Panoramic Beauty from Thadiyandamol - Coorg

Parking safely @ Mountain Base

 Third visit to Coorg and every time I visit I am fortunate to enjoy something new and I postpone my writings thinking there is something more yet to know about and keep aside  my notes. This time also I had the same feeling and cant hold myself to share my experience on the awesome trekking I had to Thadiyandamol Hill which is 1750m high from sea level with a panoramic view, which I cant express much by words.

We reached Madikeri, the headquarters of Coorg, for lunch after visiting the Golden temple at Kushal Nagar and river rafting at Dubare. Headed straight towards Kakkabe to camp at the mountain base near Nalknad palace. After checking into the home stay we visited the Nalkanad palace which is very near by and spent rest of the day relaxing and planning for the trekking.

Taking the path less trodden

Waked up early in the morning to get ready for the trekking, had a nice breakfast and started our journey in our car. We hardly drove 15 minutes and then parked safely where the road ends. It is a 3-4 hour walk to reach the hill top from where we parked our car.

With full enthusiasm and thrill we started walking. Then my friend suggested, why don't we take the path less trodden? Going up the stream way. Unanimously agreed as we were so excited about that decision. The route was with full of hurdles, thick forest, big rocks to climb and so isolated. We took each and every step forward very carefully as we are in no man's territory, but still the excitement of taking that route pushed us forward. No sooner we climbed up the stream 1 km we got the sign of elephants and we took the wise decision to turn back. Else I wont be here to write this. It was a nice experience.

Trekkers Tented on the route

Now we are back to the normal route. On route we saw couple of team who spend a night in their tent in the mid of forest. We also met a team led by a professional guide who spent the night camping @ the hill top. I felt jealous on them, then and there I planned to camp a day @ hill top to see the sun set and sun rise(One night @ hilltop).

Some rest and Better View

 Moving further, the road goes narrow and narrow one side with trees and other sloppy. I heard a woooosh sound and I thought it was raining heavily in the mountain and coming down. Fortunately or unfortunately it was the sound made by the Beefwood aka Whistling pine tree on one side of the narrow road.

We reached a plain grassland where the narrow road ends and at other end of this grassland there is a big rock, which is a perfect place for camping. There were few couples who came to decide whether they should plan their trekking the next day or not.  Also there were few motor bikers from Bangalore, the leader of the team invited me to join his club of Mountian Biking too. Beyond this point we cant take our bike as well. This is the point from where we have to start climbing steep narrow road with small hillocks.

My Friend Climbing up the Thadiyandamol Hill, Kakkabe

Climbing the hill through this narrow road is a tough job as well enjoying. It is better to choose like minded companion while trekking, else you wind up in the mid of your journey. I had pushed hard to take my friend to the top and he pushed his limits to enjoy this view.

I took rest occasionally, while waiting for my friend far behind. While I was resting on a rock and enjoying the beauty, I saw him climbing up the hill with firm steps holding his stick, wearing his cap and his shirt swinging in the wind, to me he resembles a traveler in old fairy tale.

Enjoying the view from Thadiyandamol Hill, Kakkabe

There are couple of places on the route where you can rest, enjoy the greenery and give work for your camera. The view that you have from these points are inexplicable and you should have the guts to enjoy it as well.

If you are the type of getting dizziness even while looking from the 12th floor of the building please do not take risk as there was one guy who was struggling in the half way to climb up as he was getting dizziness while looking back and worst part was he had to climb down in mid way and that too reverse order. Trekking is not for these types.
 

Where Cloud Kisses the hills

Finally we reached the top and it took us much more than 4 hours mingling with the nature as we were not there to beat other's timings. We were so excited on reaching there and everyone forgot the pain on their knees. Our trip was worth.

I spent some time lying in the sloppy grassland in the hill top breathing in the beauty of this place watching the hills down, the stretch of forest, clouds bright with the sunlight and the snow-like mist that visit frequently to romance with the green mountain slopes.

I wonder is there any camera in this world with a lens as wider as our eyes to capture the natural splendor what I have seen there.

Every time when people leave one place after having another one awesome moment in their life they will a take a decision to come back once again later. Me too climbed down the hill taking the same decision and next time I want to spent one night here.

As I have a lot more to say about Coorg and I don't want to short my words to express its beauty to keep my reader stick back to my blog, I will put more details in future blogs featuring different locations. I hope any traveler deserves a detailed note.

Please leave me a note of suggestion on improvement, if you like this. 

Related Items:
Home Stay at Coorg 
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