Have you ever been to Kodachadri Hills in Karnataka. Despite from the usual path here is an adventure route to these hills through the forest areas of mookambika wildlife sanctuary, for the people who loves adventure trekking, waterfalls and rock climbing. The nature has provided every aspects in these region to seek and feel the wonder
As usual the journey to Kodachadri starts from mookambika temple, kollur. Tourists are carried in jeeps from kollur to the Kodachadri Hills which is of 38km and will take up to 1.5 hours to reach its base. This journey invites you to a adventure off-road drive, which would possibly give you a real time adventure experience. The passengers have to pay 350INR per person and a single jeep could carry only up to 8-10 passengers at a time.
"NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM HEALTH ISSUES AND SENIOR CITIZEN"
Now comes the real wonder. Are you fed up of paying much amount to the jeeps and wasting your time for an off-road adventure. Here I gave to you an unexplored path to the hills in a low budget especially for backpackers. With just 1500INR.
The journey starts from the mookambika, kollur. As planned for a low budget trip, have your breakfast from a restaurant near the mookambika temple and buy the necessary water and food to carry for the trekking. As the usual way to Kodachadri there are jeeps from kollur which cost 350INR per person, get on to a jeep and ask the driver to drop you at the waterfall spots instead of usual path to Kodachadri. Or approach a bus from kollur - Valur which cost only less than 100INR per person.
If you travel by bus through the kollur- Nagara road, Ask the bus conductor to drop you after Nittur (the usual jeep route to Kodachadri). When you reach at the spot you will find a road to the right side with a direction board to Kodachadri which is up to 16km from the bus stop.
The jeeps will go as usual through these routes, despite of going to the straight road to Kodachadri take a right turn to an unmeteled road just after 5km from the main road to Kodachadri. This road is easy to spot because it's near the primary school to the left side and a big tree to the right of the road. Take the diversion along the side of the tree.
At the end of the road you will reach at Karnataka forest range office, the guards will search your bags and plastic bottles are allowed only after payment for each bottle you carry. To enter the wildlife sanctuary you will have to pay 35INR per head.
Here starts the adventure, the path thorough the forest areas of mookambika wildlife sanctuary is a breathtaking experience. You will have to cross a paddy field to enter the forest regions of mookambika.
As you entered the forest region, you will spots the water streams flowing over it, you could fill your bottles from here. As you walk over the first spot you will reach a small pond like structure with water inflow. You could take a bath from here.
Ater the refreshment, walk over the cutted path thorough these forest. You will have to climb the rocks, skid over the mud, etc to reach the next spot. The adventure journey through these path will give you a life time experience. As you walk you will reach the second spot, the first water fall probably smallest one you could find in this path.
The time taken for you to reach each spots will depend on your stamina and strength. Normally it's just take 1- 1.5 hours for you to reach each spots. The walk over these regions are dangerous and adventurous. Next come our big giant, as u walk you will find the final waterfall the biggest one in this region. It's a beautiful view just beneath the waterfall. You could bath from it and enjoy the cold water splashing over your body.
Just after these waterfall, you will have to climb up through the side of this last waterfall to the hills of Kodachadri. Now it's time for your body to get some sunlight, as you climb the falls you will reach over the hills. These are adventurous hills, also too dangerous because of steep slopes and risky path to walk over. It will take more than 3 hours for you to reach these hills from the forest regions.
Now a long journey awaits you to the hills of Kodachadri. It will take more than 6 hours for you to reach at the top of Kodachadri Hills and sarvanja peedam.
If you start your journey by 9 you could reach the base hills by 2pm. You could take a rest after your climbs and have your lunch and food. It's better not to fill your stomach with so much food.
From the base camp it will take at least 1.5 hours to climb and reach the peak of Kodachadri hills, where the Sarvanja peedam exist. If you start by 4:30 you could reach the top by 5:30 or 6pm. This path is so adventurous and risky too. The way ensures you beautiful scenery and you could pose for photos form this hills because it gives a good background beauty.
At the top you could spend some time meditating by sitting on Sarvanja peedam, where you could find some peace for your mind. And you could relax and feel worthy while u reach on top. Sarvanja peedam is a historical monument where the south Indian monk Aadi Sankara meditated on these hills. There is a statue of him crafted inside the temple in Sarvanja peedam. If you reach by 5:30pm you could spot and enjoy a beautiful sunset from the hills top view point.
While you return from the hills grab a jeep from the base which will cost 250INR per person for the return. The jeep will drop you at kollur mookambika where you start the journey.
Safe Journey!!!