"One of the dream treks in Karnataka for any hiker"
Written on : 18-November-2018
Visted During : September 2018
Some more Information
Kuduremukha trek - considerably a tough trek in Karnataka. You need to complete the 22-23Kms of trek in single day and there is no stay in hill top. Some stretches in the trek are challenging and rest are moderate. If you are hiking during rainy season, then be aware of leeches and heavy rains. Also, if there is heavy rain and the streams are flowing in full swing, then forest officials do not permit trek. I would recommend not to trek during summer since the hills turn brown. Best season to trek is between September-December.
Very Important: Only 50 persons are allowed for a trek on any given day. The permission for trek is given only in the morning and they give the permissions from 6.00AM. Luckily, we went on a weekday and we did not have to wait for long to get permission. However, during weekends, a lot of people return since quota for the day gets over. People even wait near the forest check post in Balegal/Balegallu throughout the night so be first in the queue. Local guide is mandatory for the trek. There are couple of homestays near the base. They arrange the guide and also packed lunch for afternoon. (Homestays here are very basic ones. Common bathrooms, basic facilities like bed, bedsheets and pillow to spend a night. Do not expect any luxury here. Home cooked food will be served in all these homestays. As on September 2018, cost for one person was around INR 1000 for one night stay plus 3 times food. (We reached midnight and stayed in the homestay, trekked the next day, stayed there on that night and left on 2nd day. For us, they charged INR 800). Guide charge is INR 500 for the team.
Balegallu is in the main road and while travelling from Kalasa, take a left to proceed towards Mullodi. Further a few Kms, you will have to park your vehicle safely in any road side. (If small cars, then do not go beyond the concrete roads during rainy season. Off roading vehicles can even be taken till the forest office in Mullodi)
To say about trek, there are 3 though stretches and rest are normal. Keep some energy to return as well since you will have to climb down by sunset on same day. There is no camping allowed in the peak. Near the peak, there is a ruined building which was a summer stay during olden days. The route to the peak is quite clear.
My Experience and Opinion
Lush green, thick forest, streams that make noise, birds that chirp nonstop, breeze on the top of the mountain that can make you forget any pain for a moment. That’s just an introduction to the amazing Shola forests of Western Ghats. If you need a full picture of how it looks like, then no photo, no word can do justice. Only witnessing it in real can do.
Photos
That lush green carpet!
Nah... This is not the first photo again!
The misty Kudremukha
It's mist, forest and People there!
Stream crossing en-route.
Couple of high peaks like this en-route
Group pic - 1
Group pic - 2
Group pic - 3.
Trek back from peak
Hike up.
Best place to be in!
