Savandurga Trek Again

This day, began very early. Gautam, whom we thought needed  wake up calls,  called me at around 4:40 AM to tell me that he was awake and would shortly leave to pick up Prajna. I called Rohit to check if he was ready. By 6AM All four including Pradyumn were at my place. After a cup of tea, we left in my car towards our meeting point on Mysore road where we met  20 other colleagues of ours. We had idly for breakfast and headed towards Savandurga. Gautam insisted on taking the Manchinbele dam route; so we did that. The view of the backwaters as you climb down the hill was formidable and called for some pictures.

After crossing the dam we took a right deviation towards Savandurga. There are several ways to reach Savandurga that google maps sure can help you with but this one is very beautiful and would pass through small villages, narrow roads and lush surroundings. 

We had a small incident on this road with a collision between two cars. But it was sorted out very quickly and the damages were not major. 

We reached Savandurga base by 8:30 AM. The trail is almost evident and there were already several trekkers on their way up. There are arrow marks on the rocks to guide you as well. The climb is slightly difficult in the beginning as they are steep but we took our time. 

The view of the surrounding villages was beautiful. Monsoon showers had turned the place so green that it made a spectacular sight. 

This is my second visit here. The post on previous trek could be found Here.

I tried to share my trek time with both the fast climbers and the slow first time trekkers. In doing so, for a while in between, I was alone. That was when I came across this small collection of water with a colourful plant at its centre, swaying to the wind. I took a small video in which you shall see or hear several simultaneous occurrences. A rhythmical movement of the plant, reflection of the blue sky, a dragon fly passing by, a bird chirp, a tadpole kissing the surface of the water and creating ripples. There was something very alluring about this moment that I don’t think I can ever decode. Perhaps it is not important either. 

We reached the summit at around 10:30 AM and shared some food - Buns, Banana, chips and bread. Sandeep played some music on the mandolin enriching further this perfect atmosphere to relax. 

Climbing down was easy and faster. The climb and return was filled with interesting conversations and laughs but it would be laborious and most of all pointless to list them  down here. But something that was surprising and possibly unheard of and thus gaining prominence to be recorded is that two goats at the summit got over friendly with us. They tried to grab buns out of our hands, bags and even mouth. They accompanied us on our way back and gave occasional push by its head or its stomach. Which was funny because it appeared as if they were trying to push us down the cliff but I thought it was perhaps their way of expressing friendship like a "high five" or a "fist bump". So, I returned one and they never showed up near me again. Perhaps I was wrong or may be I did not do it right. 

A Tender coconut stall was very inviting at the base.  After that we dispersed in our respective cars. We stopped at a KFC to grab a quick lunch before returning home. 

It is interesting to notice that an event does not summarise itself in the duration of its occurrence. It perhaps would have begun much earlier. For example a trek cannot be encapsulated by narrating the events of that particular day when it took place. It must have originated long before as an idea or a discussion and then traveled with the minds of people who were part of it and followed different subplots to reunite again on the day of the event but only to diverge again. All I want to say is that it would be inappropriate to think that this story begins and ends with the day of the trek. From the origin of the idea to its different interpretations, to the execution and its memories and may be repercussions, the story shall continue; may it be in the discussion where the idea originated,  the reason behind someones acceptance to join, the story behind the food that was brought, the drink that was prepared, spectacular views that it bestowed, the sun burns and pain that was brought back, in what this trek meant for each one of us, the viewing of the pictures, a conversation recollecting them all after several years and God knows how many other such branches would finally complete this story that from a surface level may seem so simple. This post could only be a tiny part of that story of this trek. And then my thoughts orient back to the stagnant water where I might have made only a surface level observation. There is so much more to it than what I saw or felt and yet we tend to presume that we have ceased the moment. Therefore it would only be right to say; as appropriately conveyed in the movie Boyhood -  It is always the moment that ceases us. If that was a confusing stream of consciousness, it was meant to be thus!

This one’s for you kid!