Our journey to Kukke Subramanya

Just wanted to pin down my experience of visiting Kukke Subramanya, as this was a bit different and more traditional. I always used to go to Kumara Parvatha for the trek, descent the other day have sumptuous breakfast in a restaurant (Since 1960 :)), visit the deity and back to Bangalore. This would be the normal routine. But this time it was no trekking, just visit the places religiously and preformed the rituals.

So most of the travel enthusiasts would like to have such ritualistic experience, I am hereby pinning this down.

Normally, you could book a KSRTC coach according to your preference AC/NON AC.  We booked at around 9.15 PM. Boarded the bus near Basaveshwarnagar Bangalore (Saradha Colony) at 8.15 PM. You could even board near Navrang Theater as well at 9.20 PM.

This was just before the Shiradi Ghat was open. Our driver heard someone telling him that the Shiradi was open, so he took that route unfortunately.

We were just 30 Kms away from the Kukke, where at the end of the ghat the road was blocked.

We encountered the block at 2.30 AM till 6 AM we tried to clear the block which was a heap of mud that was put across.

But we failed, then we started walking across a near by village to get another bus to Kukke. Being a photographer I enjoyed the morning scenery with absolute awe.

Here are glimpse of that

Took a lift from a pick up truck

Later we waited for the bus, boarded a local bus at around 7 AM and reached Kukke.

We made a lodge just to freshen up. Got on with the shorts and went to take a dip in Kumara Dhara for the first time. This natural river is not part of any tributaries and comes through the Kumara Parvatha being one of the tallest mountains in Western Ghats. So this river, Kumara Dhara is very good to heal some of the health problems. Had a quick dip with some quick snaps.

Later came back to room by a Auto with a minimal fee. Freshened up and got ready to have a darshan of the deity.

We were fortunate not to have any rush and crowd inside the sanctum by 10.15 AM. We went to Adi Subramanya temple from there which is walkable, this the temple where the Naga Devathas bless the devotees. You can witness the Nag Devatha If you are fortunate.

Then had breakfast in a restaurant located in the temple street, did some shopping, got my tickets booked for return journey at 2.30 PM.

Wondering I could have booked a bit earlier ? Come on, how could I miss the tasty and disciplined lunch served at the temple.

The lunch starts at 12 PM, we joined and finished lunch at 1.15 PM as there was not much crowd.

Then went back to the lodge, packed things up. As this is a monsoon season it was pouring cats and dogs.

Some how boarded the bus at 2.15 PM, started the journey back to Bangalore with such a scenery is breathtaking. Here are the few snaps on the way back.

Trek experience to Kumara Parvata

Trek to Kumaraparvatha

On October 19th, we left Bangalore in anticipation of having a great trek experience, as one of my friend was going on site for US. 

After a tiring journey, we reached Kukke at around 5 AM, where we some how got a room nearby, we freshened there and took a bit of rest.

It was a pleasant morning, cool and thought it would be supporting us in the trek. We started, almost gone for a mile or so, leaches has been all around our shoes, and some were already started their task. With a bit of difficulty, got rid of those creepy creatures. 

All of a sudden, rain started pouring cats and dogs, there was no place to take shelter. We are completely drenched, still not getting disheartened, we marched towards the peak. Almost 7 miles, we climbed the mountain, no big team, as said the time was not right for trek, there were almost trekkers at that time.

The forest was so silent, chirping birds, stream of water running from top as the rain had stopped just a few minutes back. Out of all these pain, there was a feeling of awe, when we started getting those awesome green landscapes and the ariel view from the top was enchanting. We forgot all the pain that was undergone and started to justify ourself about this decision.

Another ill luck awaited us at bhattara mane, and that is the cyclone that had started somewhere near by the sea coast. At bhattara mane there was huge mist, we can only see not more than 100m. We had taken a tent, which really saved us, and around 6 PM rain started pouring again. we halted in the tent. Experiencing the nature being in a tent over night is really a great experience I ever had. 

And, we started descending at morning 6.30 AM the next morning, we reached the ground at 9.30 AM.

Here are some of the memories captures, Photos by Swaroop S. Canon 600D

The tiring path of the trek, still a beautiful pathway, relishing the beauty of nature, we tread the path and finally got an awesome view which removed all the exhaustion.

Wow !, only trekkers can experience this ... Here are the glimpse of the same