Trek to Kuke

We (me, Raj, Bose, Cs, Gn, Harsha, Rahul n Shet) had been to a trek to Kuke from 24th-26th Jan. Our plan was to start the trek from Somwarpet, goto the top of pushpagiri(Kumara parvatha) and then trek down n stay at Bhatara mane. The next day visit Kuke Subramanya temple n board the bus to Bangalore the same night. Dont know who among our group gets these ideas of a trip!!! Anyways we started from Bangalore on 23rd night by a ksrtc bus booked by Bose to Somwarpet from where we were to start the trek towards Kuke.
The bus reached Somwarpet around 5.30 in the morning. As we all wanted to freshen up, started searchin for rooms in a lodge (Uday lodge :P) infront of the bus stand. As there were no rooms available the only option left was a public toilet. Gn, Cs n Harsha went there 1st to clear. Rest of us sat in a small tea shop n drank a cup of tea. We brushed our teeth by borrowin a jug of water from the tea shop on the road itself lol.
To reach the foot of the hills we had to take a bus which was at 7.15 from the bus stand itself. As the bus only drops us half the way, we decided to go in an auto. The autos almost went till the starting point of the trek. Around 8.30 we had out breakfast and started the trek at 9. We reached the forest check point in about 20 minutes, paid the entrance fees (115rs). As soon as we got past the check point all took snaps standin over a hanging bridge and then started towards the peak. We could feel the pure air, sounds of birds which was soothin to the mind (unlike in Blore hearing honks all the time :P) The forests were covered with huge trees (with name plates on some of them) and the path was covered with dried leaves. The path was quiet ok (not too steep) and so we walked an hour non-stop and then took a small pit-stop. for about 10 mins where a small stream of water was flowing.
I had got an old music player of mine, started listenin to som music and walked alongside Shet who had his i-pod on n Rahul. As we went quiet ahead of the others took a stop with Shet as usual attendin phone calls. We also had another small group of techies from Hp for company in the forest. Around 11 we reached a view point on one side and way to the peak on the other side. Took a pitstop here for 10-15 mins and ate a few oranges, took pics and started towards the peak. After another 40mins reached a sign board which showed 6kms to the top of Pushpagiri peak on one side n 12kms to Kuke on the other side. Took another stop here and started towards the Pushpagiri peak around 12.15.
On the way to this peak, there are 3 huge rocks which were not as tough as the rock in Edakkal caves to climb, nevertheless after Edakkal i was somewht afraid cin the 1st rock itself :P(this time had to climb with 2 bags which made it still difficult). But this was not as slippery or tough and somehow got passed the 1st rock. After this path became tougher and tougher, we also were hungry but decided not to eat as this would make more difficult to climb. We stopped at the top of 2nd rock ate a few biscuits, choclates and took pics and made a move around 1.15. Hardly few paces we got tired and stopped again where Cs began eating his puliyogare. After he had finished 1 box we made a move towards the 3rd rock where there was a misleading arrow mark with 4.5 kms.
Me, rahul n Shet crossed the 3rd rock and hardly half a km could c the peak! walked with full speed to it and finally reached the top around 2 i guess. Bose also came in a short while and started cin the place. Many people had already put up tents there and started lunch too. Bose took us to a beautiful spot where we took a few snaps. Even after 15mins there was no sign of others. After half an hour saw them comin, they had stopped down for lunch thinkin the peak was too far and also the most fittest person of our group Mr. Harsha had sprained leg or got a cramp!! Finally we ate lunch at 2.30 (puliyogare, chappati, biscuits...). Luckily i had taken a gymkhana and slept for abt 30mins. We made a move around 3.45 towards bhatara mane.
Few of them wanted to goto Sheshagiri peak and see sunset and then come to Bhatara mane (Bose was dyin to goto this peak sayin bhatara mane is only 2 hrs, coooool aagi reach aagbahudhu, his head!!). On the way we had to trek down a steep rock which was quiet tough. After this found a small pond of water which was ice-cold and filled our bottles. As the peak came on the way to bhatara mane, couldnt avoid it. Took some pics on the peak (Bose, Shet, Rahul doin all types of circus so that entire width, height etc of the peak came in the pics!!!). On this way saw many people climbin up (towards somwarpet i.e.) with chappals, bare foot!!
Me,Raja and Cs moved ahead as the rest were busy takin photos of themselves in all the possible poses. We asked each n everyone of them whom we met on the way the distance to that bhatara mane, each one of them used to say 2 hrs!!!Also the path was gettin more steeper and steeper which dint tire us but we were gettin pains in the legs. I was goin behind Raja and for every 10 mins the useless fellow would slip n fall lol!! We decided our pitstop would be near to the Mantapa where there was a small pond of water. This was about 3-4 kms from the peak which took us about 2hrs to reach it. We ate a packet of hide and seek biscuits and filled bottles with the cool water and left the place at 6.
Light was gettin dimmer and dimmer and there was no sight of tht bhatara mane! Raja stayed behind and waited for Shet and Rahul. Me n Cs started to move down as quickly as possible and finally came near the forest check post at 6.40 where the guard showed us the way to the house. Many people had put up tents here. After another 20 mins walk we finally reached the 'Bhatara Mane' just before darkness!! This place was like a fish market with nearly 100 people. This house was the only place to stay in the entire hills and as it was hols for most of the techies the place was crowded. We met the bhata and he said dinner will be served at 9.30 and for sleepin some arrangement would be made.
After some 20 mins we could see mobile and torch lights at a distance. Shet, Raja n Rahul came there around 7.30. Roshan, Gn n Harsha were still quiet faaar behind and without torch lights they had to trek. Luckily for them the forest gaurd gave them a torch (Forest guard's dialog "50,000 sambhala thogonthira, ondh torch tharake aagalva!!! lol). They reached just before 8. Bose, Gn spoke with Bhat and with the people who looked after the cows and got a small room to keep all our bags. Me, Raja n Roshan decided to sleep in that room along with the luggages and another 3 people. The rest for another small room inside bhatara mane. We ate all the leftovers which we had packed and waited for dinner. Ate Rice and Sambar as many times as possible and drank a glass of buttermilk and finally slept at 10.30. We had trekked around 18 kms in 10hrs, all bosy parts were paining like hell and to sleep on the ground made it even more difficult!!. We told the people in our room about our trek and they said it would take them only 3 hrs to trek the distance we had covered today lol!!!!
I woke up around 5.30 as many people had woken up and were gettin ready to trek already. Finally we got up at 7.30 after our boys came to wake us up. Ate Concrete (Upma lol) and Chitranna for breakfast and as there was no place for clearance dint drink coffee!! Took snaps with the Bhats and left towards Kuke around 9.30. This was steep at places, but not as tough as yesterday. Trekked 6kms, took around 3-4 pitstops and reached Kuke at 12. Took a room in a lodge and freshened oursleves up. Me, Bose and Rahul decide to have bath at the Kumaradhara river and went there in an auto which was about 1km from the temple. The water was ice cold and Bose became the centre of attraction there hahahha!!! After 40mins decided to leave the place and went to the room had a bath, then ate lunch at 2.30 and went to the temple which was to open at 3.
As there was a huge rush me n Bose decided to go back to the room for sleepin. Then later found out that bose had come to the room for clearance (lol after 1 n 1/2 days thank god!!!!). Slept peacefull without Cs ('the sleep destroyer') for an hour before all of them came back to the room. As there was some maha mangalarthi at 7 in the eve, all of us again went to the temple, ate dinner and finally boarded the bus at 11.30 and left to Blore.
These were the most tirin 2 days where each and every part of the body was achin!!!! But all in all a good experience to stay next to a cow shed lol and luckily we had a hol the next day as it was the Republic day :)