Kumaraparvatam is a part of Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kotak district of Karnataka. The fact that it is the most rugged trekking path in South India that is currently accessible to tourists makes this place more popular with tourists.
On Sunday 31.10.2021, we left home in the early hours of the morning and traveled to Mangalore by train along with dear travelers and after a 3-hour bus journey, we reached Subramanya. Kooke Subrahmanya Temple is right next to the bus stand.. It is one of the most famous and highest earning temples in Karnataka.
We have to walk to the mountain range behind the temple. If you walk along the road in front of the temple, you can reach the trekking starting point. Unlike other trekking routes, there is no checking here at the starting point. After crossing the first hurdle of 6.5 km, reach the forest office where we have to pay our name details and 350/ per person.
Captain gave necessary instructions at starting point. Now it’s time to walk. Today the distance to the latter is six and a half kilometers. It was specially said that you have to be very careful on the steep path through the forest. The journey is through the forest where there are many snakes. The first three and a half kilometers climbed without much fatigue through leaf-shaded forest. There is a big rock known as Bhima Rock.. We rested there for a while and continued climbing again.
The path is full of rain-soaked cobblestones and floating tree roots. The only way here is to trust your own feet and move forward. When fatigue began to affect the body, someone reminded me of the food that someone had in their hand.
Everyone ate the pulao bought from the bottom. There is no big difference except for the steep climb. I didn’t know that the remaining three kilometers were covered by the power of Pulau… You can see Buttermana in the distance.. Buttarmana is the only house beyond the dense forest. Their cows are grazing in the pastures. Walked a little further and reached the forest office. There were many tents lined up around it, maybe those who had gone up the previous day were folding some tents and we took a place there.
After pitching the tent and taking a bath, we went to the nearby view point and if we look from there, we can see the mountains standing up to the sky. When you were enjoying the beauty of the evening, you saw that it started raining on a distant hill. A beautiful view of the rain on the mountaintop with silvery clouds falling as water droplets.
In the blink of an eye, the rain reached us and without looking ahead or behind it was a run to the forest office. The whole thought was that if the rain does not stop, will the tent get wet and how will I sleep in the tent? When the rain stopped, I went to the tent and saw that there was a little wetness underneath. Then we very quickly walked towards Buttermana for dinner. If there is a pooram person waiting for food. And a totally disorganized food distribution system. It can be said that it was tiring.
Those who are preparing to leave can certainly avoid the rush here if they have food for the night in hand. 150/ per person for food here. Porridge, sambar, pickle and buttermilk. After eating, the rain came again. Even though three of us were sheltered in the rain on the mountainside under an umbrella, the rain did not stop, soaking us half.
Do not leave the tent open for any reason when sleeping near the forest, remember that many reptiles may enter. When it rained again, it got colder inside the tent and when my friend who was with me couldn’t bear the cold, I gave him my blanket completely, I took another banyan and curled up and fell asleep.
4.30 am alarm woke up. He quickly got ready and reached the forest off. It was good to have someone who knew Kannada with him and he made everything easy for him. If you are carrying plastic, you can pay the exact number and when you come back, you will have to pay 500 rupees, so if possible, it is better to keep all plastic in the tent. It is enough to take only the necessary things and keep everything else in the tent and only after returning, it is enough to take down the tent.
Start the journey at 5.30 and don’t forget to carry a bright torch in your hand to fight the darkness. After climbing the first two kilometers, you will reach Kalmandapam. With the goal being towards the summit of Kumara Parvatam, we moved forward. The distant sightings proved that sunlight had hit the earth. Silver clouds roll like waves on the mountain tops. Cloudbed A mattress made of clouds created by nature. Taking in the beauty of the views, we walked forward and the next destination was Seshaparvata. If you walk two and a half kilometers from Kalmandapam, you can reach Seshaparvata. Many trekkers usually end their trek here. But there are two more kilometers from Seshaparvata to reach the top of Kumaraparvata. After going down for the first kilometer through the dense forest, Kumaraparvata is reached after climbing steeply for one kilometer to the top of the cliffs.
There was a strong wind in Seshaparvata and the fort was filled with the wind hiding everything behind it… As the fort was filled, the cold got worse. Moments later, the sun’s rays again broke through the fog and made the view clear. The deep craters, the huge rocks and the mist that envelops them are just the mysterious manifestations of nature.
Fear, surprise and joy all flashed through my mind. Descending steeply from Seshaparvatam to a beautiful forest is an understatement to say that the forest is an understatement. The beautiful scenery covered with mist in the green as seen in the portraits. The next one kilometer is a very difficult path and you can only proceed with caution. The path is paved with wet cobblestones and leads to the small waterfall that falls down through a large rock. You have to go up that cliff carefully. In such climbs, people should try to avoid climbing in groups as much as possible. Rocks can be slippery so try to tread carefully. It also reminds us that in trips like this, prudence is needed, not excitement.
So we crossed those rocks and were the first people of the day to reach the top of Kumara Parvata in a short time of two hours and forty minutes. There is an old temple on top of Kumara Parvatam. It is made of stacked stones. It can be called a stone temple. There are many legends about Kumaraparvata, one of which is believed to be where two Theiyas, known as Kinnimani Poomani, came down from the world of gods. Another thing is that the princes of Thalakaveri climbed the mountain and reached the top of the Kumara mountain. It is also said that they came here to learn Tulunadan Sanskriti.
“Salu Guddava Datta Beku, Tuluva Nada Kana Beku, Tulu Vidyaye Kaliya Beku” “One must cross the big mountains, see Tulunadu, learn Tulunadu vidyas.”
Thus the name Kumara Parvatam came from the name of the place where the Kumaras came. The joy of conquering Mount Kumaraparvata, Mahameru rested there for a while and by that time the rest of the people also reached the top and ate all the dry fruits they had in their hands.
Now on the way back. Needless to say, you have to be more careful going down than going up.. If you lose your footing, you may fall down. So we went back and came back to the tent, packed everything and went to Buttermana and ate. As he had come, Subrahmanya returned to his destination. It started raining again and it is unpredictable when it will rain in the forest. He increased his speed a little and reached back to Subrahmanya. Now waiting for the next trip. The journey continues.
