Kumara Parvatha Trekking ( Pushpagiri Trekking )

                                      Kumara Parvatha Trekking  ( Pushpagiri Trekking )

 INTRODUCTION:

In the world of trekking you would have heard the name Kumara Parvata being mentioned often. Considered among the toughest treks in South India which is also called Pushpagiri Wildlife sanctuary or Pushpagiri trekking. Western ghat section consists of this Pushpagiri Wildlife sanctuary above Kukke Subramanya Temple, Which is very famous temple around the area.

OUR TREKKING DETAILS:

Our team Dashavatar consists of 10 people from different IT companies (All my friends from PU ,Engineering , Office etc ). I should mention their names here (Nick names also :P) .

1. Vinayak - Maani the leader

2. Vipin Shetty - Tough Guy

3. Praveen AD - Innocent chilli

4. Vignesh  - Hulk KG

5. Sandesh - Hunger Master

6. Manju - RVCE Nikon

7. Manju Halemane - Slim Man

8. Vigneshwar - Fast and Furious

9. Prashant - Late Arrival

10. Vinod Singh - Vinci Boy

PRE-REQUESITE ITEMS FOR TREKKING:

1. 2 Liter Water

2. Bag (Big One preferably trekking/hiking bag -- Decathlon have good collection)

3. Knife ( to cut fruits ,don’t expect this for any attack against ANIMALS )

4. Torch (Very Important )

5. Umbrella ( Rain will start at any moment )

6. Matchbox

7. Bed sheet

8. 2 set of clothes (take 3/4ths)

9. shoe/slippers (Shoe will get ripped off after this trekking, better to have slippers also )

10. Books tickets

11. Apples/Oranges/Breads/Biscuits/Glucose As per your wish.

12. Leeches repellent - take tobacco or calcium carbonate (Chunna )

13. Cap and pullovers for protection from cold.

14. First Aid Medical Kit

15. Fevi quick for any shoe damage

There are two paths to reach the top:
1. A 1 day trek via Somwarpet which is the easier route (approx 7 kms)
2. A 2 day trek via Kukke Subramanya which is a more difficult route (approx 13 kms).

 

We choose the 2nd one which is toughest one . 

We started preparing plan for trekking almost 2 weeks before the day. Below items were compulsory for every one bring on their own. Finally after spending almost 200 mins of talk time in TATA DOCOMO network finally 10 people were in for trekking. We joined in KSRTC bus stand in majestic and started to travel in normal bus at 9:30 PM 25th Oct 2013 Friday night.

Temple in Night

Reached Kukke Subramanya between 4:30 on Saturday morning. At about 5:30 AM after freshening up, and a quick breakfast, we started to the trail head, a quarter kilometer long walk away from the Kukke Subramanya temple. At first we couldn’t find proper way to start our trekking, but with the help of some BUMPKINS finally we found the way. We began the first phase of our trek to Bhattara Mane. The trail is a well trod one, and continues for a good 7 kilometers uphill, through thick jungle (Expect leeches of different sizes). You know that you're nearing Bhattara mane when the jungle starts growing thinner and the incline becomes less demanding. The trail eventually opens out onto hilly grassland. We covered this distance within 2 and half hours (which is really good ) !! Dashavatar team roczz !! . Way is too sloppy and full of only rocks ,it looks like all rain water is only going through the way. Which makes our trekking in sloppy watery rocky path. We got a BIG ROCK before Bhatramane which we called BIMANA BANDE (Rock of Bhima ).

Finally we reached Bhattara mane and we realized that still too much distance left for the top peak. We were already out of strength and energy. Our stamina was diminishing and were completely tired. But we got clear holy cold water in Bhattara mane, after drinking that water we got immense amount of energy and we completely restored back. We asked Bhatru to prepare food for us and it was ready. We ate our lunch at 10 AM (Brunch like a lunch ). Took almost 1 hour rest and again started climbing the hills after Bhattara mane. Here we reached to the first viewpoint. A few minutes to stand in awe (and to click a few pictures) of the majesty of the mountain you are about to conquer and we hit the trail to the Forest Department. Officials were very good in nature and they clearly explained about the trekking to Kumara Parvata Peak and also provided MAP of the location. We paid 200 per head (2000 Rs ) to forest officials as entrance fee ( they gave the receipt :) ). Below is the map for your reference:

 

We saw Viewpoint 2 and took many photos and rest there. Incline of the trail begins to increase gradually until it remains at a constant angle of about 45-55 degrees with hilly grassland. After about an hour of tough trekking , we reached the Mantapa, an ancient black stone structure where we had our first major respite. We ate some breads/fruits. Took some 10 mins of awesome rest in which we restored our energy partially. The trek from this point onwards involves unrelenting inclines with a series of false peaks which will trick you into thinking you are almost on top of Sesha Parvata (The first main peak before Kumara Parvata). Many people in our team were already tired and thought enough of this stupidity, will go back, we have done enough trekking for next 10 incarnations (Janma ) . But finally two enthuse Vigneshwar and vipin decided to check another peak which is top peak. We descend Sesha parvata into another jungle, very different (Shorter but dense vegetation) from the first one near Kukke Subramanya. We saw something like this dense forest with mist/dew/fog first time in our life and it was astonishing. We all took dozens of photos there and we got to drink flowing water which is so pure and cold, we got mesmerized and drank lot hell of water. 

Dense Fog/dew/mist mixed view

This stretch traverses along a saddle formed between Sesha Parvata and Kumara Parvata. You will see a very big black rock which is slimy and slippery in monsoon time. You need to travel on this without making any mistake and one mistake costs you at least one life ! BE CAREFUL TREKKING BUDDIES! . The final patch will require you to scramble up steep sections of boulders and rock faces until it levels out onto flat ground - a sign that you have reached the summit of Kumara Parvata. With low clouds and absolute silence, the feel of the place is simply divine. We completed our formal namaskara and all traditional things we follow to our god SHIVA and started to descending by almost 3 : 30 PM. We had intention of reaching Bhattara mane before dark and before cloud cover sets in - Two natural hazards that we want to completely avoid. We reached Bhattara mane in time at almost 6:30 PM and it was dark night there.

Here comes the big decision by the group DASHAVATAR.

we thought that its not compatible to sleep in Bhattara mane and decided to get down to Kukke subramanya. Also we had planned to get some rooms down in the town. We had almost 5 torch lights and 10 mobile phone torch/flash lights. So this night trekking was good decision when we started from Bhattara mane. When just came top of the small hill nearby Bhattara mane and we couldn’t find any specific route to go down. We were completely in dilemma and couldn’t find the way to go down. Finally decided to go through one way and finally we were in right track. We could recognize some Stones and USE ME dust bins :) . So see properly everything, open your eyes when you are going/doing trekking , indirectly helped us to reach kukke subramanya. Reached down with shivering legs, couldn’t put legs properly. Finally we reached down and slept almost 30 mins on damber ROAD!!! God we couldn’t give side to autos moving nearby.

Our energetic heroes (Manju, Vignesh, Vipin ) searched room and we got it hopefully for cheap price of 1300 Rs for a day for 10 guys. We took bath and slept like king in normal villa. After sleep, when we opened our eyes felt very good and tried to wake up !! there comes trouble. Whole body was paining like hell! and couldn’t walk properly. However somehow we went to Kukke subramanya temple after cleanse of whole painful body. We took almost 1 hour to complete all procedures inside temple (Prasadam , God Darshan etc ).

We went to Mysore Cafe Sagar hotel to eat and taste well. All went fine and we were ready to travel back to bangalore. Headed back to bangalore after 2 days of trekking and awesome experience to remember, cherish memories throughout our life time.

A big hand to All 10 guys :) I am proud of you!

DONE GUYS DONE!!

Overall Kumara Parvata makes for an amazing trekking experience and should be on your ‘to-do-treks’ list if you intend to take up trekking seriously. But not advised for physically unfit people.

Please go through below photos for scenery and natural beauty.  

 

Starting from our room with Viggy

Our team but Manju is missing here

One after the other hill is showing up !!

Pose for photo

Water is precious ! Carry it properly ! Sandesh your jokes were awesome :)

Maga Yako yavaglu ee innocent look !

Manju Halemane

Man of the trek goes two people ! Vignesh and Vipin .

Final Destination .

Dude you are in GE !

Flower which was showing up everywhere !

See the blue shade on petals !

Separation point between Kodagu and Dakshina kannada District.

You will sleep like this in KSRTC BUS after trekking ! Its me however and photo was taken by my good friends :)

 
All the best for your future trekking ! GOOD LUCK GUYS !!
we referred the below blog before traveling to this place . Please go through this blog also, it will help for sure !
http://blog.shuva.in/index.php?entry=entry130101-163824