Kudremukha, Karnataka

We left Bangalore on a direct bus to Sringeri. We arrived in the morning, freshened up, and received blessings at the Sharadha Devi Temple. The temple was stunning, with elephants and a river full of fish adding to its beauty. Afterward, we had breakfast and headed towards Kalasa through Balehonnur. There wasn't a direct bus, so we had to change buses twice. During the journey, one of the buses we were on, while traveling through the hilly terrain, had a sudden steering arm failure, which could have been a dangerous disaster. It was quite an adrenaline rush. Luckily, in the middle of the forest, we got a lift in a mini truck to Kalasa. The open-air ride through the forest was unique, and we reached Kalasa in the afternoon after quite an adventurous journey.

Later, we visited Soormane Falls and beautiful place, and we enjoyed a refreshing shower under the cold waterfall. We then proceeded to Hornadu Temple, famous for the Annapurneshwari goddess and its renowned prasad. Unfortunately, we missed the prasad due to mismatched timings. As it started getting dark, we waited for private transportation from Kalasa to Samse.

From Samse, the resort owner up and take us to the starting point of our trek. After hours of waiting, we finally reached Samse, and the owner was ready with his jeep. The jeep ride on the offroad terrain at night was thrilling. We received great hospitality, had dinner, and slept in tents, as the next day promised a big adventure. In the morning, we visited a nearby waterfall named Somawathi Falls. It was incredibly beautiful and a sight to behold. The cascading water, lush surroundings, and the soothing sound of the

We spent some time soaking with our journey. The following morning, with drizzling rain and cold weather outside, we noticed leeches around. I had prepared homemade anti-leech cream. As the trek began, we found ourselves surrounded by fog, with glimpses of green rolling hills. Initially, it was a flat walk, covering 3 kilometers to a rest point called "Vanti Mara," meaning "lonely tree." We captured some photos and cherished the moments.

Two other people joined making it more affordable for us. We enjoyed conversations while hiking. As we progressed, the trail led us deeper into the forest, and we encountered a large stream that needed crossing. There was a rope to hold onto, and when I dipped my feet into the cold running water, a thrilling shockwave coursed through my body. We drank fresh stream water and filled our bottles.

As we continued, leeches hadn't infiltrated, as they could suck blood from our ankles and toes without us noticing. We needed to be cautious in these conditions. Further along the trek, we encountered four steep inclines. While I kept moving, the others struggled and lost stamina. Unexpectedly, the weather changed, and there was temporary rain. Putting on and removing raincoats became tiring. As we continued, we came across a heart-shaped landslide, a unique and beautiful work of nature. The summit was getting closer, and I found myself alone. I remembered the saying, "It is lonely on top," and even though success is satisfying, sometimes you crave company.

With just 0.5 kilometers incline leading to the end. I walked and walked until I could see the summit and a sign that read "Kudremukha" with 1892 meters, marking our conquest of the third-highest peak in Karnataka after a 21-kilometer trek. I felt immense happiness; this was my first major trek, and I discovered a hidden passion for hiking within me. It was as if it was telling me, "This is where you belong." My friends finally reached the summit after half an hour, and we had lunch, enjoying puliyogare packed from the resort. I had also brought an RCB flag, and we waved it proudly, capturing pictures. We started the hike at 9 in the morning and reached the summit by noon. After spending some quality time at the peak, taking in the breathtaking views and capturing the memories, we began our descent at 1 in the afternoon. It was a long journey back, and we finally reached our starting point by 5 in the evening.

As night fell, an unexpected thrill experience was both thrilling and heartwarming as I navigated through the challenging terrain under the starry sky. It added an exciting twist to an already adventurous day, making it even more unforgettable. The landscape was covered in white clouds and fog, and we stood atop the horse-faced mountains, savoring the moment. It was an unforgettable experience.