Thursday, February 28, 2008

Skandagiri : The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

I call up my Mom just after office on Thursday night. Sample the conversation.
Me : “I am going on trek.”
Mum (surprised) : “Today is Friday?”
Me : “No, its Thursday, But I am going on a moonlight trek”
Mum (shocked): What about office tomorrow?
Me : “I’ll come back by morning.”
Mum : “Tu pagal hai” (Your’re mad.)

So I’ve been traveling like crazy on weekends for the last two months much to my parents’ chagrin. But the idea of a night trek to Skandagiri (aka Kalwarbetta) on a weekday was a little too insane even by my standards.

I’ve never been on a night trek before and when an opportunity for a trek on a full moon night with the BWS gang presents itself, I won’t miss it, come what may. So after rushing through a meeting at office I take an auto from Maratahalli to Hebbal (Ignorant that I would’ve to shell out three hundred bucks for it) to meet the rest of the gang.

Post dinner we head for Skandagiri , which is around 75 Kms from Bangalore close to the more famous Nandi Hills . Tired after a long day I promptly doze off as soon as I get into the car, getting up only when we’ve reached the foot of Skandagiri.

The night is beautiful; the moon is beaming in the sky stealing the glory from the stars, which twinkle half-heartedly. I can make out the rugged outlines of the hill we’ve to climb, it doesn’t look even a wee bit intimidating in the night. A pleasant breeze is blowing I find my sleepiness being replaced by excitement and slowly I feel fully awakened to the night.

Picture 013
A fellow trekker waiting for the sun to rise

We start walking without torches, which have been rendered useless owning to the bright moonlight, with our guide and his dog showing the way. The terrain is arid the only vegetation being the thorny bushes and dried grass interspersed along the way. The huddled lights of Chikballapur are visible after a distance making for a lovely sight. The climb is not too steep but still we tire off after walking only for a few minutes, so much for the sedentary lifestyles most of us lead.

We may be tired, but never too tired for photography. The cameras and the tripods come out rolling, with people experimenting some long exposure group shots by flashing the torchlight on each of the group member’s face progressively. The guide looks amused at all this but pushes us to start walking again.

Picture 010
The temple at the peak before the sunrise

But we walk slowly, drinking in the surroundings, snacking on kismish and chips, taking frequent breaks, lazing on the rocks sometimes even dozing off as the breeze pleasantly fans us. As we go higher the wind grows stronger making my hair fly wildly, mist also starts to gather shrouding the adjacent peaks.

BWS: Wherever We Go, Our Camera Follows
Few fellow photo-trekker postioned at the peak with their gear

Thus we reach the peak, Nandi-the bull a fixture in most of the South Indian temples welcomes us. We stand at the cliff for sometime braving the winds; I could very well fly given my weight. Nandi hills is visible in the distance. An ancient temple stands on the peak alone, providing a haven from the gutsy wings. People busy themselves; some try to pitch tents as they thrash noisily, some struggle to start a bonfire whereas I snuggle inside my sleeping bag.

I wish the total lunar eclipse were visible in India too, I’ve seen only two total lunar eclipses till now. The first, through our bedroom window early on a summer morning some ten years back. I had made sure that everyone in the house was awake to witness the breathtaking sight. The second, in March last year, again early in the morning from the terrace of my abode in Bangalore and this time too, though I was away from home, my frequent calls made sure that my parents and sister didn’t miss it.

Thus, thinking and dreaming of lunar eclipses and breathtaking sights I fall asleep inside the temple only to wake up to another dream.

Adjectives fail to describe the heady sight before us, so we fall back on nouns, heaven and dream could be the two befitting terms used to describe the sight. The moon has not set yet and it glows eerily through the mist. Sheets of cloud hiding the valley below appear so cushiony that I am almost tempted to take a plunge.
A faint orange is discernible on one part of the sky marking the direction for the sunrise.

Picture 009
Picture 014
Musings

All the sunrises I’ve seen recently I’ve felt that the sun rises a little too fast and it becomes harsh on the eyes a little too soon. But not at Skandagiri, the sun here rises with a sluggish grace, its brilliance sifted through the clouds and mist is a joy for the eyes. And as the sun rises on the firmament taking a cue from it the clouds rise too and cover the Sun, as if this is a game they are accustomed to play.

Picture 024
Sunrise

We stay at the peak for some more time living the dream, but then the realities of the other world make themselves felt. Most of us have to attend office, so reluctantly we start back for the base. My legs shake as I go down the muddy slopes; the very idea of going to office now feels like crazy and the idea of a trek on a weekday even a crazier. “Sur, you’re mad.” I tell myself.

I am glad that I am.

Picture 031
Sunrise

Cross posted on Desicritics.

28 comments:

Arun said...

lovely report. The way the night was, the sudden accumulation of fog after 4am was a complete surprise. I expected a flat post-winter morning, but what a show it was!

Sathya said...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sathyacrt84/sets/72157603481484711/

These are my pics from the same place :)

You have got the sunrise real well..

Sathya
techwiz.rediffblogs.com

Anjali said...

Gorgeous pictures. They look almost too good to be true!

shakester said...

wow. some gorgeous snaps.
But what a wonderful thing it sounds, to have gone off at night, seen the hilss and the clouds so differently.
lovely.

chica said...

Looks beautiful, and seems like a great way to spend a night.

Muthu said...

fantastic blog suruchi... ultimate snaps... send me the picasa or flickr link of ur snaps

Unknown said...

Fantastic post! the pics and the words that wrapped around them. I long to do something like this.

Came here via DesiPundit. :)

Thought said...

I have been to Skandagiri, but that was a day treck. The amazing pics in your blog had made me decide that the next treck will surely be a night treck to skandagiri.

Amrit said...

Hi Suruchi.

Sorry for the "off-topic" comment; I couldn't find a "contact" link on your blog.

I'm preparing an online blog directory of blogs being maintained by Indians and people of Indian origin. Whenever you get some time, please submit a few details at http://indianblogdirectory.com/add-new-blog.php.

Lakshmi Priya said...

Most amazing pics! Absolutely enthralling!
I almost got fooled that the moon was shining on the clouds in the exact same manner but later woke upto the fact that it was a "camera trick"
sunrise, not "moon set"
[:P]

Lakshmi said...

Madness takes us places :) great pics and account -so who organises these treks ?
-lakshmi

Saurabh J. Madan said...

wow! the pics are beautiful

hiren said...

i really loved them. they were really out of the world. really gr8 pics. if ever u plan to publish your pics and musings. we would be interetsed.check out www.btwmag.com

hiren said...

i really loved them. they were really out of the world. really gr8 pics. if ever u plan to publish your pics and musings. we would be interetsed.check out www.btwmag.com

Sudipta Chatterjee said...

Breathtaking pics! Now this particular trek is on my list of things I must do before I die!

Blogeswari said...

Mindblowing pictures!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Splendid shots girl! Way to go!

Abhijit Dharmadhikari said...

some very well-defined silhouettes here :-)

wildflower said...

pics are aweesomEEE

Sur said...

Thanks all for the great response to the writeup and text!
@arun- yes the night was clear, but I was so expecting a cloudy morning! glad it turned out to be so!
@backpakker- right! :)
This was a with group of photography enthusiasts called BWS

Sri said...

Thanks for Wonderful report.
How did you manage to get there? Did you go through any organisers or self. How easy it is to go by self?

Anupama said...

Are these pictures for real?? Breathtaking!!!

Santosh said...

Nice blog and really amazing pics!!
Hey how did u find a guide there? do u have any contact of him?

Aditi..............:) said...

Hey thats perfect description, i left as if I was with you....:)
First time visitor ....will keep coming to your blog ...for sure....

Keep wriing...

Unknown said...

浮気調査
出会いサイト
アメリカンホームダイレクト
不動産
お見合いパーティー
出会い
出会い系
出会い系サイト
自動車 保険 見積
ソニー損保
カード決済
アクサダイレクト
ショッピングカート
東京 ホームページ制作
不動産投資

Anonymous said...

replica handbags
knockoff handbags
designer handbags
handbag imitation
fake designer handbags
replica purses
fake purses
fake handbags

raj said...

good site.. beautiful images...
Work from home