Introducing my Princess to Trekking #Embrace Nature

"Your chromosomes contain the blueprint for your body – your genes. Almost every cell in the human body contains a copy of this blueprint, mostly stored inside a special sac within the cell called the nucleus. Chromosomes are long strands of a chemical substance called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

A DNA strand looks like a twisted ladder. The genes are like a series of letters strung along each edge. These letters are used like an instruction book. The letter sequence of each gene contains information on building specific molecules (such as proteins or hormones – both essential to the growth and maintenance of the human body)"

Hey Nithin! Stop this non sense, what are you trying to tell now? Were you in hang over while writing this article? Dude this is a travel blog, not some science research blog to write all this... My friends shouted after reading the first paragraph of the article.

Oh sorry.. I was just trying to tell, some of the interests, features of parents would be inherited by children in the language of science ;).. lol..

My little princess sings along with her mother so easily, I wonder how could she learn them so quickly.. She would dance similar to her mother just looking at the mother's dance once.. My little princess showed interests in trekking, being close to nature after observing me, travelling with me so far.. Hence, decided to take her along when I go for treks or trips in the days to come.

Considering that, we went to Ulavi caves (Karwar-Dandeli) trek last weekend.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Depart from Bengaluru (Night) and reach Ulavi (Early morning)

Day 2: Fresh up, Breakfast, Trek to Caves (5 caves in this trip), Cross water streams, play with water under small falls, visit hanging bridge for beautiful sunset and pics.

Day 3: Start with a sunrise from bridge, Visit war ship museum, Explore rock garden at Karwar, Beach side trek to reach Black sand beach at Karwar.

Day 4: Depart from Karwar (Night), reach Bengaluru with loads of memories (Early morning).

Since this was a last minute plan, we joined other bunch of trekkers, for this trip rather than planning and executing ourselves.

Day 1:

Freshen up at Jagajyothi Basaveshwara Bhavana, guest house Ulavi. We were given 3 rooms (2 for boys, 1 for girls) for a total of 24 people.

Home cooked food (Avalakki/Poha) was served for breakfast. Hot and yummy for a morning kick start. Curd was optional for those who liked to have.

We started our journey through normal Jeep and open jeep. We took normal jeep initially to reach start point for the trek.

Once we reached start point, we were informed that its journey through the dense forest nevertheless need not worry about wild animals, as there were no dangerous wild animals in that forest apart from us (I mean humans!).

All the journey was under the shade of huge trees in the forest, mostly along the river on one side. We never felt the heat of the sun most of the trek. It was almost cool, breezy feeling even with scorching sun out there while we were walking through the forest. It was a great experience for all of us, specially my kid who was into forest for the forest time.

Looking at so many types of trees, different varieties of rocks and all new people around she was in her own world. I let her to come at her own pace and was shouting Moana, Moana to ensure she is just behind me and I stay within her reach.

She used to come along with others, clicking pics, telling stories of her own in her own style, building up rapport with the fellow travelers.

4 Caves (Akala Gavi, Panchalingeshwara Gavi, Vibhuti Kanaja, Akka nagammana Guhe) were part of initial stretch while the big and famous cave (Mahamane Guhe) was part of second stretch post lunch.

Akala Gavi - Small one, just a trailer

Panchalingeshwara Gavi - There is a Shivalinga inside this cave

Vibhuti Kanaja - This is a picturesque cave, looks like someone created this for photography

Akka nagammana Guhe - This is slightly difficult cave to explore as we need to crawl through the cave to get inside and explore. We will have a nice view from inside the cave for taking pics.

After all these caves, we will reach a road way where we will be served with lunch. We were given nice Pulav, with delicious raitha. Though food looks less, its sufficient as need to continue main trek post lunch. We were again taken in open jeep to reach second start point after lunch.

This is slightly difficult stretch and includes a walk of 4+4 km to and fro. Though we were informed that its a easy trek, I strongly believe its not recommended for kids and risky for elders too. I want to highlight this to my fellow travelers about the same. Last 10% of the stretch before we reach Mahamane Guhe, its a risky portion. We did not complete this last portion and was satisfied with what ever done so far. Returned to have bath under the chilling streams which we crossed before reaching here.

After taking bath and playing in this small streams, we started to walk back. From the second start point, we were taken to Hanging bridge in the 2 jeeps which we boarded in the morning to start with.

We spent the evening taking some selfies, pics of the Kali river and beautiful sky during the sunset.

It just gave us the relaxing time required to wind up our day with peace.

We returned back to same guest house where we freshen up in the morning to pack and leave for Dinner.

They had ordered for Chapati meals (unlimited) for dinner which was well deserved for all of us who had a busy day walking, trekking along the dense forest.

After the dinner, we started to drive towards Karwar (2 hours) where our night stay was booked (Hotel Navaratna).

Everyone just landed in their dreams after checking into their rooms after tiresome day.

Day 2:

Started our day at 05:30 am, as we wanted to witness the sunrise over Kali river standing on the Bridge. The view point was hardly 4 km (or 10 in drive) from our stay.

We all just walked from one end of the bridge to another, waiting for sunrise, some were busy clicking pics and some were chit chatting.

We were able to enjoy sunrise at around 07:15 or 07:20 am. After that we moved towards Hotel Ratna Sagar (Udupi veg restaurant)

Then, we returned back to Hotel for fresh up and by 10 am, started towards the below one after the another (Rest of the places to cover for Day 2)

1. War ship museum: Could see the complicated and complex mechanisms employed in war ships during those days. Clicked some pics for the memory.

2. Rock Garden: Artists have filled life in the rocks sculptured in this garden, every status looked real and posted many here for your views.

3. Black sand Beach: Similar to Gokarna beach trek, we started from one beach point to reach Black sand beach in the afternoon. This time we felt the heat of the sun and still was able to make, as it was not that long walk or trek under the hot sun.

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Had lunch at Udupi veg hotel, on the way back to hotel.

We checked out after the fresh up and packing, To start our journey back to Bengaluru with lots of memories to remember or cherish.

During our way back, we were introduced to a new game which can be played and enjoyed when we have a big group like this. It was named - 'Mafia'.

Once we started to play this game, time just flies and stopped for Dinner at 'Nisagra Hotel'. Staff were very courteous (needs a special mention) food was delicious too.

This was a trip to remember forever, as this was my princess first trek. She was introduced to being close to nature.

First trip, first trek, first solo journey anything that is first is always remembered for long time in anyone's life.

If my article reminded you of your 'First', feel free to share with me in comments or by texting me on my number. Even I will feel satisfied, happy and content.