superb. then we wasted no time and we slept off in the open to sky platform (KaNa) in front of the house.
Woke up for a refreshing morning after a nice sleep. Bed tea was ready by then had tea, freshened up quickly and got ready. After a while breakfast was ready. It was authentic Malnad "Akki rotti and brinjal chutney". It was awesome. I stuffed in 4 rottis, so others !!. We had another round of tea and kashaya. This time kashaya was prepared with "Joni bella (Liquid joggery)". It was just superb, we drank like drinking fruit juice !!. we wasted no time and stared off trek to BR falls. It was humid again but it was cloudy. We trekked in jeep track for a while and then got in to the thick vegetation. it was again descanting in a loose soil trail to the valley. After some time we got in to the stream. The stream was just superb. The nature at was its best. We trekked along with the stream. On the way we found one water falls, it was a too scenic. I called it "Sharada Pheeta" !!!. Coz the scene was like the one we see in the portrait of Goddess "saraswathi" in which a water falls behind and stream flowing in the backdrop drawn. We enjoyed this part of the trek. Stream was serene at its best. Finally we were at the top tip of the water falls !. Oh, what a gorge it was !!!. Almost 100+ feet deep, but there was no way to go down. We really risked our lives and held on to a dry bush and crawled down to the gorge. Finally we got down to the gorge. falls was not single lap, it had many laps. Its almost 150 ft fall. But it was very scenic. As usual, all of us stripped off and jumped in to a small pool which was infront of the falls. Pool was not as big as the one found in thumbe falls. So we could not stay in the water for long time. Lunch was prepared by dharma meanwhile. It was an another mouth watering sambaar. We had stomach full. then we napped for a while and decided to start the trek back. Trek back was not that eventful as we were saying goodbye to the valley. But the mahesh was having a dip in all pools and falls we got on the way back!!. finally we reached the tribals house, by then our pickup vehicle had arrived. We had quick freshen up. by then Dharma had prepared "Nimbe juice". Had juice and then had a group photo session. Greeted goodbye to the hosts and started back journey to Kargal. We took local bus to Sagar. Reached sagar and had dinner. Our bus was at 8:45pm. Got in to the bus and we were back to bangalore on time.
It was an awesome memorable trek after long time. It was memorable in many ways. i had a small and like minded team. I Will cherish the trek for long time.

Links of Photos of the trek
Photos By Ananth
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ananth.hv/ThumbheAndBRFallsTrek?locked=true&feat=email#

Photos By Samit thange
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/samitthange/ShravathiValleyTrek?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqv0uSj0_q_sQE

Photos by Sampath
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/prapancha/1718042010ExploraoryTrek#

Our New tree house in island

In our constant endeavor to give new experience to nature lovers, we have built a tree house in our camp island. Here are the pics of the same.
































































Please click on the below link for more photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/prapancha/NatureCampAndWaterSportsOn2612#