Trek to Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta - Part 1

We decided to go for a early morning trek to Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta .A place 70 km from Bangalore.Vineeth arrived at 4.00 am in morning.We thought 4.00 am is too early so lets start at 5.30 am.We went back to sleep and as expected we woke up at ... 7.00 am.
Anyways we decided to go for the trek as Rangaswamy Betta trek was supposed to be an easy one.This, I say ,is destiny's way to getting its work done .We had absolutely no idea what was in stored for us there ..
we had a quick breakfast and were on our bike towards Kanakapura road.We took the NICE road and with scant traffic we road at around 80 kmph.




We reached Harohalli and biked further towards Doddamaralawadi.The ride was fun as cool air and wide road pumped adrenaline into us.we reached Onaaladoddi by 11.30 am .



We were asked by some villagers to park our our vehicles in front of a house .we parked our bike and started our seemingly easy trek.

As we started our trek, we found a path way.




we followed the path way and all of sudden we came to a dead end.This was going to be the hall mark of our trek for the whole day and little did we realize that it could be frustrating if we strayed from the path.We decided to make our own way thru the hill.




We came across a small hill which overlooked the peak we intended to scale.We climbed this hill and form the top got a bird's view of the terrain.there was a valley between this hill and the one adjoining it.we needed to scale the adjoining hill to reach to the peak.



There was a valley between the two hills.Standing at the top of the hill we could not see any trek paths to the peak.We saw some open burnt areas and thought that if we could reach those area we will be able to figure out the way.






After taking rest for a few mins we decided to get going down hill , and start climbing the adjoining hill after reaching the valley.The descent looked harmless and we were enjoying our trek except occasionally we realized that we were not going on correct path or thats what we assumed ;-)

whenever we followed a path , the path would almost disappear leaving us stranded and we had to figure out and new way ....




Having reached the end of the trail,we took rest in a scantly available shade.As we searched for the trail path we realized that the path was missing again.

It was 1.30 pm and was getting hotter .Breeze had died down and the heat was beginning to take its toll.We were hungry and thirsty , and with scant water supply we didnt wanted to go on another trail search.We knew we had lost our way and didn't had the energy to find another path



So we decided to head back.Now ,we thought, we had two options either we trail back our path the same way we came up or try more direct route down hill.We decided to try the latter as , we thought , tracking our way back would mean we again start looking to trail paths which were not consistent.Now here again ,with no trek path visible we just started heading downwards.

As we moved we found an area of open space .We all were quiet encouraged by this as we thought this would eventually take us down the hill, which we were very keen on.
there were dense shrubs and thorns waiting for us and we somehow managed to make our way through them with hope that we would find a way / path down hill.Also i realized that by finding our own way , we were unable to keep a track of which way we came.The whole gamut looked the same .If we had to trace out paths back ...we wont be do that confidently ....we thought its better to keep moving forward than think of tracing our way back .....(nooo age hi badhna hain ;-) )
As we made our way through the dense and difficult shrubs and thorns .we realize we had come to a dead end .there was no way we could move forward and even if we tried it would be dangerous .

Badri was getting tried by the minute and he was really struggling to keep up pace with us.We decide that al thoguh we had descended quiet considerably but there was no way forward.We could be stuck here if we moved forward so its better to climb up again and hope to find some trek path ....at least that way we knew we were in that place.We strenuously climbed back again .Again as there were no paths we randomly started climbing this time.many a times we realized that even the climb has reached dead end and due to dense shrubs , thorns and the heat we had to change our directions.Atlast at one point we found a trek path and realize that we had been thru this place during our initial climb.We were elated....a bit of frustration had crept into us by now as we were randomly climbing and descending without and path.this path was a moral booster for us..We had lost quiet a bit of blood thanks to the throns and our skin was cut and bruised.

continued in PART 2

Trekk To RangaSwamy Betta - Part 2

continued from Part I ...



Happy we found a trek path we followed the path and were satisfied that even though it would be long path it would eventually lead us back to our starting point.And then ,it happened again.This path ended and we couldn't figure out any other paths around us.Now how do we move forward and in which direction.Badri was getting really exhausted and started developing cramps.We had no other go . We figured out that first lest reach the bottom in the valley and them we could scale the adjoining hill( which was smaller than this one).That way at least we had a plan in our mings.Were were getting anxious to get to the valley and decided ,no point looking for paths now.Start moving down and we would have to figure out our way for ourselves.Myslef and Vineeth took turns navigating and figuring out our way ,climbing down the hill .in most of the cases we had to slide down dangerous rocks.Even badri ,with all his cramps ,having no other option ,had to slide down the rocks.It was quiet dangerous and one wrong foot who have lead to a a broken bone, but luckily we all were strong and composed enough to make our way thru the descent.



At last we made it to the valley ,we had reached the bottom of this hill...but hooo!! where /how do we move next.Either we scale the adjoining hill ,making our way thru the thrones or follow the path that the valley provided us hoping it would lead us around the adjoining hill.We decided on the latter and made our way thru the valley .But here again we meet a dead end .What do we do now.We were in no mood to trace our way back in the valley.




It was 3.45 PM and we were still no where.As the sunshine starter becoming tender , we knew we still had enough till (at least another 2 hrs ) before the lights starts fading .we decided to now scale the adjoining hill ,rather than look to follow the valley path .we started scaling the this second hill and after few strenuous climbs we hit another road block .We couldn't find any opening to move ahead.We were stuck again.As if destined to get trapped within these hills.But surprisingly all of us were composed and calm and that made the difference ,at the end of the day .while we rested for some time , vineeth decide to check if there could be any other way around the road block .in the mean time I decided to call the 108 service(in case of any emergency at least they would know we had contacted them ...at least they could figure out where we were )

THE 108 SERVICE(911 OF INDIA ? )
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I call up 108 service , and some lady picks up the call and starts asking something in kannada.I give her the background and ask if she can help locating us.She asks up for Zillah /taluk name (how on earth am i supposed to know that ) then she transfers the call to some guy .he said "we only ambulance service for emergency and accidents only "
Now to present to them an emergency situation i said that we are lost and one of our friend is dehydrating and going to faint ;-)
Badri: what !! when was i going to faint ? ;-)
then the fellow transfers my call to Some one from ambulance service who asks me for a landmark.I try to explain to him that We are lost and could he locate us ? he says sir i can come in ambulance tell me a landmark .....
in the mean time , as usual the signal strength became low and i could hardly make out what they were speaking.

I call up the 108 folks again and again they asked me for a land mark.I again try to explain to them in English that we are lost and hence are in no position to provide them with a land mark .he repeats we provide ambulance service for emergency and accidents .....Kindly gives us ur location and i repeated again "We are lost and do not know our location ... will u be able to track us ? "

The worst case scenario flashed in my mind....we might have to stay on the hill for the whole of night without water/food but once the sun comes up in morning we can make it back ...so the situation actually is not that dire ;-)

with none of the 108 folks ready to give us an ear and with the signal strengths varying we decided to switch off our cell phone for the moment as we could use them in case of extreme emergencies.
We again did a recce of the space and found a way that was leading to the top .We decided we have to cross this hill at any cost and started scaling the second hill.Making our way thru more shrubs and thorns ,we moved closer to the top of the hill .this wasn't the actual peak of the hill but we climbed the slanting part of it so that when we reach the top of the slant of the hill we got a birds view of the terrain and we were overjoyed when we saw a small group of laborers working on some dam.I was never so trilled and happy on seeing a human as i was this day .We knew tat if some how we are able to reach to them than all our trouble would be gone.
we headed downhill and this time as we neared the ground we came across more plain land and it was easier for us to keep walking towards the folks working at the dam.As we reached near we found a piece of land dug up (may be for farming ).I didn't have the patience to find another path around this and straight away slanted form high grounds.As i crashed into the ground the flashed by in my head felt the same way ,how a sprinter fells when he crosses the line.I was like some kind of victory but i didn't know victory over what. Badri and vineeth followed the suite and at last we were on the ground .Vineeth and myself hugged in joy and we approached the folks working there, who upon seeing our dire condition offered us water and gave us directions to the village where we had parked our .bikes.
even though tired to the bones this was such a moral booster for us .We reached the village and set for bangalore on our bikes.Vinit promised to give us a party upon reaching bangalore(although we are still waiting for it).we started at around 6.15 PM from the village and by 8.00 PM we reached bangalore.We crashed into our beds.
We ordered pizzas for dinner and laughted our hearts out over dinner. We simply were quiet thrilled and amazed at how differently things could have been .Here we are in the comforts of our room , having w coke and pizza and just a few hours back the possibility of spending the whole night out in the hill without water and food.
The whole experience is still to sink in.




Nature , some times can be so intimidating and be merciless to anyone who carelessly treads its path .having a matchbox and a torch lite is a must for any travel .we never know how things might turn up .if at all this experience did to us was not only improved our confidence but also taught us not to take Nature so lightly.Better preparation is always helpful.

Bike Ride to Muthathi

It was a ride to remember. Cool air touch my face , warm sun rays energies my mind and the fresh scent of mud ,wet form due and eucalyptus filled air filled my ssystem ….it felt as though I was free , I was flying...

After a long break I decided to visit Muthathi this weekend

we started at 6am and took the NICE road towards Tumkur .Folks it was such an amazing drive ...the road was wide and empty .Driving at speed of 80km/hr I could only hear the wind in my ears .The view that the rising sun provided was aesthetic.For once i realize that there is nothing humanly possible that could match the beauty and grandness of nature.


We halted in between for a quick sip of tea and ....hmmmm wasnt that so amazing ..int he cold of early morning having hot tea and still in awe of high speed riding .
We halted at around 8.30 am in Kankapura and had a quick breakfast and left for Sathanur.





Once we reached Sathanur it was such a pleasant and serene ride.With almost not vehicle the whole road was for our self(although i must say it wasn't in great condition ) The place was so serene that we took breaks every 15 min and just sat by the corner of the road enjoying the calm stillness of atmosphere and warmth of the sun.





Travelling almost 100 kms we still were feeling quiet fresh.







When we reached Muthathi , we were very disappointed with what we saw.Tons of garbage and polythene lying near banks of Cauveri.We could'nt find a proper CLEAN place where we could park our bike and enjoy the nature.We continued to drive past muthathi and atlast found a UNINHABITED piece of land which seemed to have missed the human eye.



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It was mid day ,around 12.00 and the sun was beginning to beat down.It was getting hotter so we decided to head back.
The return journey was a bit of pain though.Our bumbs were in bad shape ;-) and we had to take frequent breaks to rest our selves.At last we reach Bangalore by 3.00 pm and as soon as we reached our room ,we crashed on our beds.
"pheww room sweet room ..." i said to myself.

It was a wonderful journey esp on my bike.I plan to bring up more such trips on my bike and make these trip an everlasting experience.