Team-BHP > Travelogues


Reply
  Search this Thread
29,226 views
Old 23rd January 2010, 14:11   #1
BHPian
 
hotstuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Campus @ IIMA !
Posts: 368
Thanked: 120 Times
'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!

This was our last trip/trek in 2009, done over 26th & 27th of December. It was again with our regular TT & driver Kumar and a group of friends.

The itinerary of the trip was to...
- start from Bangalore on the evening of the 25th Dec,
- drive to Kundadri peak early in the morning to catch the sunrise,
- then to Agumbe to freshen up and have breakfast at Kasturamma's house,
- trek to Kudlu Tirtha falls which is a few kilometers away from Agumbe. (Mostly drivable, the last stretch of around 5 kms needs to be trekked.)
- back to Agumbe late afternoon for lunch at Kasturamma's house,
- drive to Sitalayyanagiri, which is a peak around 2 kms near Mullayanagiri,
- overnight stay at the Sitalayyana mutt, which is a small temple and an adjacent building on top of the hill,
- start trekking to Mullayanagiri, which is the tallest peak in Karnataka,
- from Mullayanagiri, we continue the trek towards Bababudangiri,
- start from Bababudangiri and drive towards Bangalore, stopping at Belur,
- back in Bangalore late evening on the 27th Dec 09.

The highlight of the trip for Sangeetha and me was the trek to Mullayanagiri and Bababudangiri. This place will always be special for us since this is where we first met in 1996 during a trekking camp in the Western Ghats and Mullayanagiri was our first trek together. So we would be visiting the place after 13 years.


Route taken:

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-001.gif


We reached Kundadri a little later than planned, though it was still dark; we did not have enough time to trek up, so we decided to just go via road and drove up...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-002.jpg


Just in time to catch the sunrise...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-003.jpg


An inverted Sunrise, the sun just came up for a few minutes before disappearing into the clouds again...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-004.jpg


An island in a sea of clouds...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-005.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-006.jpg


Sunrise...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-007.jpg


The Jain temple on the peak...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-008.jpg


Reached Kasturamma's house for a yummy breakfast!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-009.jpg


Started from Agumbe and reached the place where the trek to Kudlu Tirtha falls starts...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-010.jpg


Must be mating season, there were a lot of butterflies near the river...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-011.jpg


Most of the initial trek is on a plain path...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-012.jpg


With lots of greenery around...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-013.jpg


The last part of the trek, of about 1.5kms is an uphill walk...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-014.jpg


The scenic Kudlu Tirtha falls...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-015.jpg


If you are brave enough, you can walk on the rocks to a ledge right behind the falls or swim to the spot where the cascade hits the pool...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-016.jpg


A cut bamboo...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-017.jpg


Some customary macro pix...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-018.jpg


Another waterfall on a distant hill-side (this pic was taken at max zoom, so this falls was at least a couple of kilometers away on a nearby hillside...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-019.jpg


Friends :-)

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-020.jpg


Mushroom...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-021.jpg


The path to the falls cuts across a couple of streams, which would need to be crossed via rickety bamboo bridges like this, if you visit the place during the monsoon...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-022.jpg


Back to the place where the road starts...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-023.jpg


Post lunch at Kasturamma's place, we started towards Sitalayyanagiri. Very bad roads, made worse by the un seasonal rains. Reached the place at around 11.00pm, since there was no electricity there, we used torches to find our way around and settled down for the night.

Woke up early the next day, freshened up, had some breakfast that was put together by the priest at the mutt and started our trek towards Mullayanagiri...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-024.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-025.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-026.jpg


It was foggy when we started off and continued to remain so throughout the day!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-027.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-028.jpg


Reached Mullayanagiri!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-029.jpg


Contd...

Last edited by hotstuff : 23rd January 2010 at 14:29.
hotstuff is offline  
Old 23rd January 2010, 14:28   #2
BHPian
 
hotstuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Campus @ IIMA !
Posts: 368
Thanked: 120 Times
Mullayanagiri, Bababudangiri trek.

A quick visit to the temple on the top and we were ready to head out again...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-030.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-039.jpg


There are a couple of interesting caves a little way down from the peak...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-031.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-038.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-037.jpg


You will have to carry torches if you intend to explore these caves. Very colorful rock formations and the cave goes on and on for a very long distance. Some parts of the cave can be flooded during the rainy season and there are lots of bats inside!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-032.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-033.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-034.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-035.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-036.jpg


We started our trek from Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-040.jpg


It is a very scenic route, through the hills...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-041.jpg


A few sections are quite scary, especially if it has been raining, since the rocks will be wet and slippery...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-042.jpg


One for the family album :-)

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-043.jpg


Walking through the clouds...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-044.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-045.jpg


Looked back to see Mullayanagiri peak disappearing into the clouds...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-046.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-047.jpg


This pic was taken at 11.20am and it was still foggy and cold!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-048.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-049.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-050.jpg


This was how the weather was at noon!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-051.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-053.jpg


More macro pix...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-052.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-054.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-055.jpg


We finally reached the place close to Bababudangiri where the trek path meets the road, (We must have walked for around 6 - 7 kms through the hills)

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-056.jpg


Went around Bababudangiri to check out the must see spots around...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-057.jpg


The Manikyadhara falls, which is a mini waterfall...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-058.jpg


This was at 1.45pm!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-059.jpg


Contd...
hotstuff is offline  
Old 23rd January 2010, 14:46   #3
BHPian
 
hotstuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Campus @ IIMA !
Posts: 368
Thanked: 120 Times
Mullayanagiri, Bababudangiri & a quick stop at Belur...

The view point...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-060.jpg


The Bababudangiri cave shrine was closed for renovation...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-061.jpg


Later that day, we stopped next to a coffee estate to have some packed lunch...

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-062.jpg


On the way back towards Bangalore, we made a quick stop at the Belur temple. We had already see it earlier, most recently during our Hoysala Temple trip in March 09 (http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...a-temples.html ), but still you can never get enough of the place!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-063.jpg


... The group was too colorful to resist clicking a pic.

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-064.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-065.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-066.jpg

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-068.jpg


The end!

'Xing'ing around ! - Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri... after 13 years!-069.jpg
hotstuff is offline  
Old 23rd January 2010, 19:06   #4
Senior - BHPian
 
addyhemmige's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bangalore/Hassan
Posts: 1,527
Thanked: 487 Times

I did this trek last year during September (IIRC). Started climbing from Sarpadaari (the base of Mullayanagiri) and continued to Baba Budan Giri.

I agree that there a few treacherous sections, especially the ridge from KK Gandi to Manikyadhaara Falls. We had to abandon this stretch and take the road route to Baba Budan Giri due to incessant rains and the ridge was very slippery.

We intended to continue till Kemmanugundi, but the locals discouraged it & no one offered to guide us.

But otherwise, this trek offers one of the best views around.
addyhemmige is offline  
Old 23rd January 2010, 21:00   #5
BHPian
 
hotstuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Campus @ IIMA !
Posts: 368
Thanked: 120 Times
Rains...

Quote:
Originally Posted by addyhemmige View Post
I did this trek last year during September (IIRC). Started climbing from Sarpadaari (the base of Mullayanagiri) and continued to Baba Budan Giri.

I agree that there a few treacherous sections, especially the ridge from KK Gandi to Manikyadhaara Falls. We had to abandon this stretch and take the road route to Baba Budan Giri due to incessant rains and the ridge was very slippery.

We intended to continue till Kemmanugundi, but the locals discouraged it & no one offered to guide us.

But otherwise, this trek offers one of the best views around.
September would have been quite a scary experience since it was raining quite incessantly at that time!

Apart from the great view all around, the fact that there were no leeches at this time of the year was a great relief
hotstuff is offline  
Old 24th January 2010, 23:02   #6
BHPian
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Chennai
Posts: 127
Thanked: 89 Times

Hot Stuff once again from hotstuff!
k149in is offline  
Old 25th January 2010, 09:37   #7
Senior - BHPian
 
shishir_bn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,195
Thanked: 120 Times

Fantastic nostalgic pics.Thanks for he same. Man you missed out DEVYANGIRI. It is the 3rd mountain which is next to mulayangiri,bababudangiri. From the junction where you take right to these 2 mountains,if you would have taken right and gone for 8-10kms then you would have found DEVYANGIRI. Fantastic place. Similar to the other 2 mountains.
shishir_bn is offline  
Old 25th January 2010, 09:53   #8
Senior - BHPian
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,891
Thanked: 42 Times

Hi hotstuff,

one word... WoW

it seems to be a great place, great trek, you have fantastic snaps,
it seems all of you enjoyed during the trip

i see that this is a MUST DO for me. may be during 2010.

thanks for sharing.
StarVegabond is offline  
Old 25th January 2010, 11:01   #9
BHPian
 
hotstuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Campus @ IIMA !
Posts: 368
Thanked: 120 Times
Thanks!

@k149in
@shishir_bn
@StarVegabond

- Thank you for your comments. Glad you like the pics.


Quote:
Originally Posted by shishir_bn View Post
Fantastic nostalgic pics.Thanks for he same. Man you missed out DEVYANGIRI. It is the 3rd mountain which is next to mulayangiri,bababudangiri. From the junction where you take right to these 2 mountains,if you would have taken right and gone for 8-10kms then you would have found DEVYANGIRI. Fantastic place. Similar to the other 2 mountains.
- Thanks @shishir_bn, maybe this will be something to be done for the next trip. As @addyhemmige mentioned, it would be great to continue to walk till Kemmangundi, and you have mentioned Devayyanagiri also as a stop worth visiting.

One question: like the other two, does DEVYANGIRI also have a temple or shrine on the top?

Quote:
Originally Posted by StarVegabond View Post
...i see that this is a MUST DO for me. may be during 2010.
- Yes, it was a superb trek, more so due to the amazing weather! If you are planning a trip, I would suggest that you should visit as soon as possible, preferably by the end of Feb or max by mid march. Once the summer sets in, the grasslands will be quite dry...
hotstuff is offline  
Old 25th January 2010, 11:24   #10
Senior - BHPian
 
shishir_bn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,195
Thanked: 120 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by hotstuff View Post
- Thanks @shishir_bn, maybe this will be something to be done for the next trip. As @addyhemmige mentioned, it would be great to continue to walk till Kemmangundi, and you have mentioned Devayyanagiri also as a stop worth visiting.

One question: like the other two, does DEVYANGIRI also have a temple or shrine on the top?
Yes there is a temple of the goddess called "Deviramma". There is a temple on the top of the hill. To make life easy for old people the temple has been shifted to the bottom of the hill. You have to trek the hill to reach the top. It is a fantastic experience. Search the same in google and you will get the picture of the hill.
shishir_bn is offline  
Old 25th January 2010, 12:44   #11
Senior - BHPian
 
addyhemmige's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bangalore/Hassan
Posts: 1,527
Thanked: 487 Times

I know this place as Devirammana gudda. Every deepavali hundreds of devotees climb up this place. I don't know the exact directions to the place. Shishir, can you post the directions?

Sanjay, The trail from Bababudangiri to Kemmannugundi is supposed to pass through a part of the Bhadra Tiger reserve (formerly Jagara Valley) and sightings of wild animals are supposed to be frequent. It seems there are a lot of trails in that stretch (with one leading down to Santaveri village as well) and it is easy to get lost. We did not want to take a risk during the monsoon, with the fog reducing our visibility.
addyhemmige is offline  
Old 25th January 2010, 13:21   #12
Senior - BHPian
 
shishir_bn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,195
Thanked: 120 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by addyhemmige View Post
I know this place as Devirammana gudda. Every deepavali hundreds of devotees climb up this place. I don't know the exact directions to the place. Shishir, can you post the directions?

Sanjay, The trail from Bababudangiri to Kemmannugundi is supposed to pass through a part of the Bhadra Tiger reserve (formerly Jagara Valley) and sightings of wild animals are supposed to be frequent. It seems there are a lot of trails in that stretch (with one leading down to Santaveri village as well) and it is easy to get lost. We did not want to take a risk during the monsoon, with the fog reducing our visibility.
When coming from chikamagalore you come to the junction where you take a left turn to mulayangiri and bababudangiri. Instead of taking left if you take the straight road then drive almost 8-10kms you reach an arch on the left hand side. Take a left turn at this place and go for 1-2 kms. Here resides Deviramma temple.
shishir_bn is offline  
Old 26th January 2010, 16:45   #13
Senior - BHPian
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 2,256
Thanked: 37 Times

Thats excellant Sanjay, very good report. You have got good guts and energy.

Regards,

Ravi.
ravibhat is offline  
Old 28th January 2010, 23:01   #14
BHPian
 
hotstuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Campus @ IIMA !
Posts: 368
Thanked: 120 Times
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ravibhat View Post
Thats excellant Sanjay, very good report....

Ravi.
Hi Ravi, Thankyou for your comments and appreciation!
hotstuff is offline  
Old 30th January 2010, 15:40   #15
BHPian
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Kottayam
Posts: 588
Thanked: 8 Times

Wonderful pictures would have loved more details and narrations,like the trips done earlier where more narrations are included which gave more life. Its not that this travelogue isn't good, its really good but i like your way of narration, that is why i insist on it. Looking forward to more from you.
Majic is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks