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Yet another weekend, in the Western Ghats, near Kukke Subramanya
I've become quite familiar with this stretch of hiking trail in the Western Ghats now.
It has also become a favorite place for me to spend a quiet weekend. The place has no
dearth of scenery, and there isn't any danger from wild animals, because of the terrain.
So one can peacefully pitch his tent, go around the region enjoying the scenery; water is
available in many wild streams; there are quite a variety of birds to be seen. However,
one needs to be prepared for leeches, in the wet season.
A friend accompanied me this time, and we took a bus we had pre booked seats in.
The bus was going to Mangalore, and dropped us off at Gundya at around 5.30AM on Saturday
morning. This time we picked up the track from Gundya itself, to reach the abandoned railway line on
the hills above. It is a two hour climb from Gundya to the railway line. After reaching the
rail line, we pitched tent a few kilometers away from the tunnel 35.
It rained a little in the afternoon, and then it remained cloudy for the rest of the day.
We generally dozed, tried photographing some birds and butterflies, lazed around, and retired
early, as it was cold. Next day at dawn we heard the Malabar Whistling Thrush again. What a sweet
song it was. By around 11AM, it became hot, and we wrapped the tent, walked down to Gundya - which
proved to be quite tiring because of the heat in the rainforests - and boarding a bus reached
Bangalore by 10pm.
Directions for anyone wishing to go there: You can book one of the last buses of KSRTC that
leaves Bangalore for Mangalore, and buy a ticket for Sakleshpur. Once on board the bus, tell the
conductor that you'd rather get down at Gundya, which is an hour's drive from Sakleshpur.
From Gundya, there is a tarmac road that goes to Kukke Subramanya. Walk down this road, you'll pass
a bridge across a river, and then within a kilometer you'll see a dirt track on the left, abutting
a small school. Take this track, and as it starts climbing, you'll come upon a fork. Take the right
fork, and you'll pass a small stream. Cross the stream and proceed for two hours. You'll be at the
railway line. When you touch the railway line, the Yedakumari railway station(abandoned) will be
roughly 7kms on your left, and Shiribagilu railway station will be roughly 12kms on your right.
Remember this point, which is immediately next to Tunnel 35, for you will have to return through
this route.
It is upto you to go to either station for the night, or pitch a tent wherever you wish.
There isn't any threat of wild elephants or bears, so enjoy yourself. If you go during the monsoons,
be ready for heavy rains and leeches. It pours very heavily in these parts of the Western Ghats.
Of birds, I remember seeing Grey Wagtails, Purple Sunbirds, an unidentified Eagle, and heard the
Malabar Whistling Thrush.
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