Kodachadri: Our experience of “kode,chatri”

Now a day technologies have gone beyond expectations, trip begins the moment “Whatsapp” group is created..!! Yup, I am talking about one of such groups called Trekker’s paradise!! Group Admin Abhi was so much enthusiastic about this Trip come Trek. Finally the dates got finalized and declared as Jul 19,20 started living into the future called Trek started in mind…

Initial days of Tent plans, Room booking, People confirming, dealing with their head, back and bumps…oops all got over and Abhi set to book 6 rooms for a gang of 20 People with 3 kiddos.

Trek got its real flavor with the shopping at Auchan, filling the entire wheel basket to accommodate 4 packs of eateries. This is one week before Jul 19^th, infact Decathlon had the great set of Customers from our trip who got all damn things preparing for the rainy, gloomy trek at Kodachadri.

Finally, the day has arrived to jam pack all of us in the mini bus waiting at Revathi’s home. Abhi, Chubby and Reva were waiting for all, by the time myself and Gani reached their home by 9:30pm packing all our stuffs. Sid joined with his wife Swetha followed by Prashanth, Nandini and Advay. Next couple of minutes spent in calling Prateek and SK’s family. It was 10:30pm approx when SK, Praseeda, Shriya gathered. Oh ya..!! Prateek the myan- Benki entered in an attire to resemble Shabarimala yatri..”Feel the fire” 😉 After loading all our luggages we couched overselves in the mini bus, SK came up with a game to play; clapping for the count of 3 or multiples of 3. Fortunately Praseeda won the game, may be a pre-trailed one to his wife by SK ;). Alas picked up Kowshik who was back from his class, Lakshmi and Avani and a while later Bhavana, Aditya, Thyag, Ashwini, Jyothi and Sindhu. Thus the whole Trekkers were in the bus, waiting for our next day adventure.

Whole night was filled with melodious songs by Aditya, Bhavana, SK, Prashanth, Abhi, Sindhu and a masala rhythm by Jyothi while the others slept quietly listening to the background chorus. Around 5:30, our bus driver bumped a huge break might be at a speed breaker, indeed it was a sleep breaker for us. Everyone started to feel the cold breeze slightly touching to wake us up to presence the rainy, gloomy weather of hosanagar, where all of us freshed up in a lodge arranged by Aditya and Thyag and clothed ourselves ready for the trek. One thing was common among all was the rain coat and the hat to save us from the monsoon weather.

Onward journey towards the trek base we all had the tasty Puliogre prepared and well packed by Jyothi along with the sweet rava laddu. As, we reached the Kodachadri base, Kowshik explained the plan for the trek based on the weather and the time required for the return journey. Initial plan of trekking turned to Jeep travel till the Hindlu mane falls and trekking till the falls. Three Jeeps were ready to fit all of us heading towards the muddy, I should say the most adventurous roads ever came across. The driver was an expert at his skill to manage the roads, driving in rain and sudden curves which would attack the Jeep’s from opposite side. Oh man, we were literally bumping eachother, while Kowshik and Lakshmi had their real good time sitting in front, Avani joining her best friend Advay who were supported at sides by Nandini and Prashanth. I and Ganesh were lucky enough to hear Shriya’s rhyms of “Wheel in the bus go round, round, round……” with Sk and Praseeda.

Wow as expected, our arrival at Hindlu mane was welcomed by a heavy downpour of rain, while the mommies have to take their choice to stay back with kiddos, except SK who dared to carry Sriya packed in her pink rain coat. Rest of us headed towards the falls, drenching in rain, shooting photos. It was one heck of a trek and enjoyed to the core, climbing the wet roads hanging to the tree branches, the entire journey was awesome to witness the mesmerizing falls in front of us. We clicked few shots, meanwhile half of the gang following Kowshik, Revathi started to climb up.

Jyothi was at her best, not giving up climbing up till the falls, where she slipped and still smiling on her adventure. Everyone were fulfilled to the core enjoying the amazing beauty amidst the forest in presence of milk white falls which turned reddish with the mud flowing alongside due to rain. On return we sipped a Tea and travelled back to have our lunch and bajji.

After, lunch we relaxed for a while and started back in our Jeeps to the next adventurous ride towards Kodachadri peak. The whole journey was for about 30-40mins, experienced as if it was whole days travel. Finally we reached the hill top not able to notice who is standing infront of us in the next 2 feet, fully covered by the mist… oh no we were inside the cloud!! It was too cold and rain added its extra effect to make us feel even chiller…!!

We chilled out and took our most awaited jump click on the top and made our taste buds to enjoy a tray full of bajji’s. There ends the return journey from Kodachadri meeting each one near the bus completely exhausted. The night was spent at Kollur guest house having lucky enough for getting individual rooms for the families… 😉

Kode Chatri Day 2:

Day next was temple visit at kollur, we all got ready to be there at the temple entrance; again a heavy rainfall splashed on all of us,” Kode chatri” came to picture where Thyag saved us by getting couple more of them and everyone entered inside the temple to join the queue. The crew was quite long, all except Abhi, Prateek and Sid were there for the Pooja.. God knows!! what enlightenment Abhi had; which made him to get ready and come. However, Aditya’s dothi played a huge role in making Abhi enter the main temple premises 😉

We all witnessed the Deepa Harake and early morning rituals at the temple. Devotion was filled inside the temple with the mantras and prayers; other side was the Saraswathi Pooja where the kids were made to begin their Learning path by making them write on Rice in a tray, accompanied by their parents. Trip was even more excited and devotional having Advay, Avani and Sriya performed their Vidhyarambham pooje.

Out from the temple was the stalls street where the kids had their fun in Advay getting toy, Sriya getting her favorite pink nail polish and clips, we all had real fun looking at Parents attempt to avoid kids from noticing new things to buy. Packing up our luggage from the Kollur guest house after a good breakfast at Adigas; we were all set to play in the Marvanthe beach.

Remembering bits and pieces of the Mafia Game, Revathi,Aditya, Prashanth and Swetha took lead in explaining the game rules. As we approached near the beach, all were pretty distracted to play the game rather to jump in; to play in beach.

Marvanthe beach was so serene with its silent beauty and the waves hitting to the corners, touching the sand, leaving behind the foot prints of the salty water bubbles. Everyone jumped to pose a click and indulged themselves to play with waves. Avani had her great water splashes aided by her parents Lakshmi and Kowshik, Sid and Swetha had a long stroll on the banks, Vidya and Abhi played and posed for the Thyag’s camera shots, Thyag and Ashwini started their life’s best conversation looking far side of the ocean,  Revathi was giving tough time for the waves to splash her, Advay was severing to the cold breeze and giving notty poses with his parents, Aditya and Bhavana sat on the sea shore rock until a heavy wave splashed them, Praseed and Sriya enjouying by the sea shore, Sindhu and Jo, jumped and rocked the beach floor, oh ya me and Ganesh were engulfed in witnessing all this while SK was beautifully capturing all these moments.

Beach race was real fun with the young pair Vidya and Abhi winning the Girls and Boys sand race. Back to the Bus, Rasagolla was waiting to feed the hungry tummies followed by cucumber slices. Aditya and Prateek came up with the good news having arranged a restaurant for the afternoon lunch.

We all had lunch and the next entertainment was from kids, Advay the Charlie with his Angels Avani and Sriya were all set for the hip-hops and roll over for “Badtameez dil…”. We had great time watching them and shooting their poses. Alas the camera had the opportunity to click the group photo, I wonder how it was so well organized and everyone standing in their made for it kind of positions..;) In the next couple of minutes it started raining looked as if the rain waited us to finish posing for the camera.

Back in the bus, looking in to the future called Bangalore, all were exhausted but still had energy to play Mafia. Aditya the God , supervised the game and by the end of it everyone got the glimpse of what it takes to play Mafia. Swetha and Prashanth then lead the game, the best part was Mafia Ladies Gang; well played by Nandini, Praseeda, Lakshmi and Ashwini managing to keep the game alive for long time. Praseeda was the real lady Mafia winner of the Game, quietly playing and slightly slipping from everyone’s eyes to get caught. Prateek the Game boy, what an OneRollment…!!!; infact everyone were so much amused and caught in the logic placed by him to enroll that he is not Mafia. Games continued till we reached Shimoga followed by munching nutella coated bread and other snacks. All of us were exhausted to the core to have dinner and plan for our tentative Bangalore arrival was under discussion.

Game was concluded with the acknowledgement session lead by Prashanth, each one of us were eager to know others experience of the trip. Ofcourse it was one of its Kind of a TRIP I should say. Everyone had their truck loads of happiness to share and acknowledge Abhi for jumping in with this idea and keeping the spirit alive; Lakshmi and Nandini thanking each other for their mutual support and their husbands for not giving up; Swetha for getting a chance to completely experience the nature outside throughout the journey realizing that her husband Sid is not the driver of our bus :P; SK for including Praseeda in to this family and she considering all of us as Human Beings in different shapes and forms :D; Ash and Thyag for pushing them for this new phase of life allowing them to experience world outside of home; Sid acknowledged Swetha, though sacrificed sitting next to her while saying this 😉 and the whole crew; Sindhu for joining with Jo to make her mom proud of herself to put foot on adventure and Abhi for encouraging her; Prateek for taking the best decision of his life to join the trek with  us and allowing the leech to savour the taste of his blood 😛 Vidhya having enjoyed her best with all of us thanked Abhi for creating this space.

Yeah the list continues while the core members Abhi, Revathi, Bhavana, Gani,Kowshik, Prashanth,Jo and myself – left with an experience of adding new members to the team and continued to keep the charmness and the beauty of friendship alive. We had the sense of ‘anything we want for ourselves and our families was available out of our participation in the TRIP’; leaving us more happy and thrilled. We were enlivened and lit up to start the next plan of actions to keep it ongoing.

Trip also included the celebration of Sid’s Birthday in to its memory; it was the perfect time and a different party I have ever witnessed. Prashanth arranged for the cake through his Bro-in-law at Shimoga, though unplanned ‘candles and candies’ were with us. Mind-night around 11pm, Thyag and Aditya ultimately found a place where we can dine out; while Prashanth and family went to his in-laws home. I should say Thyag and Aditya would take care of the team and arrange everything even if it was a desert.  After our banana leaf dinner and tasty rasam gulping in a Mess at Nehru road in Shimoga, myself, Abhi, Swetha were arranging a surprise cake cutting as planned on the street placing the cake above the luggage loads.

Sid had the best ever birthday cake cutting with all of us bringing back that josh after the tiresome and adventurous journey and joining our hands to clap for his candle blow; much expected Sid made his cake reach Swetha before all of us and oh ya…!! same piece he made all of us take a tiny bite saying “please have little”. I guess he wanted to have the rest of the cake by himself, nevertheless we didn’t allow him to do that 😉

Bus was missing Prashanth, Nandini and Advay who took a call to stay back at Shimoga; though we were happy to get the seats to rest back peacefully on our return journey 😉 I only remember the time when the door was shut and the driver broke the silence of the bus hitting hardly on the accelerator heading towards Bangalore and myself couched to sleep after a coaching and acknowledgement from Gani about the trip experience 😉

This is not the end, but the beginning of our friendship with extended family allowing each of us to experience the life to the fullest………..