A "Treknic" to Wayanad organized by the Bangalore Ascenders seemed the ideal means to unwind after a hectic week of tight schedules and deadlines. Organized by Jinu at the brink of the monsoon season -with a trek up the Chembra peak, a visit to the Meenmutty Falls & Edakkal Caves on the cards, the stage was set for the perfect weekend getaway.
A good mix of about 22 first timers and seasoned trekking enthusiasts gathered in front of Shantala Silks (Majestic Bus Station) at 10 PM to board the mini bus that was to take us to our destination. With everybody on board, we set off at about 10:30 PM. The plan was to halt and spend the night at the Bandipur forest entrance which was cordoned off between 9 PM & 6 AM. The bus journey was made interesting with a lively introduction session wherein we got acquainted with our fellow “ascenders”. Most of us were newbie groups of twos and threes while some already knew each other from previous trekking trips. However, Jinu and the other old timers made sure everybody was comfortable and involved in the interaction that ensued. As the night wore on, we began to doze off one by one.
At 6 AM, the bus started moving through the Bandipur forest stretch. The lush greenery and cool morning breeze was a treat for the senses. At the check post, some stopped to take pictures. The next stop was the Adarsh Hotel at Kalpetta where we freshened up and had breakfast before getting back on course. Once refreshed, we set out for our first destination- the Chembra hills. As the bus driver skillfully maneuvered through the sharp bends in the road in the journey through the Ghats, the breathtaking view of the hills under the dense cloud cover and the scenic beauty kept everyone spellbound.
The bus halted at a point where we had to get permission to trek. As Jinu went to make the arrangements, some of the trekkers had fun with the local kids and clicked photos with them. The journey by bus then continued until we reached the point from where we would be starting our walk on foot to reach the lighthouse- the starting point of our trek. It was a short pleasant walk to the lighthouse with tea estates on either side. From the lighthouse, we began our ascent to the Chembra peak at 10 AM. As we climbed upwards through the rocky and grassy terrain, some of us began to tire out more easily than the rest and required frequent resting breaks. But that did not dampen our enthusiasm and we trudged on. We soon arrived at the heart shaped lake.
The banks of the lake were grassy with only a single tree in the lake’s vicinity with its branches spreading out across the water. The cloudy skies, light drizzle and cool breeze only added to the romantic setting & weather. This was evident from one trekker’s poses for the camera which had a striking resemblance to the poses given by Shahrukh Khan in the exotic locales of his candy floss movies! (no prizes for guessing who!!) As all of us relaxed near the lake, those with professional cameras kept clicking away at the beautiful scenery which gave us some awesome pictures to cherish as memories.
After a short break at the lake, we once again started off to the peak. Unfortunately, a few of us could not really make it right up to the top and decided to stop at several levels above the lake. The remaining however conquered the Chembra peak and were witness to the spectacular bird’s eye view of Wayanad.
While we waited for the bigger group to come down from the peak, the rest of us chatted and enjoyed a nap under the open sky, right at the edge of the cliff! The strong breeze at the edge made us feel like we are floating on air- something that you can never feel within the city limits.
Once the bigger group joined us, we started our descent. This turned out to be quite tricky as the loose mud and stones resulted in quite a few falls. However, the group soon reached the base of the hills and set off towards the vehicle. By this time everybody was dead tired. On the way, we stopped for tea and snacks at a chai shop before boarding the bus that would take us to the home stay for the night. A game of Dumb Charades kept everyone interested.
The home stay was about a half hour drive from the base of the hills- a cozy cottage called D’Silvas Home Stay at Sulthan Bethary. This was owned by a sweet couple who were extremely hospitable and caring during our stay with them. A huge stuffed black bear in the showcase, leopard skin draped on a wall, a swing in the garden, love birds in a cage and other such antiques added to the cottage’s unique charm. After dinner, the girls fell asleep almost immediately. The same cannot be said about the guys who we heard were mysteriously engaged all night in certain nocturnal activities! (This was the joke going around the next day!)
The following day, after a refreshing walk around the cottage and eating delicious mangoes freshly plucked off the trees
in the garden, we set off for the Meenmutty Falls- the largest waterfall in Wayanad which required a 2 km hike downwards to reach the base of the falls. When we reached the spot, we were first asked to give an account of the plastic items we were carrying as the authorities here are strict regarding anti-littering policies. Once this was done, we started off on our hike through the jungle. Being a Sunday, the place was quite crowded with the localites. Some of the rocks were quite mossy and slippery. We had to constantly hold the ropes alongside the entire downward stretch to make sure we didn’t fall. As we neared the base, we could hear the roar of the water becoming louder until the waterfall came into full view in all its glory.
While some of us sat on the rocks and enjoyed the cool spray of water, the others had a wonderful time playing in the water or swimming. After a while, the group started its climb upwards and soon reached the point where we had started off from after a number of rest breaks. Bottles of spicy buttermilk did the rounds and made everyone feel instantly better after the tiring hike.
The group then stopped for lunch at a place providing homely food. After lunch and relaxing for a bit, we set off in the bus for the Edakkal Caves. The Edakkal Caves
are two natural cave formations formed by the splitting of a single rock located 1200 metres above sea level. We had to reach the caves before 4 PM after which the entrance would be closed to visitors. The climb to the caves was approximately 3 kms. The inside of the caves had a number of interesting carvings dating back to about 6000 B.C; most of which have not been deciphered yet. The guide explained a few of the carvings and also mentioned that similar prehistoric rock carvings could be seen only in France and was a rare sight. We then clicked a couple of group pictures inside the caves before venturing out. The walk down to the bus was extremely pleasant.
The caves marked the end of a two- day tiring but fun weekend in God’s own country. We then set off for Bangalore by about 6 PM in the bus in order to cross the Bandipur entrance before 9 PM. As we crossed the Bandipur forest, someone in the bus spotted two baby elephants near the road. We stopped to click a few pictures of the same before moving on. We then stopped for dinner at a dhaba near Mysore and stayed there till about 1:30 chatting, listening to music and looking at photos before setting off for Bangalore again. While waiting for dinner to be served, we had a good laugh over a game of "Chinese Whispers". We reached Bangalore at about 4:30 AM where everyone bade their goodbyes at Majestic Station and the group dispersed.
My first trip with the Bangalore Ascenders will certainly go down in my memory lane as a trip to be remembered- thanks to all the wonderful people I met and Jinu’s skills as an organizer. I sure hope to meet some of them again on other interesting trips organized by the Ascenders. Cheers!
Visit our Group @ CLICK HERE
Written by: Sanjana
Event organized by: Jinu John
Image Galleries:Jinu, Faizal, Suhas, Gururaj, Rahul
A good mix of about 22 first timers and seasoned trekking enthusiasts gathered in front of Shantala Silks (Majestic Bus Station) at 10 PM to board the mini bus that was to take us to our destination. With everybody on board, we set off at about 10:30 PM. The plan was to halt and spend the night at the Bandipur forest entrance which was cordoned off between 9 PM & 6 AM. The bus journey was made interesting with a lively introduction session wherein we got acquainted with our fellow “ascenders”. Most of us were newbie groups of twos and threes while some already knew each other from previous trekking trips. However, Jinu and the other old timers made sure everybody was comfortable and involved in the interaction that ensued. As the night wore on, we began to doze off one by one.
At 6 AM, the bus started moving through the Bandipur forest stretch. The lush greenery and cool morning breeze was a treat for the senses. At the check post, some stopped to take pictures. The next stop was the Adarsh Hotel at Kalpetta where we freshened up and had breakfast before getting back on course. Once refreshed, we set out for our first destination- the Chembra hills. As the bus driver skillfully maneuvered through the sharp bends in the road in the journey through the Ghats, the breathtaking view of the hills under the dense cloud cover and the scenic beauty kept everyone spellbound.
The bus halted at a point where we had to get permission to trek. As Jinu went to make the arrangements, some of the trekkers had fun with the local kids and clicked photos with them. The journey by bus then continued until we reached the point from where we would be starting our walk on foot to reach the lighthouse- the starting point of our trek. It was a short pleasant walk to the lighthouse with tea estates on either side. From the lighthouse, we began our ascent to the Chembra peak at 10 AM. As we climbed upwards through the rocky and grassy terrain, some of us began to tire out more easily than the rest and required frequent resting breaks. But that did not dampen our enthusiasm and we trudged on. We soon arrived at the heart shaped lake.
The banks of the lake were grassy with only a single tree in the lake’s vicinity with its branches spreading out across the water. The cloudy skies, light drizzle and cool breeze only added to the romantic setting & weather. This was evident from one trekker’s poses for the camera which had a striking resemblance to the poses given by Shahrukh Khan in the exotic locales of his candy floss movies! (no prizes for guessing who!!) As all of us relaxed near the lake, those with professional cameras kept clicking away at the beautiful scenery which gave us some awesome pictures to cherish as memories.
After a short break at the lake, we once again started off to the peak. Unfortunately, a few of us could not really make it right up to the top and decided to stop at several levels above the lake. The remaining however conquered the Chembra peak and were witness to the spectacular bird’s eye view of Wayanad.
While we waited for the bigger group to come down from the peak, the rest of us chatted and enjoyed a nap under the open sky, right at the edge of the cliff! The strong breeze at the edge made us feel like we are floating on air- something that you can never feel within the city limits. Once the bigger group joined us, we started our descent. This turned out to be quite tricky as the loose mud and stones resulted in quite a few falls. However, the group soon reached the base of the hills and set off towards the vehicle. By this time everybody was dead tired. On the way, we stopped for tea and snacks at a chai shop before boarding the bus that would take us to the home stay for the night. A game of Dumb Charades kept everyone interested.
The home stay was about a half hour drive from the base of the hills- a cozy cottage called D’Silvas Home Stay at Sulthan Bethary. This was owned by a sweet couple who were extremely hospitable and caring during our stay with them. A huge stuffed black bear in the showcase, leopard skin draped on a wall, a swing in the garden, love birds in a cage and other such antiques added to the cottage’s unique charm. After dinner, the girls fell asleep almost immediately. The same cannot be said about the guys who we heard were mysteriously engaged all night in certain nocturnal activities! (This was the joke going around the next day!)
The following day, after a refreshing walk around the cottage and eating delicious mangoes freshly plucked off the trees
in the garden, we set off for the Meenmutty Falls- the largest waterfall in Wayanad which required a 2 km hike downwards to reach the base of the falls. When we reached the spot, we were first asked to give an account of the plastic items we were carrying as the authorities here are strict regarding anti-littering policies. Once this was done, we started off on our hike through the jungle. Being a Sunday, the place was quite crowded with the localites. Some of the rocks were quite mossy and slippery. We had to constantly hold the ropes alongside the entire downward stretch to make sure we didn’t fall. As we neared the base, we could hear the roar of the water becoming louder until the waterfall came into full view in all its glory. While some of us sat on the rocks and enjoyed the cool spray of water, the others had a wonderful time playing in the water or swimming. After a while, the group started its climb upwards and soon reached the point where we had started off from after a number of rest breaks. Bottles of spicy buttermilk did the rounds and made everyone feel instantly better after the tiring hike.
The group then stopped for lunch at a place providing homely food. After lunch and relaxing for a bit, we set off in the bus for the Edakkal Caves. The Edakkal Caves
are two natural cave formations formed by the splitting of a single rock located 1200 metres above sea level. We had to reach the caves before 4 PM after which the entrance would be closed to visitors. The climb to the caves was approximately 3 kms. The inside of the caves had a number of interesting carvings dating back to about 6000 B.C; most of which have not been deciphered yet. The guide explained a few of the carvings and also mentioned that similar prehistoric rock carvings could be seen only in France and was a rare sight. We then clicked a couple of group pictures inside the caves before venturing out. The walk down to the bus was extremely pleasant.
The caves marked the end of a two- day tiring but fun weekend in God’s own country. We then set off for Bangalore by about 6 PM in the bus in order to cross the Bandipur entrance before 9 PM. As we crossed the Bandipur forest, someone in the bus spotted two baby elephants near the road. We stopped to click a few pictures of the same before moving on. We then stopped for dinner at a dhaba near Mysore and stayed there till about 1:30 chatting, listening to music and looking at photos before setting off for Bangalore again. While waiting for dinner to be served, we had a good laugh over a game of "Chinese Whispers". We reached Bangalore at about 4:30 AM where everyone bade their goodbyes at Majestic Station and the group dispersed.
My first trip with the Bangalore Ascenders will certainly go down in my memory lane as a trip to be remembered- thanks to all the wonderful people I met and Jinu’s skills as an organizer. I sure hope to meet some of them again on other interesting trips organized by the Ascenders. Cheers!
Visit our Group @ CLICK HERE
Written by: Sanjana
Event organized by: Jinu John
Image Galleries:Jinu, Faizal, Suhas, Gururaj, Rahul
We freshened up at the first smaller base..everybody enjoyed the rushing falls except me..Alas! I wasnt carrying extra pair of clothing..You all called me so many times to come inside water and I had to stay away from it..Missed it there.. The strides continued with trampling over dry leaves..I was slipping tad bit..soon I realized I do not have the right pair of shoes and it is going to be difficult further. I am glad I could be back to Bangalore with the same pair of shoes. Veeru the saviour never left me alone and thus I could keep up with my expeditions. Some time later we had breakfast guarding each pick towards the mouth from the monkeys. They were springing from one branch to another but we managed to quench our hunger and thirst by ditching them. Jinu and Veeu had by the time disappeared to discover route towards the main base. I have rightly names Veeru as Jungle Boy..he screeched like the monkeys and was as fast as them while crossing the grounds...amazing!! We embarked on the next part of the journey, to the main base of Kalahatti. It was a roller coaster..climbing, holding tree branches for support, guarding against rough bushes and a real tour towards the top. I do not know how many mini breaks I took along this path, but it was worth everytime..I ran short of breath, thanks to my sedentary life style back at Bangalore..promised myself..I would work to keep fit. 
The murmur of the stream gradually and eventually magnified into the beautiful sound and we knew we have reached Kalahatti. There were huge boulders strewn and one by one all of us resigned to one or the other to savour up some rest and sunlight. We did a lot of photo session over here..I posed a lot and assured myself..it was worth the ascend to view such a picaresque bounty of nature..We experienced leisure at the base with another round of water bath and sun bath. Little did I know that we would pick up the most alien route to descend after this.. 
Sunset from Raja's Bhawan was worth every drop of sweat that might have dripped across our faces on that day. I have never witnessed such mesmerising playfulness of colours while sun bids goodbye for the day. Dusk set in and we were suddenly not so tired for the day. I bet the most beautiful set of pictures from the albums of all of us belong to sunset on 26th evening. Kushal pushing the sun towards Srini's mouth, Kushal as statue of liberty, Remo, Srini, Aneesha and the rest of us lapped on every drop of sunset happiness at that moment. Soon after it was dinner time and veg thali seemed to be the best food in the world by then. By the time we had finished, another deadline, next day morning 5.30am, sunrise from Z point. I did not get enough time to curse Jinu on that...rushed and retired to room..luckily could charge my cell and camera for the next day. Nobody could tell at that time if sleeping was important or resting our legs and backs were even more important. No point on debating that.
was ready for the go..Hurriedly we readied up and the morning blanket of clouds was all set to embrace us. Briskly we reached the point to bless ourselves with the sunrise. Had we been even a little late, we would have missed it. For a while it was a hide and seek of the sun and then we finally caught good glimpse of it from different peaks of the Z point. This also consumed little bit more time than might have been thought of. So we returned back to guest house to fill ourselves with breakfast and then head towards Hebbe Falls...our last agenda of the tour.
making it difficult by the day we followed the trail lead by Jinu. He seemes to be vanished from time to time..I realized later on it was his usual way to search for a short cut to the ultimate destination. And what discoveries he made while on it!!! I descended in a tumbling fashion, all the while Veeru holding my hand and carrying my bag too. I was feeling as if I belong to a super heavy weight group of human being, forwarding each step was as heavy as the previous one. I wondered..have I expanded so much.......After a stark downhill and a gradual walk..we could hear the flow of the streams..there were 3...studded with small pebbles to moderately sized ones..we rolled up our tracks, folded our sleeves for one more time to wade through the clear water. I guess I was the last person from the team to reach the base of Hebbe. My feet were immensely paining by then, struck by pebbles so many times. So I decided to relax on the boulder lining for a while before plunging into the roaring water of the falls. It was astounding, tall, heavy and gorgeous. So I did not waste much time, quickly took some snaps and dipped myself into the water. I could soon join others in the game of splashing water at each other. Needless to say all handfuls were directed to me for most of the time. I was almost blinded by rushing water. Happy wanderers enjoyed solace in water.
smile of a wary but triumphant soldier was smeared on the face of everybody. We were a victorious troupe. We bid goodbye to Hebbe and our TT started to drive back. We had an early dinner at a Dhaba, relished the spicy curries and Naans. Reminisced all that have happened throughout the ridges and grooves of the journey and peacefully consumed the food. Since I had already accepted to do the write up, convoluted thoughts were making appearance in my mind. After a lot of tour and detour, dropping people to their respective locality, I was the 2nd last person left to be dropped at NGV. I felt like a satisfied trotter...brimming with stories to tell to my roommates..famished but still going great guns...Perhaps these 2 days have infused a different grade of power in me. I learnt so much from all you people...Jinu, Aneesha, Kushal, Kiran, Karthikeyan, Veeru, Srini, Sujeevan, Remo, Nitin, Meetu..the strength of sharing and caring and being together...We need this each instant of our lives..Hope to catch up with you all in some or the other sphere of life..Terrific team! 
