The Green Trek- From Donigal to Kukke

The timing could not have been better. The news was in the air that the Bangalore- Mangalore train will start chugging by September end. Even though there was lot of speculation in the air regarding the starting of the passenger train service, we did not want to take a chance. So we decided to have a go for it. And so the journey began from Donigal to Kukke Subramanya. It was a railway trek in the sense that, the trek involved moving along the railway track that ends at Mangalore.

We started off from Bangalore on a Friday night and boarded a bus at around 11.00 pm. Reached Donigal station at around 5 in the morning. Donigal station is a very small station may be some 5 kms from Sakleshpur. The track was mainly used for goods transport. The road after Sakleshpur is very bad. So we had to rest our backs for a while so that we can be ready for the adventure. It was definitely a challenge considering that nobody even gave us a chance when said our aim was Kukke Subramanya. We had set our targets for the two days. 4kms per hour was the aim. 49 kms was the total distance. We saw a small water falls like body which was convenient for us to take a shower. We just hopped in, had a refreshing shower and then started off. As we moved on we took lots of snaps and enjoyed the surroundings, the greenery blessing these eyes which had grown sour of City Lights. This was just the beginning. We encountered a river which was flowing quietly adding to the serenity of the nature. We just took a break, had our breakfast rested ourselves. Since it was a really long time since I had actually trekked the strain was showing on me. But nothing could deter me. It was a challenge that I had taken upon myself.

By the way we carried bread, chapatis, biscuits, fruits and avalakki (beaten rice) to serve as our food. The long bridges which were around 200 - 250ft high, the long tunnels engulfed in a blissful darkness and the gorgeous mountains just took our breath away. We had to cross Yedukumari on the first day itself since we very well knew that the station master over there would not allow us to spend the night. So we stepped up the accelerator just to make sure we reach the next station in time. We stopped at the next station after Yedukumari and decided to spend the night there. The station was under construction and there is no station master deputed there. There were a few workers who were working on the station building. We inquired with them whether we could spend the night over there. The under construction rooms were empty, which facilitated our stay. We ate our chapatis and just slept away to glory. Although I could not gather complete sleep the rest energized me for the next day.

Second day:

We started off after having breakfast our breakfast at around 8am. As we moved we met another water falls where we thought of having a refreshing bath. It was natural massage to our aching bodies. All these tiny water falls were a result of the continuous rain in the region. They were a boon to us. The scenery was breathtaking. We had seen all this and more in movies and thought it was beautiful. But in reality it was much more than that. The beauty of the trek ended as we neared Kukke. After completing our special lunch(heated avalakki + chatnipudi) at Shirivagilu, we started off to what was the last stretch. When it was around 4 kms to Kukke all the remained was a hot afternoon and a dry surroundings. But everything was braved and we reached Kukke station by 5.30 pm. 12-13 hours and 49 kms . Awesome feeling, a sense of achievement. Once we reached the main town of Kukke we visited the Subrmanya temple, had our dinner and made our way back to Namma Bengaluru.

The body was tired but the soul was replenished. A sense of satisfaction filled within. I do not think we can make it again since the train between Bangalore and Mangalore has been flagged off. So until I get another chance the memmories will be cherished and for a long time to come.

If you can read this post completely, thank you.

Until the next post Adios.