A visit to "Devaragundi" waterfalls
"Devaragundi", near Shree Mallikarjuna Temple, Thodikana, in Sullia taluk is a spot that must appear on the "Let’s go to…" list of nature enthusiasts, trekkers and the devout, who want a slice of the Western Ghats. Especially recommended is a visit to the place during the monsoons.
The sight of the waterfalls is welcome, after the half-hour uphill climb through dense forests dripping with rainwater and slippery mulch on the floor. An added attraction is the temple with its "devarameenu ("sacred fish"). Best of all, the lack of humanity, makes it a recommended place to visit.
The journey to the spot from Mangalore is equally part of the experience. In the rains, the landscape outside the window of this region straddling Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu, is in various shades of jade. Orchards of arecanut and trees laden with jackfruit flit by. Flowers in varied colours, from pale violet to the orange-red of the "Rasapushpa", a lantern-like flower . En route, as the vehicle moves into the forests, the only constant company one has is the high-pitched whistling of the cicadas.
A vehicle can go till the temple. But if you wish to go to the waterfalls, you will have to stop the vehicle at a point that is about a kilometre away from the waterfalls. After that, one has to take a trail, which is an uphill walk almost entirely except for the last leg, which is a minute's walk down a descent, to be greeted by the sight of the waterfall. The walk is a moderate trek for the unfit, and an easy stroll for seasoned trekkers. At least twice, you have to cross streams, with calf-deep water of the Matsya Theertha river, whose origin is 3-4 km away. The waterfalls if of the same river and joins the Payaswini near Aranthod. Later, the river is called Chandragiri in Kasargod where it joins the Arabian Sea.
Good trekking shoes will be handy as clutching at nearby tree trunks may not be of much use since the branchless trunks are slimy with moss. And now in the rainy season, leeches will quietly attach themselves to you and make a meal of your blood, unbeknownst to you.
A serious word of caution: do not go near the waterfalls. The base of the waterfalls is treacherous. It is extremely deep. Most people will attempt to get to the base but here, keep away! With that warning issued, one can take a break from the trek and dip your feet into the waters.
Vasanth Bhat, an agriculturist, who relates several stories and real information about the area said that the waterfalls is 20 metres high, 10 metres wide, and 20 metres deep.
Once you reach the temple, do not miss seeing the "devarameenu" (the sacred fish, a variety of mahseer) in the river near the temple. They are tame, not ferocius like their counterparts elsewhere, says Mr. Bhat. The foot-long silvery fish fall over each other to get the rice.
For the curious, Mr. Bhat will tell them about s of the place -- will relate to you tales from the Mahabharata to the "haladi roga", why rubber cultivation is getting more popular and palm oil cultivation.
When you have travelled 2.5 km from the temple, stop at Kallambala. It is time to get the cameras and take pictures of the mist-shrouded hills in the distance with Bhagamandala on the left and "Kolikamale" (or "Kukkoota Shikhara") to the right. Then, sit back and enjoy the greenery till you arrive at Kalladka for "KTea" (two-layered tea of brew topped with milk) and "tuppada dosais".
An umbrella, raincoat may be taken by those who mind the rain. But for those who are game for a walk in the rains through the Western Ghats, they can leave the raincoats.
Visitors to the temple may have lunch at Shree Mallikarjuna Temple, Thodikana phone number 08257-318972 and 287242. Trekkers may request for dinner. Though it is not charged, donations are welcome.
From Mangalore, go to Sullia, where private buses leave for Thodikana every hour. If driving on your own, take a turn at Aranthod, which is 40 km from Madikeri and 11km from Sullia. The temple is 7 km from Aranthod and the waterfalls is 2.5 km from the temple. Those on the pilgrimage circuit and are travelling by private vehicles may take this route: Kollur-Udupi-Dharmsthala-Subrahmanya-Thodikana and on to Bhagamandala.EOM
The sight of the waterfalls is welcome, after the half-hour uphill climb through dense forests dripping with rainwater and slippery mulch on the floor. An added attraction is the temple with its "devarameenu ("sacred fish"). Best of all, the lack of humanity, makes it a recommended place to visit.
The journey to the spot from Mangalore is equally part of the experience. In the rains, the landscape outside the window of this region straddling Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu, is in various shades of jade. Orchards of arecanut and trees laden with jackfruit flit by. Flowers in varied colours, from pale violet to the orange-red of the "Rasapushpa", a lantern-like flower . En route, as the vehicle moves into the forests, the only constant company one has is the high-pitched whistling of the cicadas.
A vehicle can go till the temple. But if you wish to go to the waterfalls, you will have to stop the vehicle at a point that is about a kilometre away from the waterfalls. After that, one has to take a trail, which is an uphill walk almost entirely except for the last leg, which is a minute's walk down a descent, to be greeted by the sight of the waterfall. The walk is a moderate trek for the unfit, and an easy stroll for seasoned trekkers. At least twice, you have to cross streams, with calf-deep water of the Matsya Theertha river, whose origin is 3-4 km away. The waterfalls if of the same river and joins the Payaswini near Aranthod. Later, the river is called Chandragiri in Kasargod where it joins the Arabian Sea.
Good trekking shoes will be handy as clutching at nearby tree trunks may not be of much use since the branchless trunks are slimy with moss. And now in the rainy season, leeches will quietly attach themselves to you and make a meal of your blood, unbeknownst to you.
A serious word of caution: do not go near the waterfalls. The base of the waterfalls is treacherous. It is extremely deep. Most people will attempt to get to the base but here, keep away! With that warning issued, one can take a break from the trek and dip your feet into the waters.
Vasanth Bhat, an agriculturist, who relates several stories and real information about the area said that the waterfalls is 20 metres high, 10 metres wide, and 20 metres deep.
Once you reach the temple, do not miss seeing the "devarameenu" (the sacred fish, a variety of mahseer) in the river near the temple. They are tame, not ferocius like their counterparts elsewhere, says Mr. Bhat. The foot-long silvery fish fall over each other to get the rice.
For the curious, Mr. Bhat will tell them about s of the place -- will relate to you tales from the Mahabharata to the "haladi roga", why rubber cultivation is getting more popular and palm oil cultivation.
When you have travelled 2.5 km from the temple, stop at Kallambala. It is time to get the cameras and take pictures of the mist-shrouded hills in the distance with Bhagamandala on the left and "Kolikamale" (or "Kukkoota Shikhara") to the right. Then, sit back and enjoy the greenery till you arrive at Kalladka for "KTea" (two-layered tea of brew topped with milk) and "tuppada dosais".
An umbrella, raincoat may be taken by those who mind the rain. But for those who are game for a walk in the rains through the Western Ghats, they can leave the raincoats.
Visitors to the temple may have lunch at Shree Mallikarjuna Temple, Thodikana phone number 08257-318972 and 287242. Trekkers may request for dinner. Though it is not charged, donations are welcome.
From Mangalore, go to Sullia, where private buses leave for Thodikana every hour. If driving on your own, take a turn at Aranthod, which is 40 km from Madikeri and 11km from Sullia. The temple is 7 km from Aranthod and the waterfalls is 2.5 km from the temple. Those on the pilgrimage circuit and are travelling by private vehicles may take this route: Kollur-Udupi-Dharmsthala-Subrahmanya-Thodikana and on to Bhagamandala.EOM
Comments
Post a Comment