Tadiandamol Revisited

 That’s not the first time! That won’t be the last time! Though, as a rule, I don’t like to visit the same place twice – since life is too short to do that, at times – you bend those rules – just to go with few near and dear ones.


One such trip took me to Coorg! Coorg has always been a beautiful memory for me in many ways! My first trek was to that beautiful and picturesque Tadiandamol Hill. First time when I visited Tadiandamol, never I imagined that – I would lead a couple of souls(soles) brimming with adrenaline to the same peak once again ! Time has its own pleasant surprises. With a group of fitness freaks, runners, yoga warriors, on a Friday noon, we headed towards Coorg. Tea, coffee, snacks, cakes, mafia, songs, unending talks and debates – it was almost 11.30pm when we reached Honey Valley! I must appreciate the zeal of the gang that stayed up till 2 am – indulging in ceaseless deliberations instead of resting for the next day journey.

After good mornings, packing our day-pack, breakfast – we started off at 8.45am towards Tadiandamol, taking the longer route. That black dog became self-driven guide for this hike. Morning walk in the honey valley route was amazing – since early morning sun rays cast a beautiful misty pattern as it rises through the trees in the woods amidst misty land. We made our walk through the coffee estates, forests, dry-grassy land, and some slippery narrow stretches. The route was filled with elephant dung, evidencing that elephants often roam around in this forest land.

It was almost 2.30 we reached the peak and were welcomed with loud applaud and that black dog was ahead of us while we were reaching the peak! :P The view on the peak is worth walking that stretch. For our surprise, it suddenly became foggy, misty and turned to be pretty cloudy. Slight drizzle added to the lovely weather. The photo session, selfie session,  groupie session, videos, all done to everyone’s satisfaction. The day-pack lunch tasted the best ever in that peak hour hunger. Tadiandamol never disappoints you – be it rainy, winter or summer. The greenery around, mist, fog always peps you up and makes you feel happy once you reach the peak.

Way-back was pretty nice and easy munching loads of chocolates, singing songs, photo sessions again. Before even we could realise, we almost reached the base and it was getting bit darker. It was fun to watch few groups going up with water cans, food vessels and camping gears, etc., Stopped at a shady place for ‘chai’ break amidst ‘mixed opinion’ and finally got back to our abode with that bumpy ride! Ride back had a short ‘vote of thanks/ tell something about someone’ – that revealed interesting things about everyone in the gang. Of course, the black little champ followed us back to the base.

Post yoga stretches lead by Yogini Suchi (‘my Suchi’), all barged in for dinner. Salad, chicken, vegetables, sambal, rice, roti, kheer, papad, - it was a sumptuous dinner. On request, we had our own camp-fire; well, followed by amazing dance performance by Karthik, Satlaj, Niharika, Anjula, Lata! Night was supposed to ending with the dance and camp-fire. But again, as talkative as we are, it continued with ‘insane talks’, debates with the most ‘believe it or not revelations’ (prime mention – Leju) :P

Next morning- started off with small morning walk, yoga session and breakfast and visited Chingara Falls (within 1 km distance) and then Bylakuppe, savoring the momos.  By this time, almost everyone got familiar and comfortable with everyone in the group. It didn’t seem like – these folks just met each other’s a day before. Masala dosa and tea at Adigas was the last pit-stop before reaching Bangalore.

Few trips don’t require much planning, they just need like-minded souls. Coorg looked more beautiful even in the peak summer with these amazing bunch of enthusiasts…;)

P.S. :P – The added flavor was – Lata’s killer smile; My Suchi’s ‘unfastened hair’; PD’s ‘world famous nose ring’; ‘Anjula’s adorable beauty’; Satlaj’s ‘everlasting charm’; Karthik’s ‘smartness’ and unexplainable mafia bravery; Leju’s ‘unending flattery and punchlines’; Niharika’s ‘timely comebacks and songs’; Nihit’s ‘humbleness and helpfulness’ ! made it a ‘full-fledged gang’ :P :P