Koodlu trek

It has been quite a long time since I returned from this wonderful place, but still the memories are so fresh in my mind. Well let me tell about the background of the story. Myself, with two of my friends Anil and Rahul had been on a road trip to Agumbe, Jog falls and surrounding places in the last week of May. During the trip we had decided to visit Koodlu Theertha falls also. The place is at an isolated location, some 20 kms down from Agumbe hills towards Hebri. We enquired the localities’ about the directions to reach there and we were informed that it was not a safe place due to thieves and recently there was reports of naxal activity going in the area and as it was already evening, they advised us not to go there. But I was reluctant and forced Anil and Rahul to go ahead with the journey. After driving through narrow roads amidst jungle area, we reached a place where the road ended with the banks of river Sita in front of us. That is where we had to park our bikes and resume the journey by walk. It had become quite dark and the fear of thieves, naxal and also wild animals made Anil to force me not to go ahead and return back. I was very disappointed at this but had no option. I decided to re-visit Koodlu and complete the journey sometime later.

After we came back to Bangalore, I browsed through internet and gathered all the information I could on Koodlu Theertha. But I should say I got to know nothing from the internet considering the information I know now.

Now let me come to the main story. I planned the trip on first Friday of July 08. I had shopped for few essentials such as snuff powder, gum boots, raincoat and few eatables the previous day. The bus to Agumbe was at 10.30 pm from Navrang, however I got the Kundapur bus which had a stop at Hebri at 10.15 pm itself. The journey was around 10 hours(via Dharmastala, Guruvayinakere, Karkala,etc). I slept nicely (oh going by bike is really tiresome, though more fun) and woke up at around 5 am. There was sunlight within half an hour and I began looking outside the window. It was a scenic sight all through the way till Hebri. It was around 7.30 am when I reached the place. It was raining pretty decently and I began searching for some water source for cleansing my face and mouth. But there was no tap or well. I enquired with the rickshaw guys as to how to reach the base of Koodlu and got to know that the base of Koodlu was around 25 kms from Hebri and they asked 400 bucks. The nearest point where the bus would go was Nellikatte and Koodlu was 10 kms from Nellikatte. I decided to take the mini-bus till Nellikatte and then a rick from there. I boarded a minibus which was supposed to go to Nellikatte, but after travelling for 5-6 kms, I got to know that I had boarded a wrong bus. I got down at some place and started waiting for the bus to Hebri on the other side of the road. There was a well nearby and a woman was drawing water from the well. I borrowed a bucket of water from her and washed my face and teeth. Soon I got a bus to Hebri and was there in 15 mins.

Again I was standing at the same bus stop. A local came near me and started talking to me. He asked where I was from, what was I doing there and where I wanted to go. He told that a bus is there at 9.35 which will go till a place called Dargas and from there one has to walk around 15 kms to reach the base of Koodlu. Then he went off. There is also a nature camp in Hebri which is run by Jungle Resorts and the Govt of Karnataka, where they offer river rafting. The place was just 5 kms from there and as reaching Koodlu was seeming difficult, I was thinking of going to the Sitanadi Nature Camp, go for a raft and if I get some company there, I can go to Koodlu with them. Meanwhile the local again came back and he offered a ride till the Sitanadi Nature Camp. I requested him to drop till the base of Koodlu and he agreed. He said that it will be raining heavily near Koodlu and he will get his raincoat from his home. I went with him to his home, met his family, had tea and then we left for Koodlu. The guy was a building contractor and had lots of contracts going on presently. He was very friendly and helpful, I should say.

After 30 minutes of drive, we reached the banks of river Sita. It was the exact place where we had been the previous time. He asked me to come back at the same place at around 3 pm so that he can drop me till Hebri again. I told it was ok and that I can manage myself somehow and need not worry. He asked me call before leaving for Bangalore and left. The place was very calm, deserted with no people in sight and the only sound present was the gorging sound of flowing river. There was a two-forked road ahead, while the left one lead to the banks, the right one lead to an old wooden bridge. I crossed the bridge and walked a few yards ahead. What I could see then was a trail path with dense trees on both the sides. I was at first confused, as to should I proceed, as there was no soul and deep silence was little frightening. There was no point in thinking at this stage and I just moved ahead. I was little worried about if there were any wild animals (I didn’t mention about the wild buffalo when I was with the local who dropped me. It was huge, about the size of an elephant and was chewing on some plant). I broke a stick from the tree and started walking. I was looking to my right, to my left and behind to see if there were any animals nearby. After few minutes the fear was gone and I was enjoying the wilderness and the pleasant sight of the forest. I reached a small hamlet after 45 minutes. I could see a couple of houses down the path to my right side and to me left was a path which was again going into the forest. I was a person nearby who informed that I have to take the left path to Koodlu and it was difficult to cross the stream which ran at the foothills of the Koodlu mountain.

I took rest for 15 minutes, ate chocolates and chips and then continued the journey. I could see a stream very soon and the foothill was on the other side of the stream. The stream was some 5 meters wide with huge stones here and there and the flow of water was manageable. I tried crossing the stream by walking on the stones but fell down hurting my back. I had to now cross by walking across the water as the stones were too slippery. The water level was knee deep which went up to the waist at few places. My trousers was all wet with water but it didn’t matter as it was raining right from the morning. I could see lots of insects and spiders once I crossed the stream but luckily there were no crabs or scorpions. I had to squeeze through few bushes in order to get inside. The place was dense with trees with no sunshine falling on the ground. The ground looked dark and marshy. It was a bit inclined and I started trekking upwards. There was no trail path and the way was confusing. I was carefully looking at the ground all the time to avoid the snakes, but I didn’t happen to any. There were small streams running across at many places and few trees had got uprooted blocking the way. After some 30 minutes, I could hear the sound of gushing water and thought it to be the Koodlu water falls. I saw to my left, it was a steep valley and I could see River Sita (maybe the river, not sure) flowing with fierce force. It looked like offering one of the finest rapid dip during river rafting. I kept on going upwards and after sometime I felt that I was lost. I could only hear the sound of water and see only trees. It was difficult to make the way back. I had trekked for nearly an hour till then and it was difficult to make the way back also. Finally I decided to go back as it was getting darker. Till now I had not come across any leeches and thought that the information on the net about the leeches was false. I was carrying the gum boots which I thought to wear once I sighted leeches. Suddenly I decided to check my legs and was taken aback by what I saw. The leeches had climbed all over my trousers till the knee and the shoe was infested with them. The leeches had not got to my skin. I got scared and jumped all around for 2 minutes, threw the shoes far, removed the trousers and wore a track pant which I had carried in my bag. I then wore the gum boots and put the shoes and the trousers in a plastic bag and continued climbing down. I should say walking with gum boots is little weary even on flat road and climbing down slippery rocks and mud, I had a tough time.

I reached the stream but it was not the same place where I had started. The stream was flowing with more force and it looked risky to try cross it carrying the trouser and shoe in one hand. I took courage and stepped into the water. I had to offer stiff resistance in order not to get carried away with the water but the force got better of me and I got drifted a few steps. It was clear that it was not easy to cross the stream. I tried throwing the cover to the other side and then crossing it. But the throw was not strong enough and the cover fell on the water itself and got stuck in between two stones very close to the land though. I had to hurry now. I picked up the stick which I had thrown, used it as a support and managed to cross the stream. I was very much relieved, took the cover and went to the place where I had taken rest earlier. I opened the cover, removed all the leeches from the pant and the shoes (most of them had already fallen inside the cover). All the leeches were hopping towards me and I had to go a few yards to my right. I had to throw the socks as it was not possible to remove the leeches from it. I kept the trouser and the gum boots in another plastic cover, put it inside the bag and wore the shoes. I ate the remaining chocolates and drank coke. Suddenly I noticed that few fat leeches were lying on the ground. I checked my legs and it was bloody. I don’t know when they got to my legs as I was very careful cleaning the shoes and the trousers of the leeches and didn’t feel a thing when they were sucking the blood. I cleaned my legs with a towel and started heading towards the road.

I reached the banks of the river pretty soon as I knew the way and was not apprehensive about the animals. It was raining a bit. I played in the water for few minutes. The rain got heavier when I was on the Burma bridge. For sometime I stood there, watching the river beneath and enjoying the rain. Now I had to walk that extra few kilometers which I had covered by bike on my onward journey. After 1 hour of walk, I reached a local bus stop and luckily there was a bus at that time. I caught the bus and got down at the Sitanadi Nature Camp which was around 12 kms. I wanted to stay in the Forest Guest house over there as I was feeling very tired. I had to show my ID at the Camp. But the guards told the room needs to be booked at least 1 week before. Having no option, I decided to come back to Bangalore. I had to go to Shimoga and from there catch a bus to Bangalore. I got a minibus to Shimoga from the Camp and reached Shimoga after 3 hours. There were plenty of buses plying to Bangalore. I got into one of the bus. I reached home at around 2 am and sank into the bed.

I am little disappointed that I could not get to see the falls, but however the journey was a lifetime experience for me.

PS: I have been 3 times to the falls afterwards.