Ombattu Gudda Trek (23rd and 24th Oct 2010)

23 brave souls successfully finished the mysterious Ombattu gudda... It mas an amazing trek filled with continuous adventures... Started the trek from Gundya check post and ended at Lakshmi estate.

* Crossing the wild rivers (Hats off guys, all make it possible),
* Crossing 20+ streams (Walking with the wet shoes for two days),
* Walking on the wet slippery rocks (Makes us move like goods train),
* Encountering vipers along the trail (Above to land the foot on them),
* Difficult to identify trail (Monsoons makes trail filled with Thorny bushes),
* Villon's of the trek - leeches (50+ bites all over the body)
* Vertical climb on a 80 degree wet land surface (Slipped many times and my camera got injured :P),
* Suddenly a wild bison jumping in front of us and crossing the jeep trail. (Ur heart will stop beating for a while),
* When climbing a 80 degree inclined wet surface using the trees. I took the support of a 7 feet tree to pull myself up words, suddenly a viper fell down from the tree. Just a Meter gap between me and it. I cant move back as i will roll down from the hill. (Some silent moments passed, Slowly i moved back. Luckily nothing happened),
* Camping on a uneven inclined rock (A small slip can push you in a high current river).

A special Thanks to the Mudhasar for organising the OG/6, the place where most trekkers lost. Even though he is not feeling well, he navigated the team very well with out GPS device.(He had only small amount of badam milk for the two days, that's to vomited.... Literally speaking he had finished the trek with out having any food).

I mentally prepared for the 3rd day and carried additional food, But we guys successfully make it in two days. hats off to all the participants for their support and team work in making it successful.

A special thanks to the cab driver who helped me in going to the base camp back and getting my lost mobile.

Introduction(Ragging - SD - Self details :))

Nature beauty


Identifying the trail - map reading

Kabbinaholle river

Refreshing after the breakfast

All the way we welcome us with the cheer leaders (Vipers)

I love it

I love to capture water falls with slow shutter,

The trail (70% of the trail along the stream bouldering)

Another cheer leader

Hmmm, missing it

Team work in crossing the River’s

Day 1–Kabbnahole river cross.. Look at the anxiety of the one who is crossing

Continuously crossing the streams, human chain formations at river crossing, no proper trail, dense forest with thorny bushes, vipers and leeches makes it more difficult.
unknown depths, looking calm but inside the current is very strong.. Even a small mistake will wash you away

This is the one which fell just in front of me from the tree top

We were climbing a 80 degree inclined wet surface using the trees. When i took the support of a 7 feet tree, suddenly it fell down from the top of the tree. Just a Meter gap between me and it. i cant move back as i will roll down from the hill. Some silent moments passed, its also in shock as it fell from the tree. So, luckily nothing happened.

I think OG is filled with vipers:(Total six snakes in the trail)

My trek mate Suresh was about get the viper bite, as he crossed above it with out notice

Team on the OG peak

Leaving the peak

On the way to Lakshmi estate

Indian Sand boa snake

Its Indian sand boa snake. Non venomous and very slow. It is the most smuggled snake. It has a good defence system during the enemy attack. Since its tail also looks like head, during attacks it roll its body such that the head is at the bottom and tail is at the top. so, that it can survive for a longer time.

Here is the complete set of pictures

Ombattu Gudda Trek (23rd and 24th Oct 2010)

Snake work shop and wild life photography - Bannerghatta National park

Trekking is a hobby for someone, it’s a passion for someone and it’s a dream world for someone. We regularly go for treks into the wild, don’t know when we can encounter snake bites.

During snake bite, identifying the snake will helps in getting the right treatment at the earliest. It is good to have a basic awareness of the following

• Varies types of snakes
• Venomous and non venomous snakes.
• Identifying snakes by the skin texture, color and marks.
• Behavior of snakes.
• How to avoid snake bites during treks.
• And first aid after snake bite.

From a long time we are requesting Bannerghatta park authorities for organizing snake awareness work shop, They said no for such events. Finally, On request one of my friend Dr. Rajanna agreed to share his knowledge with us. Mainly discussed about the 4 major venomous snakes in India.

•  Indian Cobra
• Common Krait
• Russell's viper
• and Saw-scaled viper

how to identify them, how to avoid snake bites during treks and how to treat snake bites.

The butterfly park in Bannerghatta is worth to visit. You can find various types of butterflies and even there is a small museum about the butterflies. Luckily, one of the participant Mr. Jagadeesh’s friend is working in the butterfly breeding centre, so we got a chance to see it too.

Butterfly mating

The best thing in Bannerghatta is trek in herbivorous enclosures, where you walk to close to the animals.  But at least a group of 10+ people needed. For this you need to get the permission from the zoo director. They will send a forest guide along with us and covers the major part of herbivorous section. They charge Rs. 75 per head for a short trek (2+ km) and Rs. 150 per head for a long trek (4+ Km). During the trek maintain pin drop silent to see more animals from a closer distance and try to avoid reaching close to wild bison's as few of them are aggressive in nature.

Timings:

The Zoo opens at 9 A.M and the Wild life safari starts at 10 A.M. The best time to go for safari is morning before 12 P.M, since the animals will be active before noon. 

Our plan:

• 08:00 A.M – Reached Bannerghatta and finished the breakfast.
• 09:00 A.M – Visited Zoo.
• 10:00 A.M – Grand Safari.
• 11:30 A.M – Visited Butterfly park.
• 01:00 P.M – Lunch break.
• 02:00 P.M – Snake work shop.
• 02:00 P.M – Visited Zoo again and photography.
• 04:30 P.M – Review of photos taken and .
• 05:30 P.M – Back to home
  

The pride of India. Royal Bengal Tiger

What needs to carry:

• Small back pack,
• Camera & Lens,
• Umbrella (Protecting your camera gear if it rains).

Travel options:

BMTC bus service is the best travel option. The frequency of the buses is good.  

• For those who are travelling from Kadugodi / Whitefield to the national park, the best option is to take a daily pass in the Volvo which costs 75Rs. Then take the V335E or V331-A from the Kadugodi bus-stand to Marathahalli. Near the fly-over get down and take the V500C and get down at Jayadeva hospital stop. There you get the V365 which will take you to the park. Travel time on weekends is around 1.5 to 2 hours. The 500C actually starts from ITPL. So you may also board the 500C directly from the ITPL stop.
• People who are from BTM layout can simply go to Hospital Jaydev flyover stop and can catch any G4 or 365.

The team posing for the pic

Trip expenses:

Note: Zoo entry is free with grand safari ticket.

Sadly the rates have drastically increased, here are the new fare list 

A big thanks to Dr.Rajanna, for spending his valuable time and sharing his knowledge.

Here is the complete set of picassa photo stream

Snake work shop and wild life photography Banner ghatta (17th Oct 2010)

Cycling trip to Yogavana Hills

This is a special cycling for me.

 

Here is the complete set of pics

Cycling trip to Yogavana Hills(17th Oct 2010)