Kemanagundi Trek: Trip Log

Kemmanagundi means "pit of red clay" in Kannada. It’s one of the the best-kept secret hill stations in Karnataka, about around 300kms from Bangalore. Also known as K.R. Hills,once it was summer retreat of Krishna Raja Wodeyar, it has lots of magnificent waterfalls and scenic trekking paths and lush coffee plantations. Sunset and from Rajbahavan and sunrise from Z-Point, the Hebbe falls being some of the highlights.

Members: 19

Start time: 10:30 PM, Friday, 29^th Jul, 2011

End time: 4:00 AM, Monday, 1^st Aug, 2011

Total travel: 700 Kms (Mini bus) + 40 Km (Walk)

Terrain: Hilly/Slopes, Coffee Estates, Small streams, Jeep Track

Total expense: 1300 INR/head

What went great:

- Lot of fun

- Comfortable accommodation during night

- Awesome team

- Memorable night meeting

- Leeches!! J what a fun!!

Pain points:

-      2 members lost during trek. Found after 4-5 hrs

-      Wet clothes, Rain all the time

Total duration: 2 days+ 3 nights

Weather: Rainy, Wet all the time

Vehicle: 24-seater bus

Day 1: 30^th Jul:

Kemanagundi base ->; Hebbe waterfall -->; Kemanagundi base

29^th Jul, 11 PM: Start from Bangalore

30^th Jul, 6:30 AM: Reached Kemanagundi

10:00 AM: Freshened up + breakfast -> Start for trek

Water hurdle: On the way!!

The beautiful forest trail

Vinayak & Sukirti

1 PM: Hebbe waterfalls

Hebbe Falls!

Private cottage! 

The tree was watching this whole beauty alone. Jealous!

Befriended tree...No more jealous now :P

Fed up of leeches and rain..few preferred Jeep ride as well :)

@Jeep track

Between the Poles!!
While descending, just near to the bus parking, one of the High voltage electric pole got broken due to heavy rain/wind. Bare High volt wire flying halfway between air & land and our bus stuck just before those wires. Here it is how our brave commandos solved the issue. :)
Sorry guys didn't help you there at all. Hope your mention and pics justifies the reason :)

Stepping Stone!!

1 picture's worth 1000 words: Damaged pole, high volt wires, stones placed by our "commandos", bus passing over!! Aswesome job guys

5:00 PM: Back to Kemanagundi ->; Dormitory stay, Team fun

Day 2: 15^th Jan

Kemanagundi base ->; Shanti falls -> Z-point -> Kemanagundi base -> Kalhattipura -> Kallahathi falls -> Kalhattipura -> Veerabhadreshwara temple

8 AM: Breakfast -> Start

8:30 AM: Reached Shanti falls

Shanti Falls

Kinda awkward shaped tree!!

On the way to Z-point! 

9:00 AM: Z-point

A beautiful spot with wind on full throttle!!

Z-point

Romance + Singing!!

Girish & I @Z-point

11:00 AM: Back to Kemanagundi base

12:30 PM: Kalhattipura village -> Start for Kalahathi falls

On the way to Kalahatthi falls!

3:00 PM: Kallahathi falls

Oranges on the way!!

4:30 PM: Back to Kalhattipura village

2 members lost in the trail. Fortunately got a call from them. Reached to another village with coffee estate called as “Blue Mountain” to search them.

Finally caught them at 6:45 PM J

5:00 PM: Veerabhadreshwara temple 

7:30 PM: Start back to Bangalore

The Final Push!! :D

10:00 PM: Dinner at highway restaurant

2:00 PM: Reached bangalore

4:30 PM: Home, Sweet Home!!

Photographs courtesy: Vinayak, Jayashree, Darshan, Varun