"The earth has music for those who listen."
(Unknown Author)
Tambdi Surla Trek
We went on train from Bangalore to Kulem, and on
road to the camping site. We had lunch at camping site and started towards the
trekking trail of 7Km, with the guide. We first visited the Mahadeva Tambdi Surla
temple.
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| On the way to Kulem |
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| Kulem station |
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| Camp site |
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| Mahadeva Temple,Tambdi Surla |
From the beginning, it was an invitation to be in
nature. Each step was taking us deeper into the forest through narrow walking
trails. The guide walked in front and our fitness coaches walked interspersed
to motivate the group members to keep moving. We walked almost along the
stream, hearing the gushing sounds of water. Even the narrow path we tread on
were loose stones and wet soil,indicating that during rains this path also
fills up with water.
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| Tambdi Surla Waterfalls |
Weather being dry we were lucky to be free from leeches, snakes
and swimming across streams. Chirping of birds, a warm climate, sun rays
filtering through canopies, up and down terrain created by strong roots
of old trees, climbers, thorny shrubs were equally challenging and thrilling.
Being in an enthusiastic young group was a positive force that motivated
everyone to move towards the Tambdi Surla waterfalls inspite of depleting
physical energy. I wasn't prepared to bathe in the waterfalls but seeing
majority of the group members straight under the falling waters
prompted me to grip the rocks and balance over slippery rocky water bed and
bathe parts of my body including head, also drank that pristine sweet medicinal
water. I was compensating, absorbing in and imprinting virgin nature's gifts as much as possible.
We miss out so much living in polluted concrete jungles, it was a reminder
to reconnect every now and then with nature as well as reduce interfering with
natural ecosystem as much as possible. One of the precautions I took was to
avoid plastics and resist polluting such a beautiful place with my litter.
Day 1 ended with dancing and singing around campfire; afterwards we had dinner.
Most of the group members slept in tents; some slept in modest rooms which were
used as changing room, within the compound.
Day 2 Dudhsagar Water Falls
We got onto our assigned vehicles for 9 km travel through a dirt road through forest. Vehicle is slowed down to see the railway track on the hill slopes, seen over the Dudh Sagar falls. This trip across the forest is exciting; we get to cross streams that over flow across low lying bridges. Once we reach a point where the dirt road ends, vehicle journey ends and have to proceed to the water falls on foot. The most challenging and exciting part is the swim wearing life jackets, in the Dudh Sagar falls. Our group members were cooperative to offer hand to swim towards falling milky waters and return to the banks. The waters are deep at some places and at others gigantic roots or rocks offer some place to sit or hold on. Within an hour or so and before the physical body shivers in the cold waters and exhaust out, we have to come out of the waters. Also, there's a time limit of one and a half hours to return to the parking lot. Dudh Sagar became a popular tourist spot after some scenes of the movie 'Chennai Express' was shot over here. Visiting season is between October and May. Visit is not allowed during the monsoons.
We did some small shopping, had lunch from there and moved on to Kulem for
boarding on a connection local train to Londa to catch our main train to
Bangalore, a night journey.
On the whole, the energetic and supportive group plus the experience of being in pure air and staying amidst greenery and drinking clean water was a refreshing rejuvenating and healing experience.
We had some fruits, cucumbers, bread with jam and peanut butter as breakfast.
Later on we left the camping site for good, with our luggage bags to the main
attraction of the trip, Dudh Sagar falls. We went in 4X4s to Dudh Sagar entry
counters which had long queues. Bought tickets and rented life jackets; here
cameras, video cameras etc. have to be paid for at the gates. Water bottles
are marked and have to be shown at the gates while returning or else there's a
fine (supposed to be for reducing plastic waste).
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| Dudh Sagar Waterfalls |
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Dudh Sagar Waterfalls
|
We got onto our assigned vehicles for 9 km travel through a dirt road through forest. Vehicle is slowed down to see the railway track on the hill slopes, seen over the Dudh Sagar falls. This trip across the forest is exciting; we get to cross streams that over flow across low lying bridges. Once we reach a point where the dirt road ends, vehicle journey ends and have to proceed to the water falls on foot. The most challenging and exciting part is the swim wearing life jackets, in the Dudh Sagar falls. Our group members were cooperative to offer hand to swim towards falling milky waters and return to the banks. The waters are deep at some places and at others gigantic roots or rocks offer some place to sit or hold on. Within an hour or so and before the physical body shivers in the cold waters and exhaust out, we have to come out of the waters. Also, there's a time limit of one and a half hours to return to the parking lot. Dudh Sagar became a popular tourist spot after some scenes of the movie 'Chennai Express' was shot over here. Visiting season is between October and May. Visit is not allowed during the monsoons.
On the whole, the energetic and supportive group plus the experience of being in pure air and staying amidst greenery and drinking clean water was a refreshing rejuvenating and healing experience.
