Sharavathi Valley Trekking

Hi Friends,

Last Friday (4^th of September 2009) along with my 12 friends kicked off for a trekking near KARAGAL, linganamakki.(near Sagara ).

Here you can see the details for going trek, whom to contact and also a brief intro for 1^st time trekkers like ME J

For First time Trekkers – instruction:

These are prerequisites for any trekking.

1. Have to buy a trekking (wildcraft) bag and proper trekking shoes. If u don’t get a proper bag then there would be imbalance in the team wherein some have to carry more weight than others....

Important: please don’t forget to pack your belonging (mainly the warm clothes) in a plastic cover and then put it into your bag, with personal experience I can say this is very important

when it rains....Also better not to carry mobile or any electronic items (except camera, even camera should be well taken care as water can go inside any electronic items, I lost one camera because of rain water only L)..And PLEASE DONT WEAR JEANS,

2. Also wear thick socks or get a pair of leech socks this would very much help us preventing from leeches. Carry Salt (ask you guide) / Swiss knife / sunna (kannada lang.) to avoid leeches.

3. Toilet kit (brush, toothpaste, comb, ). Also please carry a small botle of DETOL.

4. Get sufficient Newspaper and a plastic cover to take back waste or wet clothes...

5. Please have one ID Cards of yours, telephone no. and address (in case of emergency) of each other.

6. Plate along with a spoon for eating food and One cup for drinking water, tea etc. A small handtroche, in case of emergency.

7. As already said get clothing as less as possible....Keep ur bag weight minimal.

I would say 3 Undergarments, 1 towel, 2shorts (or tracks), 2 t-shirt, 1-sandals (along with shoes), 1 blanket, and 1 waterproof jacket with cap is sufficient (this is including what u are wearing on Friday...) for 2 days trekking.

Please find the trek details, the rules and regulations below:

Trek Route:- Hogevaddi---->Basavana baayi--->Belligundi falls--->Goodanagundi falls--->Kattinakaru.

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.

Itinerary for the 2 days trek (5th and 6th)

Date:- 05-08-2009

* Reach Hogevaddi , the Trek start point by 10:30 AM and Start the trek

* Freshen Up in the stream, Have Break fast

* Reach Basavana baayi peak by afternoon. Play in the water falls and Have lunch.

* Start the Trek towards Padubeedu and camp in a tribals house by 6:00 PM.

* Have a Camp fire and enjoy the evening(Depends on rain situation). Also interact with Tribals.

* Have dinner and retire for the day

(Approximate Trek distance will be around 12KM with peaks and a water falls)

Date:-06-08-2009

* Wake up by 6:00 AM and get freshen up quickly.

* Have Breakfast and start the trek by 7:30AM to Belligundi water falls view point.

* Spend time in valley view and belligundi view

* Trek to Goodanagundi water falls and if possible Enjoy in the Water fall (depends on the water level.

* Have lunch and Trek to Kattinakaru.

* Catch the vehicle and travel back to sagar or kargal.

Blog of the route:-

http://sharavathi.blogspot.com/2008/08/2-days-trek-on-16-17th-aug-2008.html

Dont's

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.

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.

Please feel free to reply for any clarification or doubts.

--

Sampath Kumar

The Sharavathi Nature Trails.....

E-Mail: prapancha@gmail.com

Orkut:- http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=35574179

Blogs:- http://sharavathi.blogspot.com

http://kuchodya.blogspot.com

Few TrekSpetion from my friends :

Prashant Shirol:

I was remembering the taste of anna sambar at Basavan Bhaayi, chapaati saagu payasaa of the dinner, and the akki rotti chatni in the morning..... and the again the anna sambar.....:)

I close the eyes now for a while... and reply the whole trip in the camera of mind....its so enjoyable.....

hmmm have to start the routine life again for atleast few months...:(

Prashant.

Vasistha:

In two days almost we trekked for 30 Kms, with carrying our bag... you know one thing , the very first day each one of us were carrying bag weighing 3 - 5 kgs. we had lots of entho, fully energetic etc.. but due to heavy rain all our dry clothes, bedsheet, towel, along with bag and clothes we worn got wet.. then for the secong day it was weighing more than 7 - 8 Kgs... :-( with this load we need to trek again.. but the weather was so good that, we were again fully entho to trekk for the seond day... ready to fight against rain and our most deadliest enemy LEECHE...

I have no words to explain our 2 days trekking... it's an amazing, never forgatable trek...

Even now I have more than15 leeche bite marks on both of my legs... I donated blood to leeches :-)

Prakash pv:

Hi Guys,

Already in office after a refreshing bath. This trek turned out to be a very refreshing one, I can find the difference.

Since morning I am feeling something is missing without which I felt discomfortable, Thats the rain really missing it :)

We got drenched for more than 10 hrs still none got sick, thats the magic of nature.

I was just checking now I have got leeched more than 30 times. It’s really itching and some are still bleeding if I scratch :)

Kumar:

Trek Summary:

KRSTC Bus to Linganmakki @9:45 pm 04/09

Reached Kargal around 7:35 am 05/09

Meet Narayan and took Jeep to Trek start point @ 9:00 am

Had Break fast and Trek started with OmRaj who was guide for rest two days @10:00 am

Explored Basavana bhaye water fall @ 11:30 am

Lunch @ 12.30 pm

Reached the Camping base @ 5:45 pm

Trek started the next day @8:50 am 06/09 after breakfast

Explored Belli gundi water fall @ 11:00 am

Explored Goodana gundi water fall @ 12:00 am

Back to camping base @2:30 pm

Back to kargal @ 5:45 pm

Bus to Shimoga @ 6:05 pm,reached shimoga @9:00 pm

Train to Bangalore @ 10:00pm

Back to BANGALORE with Haunting Memories @ 5:00 am 07/09

Thanks of your patience and compatibility guys.....APS Boys Rock....

Regards....

Kumar DG

The photos taken during this trek can be viewed at

http://picasaweb.google.com/vasistatravel/Sharavathi_Valley_Trekking