Miles and Trails: Mullayanagiri, Chikmagalur

On our way back from Baba Budan giri, we saw construction work going on in Kaimara. This Y-shaped intersection also leads to the way to Mullayanagiri. We had no intention to club Baba Budan giri and Mullayanagiri on the same day. The sunrise at Mullayanagiri is very famed and we kept that for our last leg of the trip. The road was closed due to the ongoing work. We wanted to know whether the road is closed completely for time being or will they allow travelers to pass by at a stipulated time. When asked they informed us that the road will be open from morning 6 to 10.

Since our plan was to witness the glorious sunrise at the peak, we were at Kaimara around 5:45 and they were allowing vehicles to move along. It is about 8 kilometers from Kaimara. The road was narrow and rocky with steep valleys on one side and jagged mountains on the other. Visibility was bare minimum at the crack of dawn. Who says it is peak summer when the mist is covering the entire terrain? Even so the path winds ahead smoothly and we were at the parking lot in no time.

The weather was cold enough, but not harsh to make us shiver. We thought we were the first few to arrive. To our utter surprise there was a huge crowd scattered all over the place from parking lot to the pathway to the peak. Collecting our gazettes we started hiking the well-paved stony steps. In the beginning the walk was easy so was our energy level. We halted in between to look around the beautiful mountains and valleys and click few pictures.

We could see people trekking from Sarpadhari, which was the original route to the summit. If you are into mountain trekking that would be the track for you. Perspiration started after few steps. Blowing cool wind was the only balm to our ordeal. In fact we had to sit on a rock for sometime to regain the stamina. And that would be the place where we lost our selfie-stick without realizing until we had to use it. We could see few kids counting the steps as they move ahead.

We reached the point huffing and puffing on time for the rising sun. The horizon was filled with shades of peach and orange. It was bright and mesmerizing as sunrise should be. A river at far shone in gold and silver. Could it be Hirekolale lake?

Standing atop the highest peak in Karnataka at a height of 1930 meters (6330 feet) from sea level is a heady feeling. This hill is part of Chandra Dhrona Hill ranges of Western Ghats. Mountains and valleys loomed before us with a cloak of greenery. They were present in every which way we looked. We perched upon a rock as the easy breeze picked up. Even though people were shouting and screaming, all we could feel was absolute stillness. As the warmth of sunshine increased we started our downward journey to have sumptuous breakfast with large dose of filter coffee.