OG - Ombattu Gudda, the name depicts a very mysterious and mystic atmosphere to me. The first time I heard about this place, never thought, someday I would able to plan to go to this place. I am really thankful to my friend Srivatsa Karnam who used to keep telling me about this place. I have been planing to trek here since 2012, ban made it difficult. Even till date this trek is banned by forest department due to accidents happen during the treks.
My plan came up like this. During Karnataka Tiger Census Dec 2013, I meet with a researcher named Pritham, who has been researching on fishes around the streams of Kabinale forest. He gave me the contacts of a villager with whom I decided to trek. His name is Shankar. Shankar was not quite conversant with the path, so he took one more guy along with us to guide this trek.
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The team - from left behind: Saswata, Anil, our 2nd guide and Sachin. from left front: Subodh, myself, Jijo,
our first guide Shankar, Anurag, Gautam and Pramodh |
1st Day - We reached Addahole village, the trek start point in the darkness. We went to Shankar's house and finished our morning activities. Soon we went to the ranger's office nearby to get a permission and after a bit discussion we were on our way to OG. All of us were happy that we got the permission. But we never felt that we are not going to OG.
By 8 we finished our breakfast and started the trek from Addahole village. Initial one and half to two hours we kept walking on a trail inside the thick forest, Kabinale river was on the other side of the trail. Then slowly we reached the Kabinale river bed and now it was walk parallel to Kabinale river.
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| Deepadakallu.... |
As soon as we reached the Kabinale river we halted for a while. Took little rest, clicked few photographs and moved on. Next part of the trek was parallel to Kabinale river.
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A short walk on Kabinale river.....I must come back here during rainy season to witness
the dangerous beauty of this place. |
It was an awesome trek. The forest path was decorated with dry leafs and there was no shortage of water since we were walking alongside the river. And most of the places were filled with wild fragrant. This rejuvenates the mind and soul.
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| We reached the campsite @ 3:30 PM |
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This is the place where the student from BMS college got drowned which created a stumbling
block for all the trekkers.. |
Both the guides suggested us to not to venture down this waterfall. Quickly all of us took a dip into the stream. And it was really refreshing. We had a great time there. Most of us was into the water for long time like as long as we can. And then started all the issues. Shankar told us tomorrow we go back along the same path. All of us got a lifetime shock. As per my discussion we were supposed to climb go to OG range and exit from somewhere. After a long discussion and suggestions finally both the guides got ready to climb towards OG (although it was not). All of us were happy that, somehow we will make it to OG.
We cooked Kichdi, ate nicely and slept off.
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| It was indescribable....camping under the glowing stars studded dark sky...lovely... |
2nd Day - Last night it was an amazing sleep. Like never slept for a long time. At least I felt like that. After finishing all the blah blah stuff we were ready to march by 8 AM.
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| Ready to march on... |
As per our suggestion and interests our guide started heading towards OG range. But OG range was somewhere the opposite direction. Initially very very thick forest and then steep climb. Almost like Jumanji. Hold the trees and move up that was the mantra.
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| A halt and quick refreshment before reaching the grassland... |
And soon we were about to reach the top.
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| Golden crowned mountain tops under the deep blue sky......just mesmerizing! |
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| That the beauty of this "Mayabi"Western Ghats during Summer......really attractive.... |
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| From the Green to the Golden beauty... |
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| Deepadakallu lurking..... |
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| Beauty to wade through........ |
After reaching the grassland we started negotiating with the guide so that he takes us to OG side, but alas, did not work out at all. Lots and lots of discussions and phone calls but finally in vain. But anyway we were happy that we could at least reached out to the top and scaled through the beauty. And we were to go back through the same path.
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| And the descend started.... |
Around 2 PM we were down.
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| and continued the trek parallel to Kabinale river.. |
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| By 6:30 PM we were out of the jungle....... |
Although we could make it to OG but going to this forest for the first time was really a great experience.
Photo Link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/117144221978749494916/TrekToOGRange
