Another Trek - Bandajje – Arbi Falls

Hello All,



The time has come to describe about the trek which I had been the previous weekend.

The trek can be called as Bandajje – Arbi Falls – Ballalarayana Kote – Sunkashaale Trek. Bcoz these were the major places which v came across while trekking.



Nine of them (us) decided for the trek but 22nd Jan was when we heard that 5 out of 9 are cancelled due to various problems and which I don wanna discuss (bcoz even I donno). All I can say is that they missed a real good trek and I doubt whether they could have had completed also.



Let me start about the Trek. As only 4 were fully confirmed, v had to cancel the private vehicle (which I had already booked) and started to book bus tickets to Dharmasthala. Unfortunately v got no tickets in Raaja Hamsa or any other Private buses but only in " Suvarna Karnataka Saarige". J I have no words to explain how good that bus journey was. JJ. Me, Gouthama, Sandeepa and Ramesha were the only 4 'conquerors' who had decided to not drop the idea but go on doing it. Me, Ramesha and Gouthama met in majestic and got the bus (ATLAST) in which v had to spend our night. J And the bus which was scheduled to leave at 22.51 at last left at 00.00 and Sandeepa got into the bus near Navrang at 00.20. The bus driver drove very fast and dropped us in Dharmathala at 07.45. Initially v thought it would be late seeing the pace but he made it up later.



Day 1:



V freshened in a public toilet and planned to have breakfast in a hotel called " Hotel Kamath " (but Gou wanted us to have in another hotel called " Hotel Arpana "). Me and Sandeepa ordered for Upma and sandeepa got a dead Ant (Godda) in that and interestingly even I got one in my Upma too. ( What a co-incidence!!!! ) v had to leave it L(Though I din wanna leave as the taste was good J).



Anyway we had our Breakfast and were planning how to go to Bandajje Village (The place where v were supposed to start our Trek) as the direct bus to that village had already left at 7.15 and v had no other option than taking a Jeep but those guys were asking high rates (like 500, 400) but v somehow spoke and settled it up to 300 and left. V had to cross Ujire and purchased some eatables from there and continued towards Bandajje. Just before reaching the village, v met Narayana Gowda ( A well known name in the nearby villages, the head of the village and a highly dignified person ) and he told that Sundar (Our guide for the trek) has taken another group towards the hill and I had to give him a call and let him know that v have reached the village so that he will come back and take us too. As soon as v landed in the village I gave him a call and al of a sudden a person came infront of us and he was Sundar.



So atlast v started our trek. The initial trek was very similar to that of initial trek to KP(Kumara Parvatha). Dense forest (So dense that if a helicopter had passed, v could only listen to its sound but would not be able to see), full green and climbing up the hill. Ufffff……..



Atlast the forest ended and a Draught land had begun but now I wish and hope there would be no end to that forest. By the time v reached the draught land it was already noon and v had to Face the Sun God (????) directly. There a small hill would be seen and to climb that it would take atleast 40 mins and once v reach that v would see another small hill with no tree not even for shade. L v climbed and climbed and climbed taking not less than 15 breaks. And amazing thing was that I was in the end (Amazing bcoz in none of the previous treks was I behind but was leading) and no good sleep the 2 previous nights made me very slow and tired.


This very first view of the Water Fall which v never saw till v reached the stream.

V all were hungry but had decided to have lunch only after reaching the camping place which v could see but yet to reach. Atlast v reached the top and v had to climb down to reach the Stream where I once slid and fell but got up and reached the stream, freshened up and took rest. Jus laying down on the rock made us feel like heaven and v almost forgot about Lunch till the other group started to have. By then Sandeep and Goutham had put the tent and called me to start the lunch. My legs were like not willing to even stand but went up and had lunch which were 3 chapathis and that's when v got to know that v had forgotten to count Sundar(Guide) for chapathis. Anyway v gave him 3 and kept the remaining for Dinner.

Next was the much awaited task. TAKING BATH JJJ. jus 4 foot away was a stream and taking bath in it would be wonderful and ofcourse v did that. Let me not explain even that. JJJ



It was already getting dark and didn't wanna miss sun set and all of us ran towards the waterfall.

The sun set and v all returned to our tents and v discussed with the other gang members and set up the fire for the rest of the night. The interesting part here is we normally search for branches, leaves and other small wooden pieces for a camp fire but the guides here have an idea of uprooting the trees and set that up for fire so that the fire remains for a long time. Different people. Different Views. So v had our dinner and went to sleep. There had come another gang of people (seemed like college students) who were NCC cadets (thats what they called themselves) and they were spoiling our sleep with shouting, loud music and etc. Stupid People. That night I woke up atleast 25 times bcoz v 4 had slept in a 3-member tent which made it hard to sleep. And when Ramesha told that its 6 o'clock I said " oh atlast its 6. lets get started " and I went out of the tent and Ramesha followed me. But the other 2 guys din even get up. v were sitting next to the fire and were heating ourselves up. I couldn bare even after 6.30 and I woke those 2 up so that v start our trek at 7 atleast. V all got freshened up and other guys wanted to have the last look at the waterfall and v all went there and spent some time there. Took good pics.


Day 2:



V started our trek towards Ballalaraayana Kote (Fort) and it was again the same Draught land continued but din feel that tired bcoz the Sun God was still young (I mean early morning sun isn't of much heat) and din affect us much.


V finished the same distance of draught lands in jus one hour and then started was the plain trek. Even that plain trek was for almost an hour and then again started a hill bcoz v had almost reached the fort and had to ascent was a bit difficult but could manage it in 15 mins and v were on top of our TREK. The highest point of our TREK. V rested there for a few minutes and took some good snaps. Actually that's not a fort but a watch tower. 4 sides of walls not more than 3 foot and to the 4 corners they have built watch tower which r very well visible.


The walls which r seen here r the borders for the so called fort. V started our descent and were heading towards Sunkashaale. Initially it was a extreme descent from a mountain for almost 2 kms.



And then started the Jeep Track for more than 8 kms. The guide himself said " who will know the exact distance sir? U think the people who will write the board have any idea about the distance? They wil jus put 8 kms but actually this is more than that." V walked and walked and walked and were waiting to eat something. V hadn had anything from morn bcoz v had nothing left and v had decided to reach Horanaadu for lunch but it never happened. V just had 1 pack of biscuit (divided by 4) and some other snacks. V were a lot hungry and one of them had told v would get a Shop on our way and v get biscuits. So v all eagerly waited for that shop to come on our way and as I was way ahead of all of them, I was looking all around while I was walking in search of The Shop. Atlast v found one and fortunately not only biscuits v also got Tender Coconut and Bonda there. Hmmm tasty Bondas. All of us had tender coconuts and only our group left from there as v wanted to reach Horanaadu before lunch. Amazingly there was a Taar Road (which was under construction) all the way till Sunkashaale. Gosh v atlast reached Sunkashaale and were on the main road and waiting for somebody (Anybody) who would guide us the way to Horanaadu. I mean the Direction.



Then came a guy called Somanna and started asking our Bio-Data. That's when he started telling us that he is a Tractor Dealer and has sold Tractors to Naxalites!!!!! V then started suspecting whether he himself is not a Naxalite. He turned out to be NOT!!!! He seemed like a good person and told us that v get good coffee down the lane and anybody who come here never leaves without having Coffee in that shop. V were all tired and had to walk a few steps to reach there and v Had To!!! By the way Sandeepa wanted to reach Bangalore that very day (before night) and he had a diff plan from there. To reach a near by town and catch a bus to Bangalore from there. Somanna, Who was there stopped a passerby and asked him whether he was going towards Kottige Haara and placed Sandeep in his bike and sent him away. So end of Sandeep's Story. J. Continuing with our TREK (It seemed like one) towards that coffee shop and v again met somanna and he ordered us coffee and he even paid for it and told " u have come to our place and cant I do even this? " So Nice of him.



At 1.45 we got a bus to Horanadu but it was all filled and had to do stand the whole of our Journey for one and a half hour!!!! The other group behind us also boarded the same bus and luckily v 3 got seats after sometime.



V reached Horanaadu at 3.30 and searched for a room or a Public bathroom so that v take bath and have the Darshana and mainly Lunch. But unluckily v din get Lunch L but got the Darshana. J



Well I wanted to reach Bangalore by next morn at any cost and there was only KSRTC booking center. And the main part was that either there used to be no power, Voltage drop or even Slow Server which made all our attempts to buy a ticket impossible. V even tried with a private transport agent but he had only 1 ticket to Bangalore and v were 3. v tried till 7 and at last Gouthama and Ramesha spoke to a conductor and made a deal to give him 100 bucks if he gives us his MLA reserved 3 seats for the bus leaving at 20.30. Then it was time for dinner at 7.30 and the conductor had also warned us to be in the bus by 20.15 and v had a very good and hefty dinner which had Red rice (Kempakki), Sambar and curds. Hmmm Yummy.


Atlast as he had warned v were in the bus at 20.15 and as promised he also gave us the seats and v also gave him the money. V left Horanaadu at 20.45.


Day 3:


All 3 of us got down near Govardhan at 5 AM and walked to our respective houses. The main part here is ' even after a long and exhaustive trek, v walked home ' bcoz v all like walking. JJJ