My eyes opened early on Saturday morning, and I decided to do something by myself!
Avoiding meeting my parents in the morning, I ran to the car and zoomed out!
Everyone has gone on solo trips, I wanted to do a solo trek. For starters, test may basic navigational skills, people skills and how to tackle a given situation.
I packed my bag with biscuits, some cash and water and left for Bangalore – Tumkur highway at 8.15am.
For my parents mental peace, I did share the WhatsApp live tracking.
Fuelling the car on the way, I reached the second toll by 9.30am.
A little later, crossing by a trolley settlement food service station, I stopped for a quick breakfast.
The set up was just off the highway and the food steaming and spicy! Delicious, nonetheless.
Following the maps, and driving slowly, enjoying the breeze and the music, I reached the base of Shivagange by 10.45am.
The climb started smoothly, I knew the way because I’ve been here a year ago.
I left the chappals and started the climb of 2500 steps to Shiva and Parvathi Temple!
Patalgange is known to have a natural spring of between two rocks throughout the year. Nobody knows the source of the water.
The village literally thrives on the tourism this temple attracts.
Every 150-200 steps I took a minute’s break and every 300 – 500 steps I had sips of water.
A Japanese guy tried to make conversation but I was too busy panting for breath, gave a polite smile and carried on.
By 12noon sharp I was at the top of the hill!
Phew .! It was fun! As soon as I reached the top, I headed straight to the temple! Prayed to God with all my soul for a brighter future and decided to rest!
I went to the spot that I had rested at earlier and spent a few minutes there.
I could see land way below me and cloud cover coming towards me.
The winds increased and the sunlight vanished.
After twenty minutes, I got up, hung around the hill, took a picture with Nandi, before I decided to head back down.
The descend started at 12.30pm.
It was a confident descend for the first 30mins, after which I was in for a surprise.
I saw a monkey conveniently opening a man’s backpack, putting it’s hands inside, in search of something and closing the zip again before it opens the next one.
The man tried to pull away but the monkey held still.
I was a few steps above. I tried to ignore and sneak away as I did with all the monkeys on the way up, but this one was different.
It grabbed my side bag. I tried to walk faster but that little ape pulled me back!
I had to release my bag before I got choked.
I made sure it became every passer-by’s business to get my bag back. I wouldn’t have been able to get back home without it.
After 20minutes of throwing my bag from above the hill to below and back and so on, and monkey still grabbing it and then ripping it apart, I just kept screaming – please get my bag back, like a foreigner not knowing the local language. We gathered things back in instalments. The monkey only found a half full bottle, which it drank and threw everything else after all the fight and aggression and then made its way unzipping the next bag.
The locals collected all my belongings, put it into the bag again and handed every single thing back to me. I am forever grateful to them!
Continuing the walk down was slow due to the tiny pebbles piercing my sole.
I kept running into the group of young men who helped me but never spoke to them.
The weather was cloudy all the time.
At 2.15pm I reached the base. I noticed they were serving prasad.
After washing myself up, I took the sambar chawal in a plate. When I went to take thin watery like curd in a glass, the guy refused! He said, only water in the glass, despite me explaining to him that I want to drink it. He said please go! Strange for a temple behaviour!
I ate, washed my plate and headed to the car.
I started driving back to the highway and reached the CBD by 4.45pm.
Feel free to join ABC for such trips! Inbox for details or call on – 9620948312 .
https://aroundbigcities.com/
