We had a bad news 3 days before we started our trek. Tiger census was going on and no permission was given to Trek in Forests. But after lot of recommendations & Permissions, our Trek to MM hills – Naagamale (nagamale) – Palar was confirmed.
We left on 29th Jan 2010, Friday night at around 10 and left Bangalore at around 12. We had to go to Maddur and then to kollegaala and then to MM hills. Just before the MM hills ghat section started, we gave a small break and came out of the vehicle. Fortunately (or Unfortunately) we saw a Wild Pig (I am not calling it a Wild Boar bcoz it looked like a cross-breed of a normal pig and a Wild Boar). It didn’t even come close to us. It left as soon as it got to know that it gets nothing nearby. As planned we reached MM hills an hour before we were supposed to (We reached at 5 am).
(actually the trekkers have to pay 3400 rs to the govt for a group of 6 people. The dept will spend some amount on the betterment of the village.)
But the person who had told us to come at 6, had switched his mobile off and we had no other way than to go knock the Wild life Guest House door as early as 6. We were later told that they were not informed about the trek and if they were informed, we could have left for the trek at around 8. As we had a lot of time, we took a room for rent, took bath, went for Darshana, had our Breakfast and later again went to the guest house where we met the Guide cum Gun-man. As per the rules the department was supposed to send a Guide and a Gun-Man (with a walkie-talkie) with us. But due to a lot of complication we got only one person (named Eeranna) and that too without a Gun or a Walkie Talkie. Great Start!!!
The actual plan was a 11 km trek to Naagamale on the first day and another 15 kms trek to Palar on the second day.
Anyway another boy named Shiva Murthy joined us from the forest side. He was the boy whom the Forest Dept has to send with us from the village to where the money goes. Betterment of a Village. I used to call him Naganna. Jus like that!!!!
We started our trek at 10.30. (wow wat a time to start a trek )
Purchasing Vegetables for our Dinner.
Initially we had to go on a Tar road for around 2 Kms and then comes the hilly cum mud road for around 6 kms. After that comes the steps and route inside a forest with sign boards (to nagamale) for the rest of the way. As soon as we started the climb the steps, we saw an old lady selling Butter Milk. As all of us were tired and sat to have a cup (or 2) to quench our thirst. It seems the lady brings 40 glasses of butter milk everyday and sell it for 2 rs. We all had 2 (or more) cups each and summed to 46 rs. But the interesting part here is that we saw a man sitting next to that lady who was from Legendary Veerappan’s gang. It seems that Karnataka BSF had attacked their territory once and this man was a boy then, they all fled and left the boy alone. The dept people took him to his gang and let him live with them. I tried asking him what he remembers about Veerappan but he said ‘Its more than 10 yrs sir. I was a very small boy then and don’t remember anything.’
Veerappan’s gang’s old member.
Che how unfortunate. I thought he would know about the lakhs and lakhs of treasure which Veerappan has hid in the forest which is yet to be recovered.
The Sumo Couple. (Subra & Puru) Whenever they see each other, they used to get into this pose. Or may be this was their way showing love to each other.
Puru, Medu (the Chief), Vijay and Subra.
Anyway we continued our trek and reached 1 km before Naagamale at 3pm. There were a few houses built specially for trekkers and the money which we pay reaches even these houses as rent. After reaching there we had Chapatis and rested for another hour. The actual Naagamale was another kilometer (or 2) from there which we started at around 4.30. 3 of them were left behind as they were not in a condition to trek further (Medu, Navi & Ved). There are stone steps and takes another 40 minutes to reach the Temple. Its called by such a name bcoz of 2 stones one beside the other. One in the shape of a Shiva-Linga and another in the shape of a Snake protecting the Linga with its head on top.
We had the darshana and prasada and waited for the Sun Set. Wow it was good.
Getting back to the room took us another 20 mins. We lit a camp fire and surrounded it for heat. There was a discussion (can also be called Argument) between guys from Thomson Reuters, Infosys, Wipro & JP Morgan about their companies and other things.
Hmm I don’t have to explain my photographic skill here.
At 8 it was Dinner time. We had Rice and Sambar which was most wanted at that time. All of us ate well. (Atleast I did) and slept at around 9.30. The much awaited one.
The morning for most of us happened at 6.30 and after finishing our morning needs (ofcourse not bathing!!!!), we had breakfast (chitranna) and left that place at around 8.30.
Early morn as soon as v started the trek, v stopped to have a cup of Tea.
Sheetal, Medu, Ranga, Pavan, Vijay, Puru, Ved, Subra, Naveen and Kishore (the guy standing wearing a Blue T-shirt). Ramesh is missing in the photo.
For the first 5 kms we were just climbing down the hill (which we had climbed the previous day). After that was a Forest for the rest of the trek. Walk, walk and walk was the only thing. We even met a few villagers who are staying in the jungle and also grazing their cattle.
We had split ourselves into 3 groups depending on the pace. Ofcourse I was in the first group. The group behind us was fortunate to see a Bison. (I thought we were fortunate enough that it didn’t see us, as lone Bison tends to be Dangerous).
We in the first group actually saw a Leopard. It had moved (or Jumped) from a bush to another one. It was so fast that we realized that movement after 4-5 seconds. I went even further in the bushes to see whether I can have a Glimpse but (this time) the animal was fortunate that I couldn’t see it.
This was kind of a Valley (flowing water) where Veerappan used to hide. They would get to know about any movements in the forest from here.
And again after a bit more of walking we reached a Road and took a left turn to reach the Ultimate Border of Karnataka. There was a stream but v din use it for any purpose bcoz it was too Good. We rested there for sometime, freshened ourselves up, talked to the Guard over there and left the place after half an hour. We then reached MM hills again head directly to the Free-Lunch Home (Daasoha Bhavana), waited for sometime in the Queue and then got the chance the get in and sat down. Boy!!!!! The food was so HOT. Actually. I burnt my finger tip and served it for a minute. Had a tummy-filling lunch and then atlast headed towards Bangalore at 3.
End of the Trek but waiting for the guide to tel us which way to head towards Palar.
The trek had come to an end but the memories stayed for ever.
I still wonder whether the animal which passed at lightning speed was a Leopard or anything else. Or anybody!!!!!
See u all with my next work.
Ba Bye…….
