Charmadi beckons

After gushing all its fury out, the nature has calmed down. It is smiling again on the mountains and sholas of the Western Ghats. As the rains have receded, the grasslands, peaks and waterfalls on the hill ranges are beckoning the trekkers with both arms.

Charmadi is one among the exhilarating stretches of the Sahyadri hill ranges, which is all set to welcome the nature lovers. On the one hand, the waterfalls on the ghats are still bubbling with full vigour, and on the other, the greenery on the hills and valleys have come up with their total beauty.

“The period between October and January is the ideal one to trek on Charmadi hill ranges for one can enjoy the charm of both waterfalls and greenery. The greenery on the mountains declines after February,” says artiste Dinesh. For Holla, trekking has been a part of life for several years who has trekked almost every peak in the region.

“There are many more small and big waterfalls on the ghats, which are unknown to people. They are real challenges for the explorers. Even without them, one can cover the resplendence of the Western Ghats by viewing the well known locations,” he observes. Though it may take almost a week to cover all the hillocks of Charmadi, one can plan a short journey of two days. If you begin early in the morning, at around 7 am, for instance from Ujire, you can finish your trekking by 5 pm the next day. One can choose the hotels in Ujire for staying and food. Trekkers who are not familiar with the place, usually contact Dinesh Holla for information and planning, or one Charmadi Hasanabba, who has a hotel on the foothills of Charmadi, for getting a local guide.

May it be mountains like Jenukallu, Kodekallu, Balekallu, Yerikallu, Minchukallu, Kumbhakallu or water falls like Alekhan and Kallarabhi, each inch of Charmadi is worth experiencing. The rocky and shrubby terrain of the slopes may be a challenge for the trekkers but they forget everything at the picturesque views which may remain on their memory’s canvass lifelong.

In fact, one can enjoy the awesome beauty of Charmadi without going for a trekking too. “Having a casual journey on the Ujire-Kottigehara stretch of the highway itself is a great experience. Throughout the journey, one can have the best view and experience of exquisite falls, dense forests and dark green gorges,” says Sampu Hoskere, a native of Chikmagalur working in Mangalore, “Driving a car on the Charmadi road is indeed a splendid experience, which I enjoy each time I travel to my native place.”

Quick glance

Location: Charmadi, bordering DK and Chikmagalur

Distance: 75 km from Mangalore; 300 km from Bangalore

Route: Mangalore-Ujire-Charmadi

Bangalore -Dharmasthala-Ujire-Charmadi

Days required: Minimum two

Sites to trek: Jenukallu, Kodekallu, Balekallu, Yerikallu, Minchukallu,

Kumbhakallu, Alekhan water falls, Kallarabhi falls, etc

Nearest stay: Ujire (15 km from Charmadi)

Easy contact: Dinesh Holla (9341116111); Charmadi Hasanabba (9972499947)

(ಈ ಲೇಖನ ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ ೧೦, ೨೦೦೯ರ ಡೆಕ್ಕನ್ ಹೆರಾಲ್ಡ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೂ ಚಾರಣಪ್ರಿಯರಿಗೆ ಉಪಯೋಗವಾದೀತೇನೋ ಎಂದು ಮತ್ತೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಕಣ್ತುಂಬುವ ಫೋಟೋ ಒದಗಿಸಿದ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಸಂಪುಗೆ ಕೃತಜ್ಞ.)