I had a plan to complete that 50kms stretch (from Donigal to Kukke Road) finally landed on to mix of jungle, railway track, hills and tar road trek.
Route: Our route plan was based on this blog: http://bakpackers.blogspot.in/2007/10/yedakumeri-to-gundya.html.
But later it was changed to Hongadahalla to Kaginahare to Gundya.
As usual we left Bangalore on 26th October night. No one was sure about the route, guide etc. Initially we thought of following the route mentioned in the blog (above mentioned).
27th October
We reached Sakaleshpura at 4 AM and halted for a while, enquired about how to reach Hongadahalla and left. We took the left diversion from Sakaleshpura main road at Manzarabad fort. Hongadahalla is 50 kms away from Sakaleshpura bus stand. And there are lot of left and right turns on the way.
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| Checking about the route |
Somehow with the help of villagers we reached Hongadahalla at 7:30 AM. The first thing we did was to find a guide. Whoever saw us asked to not venture onto the railway track as the police and railway officials are active due naxal combing operation. By God's grace Nayan the guide showed us the light of hope. Hw took us to his house where we finished our morning activities.
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| @ Nayan's house |
We explored a nearby hill.
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| Xploring nearby hill |
We finished our breakfast at a nearby small hotel. Food was really awesome.
And finally started the trek.
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| And started the trek - the team (from the left) Chethan, Sindhoor, Abhilash, Sandeep, myself and Subarna |
Initial 2 hour we walked on the steep tar road.
On the way we could see huge logs lying next to the main road going through inside the village. Clearly shows that villagers are cutting down trees. And its their own land. No one to protect these trees.
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A tamed Elephant carrying huge logs
Slowly we got onto the steep green hills.
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| Sandeep fully tired |
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| Kaginahare village view from the top |
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| Descending towards Kaginahare village |
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| Kaginahare fort |
We kept walking. Crossed Kaginahare village. Our guide was in touch with his friends and relatives on mobile. He was constantly being updated on the movements of the police and railway officials. Whoever saw us kept alerting on that.
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| View od Shiradi ghat |
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| Railway track visible from the top |
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| Rested for a while |
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| Ate pulp of a tree |
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| Shola forest on the way towards the jungle |
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| And descending through the jungle |
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| And finally on the railway track |
We decided to descend further from the track reach to a stream and finish lunch.
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| On the way to the stream |
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| Reached the stream |
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| And came back to the track |
We kept crossing tunnels, bridges while enjoying with the beautiful view of green valleys around.
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| Kempuhole river |
And finally by 5 pm we reached our camping spot, an abandoned station.
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| At 5 pm we reached to an abandoned station where we decided to halt for the night. |
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| Armane gudde view |
28th October
We continued our trek towards Gundiya. Initial plan was to reach Shribagilu and head further to exit. But due to those guys presence we changed our plan to descend through Gundiya.
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| Trek ended here and we got onto the jeep track |
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| Taking a dip into the Kempuhole river |
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| Walking towards Gundiya check post where our vehicle was waiting |
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| We visited the Kukke Subramanya temple and went to Bisle ghat |
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| @ Bisle Ghat |
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| And we visited Manzarabad fort |
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| Sunset from Manzarabad fort. |
Important info:
- Nayan's cell no.: 09481667295
- Without Nayan we could not have finished this trek so smoothly
- Hongadahalla is a very very small village and there is no hotels or good shops nearby. U can have ur breakfast and pack ur lunch from this small hotel. But carry ur own tiffin boxes. Also carry ur dinner as well as next day breakfast.
- MOST IMPORTANT: PLEASE REFRAIN FROM TRASHING ANYTHING HERE. THESE ARE STILL VIRGIN PLACES AND LESS EXPLORED.
- Any further info contact me at 9972596272
