I rushed up to the near by ATM to withdraw few hundreds. Prasoon, Dinesh and Kishore were waiting for me on the other side of the road. We four shared three seated auto rickshaw and reached Poornima Taravels which was near by Anand Rao Circle. Everyone gathered at Poornima Travels at 10.30 pm. Our team strength stood up to seventeen. As soon as we get into the bus, I occupied the window seat. I went to deep sleep as soon as I propped up against the push back seat. A Soughing wind disturbed my deep sleep very often. Every one started greeting Prasana and Santhosh when the clock struck 12. I too joined the greeting rally and smeared the cake on both of their faces. We all sang birthday song and after that every one went for sleep.
We reached Madikiri at 6.30 am. It is the capital of Coorg District and it is also known as Mercara. Coorg is popularly known as Scotland of India. The language spoken here is kodava. This language doesn’t have written script. Kodava language is one among the 27 Dravidian Languages. I had Coorg Coffee and most of my colleagues still preferred tea. While sipping the frothy coffee, I noticed a black Maruthi Esteem passed by, “Proud to be Kodava” slogan was written on its rear mirror. There is no doubt in there boast, India’s first Army General Kariyappa hails from this place and most of the young men from this village make a way to Army and making a real pride to their people. Meanwhile, sturdy porters unloaded the luggage from our bus. Driver started the bus and made two big peeps, we all got into the bus. Our adventuring camp location was based in Kakkabe.
The way to Kakkabe was very narrow and in some places it was gorge. All the ponds were gilded by the early sun beam. Most of the houses were tucked away from the motor road. The Sun peacefully sailed through the clouds. Birds perched at the tree top and welcomed the day by singing. Trees dances to the quiet wind.
Bus stopped in between villages to unload the luggage. Apart from the passenger service, the parcel service fetches good revenue to these travel agencies. At 9.30 am we reached Kakkabe, Mr.Sagar proprietor of Jungle Mount adventures welcomed us. Kakkabe is the largest producer of honey in South-East Asia. Again I missed to visit the honey farms. Kakkabe is not for tourist; rather it is a paradise for intrepid trekkers. Most of the adventures camps were located at this place.
Jungle Mount adventure’s cottages were not so sophisticated but it was located in idyllic surroundings. It has six cottage huts and two dinning huts. Sluggish River passes beside the cottage and it may latter confluence with River Cauvery.
As soon as I finished my breakfast I waded into the river. I winced after few minutes, made worse by stepping in to the Icy water puddle. We struggle to row the canoe in our rudimentary stage. Later we learnt to row according to the stream flow. We canoed beneath the branches; it greeted us by brushing its leaves against our face.
We were geared to Chelavara falls for rappelling. I was the first person to lower myself with a rope coiled around the body from a mountainside which was more than 100 ft in high and the falls were just 3 ft far beside from our rappelling point. Followed by me every one rappelled. Anu inquisitively watched our activities and she captured our adventurous.
At the gathering gloom, all diurnal rested and nocturnal started their day. We had a very harsh nocturnal drive in Mahindra 4X4 truck. Mr.Sagar drove the vehicle at a speed of 40 Kmph in the hilly bay without headlight blown in the half moon light. I had faith only on Mahindra as well as on Sagar. We had our delicacies supper in front of the dying ember. I huddled under the blanket and slept on the bed.
Next day, we started our arduous trek to ‘Tadiyandamol” peak. “Tadiyandamol” in Kodava language is “Highest Peak”. It is the highest peak in the Coorg district. Sturdy folks started to trek and frails rested in the cottage. We underestimate the distance and we didn’t carry any eatables and we took two empty 500ml water bottle. We wended along the coffee plantation for few miles. Coffee beans were waiting for the harvest.
The hill was covered in lush green and vegetation. We toiled up the hill in temperate climate. Anu and Saritha are photo maniac, where ever they saw the promontory they will portrait before the cyber-shot. I usually sprawl myself on these promontory for a while. In my dream I used to gaze my dream girl for hours. Similarly, I gazed the hill’s pastoral scene. Myriads of wild flowers were on both side of the valley. The team headed by Nikel reached the crest first and beckon on us. We were nearing the ridges and it was few miles away from us. “Tadiyandamol” peak was precipitous. I thought it was ladder to heaven and we were at the rungs of it. We crawled slowly and reached the peak. Drizzle welcomed us.
There is no substitute to god’s creature.
