Gadaikallu trek

Gadaikallu 

My First trekking experience way back in 2009 and I am writing about it in 2014.! I don't need to dig into memory to recall all that happened in the trek but definitely need to dig into my HDD for the photos. :)

In our entire group none of them had a camera and the best camera was a 2MP camera in the cell phone. However, to carry memories you don't need a camera. We were all not that serious about trekking etc when we went there and it was just for fun and a new experience we went for the trek. With no idea about trekking, had not carried enough water and all we had is half litre water per person for entire trek!

With some extra pounds and fat in body, I was the slowest to trek and I was the one who found it difficult to trek through even though its not a tough path. But, somewhere I still feel nice about my first trek when I look back.

Gadaikallu is one of the few trekking places available in Dakshina Kannada district and is present in Belthangady Taluk. The place is also called as Jamalabad fort as the rock and the fort is named by Tippu sulthan after he conquered it. Most part of the trek route, steps are present and some feel it as an advantage but I would say they hurt your knee since the height of each step is too much.. 

Gadaikallu gives a pretty decent trekking experience and definitely can visit once if you are near by. During summer scorching sun burns you and hence going early morning is preferred. Also, Carry enough water. (After this trek, the first thing i make sure in every trek is to have enough water :P and this is what I mainly learnt from the trek :) )

How to reach?

Even though own vehicle is most convenient option to visit this place, there are buses available from Belthangady to Manjotti. But frequency of buses is very low.

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Sita Fall / Kudlu Theertha

Sitha falls or Kudlu theertha

If you are searching for places around Udupi or Manipal then this is one of the best for a day out.

It was when I was doing my Masters in Manipal University when we had a long gap between exams and nothing to do, we decided to go Sita falls which is a near by place. It was in long time in pending list and just wanted to visit the place.

Frequency of my nature visits, trekking, ride everything had come down once I went to Manipal and this mini trek was something I was waiting for too long.

This nature visit involves 3-4 Kms of moderate trek in forest and a visit to falls.

Best time to visit - Monsoon and Post monsoon i.e. July to December.

How to reach?

From Bangalore (Would say not worth to travel all the way from Bangalore to see this place since you have better options around.)

Reach Udupi or Karkala from Bangalore. If you are in either of the two places, then reach Hebri - (Enough private buses ply via Hebri). Hire an Auto/Taxi from Hebri to Kudlu. If you are hiring a vehicle, then ask him to wait for you to return since you will not get any vehicle to return.

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Maklidurga Trek

Maklidurga Trek

One of the most economical trek I have ever been! Thanks to Indian railways for cheapest fare between any places!

Maklidurga is around 60 Kms from Bangalore and provides not so great but a decent trekking experience. The view is just normal if you have been to treks around Bangalore earlier. If you go by train(I would suggest you to go by train. In less than 150 rs you will be done with your one day outing including the expenses of chips and coca cola you buy! Yes sounds crazy but it really does.)

Its about 1.5 hrs journey from Bangalore to Maklidurga station in train. Trek includes 2 kms walk in railway track till the base of Maklidurga. Its little confusing in the beginning since there is no clear marking or path towards the peak. If you are visiting for the first time and in confusion, then better ask some localities or any other group for the route. We missed it and hence had walked extra 2 miles in hot sun.!

Overall a decent get away near Bangalore if you love trekking and most importantly if its a month end and you have an empty pocket but your heart is not letting you cover the blanket and sleep on a particular weekend, then this is the place which would solve your purpose.!

How to reach?

By Train - Train starts from Yashwanthpur station at about 8.00am. Destination is Maklidurga railway station. Walk towards Maklidurga hill for 2 Kms and you are at the base of Maklidurga.

Return train is available at 4.30. (However, the day we went train had come only at 5.45..)

If you happen to trek back to base early, I would suggest to return by road since there is no point in waiting for train for too long.

Best Time - I had been there during summer. Not much forest around so all would change with season is the weather only and not scenery. Would be better during monsoon but definitely not great even during monsoon.

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Amboli and Swapnaveil

Swapnaveil -

 A difficult to reach place, but all good things in life are not easy to obtain and so is this heaven.

No proper approach road, no proper sign boards leading to the place but an excellent show arranged for you by nature. (But only for a limited period in a year. i.e. during monsoon - from July - October)

What do you get to see in Swapnaveil?

A few small falls and an excellent view of forest/Ghat section from a cliff. We visited the place during monsoon and it was an out of the world experience here.

Most of the people here do not really know the place. Even the taxi driver did not know this place and the place was suggested to me by a friend of mine. A must visit kind of place but only if you are here during monsoon.

Amboli -

A very famous tourist attraction in Karnataka - Maharashtra border area. A nice place to take get refreshed under falls. Even if you are not a water lover, you will love to see the falls in a scenic foreground.

Mist is what adds to the beauty of both the places.

Can plan as given below -

1 - Visit Amboli and feel refreshed in the falls, have a nature watch at all nature watch spots near by.

2 - Visit Hiranyakeshi (A small cave which gives birth to a river. Nice one to visit once since its nearby)

3 - Visit Swapnaveil

4 - Visit Thillari falls if time permits (I have not visited the place since we did not have time to visit.)

How to reach?

Hiring a taxi or own vehicle are the only 2 options if you want to cover all the above places.

(While hiring taxi, please confirm with the taxi guys about the Maharastra state tax to be paid. Some arrange taxi without any extra charges so do confirm before hand. )

Public transport is available to Amboli but not so frequent. No public transport available to Thillari and Swapnaveil.

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