Monsoon Drive 2021

Day-1: 

It is always nice to capture waterfalls when they are in full flow. Belkal Theertha was in my list since long. I started from Karkal,  drove through Shankaranaraya-Jadkal-Belkal. The road narrowed and narrowed as I passed villages, finally near Temple it was hard to manage this small bridge and immediate turn.

The last point on the Concrete road is the Parking lot, luxury of car drive ended here. 

This waterfall is known as Govinda Theertha by locals, they go quite frequently there and believe taking dip here is very auspicious.

It was very cloudy and monsoon was very active for the last few days. Started to walk from there and within 2 minutes I was at the Forest check point. Providing necessary information, took entry ticket and camera tickets and started to walk.

Based on my request, one of the local came along with me. It was a week day and we were the only 2 people in the forest.

The walking trail is quite simple as there is no deviation in the path. It took about about 1 hour to see the first glimpse of fall.

Waterfall seen from Temple

Ascending up for few minutes, I could see the fall. Water splash and rain both were exchanging turns quite well and it was hard for me to take good photos/videos.

I waited for more than 45min, that too didnt help me to get clear views. 

  Managed to climb up carefully to go little side of the fall to avoid water splash. After taking many pics and videos, started back. 

Came back to the parking lot, had my packed food, thanked the villager and returned back to Karkala.

Closer view of the fall

Day-2:

Morning had walk to Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple, which is 450 years old. It was nice to read about it. Calm and beautiful ambience made a perfect start of the day.

450 year old temple at Karkala

Had breakfast at Hotel Prakash, packed food and started my drive towards Hebri. I had planned to visit Kudlu theertha. I was at the deviation point 9:30am. Board mentioned that Falls is closed due to heavy rain. Talked to Forest guard there and he told that way to falls is crossing river and due to high downpour, entry is prohibited. I was totally disappointed about my day plan. 

Thought for a while, done some quick browsing and planned to drive towards Tombattu village. I had heard there are few waterfalls near this.

From Someshwara, drove towards Halady and took right turn at Halady junction towards Amasebailu. Finally it was about 11pm I reached Tombattu village. It was raining heavily and went to near by shop to enquire about waterfalls.

As usual I got initially de-motivating replies about the waterfalls, not good to go in rains etc. After talking for a while, seeing my interest Mr. Udupa came forward to help me. He requested his friend to along with me. This region too is coming under Wildlife area and hence it is required to take permission.

From the last house, it is about 1 hour steep ascent. There is literally no trail or the water sound. Without guide, it is impossible to reach this place. With all the leech bite, we were finally at the base of fall.

HK falls

  Enjoyed serene ambience, wandered within safety limits to take photos of different views and returned back to village.

Seeing my interest, Mr. Udupa told about a small waterfall near to village and we went without wasting any time.

Mr. Udupa was very kind enough to help a stranger. Thanked him and returned back to Karkala. I have travelled to many remote villages in western ghats. Feel happy and thankful to great  people who help strangers whole heartedly.

Small waterfall nearby village

Towards Hosangadi route, I visited Irkegadde, very nice place.

Irke gadde

Irke gadde

Day-3:

Google maps indicated a small cascade near by Karkala. I followed map and soon was at calm and quite place Durga falls. Could see blue sky for a short while, managed to get good picture.

Durga falls

Drove towards Hornadu-Kalasa and returned back to Mysore. 

Thanks to Rajesh Naik and Aravind G.

Day around Jog falls

I had thought of spending some time around Jog falls to capture beautiful images of other waterfalls. Started off from Siddapura and stopped at Tumbragoda village. This is a stone quarry turned into small waterfalls of about 40 feet and can be seen only during monsoon. 

At Husur village, there is a reservoir and small picnic place.

Just before Jog bridge, on road side, Mavinagundi falls can be seen.

Opposite to Jog

View of the valley and Mahatma Gandhi power station

 Another fall

 Mist had covered the jog valley. People had to wait to see jog falls. I started my journey towards Honnavar. Had a pit stop at Sharavathy view point. 

 Descending down the ghat, on the opposite mountain there is waterfall which captured my attention.

 B K waterfalls - Upper stage

When the ghat road ends, there is bridge. There was no board or indication of this falls. I walked along the trail leading towards that hill. One the way there are many small stages of water falling from about 20ft. 

After walking about 20min, 5 min along the stream, i was in front of this mystical beauty (B K falls).
Heavy downpoar had made the fall more beautiful.
I checked the way if i could climb top and see the upper part, but it started raining.
Clicking many photos taking videos, i returned back to main road.

B K falls lower portion

I came down to Gerusoppa village and enquired about M M falls, but they were not able to recognise.
They pointed that there is another falls which was earlier stone quarry during dam building time.
Getting directions i went in search of the path. Walked for about half an hour and to my bad luck i had taken wrong turn.
I could get a beautiful snap of this stream running in full flow.

 Came back to the same shop, requested the shop keeper and he agreed to come along.

About 0.75km from temple, there is deviation, old road (used for timber transport) which is the way.
It looked like people had not been along this path and many trails were totally covered by bushes.
With his direction sense and cleaning up the path, we walked about 40min and saw this serene beauty.

Old stone quarry had turned into beautiful wonderland.

It is very easy to stand below the water and play.

Rain was on-off i returned back to the shop.

I hope to find pointers to M M falls and would make it someday.

It was evening when i reached the shop. Thanked him and i continued my drive towards Honnavara.

It was very good memorable drive along this road.

Waterfalls around KaLasa-Kudremukha

We planned a trip to capture best views of waterfalls.

Road side falls.
Balur to Kelagur road

After reaching Kalasa, we had breakfast, packed for lunch and started our drive towards Elaneer.

We parked our car 1km before Elaneer as the road was very narrow and we were not aware of directions.

After talking to few villagers, got to know the right path and soon we reached the village.

Mavinasasi falls view was amazing.

I had kept Taranga article which had come in year 2000 regarding Elaneer and to my surprise i met the same villager who was in the article. We exchanged talks regarding hydro electric stoppage and other topics.

Water cascading down

We climbed up to get the upper view of Elaneeru falls. Water splashing towards camera restricted me to click photos but somehow managed.

We thanked villager and returned back to Samse.

Photo session at Elaneeru falls

We drived towards Kudremukh, i came to know there is restriction by forest department. Like earlier we are not allowed to park vehicles, go around and time restriction has been put between two forest gates.

Kadambi falls was gorgeous due to heavy rains.

Another view of Kadambi falls

Another road side waterfalls

 Entry to Hanumangundi falls is restricted now. Just for the sake of documentation, i have attached picture taken during good old days of my roll camera time.

Old picture of Hanumangundi

Clouds were playing in the valley with rains on-off. It was evening and we returned back to Kalasa for our night halt.

Had dinner at Suprabha hotel and rested.

Next day trip was towards Abbigudige. Hired a jeep and soon started our day.
Bhadra river levels were high due to continuous rains.  At the village and near this stream, we met one villager and were asking route to Abbigudige.

Seeing our interest, he told there is another taller waterfall but it would be tough to make as it was raining.

We convinced him to take us to that place.
My wife & children agreed to stay back at the village. I followed the villager through dense forest, walked in heavy rains, managed many leech bites and in about 20min, we reached the stream. Another 10min along the slippery stream, we were there to enjoy the most serene beauty of the waterfalls. When asked, villager said there is no name to this falls.

This remotest place, unpolluted falls is about 100-120ft height. View was really amazing.

Thanked the villager many times, as he had volunteered to such a beautiful place.

Soon we were back to the village and went towards Abbigudige.

Abbigudige is a small waterfall lying inside private estate and is a perfect place to play.
We took permission of the owner and walked in to the estate.
We took many pictures, my 3 year old daughter enjoyed playing in the waters and finally started our journey back.

Another view of Abbigudige

Beauties of MaaLa (MaaLada Bedagiyaru)

It is good opportunity during this monsoon to visit waterfalls as rains are continuous across Karnataka. When i visited Mala last year, i had thought of planning a trip during monsoon.

We reached Mallaru in the afternoon. It was raining heavily and we had baby & child with us, we didnt want to try finding route on our own. We took auto and requested him if he could help us to show the way to Daanegundi. He agreed and accompanied us.

He parked his auto at Bhat`s house and with 15min walk we were at the falls.

First step of the fall

Second step

We came to know there are further steps to this upstream, but it was difficult to go during monsoon.

We returned back to autostand, thanked him and further continued.

I was surprised to see colour of water. It was bluish white.

We proceeded to Parashurama temple, parked our car there and walked towards Joyisaragundi.

Water was splashing all over, I had tough time to clean my camera.

Next visit was to Kera. Though water does not have vertical fall here, there is sloped gradient.

Closer view

I came to know there is one more waterfalls (HG falls) deep in the forest. I hope to see this soon.