Saturday, May 24, 2014

Green Trek Route - Sakleshpur - Subrahmanya Road

I boarded the Yashwantpur – Karwar Express to reach my hometown Udupi on a beautiful Friday morning, 16.05.2014 to be precise.  I was to attend the annual car festival of my native village. I knew I will chance upon some great photo ops. But it turned out be an unforgettable train journey.

The railway line from Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya Road passes through one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth – the Western Ghat Ranges or Sahyadri Ranges as it has been called since Ramayana era.  An otherwise sober train journey between Bangalore and Mangalore takes a dramatic mood change as it enters Sakleshpur. Here, some of nature enthusiasts enter the train and with much commotion there will be cameras everywhere. For next three hours, it will be fun, frolic, cheer and so on till the Subrahmanya Road is reached and everyone involuntarily join it by the sheer excitement.

The day train leaves from Bangalore at 7.30am from Yashwantpur Railway station. Make sure that you have a window seat at the left hand side of the train. At Arasikere, the engine is detached and reattached to the other end, thus at the right hand side all the great events take place. Enter Sakleshpur, everything outside wears green. Dark green! Dark and Green during monsoon! The peaks of Aramane Gudda and Devarabetta are seen from this side.

For most part of this journey train passes through the mountains from one peak to the other. And at some places near the curves, the train appears to be tumbling from the mountain top. Interspersed with tunnels and bridges, the landscape keeps changing constantly. Screams and screeches fly through the roof top as train enters each tunnel and passes through the darkness. Again the excitement begins as it carefully negotiates tall bridges and deep curves. Mightiness of evergreen forests of this Western Ghats is evident at each bridge, sky high trees rising from the deep crevices.

Once again, at the Subrahmanya Road, train becomes empty leaving me enough time to recall all the 
good times of the day.