Revisit to Dudhsagar & Tambdi - Surla Falls - Payana - My Journey

ಅದೇ ಭೂಮಿ, ಅದೇ ಬಾನು, ಈ ನಯನ ನೂತನ

ಅದೇ ದಾರಿ, ಅದೇ ತಿರುವು, ಈ ಪಯಣ ನೂತನ

(The same earth, the same sky however the view is different)

(The same path, the same turn however the journey is new

I have been reminding myself many times that ‘Why am going the same place

again within 2 months’. Even many friends asked me same question; ‘Why you going the same place again’? Honest answer from my side is Mother nature, certainly the glory of the Monsoon. I am again back to Dudhsagar in this monsoon while going to one more hidden falls ‘Tambdi-Surla’ near Kulem (South Goa). Last time I was more disappointed due to huge crowd at Dudhsagar who littered the whole place. This trek is one of the most memorable and remembered long time.

There are mainly 2 reasons made me to do this trek. Firstly, this trek route was little varying from the previous one and my friend Sudhakar insisted me to be accompany to him. Always, Dudhsagar is more demanded event in BASC (Bangalore Ascenders). Thanks to Raveendra extending the team size from 12 to 24 and giving us opportunity to be part of this wonderful trek.

Itinerary

Bangalore – Hubli – Dudhsagar – Railway track trek to Kulem – Tambdi Surla (Night Camp) – Tambdi Surla Falls – Kulem – Londa – Bangalore

27.09.2013

Well in advance we had received detailed information mail from Raveendra. We 22 enthusiast trekking friends (2 drop out at last moment) boarded Bangalore – Solapur Express train. I, Sudhakar and Chandrakanth joined them at Yeshwanthpura. I am more happy that, after eight months we all three together in the trek. Few of them repeated faces and rest were new. I had opportunity to make new bunch of friends. Appreciate to BASC as always unknown trekkers become friends within short span of time, this journey was too. We have settled down with our trek gears to the respective seats. Now the time is to enjoy the journey. The whole group divided into two team and played UNO card game. Most of us were new to this game however it is very interesting and everyone enjoyed a lot. Our mentor of this game is Megha, thank you so much to introducing this game. The whole compartment is disturbed by our scream. The time is to say good night and we slept around 11.30 pm.

28.09.2013

We have to get down at Hubli and need to catch Vasco – Chennai express train to Dudhsagar. Reached the Hubli railway station as per right scheduled at 4 am, the next train is at 6.45 am. Enough of time to get freshened up and finish the breakfast.

Team Relaxed at Hubli Railway Station

Took permission from Raveendra and headed me, Sudhakar and Chandrakant to our cousin house which was very close to Railway station. Finished morning duties and had yummy Upama breakfast at Railway station and rejoined to the group.

The train was arrived right time we all got in the train and everyone got seats. From Hubli to Dudhsagar is around 3 - 4 hours journey. Continued the team with Antakshari, UNO and Dumb shade games. We were attraction to the whole compartment.

Reached the Dudhsagar around 10.30 am. Comparatively the crowd was very very less to my previous visit. May be now the monsoon coming to an end or might be its Saturday noon. We all geared up in trekking mood.

Mean time one of friend Ashok offered his shoes to Monkey and which he did not expect it take away from him. Tried and tried at last monkey understood nothing eatable item inside and left the shoe cover hanging to branch. With great difficulty Ashok could able to get it back and this incident is become so popular whole trek.

After half a km walk on the track we had the first view of the glorious Dudhsaagar.

In fact the falls was not roaring like my last visit in July but the beauty it remains.

We spent around one hour at falls. Friends were busy in taking photographs with different poses. I felt its worthy again visiting the Dudhsagar as I could able to enjoy the falls without much crowd.

After many group photographs we moved further on the track towards Kulem.

Hope I am the one person who was repeatedly visited this place. Walking till Sonalium on the track need to take right diversion into jeep track. The sun was on our straight head; people wanted to take a break for lunch. I suggested Raveendra that we get a Temple after the Sonalium which is perfect for Lunch.

Due to some misunderstanding the place the group split into two. One in which I was found a stream beside the temple and we were relaxed some time.

After long time when the other group not reached decided to find out where they are. Understood from the villagers and few bikers they headed further and relaxed at stream. With great unhappy we decided to join the main group and take the lunch as the relaxed place was perfect for lunch. Everyone brought delicious homemade variety of foods. Shared among and good tasty lunch. Couple of minutes relax at stream and headed towards Kulem.

Due to more humidity everyone wanted to jump into water. I was earlier to small falls which is just a km before the Kulem and ideal to have good time in water. The team was agreed and moved towards falls. Everyone jumped into the water and had enjoyed lot.

The time was around 4 pm; now the team is headed towards Kulem. Raveendra pre-booked the Tata Sumo’s (TS) to drop us to Tambdi-Surla. Reached the Kulem at 5 pm and relaxed near track.

Dumped our luggage on top and headed towards Tambdi-Surla. Ordered the dinner at Kulem hotel who delivers the parcel in the evening at our base camp. Distance of Tambdi-Surala is around 18 km from Kulem. Reached the base camp at 6 pm.

The location was really so beautiful. Its around 4 km away from the village and so calm and beautiful place. Around you can see big hills covered with green everywhere; divine Mahadev Temple which maintained so well; whisper of stream and birds and last but not least a beautiful haunted house.

We all were busy to choose the night camping site. The haunted house is ultimate for night stay whereas the other trekkers group or drunker made completely dirty. Need lot of efforts to bring it to back and few of our friends (especially girls) did not wish to stay here. Our next choice was Temple; the temple is covered with well built by compound and locked the gates. Getting inside we need to jump the compound which Raveendra not at all ready because it is against the law. The sun was completely shut-down and dark covered everywhere. The last option was to sleep on the bridge. Appreciate and thanks to Raveendra choosing this place; never spent such a wonderful night whisper of stream. Dumped our luggage and everyone got refresh.

Raveendra asked me to bring the soup at last moment as at least we can have hot soup in the night. Wanted to prepare the dinner for all; during monsoon getting the dry woods is very difficult and the team size 22 which required big vessels so dropped it. Our great friend Shanthi Prasad (SP) who always ahead and volunteer for food preparation busy to light the fire.

Everyone contributed to light up; with great difficulty SP could able to prepare the soup with co-volunteer Chandru (HR). Soup was ready and gave relief to tiered body. One more gang engaged to light up the fire for fire camp.

Struggled a lot; they could able to get smoke rather a fire. Now the time of introduction to each member. We all settled in circle around the smoke (not fire).

The introduction part was very interesting; given different assignment to all members based on their skills. Many hidden talents came out and helped us to understand more about the friends who were with us since 24 hours. Few are great singers; poets; musicians; cyclists; organizers the list goes on. This part took almost 2 hours and we all were feeling hungry. Everyone was waiting eagerly the dinner parcel. Reached the hotel guy with parcel of Palav & Jeera Rice. All finished the dinner and singing Antakashari continued till 10 pm.

The night was most memorable; all taken out their sleeping bags-mats; sleeping under open sky and stream. Great experience !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

29.09.2013

As usual woke up so early at 5 am; followed by Vijayanand & SP. Finished our morning duties and next destination is to conquer the Tambdi-Surla Falls. Night I was not had yummy dinner; feeling so hungry. Bread jam and chapatti supported me and followed by biscuits. Vijayanand, SP, Sudhakar and other friends also joined with me. Everyone got ready and we left to the falls.

The falls is around 4-5 km away from the base camp. Need to take left deviation into the forest before the Mahadev Temple main gate. The path is well defined and the thrown plastic bottles, biscuit and chocolate wrappers lead you till falls. It is a dense forest and need to cross few streams.

Walking into nature is thrilling and so much delighted by Mother Nature. There is no confusion in the path just we need to follow the trail. We get one big stream; hope in swing monsoon difficult to cross it. The only difficulty on the path is thrones.

Most of the trees are thrones and very difficult to take support of them.

The good pace of walk around one and half hour reached the falls. On the way we met a baby viper.

Looking the first view of the falls everyone just said ‘Woooooooooooooooow’.

The Tambdi-Surla falls roaring with glory and nobody not like stay away without dipping in it. All jumped into the water and enjoyed a lot.

Visiting the place is very worthy; you enjoy the glory of the Dudhasagar in your eyes whereas Tambdi-Surla invite you to dip in it. Everyone had only one word ‘it’s worth to visit here’.

Spent almost 2 hours at falls and now the journey back to base camp. Descending pace was fast and few of friends wanted to take a break and finish the breakfast. Now the drizzling started and few of us not wanted to take break and headed towards base camp. Now the rain started pouring heavily; can easily recognize the water level up in the streams. Reached the base camp around 11 am and had good time in the stream.

Later one by one joined with us and took many beautiful photographs.

The rain was pouring heavily. Raveendra warned us to come out as the water level may get increased suddenly. All walked towards Mahadev temple. The temple is maintained so neatly and devotees are more.

It is protected under National Monument by Archaeological department. We become child in the rain; remembered our childhood play ‘Train’.

All enjoyed in the rain and each bit of atmosphere.

Our great singers Sudheendra and Abhishek sung many songs; Sudheendra like Yesudas devotional songs whereas Abhished like Hariharan all rain songs. The Jugulbadi continued till 1 pm and rain took little break. Changed the wet cloth at haunted house.

As agreed the TS came at 2 pm to drop us back to Kulem. All dumped luggage and said good bye to beautiful place Tambdi Surla.

The time was 3 pm and rats were running in everyone stomach. There was no other option of food except the one hotel from us ordered the dinner. The food was not tasty and quality; everyone finished the lunch and headed to railway station which is just 100 meters. Enough of time ahead us and easiest way to kill it is UNO. All friends again busy in the game and train arrived right time 5 pm.

Need to travel in Nizamuddin express till Londa; last visit experience was very horrible if we not boarded in the reserved compartments. This time also I put proposal to Ravee; but he said not ready to take risk.

When train reached the platform; saw a goods bogie which very closes to engine and few were travelling in that. I suggested all to get in the goods bogies so that we can have the comfortable journey. After reaching the Dudhsagar station, we cannot imagine the crowd. All agreed and we boarded in the goods bogie. Few were occupied the top place (small shelf in bogie) and few on the door.

Couple of co-travelers in the bogie suggested to close the doors when it reaches to Dudhasagar else crowd get into this and cant travel comfortably. It happened the same; when reached the station the crowd was more. People were trying to open this bogie and were not known we are inside.

Had good time in the bogie; Abhishek, Pooja, Ashok enjoyed and entertained us with their songs. Really Abhishek rocked the whole journey by his songs!!!!!!

Reached the Londa at 7 pm and had another one hour time to Rani Chennamma Express which we need to catch towards journey to Bangalore. All had their snacks and dinner in the station. Now again the entertain part; Megha leaded the Mafia game.