Ettina bhuja trek [ jan 15th 2011]

The weekend was not to be wasted roaming around the same old boring streets of Bangalore. It was an instant idea that clicked in guru’s mind to hike ettina bhuja. So we set our minds and our luggage and headed towards ettina bhuja. We took 10.08 pm bus to dharmastala and we were lucky enough to get seats in the front row. Our plan was to reach dharmastala, take 7.20 am bus from dharmastala to shishila and start the trek. Since our bus got punctured near shiradi ghat and had to wait for 1 hr, me and guru decided to go for other means of transport. We found a tanker coming and we were lucky enough to get a drop to a place called nelyadi. From there we took a jeep to kokkada and 8.30 bus from kokkada to shishila. [ one can take a bus from Bangalore to dharmastala, again 7.20 bus from dharmastala to shishila. Take a jeep from shishila to holegundi and trek starts from here. This can be done if one can manage their own breakfast and lunch and who doesn’t require a guide].

We had called up a person named gopu gokhale on Friday itself and had told him of our trek plan. Gopu stays in shishila and assists trekkers by providing them the breakfast and packed lunch. He also assigns a guide if required.

Since we were late, we missed 7.20 shishila bus and had to take 8.30 bus. After reaching shishila, we directly went to gopu’s house. We were served with hot idlys and chutney for breakfast. By this time our guide chennappa was ready with a auto and we started towards holegundi, the place where the trek starts.

We started our trek from holegundi through the jeep track for half a km and we had to cross kapila river here. After crossing the river, take a right turn and proceed. A trek for another half a km, one can find a small deviation ( if observed carefully ) which heads towards a beautiful waterfall. At the first look, i felt as if someone has crafted this and have let water into it. It was mind blowing. After  spending 1 hour there taking snaps, enjoying natures beauty, we were back to our original route and continued our trek towards ettina bhuja. A serious and continuous trek for another 2 kms, we could find the route splitting  into two. Here we have to take the left route and proceed ( people going without guide take the right route and will get lost ). Small breaks here and there and we were almost half the distance covered. Now I had the first glimse of the huge, mighty, gigantic ettina bhuja, standing tall and proud. Another half a km, we see the route again aplitting up. Here also we have to take left route which heads towards the mountain. ( these are the only 2 routes which misleads ppl who go without a guide ).

 

Listening to the chirping sound of birds, enjoying the pleasant wind of trees, we were almost 90% reached. After having lunch ( chapattis and palya ) , we decided to camp at the same place. One can find stones and wooden lobes used by previous trekkers for camp fire. It was a perfect place to camp. We dumped our bags here and headed towards the peak. It was 5.30 in the evening and a trek for another half an hour, we were at the peak. The nature and its beauty can be experienced here with a range of mountains, birds flying around, sunset was about to happen and it was perfect. The sunset here is the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.

We spent 1 hour at the peak.That one hour is one of my most amazing experiences. As the sun went inside the clouds, we headed towards our camp place. Our guide lit up the campfire and it was horribly cold. The chill of the winds made us shiver and the  warmth of the camp fire made us feel good. Around 9.00 pm we had our dinner and within 10 mins we were inside our sleeping bags.

The next morning, we woke by 6.30 and the hot tea made by our guide began our day with a fresh note. Sunrise had already happened.Around 200 mts down from our camp place, we could find water body. So one need not worry for water here. Then quickly after the breakfast, we started climbing down. it took us 2 hrs to climb down and we reached holegundi. We took a auto from holegundi to shishila and hot lunch was waiting for us at gopu’s house. We had lunch to full of our stomach and took a 4.00 pm bus from shishila to dharmastala. Took a 9.20 pm rajahamsa bus from dharmastala to Bangalore.

I would  say the trek was moderately tough. It takes 5 hrs to climb up and 2 hrs to climb down. sleeping bags are compulsory as the wind will be severe. Tents will also do. Carry enough food and water. As I stated before, one can trek without a guide by choosing correct path. It was one of the most beautiful treks I have ever had and I will remember it for a longer time.