08 May,2010 11:47 PM IST | | Sowmya Rajaram
Ditch the customary Madikeri-Nisargadhama-Bhagamandala route in Coorg, worn down by chips-wielding tourists. Instead, head to sleepy Kakkabe village to walk on wires, negotiate rocks and climb the second highest peak in South India, says Sowmya Rajaram
Type: Adventure
Best from: Bangalore
You need: 3 days
The annoying thing about cliches? They are all true. Coorg is a bit like that, as four of us discovered on a three-day trip to Coffee Country. There you have it -- that's cliche number one. All too accurate, as we spotted rows of coffee plantations making their appearance along the winding roads leading to Kakkabe, where we stayed at a charming homestay called -- you guessed it -- Coffee Country.
A sumptuous lunch, complete with delicious Coorgi coffee and mini idlis later, we set out to explore the Silent Valley. If that's what they meant by no cell phone network, they were bang on. So, be prepared to be disconnected from humanity during your stay. Another clich ufffd proven. See what we mean?
The trek offers delicious sights along the way
Now or Never Land
What we didn't expect, though, was to find an activity centre that gave us the opportunity to be Nikhil Chinappa's meat on the next edition of Roadies. Mark one down for the non-clich ufffds, please. The words 'air-rifle', 'quad biking', 'paintball' and 'jungle gym' were enough for us to abandon the touristy Chelavara Falls and decide to swing from trees like monkeys.u00a0
And swing we did. A tip: it may be only six months old, but Now or Never Land (NNL) is already hot property among holidaymakers who descend on Coorg to laze around, before discovering this sniff of adventure. Be prepared to wait, or make advance bookings. Some calculations, and we settled on the half course Jungle Gym (Rs 449). It's a treetop assault course that suspends you above the ground using bridges, wooden tunnels and mesh wires. There's a zip lining thrown in for fun too.
View from the top of Thadiyanamol peak, the second highest in South India
Careful about the risk involved, NNL makes you sign disclaimer forms, fits you with a harness and has an instructor brief you about safety. Impressive. Four in the evening, and we started with a simple enough walk through a netted valley. Slip, and you'll land comfortably into the net, secured by your harness. Easy-peasy. Or so we thought. Soon, we had to balance ourselves along nothing more than a reed-thin wire to make it to the next tree landing.
The course got tougher by degrees, and before we knew it, the sun was setting and we were suspended on a shaky bridge of disconnected wooden planks in almost-total darkness. To move from one rung to the other, you have to let your hands go, and physically bridge the gap by rocking back to create the right momentum. Easier said than done, especially when you're not known for never-ending legs and can barely see two feet ahead.
Some crawling through a wooden tunnel and dangling our legs while sitting on a small log seat with nothing to hold on to in complete darkness, and we were through; endorphin-high and without accident.
The entire course took about three hours, aided by the rapidly setting sun. If you aren't very sure-footed, go earlier in the afternoon, or you'll be putting your not-so-best foot forward into a dark abyss after 4.30 pm, like us.
Crawling through a bamboo tunnel set up between two trees at Now Or
Never Land
Thadiyandamol peak
Emboldened by our first taste of adventure, we set out the next day to conquer Thadiyandamol, which, at 5,724 feet, is the second-highest peak in Karnataka. The trek is a moderate hike for the first half hour or so, before it starts to get a little steep. But none of that matters when the air around you starts to get cooler, and the rolling valleys evoke the 'Scotland of India' title that a gazillion wide-eyed foreign tourists have given to this place. Yet another proven stereotype. Yawn. Working at a reasonable pace, and helped by crisp clouds floating across the insanely blue sky, we made it to the top in about three hours.u00a0
Not everyone did, though; our route was littered with failed expeditions. A pity, because the view from the top is spectacular enough to have you buzzing without alcohol. Take a break, but whatever you do, stick it out and make it to the peak, or you'll forever regret not having felt the exhilaration of awe-inspiring views and delicious air. Keep your camera handy and make sure you have enough batteries and memory cards.
We take a breather and a photo break on a hillock along the way
to Thadiyandamol
Take a moment to soak in the nothingness and experience clouds
brushing your shoulders at the top of Thadiyandamol
The easiest of the lot, this netted course at NNL prepares you for what's
to come. PICS/ Shravan Kumar, Sowmya Rajaram
How to get there:
By road from Bangalore: Take Mysore Road, cross Bangalore Rural. Enter Channapatna (38 km). Continue on
SH 17 via Maddur, enter Mandya (46 km).
Go Straight on SH 17, enter Mysore, take SH 88 towards Elwala, Somanahalli Hunsur. Continue on SH 88 via Gonikoppal, enter Virajpet (21 km). At Virajpet, take the district road to reach Kakkabe.
Where to stay: Coffee Country Homestay
Tariff: Rs 1,100 per person per day (includes all three meals). Excellent food, clean rooms and cheerful, attentive help. They even have indoor games like carrom and chess and facilities and guides for fishing, badminton and air-rifle shooting.
Call: 08272238625 / 08272238330
Email: coffeecountrykakabe@hotmail.com
What to carry: Water, camera, good sports shoes, and comfortable trekking and activity wear. Earrings, loose hair and anything else that can get caught in a harness is avoidable. Carry cash. NNL does not accept cards.
Contact NNL: Log on to: https://www.noworneverland.com/
