Kumara Parvatha Trek, Karnataka
[PHOTO ABOVE: Kukke Subramanya temple with cloud covered Kumara Parvatha hill in the background]
Kumara Parvatha peak with a height of about 4000 ft is the second highest peak in Karnataka after Mullayanagiri, but is said to be the toughest trek in karnataka.
The trek starts from Kukke Subrahmanya, which is an important hindu pilgrimage center.
Kukke Subramanya can be reached by road (we took a KSRTC special dasara bus) from bangalore. The route to Kukke is off NH-48 at Sakleshpur. We reached Kukke around 7.00 am. After freshening up and an idli-vada breakfast, we started the trek at around 9.00 am.
This was our first trek along with KMA (Karnataka Mountaineering Association)
KMA Office Address: No 6, Gurunanak Bhavan Complex, Jasma Bhavan Road, Vasanthnagar, Bangalore-560 052
[PHOTO ABOVE: The beginning of the trek]
During the introduction circle, we met the whole team. There were techies from SAP-labs, HP & Infosys, two lawyers, few students, a business-woman, a HR consultant, a B-school teacher, a guy who was after the leeches, a man with one-wife 
and of-course experienced KMA trekkers Lakshmi Narayan, Mohan Rao, Prasanna and Ravi.
[PHOTO ABOVE: On the way up the stairway to heaven]
The journey through this part was beautiful, lush green grass everywhere and thick sholl forests between the mountains. We were all really eager to reach the cloud-covered peaks. Our encounters with leeches had already started, most people were armed with hunter boots and salt. So, the leeches didn’t bother us much.
Bhattra Manne at Girigaddhe (half-way point to kp peak) was the destination for the first day. Bhattra Manne is the only accomodation in these hills, if you don’t have tents of your own. The Bhattra Manne can accomodate a maximum of about 30 people.
We reached Bhattra Manne around 1 pm, just before the rain got really heavy. After taking bath at a close-by stream, we had a stomach-full of rice-sambhar lunch, courtesy: the ever smiling, very-friendly Bhat household.
[PHOTO ABOVE: Outside Bhattra Manne]
Post-lunch, Ravi kept us busy with games like Pointing Game (“This is a pointing game…”, never figured out the solution though), Stick (number) Game and Johny-Johny
In the evening, we all sat around chit-chatting and singing songs led by Prasanna & Kamalesh. Later, the Bhat household performed few devotional songs. They sang with great devotion and was a great experience (even for the people who dozed-off). The candle-lit ambience only added to it.
After dinner, the tired lot slept in their sleeping bags with only the soothing musical snores disturbing the pitch dark silence.
We woke up in the morning around 5.30 am. “Ma, can you believe it ??” After a chitra-anna breakfast, the whole team was ready for the trek to the peak by around 7 am. The path to the peak was through the clouds and was literally a heavenly experience.
[PHOTO ABOVE: Among the clouds and almost on the peak]
On the way, we stopped for rest at a small rock-contructed “Mantappa”. Here, Sumathi was very brave to decide to keep going up, inspite of developing cramps in the leg, the night before.
The next stop was at a rock cliff, which was good photo-op point. However I believe that the mist and nature there has to experienced in self and can hardly be covered enough by the photos. This was called “Shesh-Parvatha”, if I remember correctly.
Next the path took us through what we called “leech jungle”, a very dense and moist forest heavily infested with bigger than usual leeches. But to our relief, it ended with a mountain stream where chill water can be collected in bottles.
The last leg of the trek to the peak involves a very steep rock face, which was very slippery in this monsoon season. After carefully maneuvering around the lose rocks and large boulders, we reached the Kumara Parvatha Peak. The peak was covered with a number of man-made stone conical pyramids called “cairns”, made for the purpose of giving directions to people who lose their way.
[PHOTO ABOVE: The gang leaving Bhattra Manne]
After a 20 minute rest and refreshments close to the shiv-ling temples, we returned to the Bhattra Manne. On reaching and after lunch at around 3.30 pm, we left for Kukke. We reached Kukke at around 6.30 pm. After a refreshing bath at Anugraha Lodge (Rs. 25 per head), we went to pray at the Kukke Subramanya temple at 8pm, but it had just closed by then.
After dinner, we boarded the KSRTC Rajahamsa bus to bangalore at around 10 pm and reached majestic bus station in bangalore at 6.30 am.
Overall, we made a lot of new friends at KMA and the Kumara Parvatha trek itself was one heck of a challenge.
Till the next time when we push our limits again, take care.
More photos of trek at http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/71333.f71db471c09/overview
Great travel log.
You’ve pretty much covered almost everything… like a pro…
Good job man. Wish to trek with you when ever its a possibility…… the trio (you, dani n the nigga) ROCK!!
Thanks man..
ya we had a great time..
surely we will go on more such treks..
NIcely covered. Going to KP this weekend – would you by any chance have the number of Bhattra Mane or someone who could help us contact him??
-Harsh
Contact: Karnataka Mountaineering Association (http://www.kmaindia.org)
No 6, Gurunanak Bhavan Complex,
Jasma Bhavan Road,
Vasanthnagar,
Bangalore – 560 052.
India
Ph. 22269053 (on weekdays, the office is open from 6.30 to 9.30)
Also register with their yahoogroup kmainfo@yahoogroups.com
You can also contact “Bangalore Mountaineering Club” (http://www.bmcindia.org)
DATE:01/12/2006….Friday night we(Including me it’s totally 6 members) left Bengaluru for the place which is well known as- “the toughest trek in Karnataka” and “the 2nd highest peak in Karnataka”……. KUMARA PARVATHA which I was talking about it with my friends from a long time. This Kumara parvatha is also Called “PUSHPA GIRI” from Somavarpet side.
TRAVEL(FROM BENGALURU): We started from Bengaluru on 01/12/2006 Friday night….Bus Platform No.6. The last bus(direct to Somwarpet) is at 11 p.m. After that you need to go to either Coorg or Kushalanagar and from theie you can go to Somwarpet(Better to go to Kushal Nagar). We reached Somwarpet at around 5 a.m ,Saturday 02/12/2006. We had morning coffe their and boarded Somwarpet bus. We reached somwarpet at around 7a.m and we made purchase of some food items water.Next we boarded Beedalli bus and we reached their around 8:30 a.m…..AT 9 A.M we started our trekking.
PREPARATIONS: We carried enough Water filled bottles and More food items which we brought back without using it. actually we are 6…and according to me 40 chapatis, 2 maagi, 2 any ready made MTR food item, Glucose or Glucon-D…..is more than enough. Adding to that each has to carry biscuits,Bred, Mixture anyother things which they like as it makes you to cover some distance eating (ofcorse enjoying the beauty of nature) that. Kerosene and match box if you are planning to cook there. We also carried TENT as we stayed at the TOP . We also carried Torch which came to use apart from having Light from the grace of FULL MOON.
TREK(-UPLINK): We started from Somwarpet side(ACTually from it start from Beedalli about half an hour journey from Somwarpet….On the you also get Mallalli falls ) and gotdown from Kukke Subrhmanya side.(This is the best route to trek i.e from Somwarpet side to Kukke Subrahmanya side…..Story says Lord Subrahmanya climbed up this hill from Somwarpet side and settled in Kukke Subrahmanya)……
We started at the beedalli trekking point…(locals said that Beedalli falls is there nearby….we dint go there)…..after walking around 2 kms we got one bridge. Gracefully water was flowing under bridge we got ourselves refreshed (spent around 1hr…there) . Then we walked around 1 km where you get HEGGADE MANE. Its a name of the Village. We dint go there we took the route to SHANTHI MALLESWARA TEMPLE to which they are constructing road there. We had aashirwad of Lord ShanthiMalleswara. (Food is available there…..but We dint take food there).
Enjoying the beauty of nature….land of greeens..fresh air…cold breeeze…we moved little further where you get ane check point. We entered our personal details(one person info is enough)..Within few minutes you will get LINGADA HOLE where we had our Lunch. Here you can find Hanging Bridge which is used when there is a heavy rush of water. Fro there it is complete green thick forest..with narrow mud and stone route….
At important stages you will find the Hanging boards…showing Directions which is very useful. You will get one view point also. ther you have one wooden sitting where you can enjoy …and if you have planned for more number of days you can stay there. Further you will find 2 steep black rocks or you can call small mountain…you need to climb amd it is very easy to climb. You will find cave like route made by green plants (not rock)……Further moving from there (after few kms….) you will find open space with green grass land and bushes like plants which means nearer to peak point.
Beauty of nature…..green…those great views…closer clouds…blue sky…unexpressable feelings…..Totally NO WORDS to explain. You need to just feel…Thats it. Then that night we stayed there. If you are planning to stay there then you need to have tent. Locals said ours is the first tent which did not flyout. For the first time I realised the strength of blowing wind….If anybody go without any sleeping accessory definetly they will sleep permanently. Then
prepared maagi noodles there and we had that as a MOON LIGHT DINNER. Then we had some readymade foods from MTR.After singing, dancing and chatting we slept inside our HOUSE(TENT).
The sound of wind is like more than a heavy rain and firy raising waves in a sea.Morning fog…we are not able to see even sky also…sometimes my friends standing near to me.Dont miss Sun rise…its too beautiful….totally all these momments are unforgettable…
NOTE: Please collect all any plastic mterials you carry in one separate cover. This is to protect Nature…for our Grand Childrens.This you can dump once you come to check point which is near and before famous BATTARA MANE
TREK(DOWNLINK): Then we started our downward journey at 8 a.m 03/12/2006. While coming down you will find water at two points….Then you dont get water till check point. Initially its a forest…..then you enter into a open space with green grass….strong feary blowing wind….This is the toughest path if you are climbing from Kukke Subrahmanya side. As Sun heat at its maximum extent….with strong cold wind we walked through this open space for around more than 3 hrs…..In this path you will find mind blowing views……where you really realise the beauty o the God Nature. Then you will get Check point where you have to pay Rs.70(Per each head and + 50 for CAMERA). From there it is 5 min to famous BHATTARA MANE where you will as it is like your own house.We reached there at around 11 a.m .There you get all facilities. There we got refreshed. Had food Puli hoggarane and upama (Nice taste)…Then we took rest had ultimate hot TEA……where you will forget your coffee day and tea house.
Contact no(BHATTARA MANE):9448647947, 9945618495
If you climb rom Kukke side and coming from this side only…you can leave your belongings which you take to top which is not needed here itself. They will take care all those things. This kind of Hospitality you dont get anywhere.
Then from there we started which enters into a forest and from there it is very cool , green trees….this path is very easy and we came down at afternon 1.45 p.m…..then we moved to kuuke Subrahmanya……………Had lunch…took rest in a lodge…refreshed ..(You can book tickets to Bangalore once you entered Kukke..We booked ticket to Bengaluru at 10.30 p.m….)…..Then we went to Temple …had Dharshan ….had prasadam…Then we roam around there…had juice….while boarding the bus…we were worried as we need to go office from tomarrow which we hate……………………..
TREK(TO BENGALURU): As construction is going on…this route is worst(till Hassan)….never expected….Dont take seats in the last row of the bus……Then we slept in the bus….eventhough we closed our eyes we were able to see those steep routes…and as bus is moving we felt like we fell down ……..
PHOTOGRAHY: My friends captured all beatiful views, nature, green ………….which we enjoy forever by having a look at those photo’s….FOR ME PHOTOGRARHY …………………….I CAPTURED ALL THOSE IN MY EYES AND STORED IN MY MEMORY FOREVER…………
“TODAYS BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS ARE TOMARROWS BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES”
————————PRAVEEN