A day in the land of clouds...Trip to Kalavaarahalli Betta

Its 7:55 now and I m here at a cafe below my home...thinking and smiling of the wonderful trip to the land of clouds ...Kalavaarahalli Betta..
It all started when i accepted to meet up with my old school frens working at blr...Harsh introduced me to this wonderful set of people at a coffee day at Brigade road..
Then out of blue, one day suddenly , I got this mail inviting me for this trek to kalavarahalli betta. I agreed to it ...cannot say instantaneously..coz Ganesh( ahem...not ganshu... I have a fren by the name Ganesh too..) kept coaxing me that the trip would be worth a try...and we ended up actually having a bet(long story...bottom line...i won..:P).. And believe me ...It was the best decision of my life...
Kept trying to get along my frens ...which dint happen( :( )
Anyways the D-Day was decided upon to be 30th of june , which happened to be full moon day..
The plannin had started a week before, with inputs flowing from harsh, ganshu, shilpa, lakshmi..
The list of requirements, the meeting place, the number of people, the way of transportation everythg was communicated thru a list of mails which kept flowing in all thru the week...

On the D-day, after a quick pack, lunch with Anitha and Ganesh and a quick rush home, I finally set for the meeting place which was decided as KGBS, Bangalore.
Despite setting in around 30 mins before time, I got stuck in the stupid traffic of Blr and so got late...(Point to be noted people: Everytime u plan for a trip, please take into consideration before u leave for the place- Bangalore traffic :P)
After a rush and total chaos, I reached the KSRTC bus stand to meet my mates for the trip..
Ganesh(ganshu), Shilpa, Meera, Swati, Swagath and of course...Harsh..
So the trip started with all of us boarding the bus from KSRTC bus stand , on our way to Chikbalapoora, a small village near our destination. The place was supposedly 75 kms from bangalore and would take around 2 hrs for us to reach..
So all set , we had to stop the bus in the middle to pick up some more frens of ours..Lakshmi Soumya and Yonit....However the best was yet to come.. the bus driver did not stop at the supposed place and we realized we missed them out ..
So we got down from the bus and waited for our frens to join...and then set out on our journey again...to Chikbalapura...all laughing ...giggling and being the centre of attention for the entire group of passengers in the bus...was total fun...
We reached the place ...Chikbalapura main bus stand near "Hotel Hindustan",where our guides for the trip , Mr.Yogi and Mr.Ravinder joined us from OutbackIndia <www.outbackindia.com> ..As it was already close to 9 and we were all hungry(despite having biscuits all the way...:P)...we started on a mission ...Mission dinner(the name of the mission sounds bad...I know)..
All of us split to find food, and the second goof up was there to happen...Search for a hotel called Darga mahal, which dint exist...I remember Swagath sayin...this is the second goof up of the day.. :)
Then finally got some food packed with some biscuits and lots of water( Pre-requisite for the trek: please carry a lot of water and dry stuff...there is nothing good available at the place...it really helps )
We then set on our trip to the base camp..a small village at the base of the hill...All thru the way harsh ...badly trying to scare the gals with his Ghost stories...which turned out to be a failed attempt...We took autos which costed us around 70 Rs per auto...
Finally we reached a small mutt at the base of the mountain , where we decided to get fresh and have our dinner...After having a sumptous meal and a small stint with a doggie and the beautiful background music( I remember Lakshmi commenting that she sung better than the female singing there :) )...we were instructed by the guides to fill in certain forms...a formality..
Yogi then instructed us on the dos and the donts for the trek:
1. We march at the pace of the slowest trekker.
2.No littering on the mountains
3.No lifting stones or disturbing the wild animals on the mountains
4.Team together...obvious

The package we took included the trip uphill and downhill , tenting there and a campfire.

So after the instructions we started our trek uphill somewhere near 9 45. Ravinder was to lead us and Yogi would be the last person.
All of us then begun the trek on the lovely full moon night with lots of enthu..smiling and giggling
and occasionally clicking pics...

we were asked not to drink a lot of water and not to take a lot of breaks ..which could actually tire us ...
So slowly and steadily all of us climbed the mountain...There were a lot of people trekkin along with us and we actually did not require any torch lights as the moonlight was quite enuf to guide us...
At around 11.15 we reached half the distance , a small wall which was the part of a fort to be constructed by Tipu sultan...All of us were so happy and nearly jumped out with happiness..
Then again we began our journey and actually ended up taking a lot of breaks...coz a lot of people had actually started tiring up and started complaining of breathlessness...It happens as we trek up...At one point of time , I had given up myself, because the trek uphill is always v v challenging and if u are a beginner , u actually end up straining urself to the max( A small suggestion: Before a week of the trek, any trek for the matter, make sure u walk upto a kilometer atleast so that u are a little fit)
But the grand hill seemed to challenge me saying that : U think u can do it? And a challenge is supposed to be taken up...The never give up attitude helped me finally reach the hill amongst the clouds with my mates at around 1 in the night ...and my my , what a climb it was..
I actually wondered as to how i managed to climb the entire stretch.. I remember Harsh commenting...U look like an ant but have a lot of dum...Bhaiya jee...appearences are deceptive..:)...
So we finally reached the top of the hill...the view seemed to get beautiful as we climbed higher...and on the top what we could see was jus mist and fog...thankfully the rain gods were merciful that day...else the climb would have actually become really really difficult( Point here: Try avoiding to trek in case it rains, the place may actually get dangerous)
So here again we started to search for a place which would actually serve our next to-do on the list of jobs we had.. a place to pitch our tents...which was found by Ravinder and Yogi...
So all of us got down to pitch the 2 men and the 5 men tents which came up by somewhere around 2 ... a good lesson and must no for every wanna be trekker...
Then we were asked to collect twigs to lite a campfire...which happened soon...
Then tried to lite the campfire...which we actually tried continuously and failed...
Ravinder then instantaneously lit the campfire...For the champ he is in trekkin...
(Point here: Please carry newspapers and match boxes in case u want to have a campfire...Also carry warm clothes as on the climb u dun feel cold..but once u reach there...Its hell chilly...So gloves , caps, jackets, shawls...needed) ...
After warmin us for sometime till the fire died ...we finally settled down in the 5 men tent...munching and deciding as to wht next...deciding upon to hit the sack for some time, we dispersed...
Not able to sleep.. I waited for it to get brighter so that I could walk out...(point here: please carry some basic medicines on the trip...u never no wat may happen)..
Finally it got brighter and we all walked out...the gang in the 5 men had walked out long back...not having an option...:)
So after packing back all the stuff ...the tents basically we walked back on our journey downhill...somewhere around six...Ravinder told us the trip downhill should take us around 2 hrs...
As we reached the pole which was at the peak, we came at this lovely place where the nature was at its best...winds blowing really really speed...I went up to the point and scared that i mat actually be flown off...came down to wait for the rest of them to enjoy...
As we walked down the trip ...we came across points where nature was at its best...All that we could see was mist clouds and winds...Actually admiring the beauty of the nature...untouched ..unadulterated and so pure....
The clouds played hide n seek with the sun, and the land below...and the sight made me feel as if i was in heaven and was blessed to see this sight...
We slowly walked down ...people clicking the natures beauty in their cams...
At a point there was this vertical rock and we were challenged by ravinder to climb it..to which we were like impossible and wat we saw was impossible happening...Ravinder actually scaled that piece of rock without anythg ...no rope nothing...jus with the bare confidence on his feet and hands...Kudos to him...It was amazing...
Finally after 2 hrs ...slippin grumbling yet enjoying the sight, we made it to the base...With Shilpa actually hurting herself ...
All of us sat down at the base , I wondering as to wht all can human confidence do...It can actually make u conquer mountains and do the impossible possible...
Also the nature has many facets...it can be beautiful, silent and yet furious...Everythg we are today is her gift to us and yet we neglect her ... So at times she has to remind us that we better mend our ways..
nature has 2 be a feminine...because she is silent, beautiful and at the same time strong within, having the power which when unleashed can make impossible possible and can bring typhoons and disasters...Never challenge her...:) (Guess gettin a little carried off)
So coming back to the flow...we took autos to our next destinations...each v tired yet v v happy to be a part of this trek to the hills ...
We reached the restaurant at Chikballapoora called Shree Shanthi Sagar..( the trip back costed us the same around 60-70 bucks)...had our breakfast and then boarded the bus back to bangalore...
And I realized this was the end of it...:(
As we travelled , we had lots of pleasant and unpleasant experiences..:)...but each of us were so very tired that we actually dozed off on our way to KGBS...the tickets costed us around Rs.30..
After finally reaching the KGBS bus stand, it was time to say good bye...And I left for home..
Took a bus and man i slept off again...which rarely happens...:)
Ordered for food to be delivered home , freshened up...feeded myself on pizzas...and then dozed off...Had a sound sleep and after 2 days of work and masti...m here typing down my experiences to share with my near and dear ones...
Thanks guys...for without u, this trip would have never materialized...

Facts:

Trip cost: Around Rs.700
The total distance uphill and downhill: About 20-25 kms
Carry with you:Torches, warm clothes, lots of water, dry food, medicines
Dos and donts: Read the blog... :)
Best time to go: Full moon day, No rains , preferably in the night
Trek organizers(officially):Outback India

Time Now: 9 15

Take care guys...Do post in your comments and let me know how it was...
So till the next blog ...Take care...Stay cute..keep smiling