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“I Travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.”
The abovementioned words by C. Stinnettaptly describe our passionate traveler’s attitude towards life and traveling.
The lead character of this travel story, Sameena Naaz, is a wanderer by heart, and is one of those who live with an insatiable urge to wander and explore.
Having explored many places including Andaman, North India, and the Maldives, and having indulged in activities like trekking, snorkeling, and scuba diving with her friends in the past, the long bucket list of the thrill-seeker, residing in Bangalore, also features the thrilling trek to Everest Base Camp.
She proudly admits being the person who passed on the addiction to travel to her friends and her husband. On the other hand, she also claims that she would not have been the traveller she is today if it were not for her friends, whom she refers to as “the craziest people”.
Sameena is always on a lookout for new adventures in new places; and this time, Kudremukh Trek was the adventure up next.However, God’s plans very often do not coincide with our perfectly laid out plans, and in most cases, it turns out to be a good thing. Due to some inevitable reason, Kudremukh Trek stood cancelled, and she was convinced by the Thrillophilia destination expert to opt for Kodachadri Trek instead. Though skeptical and disappointed initially, her group agreed to the new plan too. When she looks back at that decision now, she gives herself a pat in appreciation.
The Fun Start
Sameena, along with her gang, reached the pickup point where 2 buses were waiting for a group of around 30 people for Kodachadri Trek. The journey started with a fun and brief introduction initiated by the organizers, which was followed by some interesting tales 2of travel experiences shared by the group members. This story-sharing session turned out to be a great means to transform strangers into friends. “It rained without a stop throughout their journey which made the beginning of the trip even more exciting. None of us could wait to see what the next day had in store for us,” tells Sameena excitedly. The group reached the homestay at 6 in the morning where they were supposed to rest a while.
Another Phase
The big day had finally arrived! “While my body rested at the homestay, my soul was restlessly waiting for the adventure,” recalls Sameena. After feeding on a delectable breakfast, Sameena, along with the group, started the trek at 8:30 in the morning.
After covering some distance, the group was confronted by a water stream which they were supposed to pass by walking on a tree log; and they did. That is when they realized that the real part of the journey had begun. The trek took them through verdant landscapes with refreshing air filling their lungs. “Soon after entering the forested area, we started hearing screams of the fellow trekkers. The reason was ‘leeches’. With some efforts, we got rid of the leeches and marched on with more enthusiasm.”
After trekking for 2 hours, the group halted at a pretty house engulfed in lush greenery where they were served refreshing tea. From there, their journey started getting beautiful as they came across a number of streams passing through the jungle. What followed became the best part of the journey for Sameena – it was the sight of the magnificent Hindlumane Falls which left every spellbound. After capturing the scenery in their hearts and cameras, they proceeded with their journey by hiking the hill beside the waterfall.
After a further trekking of 2 hours, the group reached the lunch point where they were pampered with lip-smacking warm food. The halt was full of excitement and anticipation as the peak wasn’t away now.
Check Out : Best Places for Trekking Near Bangalore
The Destination
After sharing countless fun moments and confronting challenges that the trek threw at them, Sameena and the gang finally reached the abode of clouds – Kodachadri Peak. Upon reaching the peak, the group was astounded by the wonderful scenery. They could not contain the excitement of being on the top. As for Sameena, she finally realized why things do not always go the way we want them to – she finally concluded that it was for the best that they happened to take this trek.
“The weather at Kodachadri Peak was mesmerizing. However, the views were blocked by the dense mist that bounded the hills. The feeling of being there was something heavenly, nonetheless,” cites Sameena.
After soaking in the flawless beauty of Kodachadri and capturing some great pictures to freeze the moments in frames, the group took a jeep ride to return to the base camp – the homestay.
“The following day, after having a filling breakfast at the homestay, we also visited Nagara Fort. Post that, we left for Bangalore – for normalcy and monotony, but I felt contented remembering all the happy moments I’d lived with my friends during the past two days. We all are thankful to Thrillophilia for this perfect experience with perfect accommodation and perfect food,” Sameena tells feeling nostalgic.
Major Highlights of the Trip
“Though the entire journey was full of fun, the most fun part of the trip was when we played dumb charades and danced endlessly on the bus. And the most iconic moment, apart from reaching the top of Kodachadri, of course, was when we came across Hindlumane Waterfalls on our way to Kodachadri. Its sight was hypnotic.” claims Sameena.
Owing to the wonderful experience, she is looking forward to travel with Thrillophilia again.
Sameena, the experienced traveler suggests:
- Dress up in accordance with the climatic conditions
- Always carry first-aid kit
- Wear full track pants to protect yourself from leeches in the market.
