"Definitely in one of the Top 3 trekking options in Karnataka"
Written on : 27-March-2016
Visted During : February 2013 and May 2014
Some more Information
Staying in the peak in Bhattara Mane is worth an experience since you can enjoy sunset and then sunrise too. A PWD bunglow is also available and if you can get a room there then it would be great. With 1st hand experience, I would say even night trek is amazing experience here but take a guide along. In a fine season, probably this is the best place you can think of. If you do not have the strength to trek, but have a gut heart to sit in a jeep droven in the worst ever road you can think of, then you can even take the option of going by Jeep to the peak and enjoy the scenic beauty of the place.
Some mpre places that can be included while planning trek to Kodachadri are - If you are travelling via Shimoga -> Hosanagara, then you can cover Nagara Fort, Ramachandrapura Matha in Hosanagara (Goushala here is amazing)
My Experience and Opinion
Greenery all around, birds chirping, and late in the evening and early in the morning, the beautiful sun turning entire sky into Orange. What more can one expect from nature. Far away from the dust, bad weather lies the mountain range of western ghat and one of the best expedition in this range is Kodachadri or Kutachadri.
A renowned traveller and writer, jnaana peetha awardee Sri Shivarama Karantha has ranked Kodachadri as one of the top 3 trekking options in Karnataka along with Kudremukha and Kumaraparvatha. When someone like Shivarama Karantha says something, it has to be true. If you feel he was wrong, then either we have spoiled it (the place) from the time he had been there or we do not the right pair of eyes to appreciate it.
I have been to Kodachadri twice and I enjoyed every bit of both trekking experiences. I have seen Kodachadri during summer as well as during winter. The evenings are very pleasant here and overall experience is extremely good for anyone who loves trekking.
Kodachadri range falls into typical Shola Forests where medium to dense forest is found in the base and as you go higher, you only find grasslands. (Same is the case with Kudremukha and Kumaraparvatha). This makes it very scenic since the mountains look like they are covered with green mat.
There are 2-3 starting points for the trek and probably the best one is via Hidlumane falls. (I trekked to the peak via Hidlumane falls both the times.)
Hidlumane Falls
Hidlumane falls is around 3kms from the base. This is the last point till where vehicles can be taken. There is a small house here where you can buy snacks and buttermilk. From here, you have to walk less than a kilometer to reach Hidlumane falls. During rainy season it is not possible to take this route since it is not possible to cross the water stream here.
Hidlumane falls is pretty beautiful and you can spend some good time here
The Trek
From Hidlumane falls, the trek route becomes little steeper and tougher. There are couple of places where people feel like quitting. If you are trekking on a bright day, then the sun is going to trouble you real bad. There is no need of a guide if you are trekking only in the day time.
Carry enough water with you since it will be almost a day long trek and hydrating yourselves is very important.
The Night Trek
During my first trekking, we had stayed in Rajendra's Home stay and he had arranged a guide for us. We spoke to him and settled to trek back to the base same night. It was a challenge which we decided to take in spite of being extremely tired after trekking to the peak. The sun dived into the horizon and waved the flag for us to start our trek back the peak. With the guide, we headed back to the base. It was a easy one to reach back till bhattara mane from Sarvajna Peetha. But, from there, it is impossible for anyone to remember the terrain by trekking just once. So, we had no idea where we were trekking towards. We blindly followed our guide who walked with full speed. We were let back and we somehow figured out how to walk. And, we were so much unprepared that we did not have torch for each one in the group. At one point the path is very slippery since the mud is very loose as hundred of people trek daily. We reached the base at around 11.00 and our legs had almost lost all sensation after trekking over 22 kms in a day. But, even today while writing this paragraph, I am cherishing those moment and I will cherish for long.
Camping in the peak
Camping is strictly prohibited in the peak and you probably will only attract in some trouble from Forest department and local-ites if you try to.
But you can stay in the peak if you can book in the PWD rooms available in the peak or if you contact Bhattara mane in the peak. (There are 2 homes in the peak and they charge around INR150 per person for stay. Food is available and they provide just basic requirements like bed sheet and Toilets. It's a common hall there and one cannot expect any kind of privacy/luxury there)
Nagara Fort
If you are travelling to Kodachadri from Shimoga direction, then you can plan to spend sometime in Nagara Fort. It can be an add on to your plan. The Nagara fort consists of a fort and within the fort one can find the remains of the palace, some lakes etc. This may not be a place worth travelling just for it but is definitely worth taking a deviation of few miles to check another place in your diary.
Photos
The Hidlumane!
View while trekking to the peak
The Jeep Ride is also something to experience here.
With the Manipal gang
I personally love taking a nap in any peak
Sunset @Kodachadri... Something not to be missed
Nagara Fort Enterance near Shimoga
Nagara Fort Shimoga
A panaromic view in the starting point near Hidlumane
The Most Important asset while travelling - Google Maps
If you would like to include Nagara Fort in your plan, the Direction is -
