Kumara Parvatha is one of the most famous treks near Bangalore, for one reason that stands apart from the rest – It is said to be Karnataka’s toughest treks. Trek to Kumara Parvatha is also mostly taken up by experienced trekkers due to its difficult terrain and the time taken overall to trek and get back down to the peak.
Also known as Pushpagiri, Kumara Parvatha is most possibly the most challenging treks in the country. Towering at an altitude of 1,712 meters, not only is it the highest peak in the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary but also considered to be the fourth highest peak in Karnakata. The peak lies in the border of Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu District and The peak is also located right behind the very famous and revered Kukke Subramanya Temple.
The trail has two peaks. The smaller one is called Shesh Parvatha & the higher one is called Kumara Parvatha standing at an altitude of 5,600 ft. It is also said and believed in the local community that Shesh Parvatha is a guardian of the Kukke temple located at its base.
The weather during the trek was extremely pleasant and cloudy. Thankfully we got great views of the mountain range in the frame and we couldn’t be happier. Climbing the three iconic boulders was a great adventure and although two of them were challenging, our Nomads loved how thrilling it was.
While the plan was to climb KP from Beedalli and descend to the Kukke side, due to unforeseen circumstances, the safety of our Nomads & to prevent any kind of injuries our Trek Captain Naveen Mallesh had to take a call and he decided that we descend back to Beedalli instead of Kukke.
This is one of the treks in the Western Ghats that we look forward to all through the year. The reason we schedule this for November end and December is because of the pleasant weather during this season. And even this time along, we weren’t let down, the weather was soothing – cloudy and nice.
What we did love during the trek was how peaceful the forest is, when you sync with it. We came across 3 beautiful snakes on the trail including a gorgeous Cobra along with Bison footprints which were definitely thrilling and scary adventurous. Unlike the treks like – Tadiyandmol, Kurinjal, Kote Betta, Ettina Bhuja, this trail is as wild as it can get.
Here’s a quick glimpse of our recent trek to Kumara Parvatha
A video story of our trek to Kumara Parvatha:
We reached the beautiful homestay in Beedalli at about 5.30 in the morning. Post this, we had about one hour to freshen up, have breakfast and leave for the base.The beautiful Kumara Parvatha mountain with mist covering the peak. Although it looks sunny in the photo, the weather was quite pleasant to all our surprise. When you take a closer look at the peak you’ll realize that the entire stretch is made up pf forest & boulders.We started our trek with a hike up to the forest check post. Where we would be issued a permit to continue with the trek.Upon reaching the check post, we were extremely happy to see that the forest guards this time around were more strict with the plastic-free & litter-free trail policy. After a thorough check-up of each and every piece of plastic carried by the team bag by bag, we got together to take a group picture before starting the trek.The suspension bridge right next to the check post. This bridge is suspended right over a free-flowing stream. We were also very lucky to see a Cobra right next to the bridge. While others missed it, a few from the group were lucky to spot it.The forest trail. The entire stretch of this trek is either forest or boulder. Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary has the Kukke Subramanya Forest range on one side and the Bisle Reserve Forest on the other. The sanctuary is covered by steep terrains and waterfalls beside many mountain streams. The Kadamakkal reserve forest is a part of the wildlife sanctuary.There are semi-evergreen vegetation and dense evergreen trees that have become the highlight of the place. The sanctuary is highly recognized as one of the most prominent areas for birds, the reason being a rich diversity of flora and fauna. One can spot varieties of animal species that include Indian Hare, Spotted Deer, Giant Flying Squirrel, Otter Species, Indian Wild Dog, Travancore Flying, Brown Palm Civet, Wild Pig, Indian Giant Squirrel, Stripe-necked mongoose, Sambar, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Indian Muntjac, and mouse deer. Primates are also easily found here, their species include common langur, lion-tailed macaque, and bonnet macaque.There is a simple trail all through to the peak which can be easily determined by any experienced trekker. However, the trail does deviate in a few places, this is why it is important that the trekkers pay attention to the trail.The highlight of the trek is that you come across three boulders on the way to the peak. One more difficult than the other. Seen here in this picture is Boulder Number 1 which is the easiest.The trail continues and we find a spot on the way to Boulder Number 2 where we halt to refill our water bottles.Nature’s arch. We came across this beautiful uprooted tree arch midway during our trek and we couldn’t help wonder about how mysteriously nature works. We quickly stopped here for a quick photo session as our Nomads made their way past the arch.“Into the wild we go, to lose our minds and find our soul”Captured while climbing the second boulder. Although this one is challenging, it’s extremely fun to climb.Our Nomads making their way to the top of the boulder number 2The view from the top is extremely breathtaking and rewarding. Our Nomads stop for a bit to take some rest before proceeding further.View from boulder 2Heading towards boulder number 3
The big boulder number 3. This one is quite challenging and needs focus to be climbed.We now start trekking to the peak after boulder 3. The distance is now about a 1.2 km to the pek.And we finally reach the peak. A group photo of the girls at the peak.Our Nomads chilling at the peak.Did someone say lunch with a view?In nature you will find peace.We took a small detour before getting down to the base and trekked to the Girigadde peak. Here’s a photo of our Nomads who trekked to Girigadde.Getting down the boulders isn’t the easiest thing to do, you’ve got to watch your steps and go zig-zag to avoid slipping off the rock.Our Trek Captain Naveen making his way down the boulder.Descending backDay 2 started with a quick session of breakfast, freshening up and a quick visit to the Mallalli Falls near the homestay. The first glimpse of the waterfalls. From here you can see three peaks – Pushpagiri Betta, Pushpagiri Peak & Kumara Parvatha.Our Nomads soaking in the view of the waterfalls.You can see a strip of river in this photo, that’s the Bhadravathi river flowing between the mountains.
There are about 300 steps that take you all the way down to the base of the waterfalls. The view from the steps is beautiful. You can also get a glimpse of the Bhadravathi river from the top.More steps with even more beautiful views.Captured as we were nearing the falls.Group photo of all those who decided to hike down to the base of the falls.
When it comes to weekend getaways from Bangalore, these two-day treks are a perfect blend of Trek, Travel & Adventure. The more you head into nature, the more rejuvenated you are to get back to your normal life.
3 COMMENTS
I am somewhat of a newbie to blogging. So with that being said, I am very glad that I found this blog post. I plan to stay connected to your blog. Can’t wait to see what you’re going to write next. Thanks
I am somewhat of a newbie to blogging. So with that being said, I am very glad that I found this blog post. I plan to stay connected to your blog. Can’t wait to see what you’re going to write next. Thanks
Thanks. We look forward to seeing you on our treks soon!
hello team,
Can i get my pet dog to kumara parvatha tek ? are pets allowed ? please share the details