Kumara Parvata

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pushpagiri. (Discuss)Proposed since November 2009.
Kumara Parvatha is a mountain located in Subramanya (village) of Sullia taluka, Karnataka. The village is known for the Hindu Kukke Subramanya Temple. In spite of being a small village, it is a wellknown shrine, and draws large number of devotees throughout the year. The peak is at a height of about 1712m, and is about 13 km from the temple. This mountain is on the border between Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts, so the lights of Somwarpet town in Kodagu can be seen from the peak.

Peak point of Kumara Parvata Mountain

[edit]Trekking
This mountain is very popular among the trekkers of southern part of India especially those of Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore and Mysore.

Kumara Parvata detailed Trekking Plan

[edit]Littering

Littering is strictly prohibited. Trekkers usually put all their trash in a carry bag and drop them off in the innumerous garbage cans available in the path to and fro Kumara Parvatha.

[edit]Starting

point

Kumara Parvata Starting Point

Kukke-Subramanya, a small town on the Bangalore - Mangalore national highway about 230 km from Bangalore is the starting point for this trek. This place is well known for a huge temple dedicated to the Snake God. Snakes, especially King Cobras, are abundant in the dense forests covering this region of western ghats (western mountains of Indian peninsula). There are trains available from Bangalore to Kukke Subramanya Road station, and from there one can reach Kukke Subramanya which is approximately 15 km from railway station.

[edit]Stage

One=

Kumara Parvata Stage One

The first stage of the trek goes through a densely covered forest which takes about two to three hours of walking to complete it. This stretch is infested by leeches and snakes.It will be dry durin summer. The forest opens up into a grass-covered ridge and the mid-way point of trek.

[edit]Bhattara

Mane (House of Bhat family)

Kumara Parvata Bhattara Mane

[edit]Stage

two

If some rest and/or food is in the agenda then bhattara mane is the perfect place.He charges Rs.70 for plain rice, sambar, curd, pickle and Rasam. From Bhattara Mane the path is little flatter for about 11.5 km and consists of going over small hills. Stage for the trekkers need to register with a forest office check post at a nominal cost of 200/Head. There are two observations platforms between the bhattara mane and the mantapa. The ascent from here is gradual and the mountain face is covered with thick green grass. This stage culminates near the top of the mountain which is covered with thick forest.

[edit]Summit
The trek path becomes somewhat lost in the vegetation near the mountain top. About thirty minutes of walking through brooks and bushes leads to the summit which is generally fog covered. There is a primitively built stone temple at the summit.

[edit]More

Pictures

Panoramic view, trek to Kumara Parvatha

Kumara Parvata

Kumara Parvata

Kumara Parvata

Kumara Parvata

Mission: Kumara Parvatha Objective: Set foot upon the Peak Strategy: Climb from Kukke, Reach Peak and get down to Girigadde the same evening. Agents: Some Guys Okay. Now that the plan is chalked out and we are all set, lets begin the journey which turned out to be an affair to remember! It was a sudden plan and we were off to Kukke on Friday night. It was an uneventful ride until we were somewhere around Gundiya Check post after which the ride was pretty bumpy and by 6.30 in the morning we were at Kukke. Last time I saw this place, we reached around the same time and I found Kukke to be a sleepy little town. However the town was teeming with activity this morning. After freshening up at the public restrooms and having breakfast, off we go by 7.30. Oh, but before I start I wanted to check my weight and so I did! Wait and watch to know by how much it came down.

We hit the trail by 8 AM. This being monsoon season, we were apprehensive about the leech infested first 5 kms of the trek. Salt, tobacco, pain relief sprays (more for leeches than pain ;) ) were duly packed. Well as expected, there were lots of leeches but constant vigilance and the salt/spray worked like a charm. It was not as tiring as the last time partly due to the pleasant weather and partly maybe due to my trekking experience since then.2 hours of trekking takes you above the forest canopy

and it is now that one can get a good view of all the mountain range surrounding and the clouds if lucky! A couple of shots and an hour later we reached Bhattaru Mane. We had lunch at 11 and by 12 we started to reach the peak and return back to Bhattas place.

The weather was pleasant and now we entered the non-leech territory cum the shola grasslands. The peak was shrouded in mist for most parts and the mountain side was as green as it gets. But surprise! Tiny dots of pink spread all over the place. At first I saw some pink flowers amidst the sea of green. A few steps further and whoa! The whole mountain side was full of pink flowers. It was a real pleasant surprise. I guess our timing couldnt have been more perfect or was it? Lets find out!

Well they say, the good comes with the bad. So the flowers were nice and good but they also attracted a host of insects. As long as we were moving it was good. But, sit down for a minute and you will have your own personal band of flies swarming

around you! Well that was bearable, at least for now and we crossed the first peak Sidda parvatha, the second peak Sesha parvatha and time for another surprise. On the other side of Sesha Parvatha, the grasslands are no more and it gives way to a thick and dense forest which leads you to Kumara Parvatha. Mist rolling in the dense green forest right in front of us at such at altitude was an amazing sight.

But something even more amazing was awaiting us in what we fondly christened as the leech valley/narnia land. More flowers welcomed us this time as we went under the forest canopy. The whole setting was perfect pink flowers, mossy trees, misty atmosphere and also the-not-sominor glitch, Leeches!! Running was our only option again and so we did - a very short run though! This path led us to a small stream cascading from a height.

Up the stream, the trail ended in front of a huge steep flat rock. Now the thing is many people who have blogged about this, said they had to climb a steep rock to reach KP. But this was not just any other steep rock; it was actually a small waterfall. The monsoon had made the rock slippery and there was no direct path to reach the top. We had to go along the waterfall! We tried to find alternatives to avoid this but to no avail. At the end it turns out crossing the waterfall was not so difficult and we were very close to our destination.

After we crossed the waterfalls, to make our lives miserable, it started to rain heavily! We had two raincoats and a jacket with us. So we were like big deal! Nothing can dampen our spirits and off we go towards the peak which included more slippery rocks at a slant angle. Finally around 4.30 PM we reached the peak. It was raining and we were soaking wet. Ecstatic I felt mostly but also there was a doubt lurking somewhere at the back of my mind about our descent the same day. When it rains it pours and so it did! Mist covered everything around and visibility reduced badly. We started back to Bhattaru Mane by 5 PM and were trying to negotiate the slippery waterfall for a trail towards the leech valley. Somewhere on our way down the peak, we missed the trail (as in there is no trail as such just missed the direction) and ended up groping in the mist for the right direction down the waterfall. This was some experience, being blinded by mist! So by the time we realized the right way to go down with the help of another group of trekkers camping at the peak, it was too late and we were very apprehensive about making our way down unscathed! And if I forgot to mention, it was still raining and we were still soaking wet. Without sleeping bags, tent, food, dry clothes (we had nothing on us since our plan was to camp at Bhattas place) we set out to spend the night atop coz it sounded much better than getting down the slippery rock in the mist and rain. The super friendly trekkers offered us a tent and thank goodness for that! Shivering like crazy, the tent offered us temporary respite from the lashing wind and rain but it didnt last

long. We were soaking wet and starving all night long! For 13 hrs we were holed up in that tent. Only god knows what we all went through. It was funny in ways I didnt imagine. Water flowing below the tent was giving an extra cooling effect. Only leeches were missing from the scene..or were they? From god knows where, leeches were entering the tent. Not miserable enough? Okay weve got more. We were literally sleeping in puddles. Water was seeping into the tent from one corner. After what felt like an eternity someone asked whats the time? Only to realize we had another eternity to endure. And if I havent mentioned yet, it was still raining and we were still soaking wet! After two eternities, the sun was shining again. The early morning view was to die for and maybe our previous night was the means.

I always wanted to wake up above the cloud cover and this was close. After a few clicks and few thanks and farewells with the other group we started the descent. It took us some contemplating again but finally we got down along the waterfall itself. After that, we crossed the leech valley which was looking lovely with the morning sunrays illuminating the forest. Not having dinner nor breakfast was showing its effect as we were getting down. Once we crossed Sesha Parvatha, a constant camaraderie shared with the pink flowers, clouds and the flies made the descent delightfully memorable well the flies were not delightful but unforgettable for sure. At one point we decided, any day wed choose leeches over the flies.

On our way back, we stopped at the orchid cave. Now dont think this girl is acting too girly talking all about flowers but I guess flowers were one of the main attractions of this trek. :D And all this while, I was terribly weakened with all the starving and shivering. Once we reached Bhattas place by noon, few morsels of food and a quick nap did a whole world of good. Started from Bhattaru mane by 2.20 and we cruised through the leech infested forests with much rigor and ended the trek by 4.10 no major stops anywhere. Its 5 in the evening and we are dry, warm, stomachs full and comfortably seated in the car but all that we were thinking was What a trek! What a view! What a night and WHAT AN ADVENTURE! I almost forgot. :D I did check my weight. It was less by 2 kgs. :)

Fact File:
Bhatta's phone number - 09448647947 Camping options - either at Mantapa or the peak if you have tents, else can spend the night in Bhatta's verandah or the Forest office near by. Water source - One stream flowing near Mantapa always and a stream near the peak in monsoons. Time required - 2 days Distance covered - 28 km approx Difficulty Level - High

.THE END