Kodachadri - 10th highest peak of Karnataka, India.

Having given you the taste of Sunrise trek to Skandagiri in my previous blog, I thought I should give you the feeling of a sunset trek to Kodachadri peak.  As it was cloudy except sunset I enjoyed the rest of the trekking.  I am appending herein below a table which is giving the peaks in Karnataka and their height in metres.

Please note that this was the trek undertaken on 29.2.2020.

 

Sl No.	Name of the Peak	Height in Metres
1	Mullayanagiri	1930
2	Kudremukh	1894
2	Bababudangiri ranges	1894
3	Tadiandamol	1748
4	Pushpagiri or Kumaraparvata	1712
5	Merthi Gudda	1676
6	Kotebetta	1620
7	Brahmagiri	1608
8	Nandi Hills	1478
9	Himavada Gopalakrishna	1450
9	Skandagiri	1450
10	Kodachadri	1343

 

In my personal opinion, I wish to exclude Bababudangiri ranges, Nandi Hills and Himavada Gopalakrishna from the trekking point of view.  The reason behind, anyone can reach these places in the comfort of a car.  Since two years now only public transport by KSRTC is allowed for Himavada Betta.  Kodachadri and Mullayanagiri peaks are unique in their own way.  Both these places can be reached maximum by Jeep and Car respectively.  A 500 flat steps will take me to Mullayanagiri and a moderate climb of 160 metres in an hour to Kodachadri peak.  The thrill lies in covering the peak by trek that gives the beauty of these peaks via dense forests.  Naturally I preferred to scale the peak “Kodachadri” entirely by trek.  The added advantage is the magnificent view of Hidlumane falls in the settings of just a dense forest.

 

How to get there?

 

Kodachadri is in western ghat in whose foothill is the famous Kollur Mookambika temple.  To start the trek you have to reach Kattinahole.    Kattinahole can be reached from Shimoga via Nagara.  It is 21 kilometres from Nagara fort.  From Kollur mookambika temple, it is 46 kilometres via Nittur.  Be assured beyond Kattinahole, only Jeep is the mode of transport.  The Jeeps are charging Rs.700 ($10) per person to and fro up-to Mookambika Moolakshetra , incidentally where the Government’s Kodachadri Information Bureau is situated.  There are three trekking routes to Kodachadri.

1.      Fool proof jeep road from Kattinahole

2.      Via Hotel Santhosh Valuru

3.      Via Hidlumane falls from Kattinahole.

 

Please avoid the first route, as it is a mud road and you will suffocate with fine red sand dust before you reach the Information Bureau every time a jeep crosses.  During monsoon, it will be slippery and advisable to take precautions.  Don’t even think of trying your SUV unless it is a jeep to test this road, your end result will be disastrous. 

Second one 5.5 kilometres from main road to Hotel Santhosh and further 4 kilometres via dense forest.  Without a seasoned guide never undertake this route, the chances of getting lost is certain.

 

Third one 10 kilometres from Kattinahole to peak via Hidlumane falls.  Comparatively this is safer than Hotel Santhosh route, as the paths are very clear even though thorough dense forest.  A good health with strength to scale 750 metres one way with a distance spread of 10 kilometres is the third route.

 

There are plenty of home stays at Kattinahole, whose owners obliged for a nominal fee with a guide service.  My personal advise out of experience is don’t take the trips from outside places as they reach Kattinahole normally by morning and immediately one has to start the trek without a proper overnight sleep. 

 

Importance of the Place :

 

The tenth highest peak is the prime importance with a vantage point for both sun rise and sun set makes this place little more special than other peaks.  The Kollur Mookambika Moolakshetra temple, just at the last jeep stop, was legendarily established by Shankaracharya some 2500 years ago.  Further ahead at the peak he did meditation which is known as Shankaracharya Sarvagna Peeta.  This is where the peak lies.  Most of the people whoever comes to Kollur Mookambika temple,  normally visit this peeta also by covering the distance by Jeep till Information Bureau.   This is typical Shola Forest at the top and dense forest en route.  There is also a Chitramoola Cave beyond the Peeta which is 300 metres down from where the Kollur Mookambika temple is visible. 

 

My experience:

 

My trek started with a regular group, which is the order of the day.  We have freshened up in a home stay after reaching there in the early morning.  We started after having our breakfast and with lunch pack at around 0800 hours.  We have to first report to Forest Department check post which is the entry point for Jeeps shuttling throughout the day from dawn to dusk.  The forest department do their best to check thoroughly and individually for any plastic items, disposable plastic juice bottles, etc.  Any regular plastic bottles for water should be counted and given to them in a slip and you will be permitted to leave only after reconfirming those items with the slip.  Though this takes half an hour, still from the environment point of view it is better.

 

 

The forest department checkpost for both anti poaching and plastic pollution, where we have to obtain the clearance to enter the trek.  The way to the forest department cool mud road fit for jeeps.

 

The trek almost started at around 0900 hours in a moderately steep valley cuddled in the dense western ghat forest.  Trees that requires a minimum of four to five people to connect the bottom girth hand to hand are so common.   The chirping of the insects and wild flowers is there for your company till the first mini village. 

 

The wayside till the first village is full of Bay Leaf tree and Kewda giving you an aroma to improve your will and stamina.  After climbing over the tree roots as steps many a times we are finally reached the place a mini village having a jaggery making industry from sugar cane and a small petty shop for a tea and snacks.  By the time we reached this place, 75 minutes were spent.   Then we started our hiking further with the stream from the falls as our company to our right side.  It is a pleasant walk rather than hiking per se. 

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The smell of jaggery being made is to be felt which is a remote chance for city folks and it instantly brings back the village days.   The shop is having all kind of snacks and tea after a two hour moderate hiking from where the Hidlumane falls is hardly a km.

 

     

 

While I appreciate the steps taken by the forest department to avoid plastics, I am sorry to state that this shop sells all types of disposable plastic juice sachets which is not accounted for in totally avoiding the plastic pollution.   Being a responsible trekker, many takes care that they are not throwing the same on the way in the forest.  After my seeing the Malabar Squirrel at Thirunelly four years before this is the second time I am lucky to have this sight once again.  Literally it was waiting for my snap and then it vanished in no time.

 

Then we finally reached the Hidlumane falls.  It is the natural stream from a height of around 100 metres in several cascade falling in a plain path which we have to cross to continue our real trekking literally on the stones at 60 to 70 degree steep.  Few snaps of the falls are appended.  Being February the water was very cold and few have taken a bath too. 

           

 

Another 200 metres of height the real stamina testing climb is waiting.  At the end you will be reaching the bald shola forest peak with literally no shadow anywhere in between till you reach Kodachadri peak.  The only welcome change is a small stream which forms the falls as one of the tributaries and the shadow near it for a break.  This perfectly coincides with our lunch time a much needed break from non-stop climbing. A glimpse of the route and the bald stretch of shola forest.

                         

The view of the small hamlet from this height is visible as a tiny dot.  The lush miniature forest which is our lunch place and also the view of the stream between stones to collect water for further trekking.  All the water exhausted due to the barren stretch of shola forest which is dry in February and steep climbing.  The gate way climb to the barren stretch is almost noon. After this climb just hot sun for your company till lunch that too for a while only.

             

 

Now after a climb we reach midway of the Jeep Track which is sufficient in places for just a jeep.  We have to continue our trek in this steep but dust road for a couple of Kilometres which is a cake walk but for the scorching sun.  Even here sometimes there is just sufficient for one person to walk with deep gorge on left and jeep road to your right little below.  It is a thrill even to walk in this stretch sometimes and no regret whatsoever.  Unlike regular trekking and watching nature together, it is not possible to do both at times.  Either walk carefully or stand and watch the nature in between but don’t do together which is at your life risk.

Finally to reach the Karnataka Government Guest house foot hills which is incidentally also the last parking place for Jeeps which travels 10 kms of serpentine mud road and fully soaked in find sand dust.   Here lies the Devi temple originally established by Shankracharya 2400 years ago.  The iron trishul here is the standing proof for the advanced levels of metallurgy because it is rust proof even today in its original status.   This trishul is used by the Deity to kill Mookasuran demon is the legend.  

    

 

Now comes the final climb plain walk but steep incline with just enough space for one person at times.   It is almost quarter past three when the start of the new trek is about to start.  Now between a valley you have to climb up and then circumventing your right side hill you reach the foot hill and dilapidated fort just below shankaracharya temple.   If you take a left side hill it will lead you to the sunset point from where you can see the Orange Sun setting amidst the cascade of hills and peaks below you.   Another 15 minutes moderate hiking will take you to the peak.   Here lies the Shankaracharya temple.  The majority of the route is almost a cliff hanger and at the same time worth the pain taken to see the beautiful lush western ghats as far as your eyes can travel.   It takes around 45 minutes to reach and return also almost same time due to twin reason of tiredness and small paths.

                                                                                          

     The dilapidated temple which is more than thousands of years old is well protected by iron rails in the back and it is lying in an elevated platform.  

 

Behind this rails further one feet path leads you to BSNL tower at 500 metres and further 300 metres down trek takes you to Chitramoola Cave.   The trek to this place down and climbing up needs enormous stamina in a single day and is probably possible if we come uphill by Jeep upto Guest house then just half an hour is sufficient to reach this temple.  Another three hours of trek will fulfil your desire to visit the cave.  Next time I will surely visit this cave and bring you my travelogue for enjoying. 

By the time we returned to the temple with the iron trishul, it was almost 1630 hours in the evening.  After a light fruit drink and snacks, having exhausted all our energy, we completed our return trip by Jeep.  

 

The photo below shows the path while circumventing the hill while going to Shankaracharya Hill. Just a feet and half breadth one side the gorge and other side six feet deep culvert by rain water.