Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Belakal Falls / Govinda Theertha

This falls is also called Belakal Thirtha and Govinda Thirtha. Around 15 KMs before Kollur take a right turn while coming from Mangalore / Udupi at Jadkal and proceed for 15 KMs via Mudur to a village called Belakal. From here trek on a rugged pathway for 2.5 KMs in the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Ghat hill ranges) to climb at an average 45 degree elevation to the base of this falls. The ascent would definitely take nothing less than 2 hours and the return would be as much easy that you will come back within half an hour. Carry food and FAB. Road from Jadkal right till Belkal is very very bad, drive only a tough car. There are buses from Jadkal to Mudur which is 4kms before Belakal. Take a guide along, you will find one in Belakal. 
Govinda Theertha Snana at Belakal Falls on the auspicious day of Margashirsha Amavasya is celebrated as Ellu - Amavasya. At Belakal, a festival of bathing is held on this day, attended by thousands of people from around Kollur and Kundapur


The waterfall seen from Belakal Village














Trekking in the tough terrain


The uphill task, literally.

The first sight of the waterfall after the climb


An astounding spectacle opening up soon after the trek


The wobbling waterfall


Did you notice the rainbow? In the afternoon when Sun blazes right against the water-drops, a correct angle displays a wide spectrum.
















The view of western coastal region seen from the base.



The area is being developed to keep pace with the flourishing coastal belt.


The river on the way is a good stop-over, small fishes swimming in groups


Kudumari / Belligundi / Chakthikal Falls

From Mangalore proceed 150 KMs via Udupi and Kundapur to Shirur. From here take a right turn to Tudalli (14 Kms), ahead and turn right to Athyadi (3 Kms). You can drive for another Km to the left from where the difficult trek of 3 Kms with an average elevation of 30 degrees in the wild Western Ghats begins to reach the base of this Kudumari falls also called Belligundi / Chakthikal falls. The path is almost non-existent and there is 200% chance of getting lost. So get a guide and a FAB. If you can reach the base early in the day, try to climb the entire ghat to reach the top. Better idea is to start from the top and descend. Reach Kattinkaru either from Kollur or from Shimoga  - Sagar - Kargal. Another route is Thirthalli - Hulikal - Nagara - Kattinkaru. The view from the top and even around the base is breath-taking. Once again, don't go without a guide.
From here, Kosalli Falls is just 7 Kms away which involves comparatively easy trek of 3 Kms