INTRODUCTION
One of the best treks in southern India, which is a must-try for nearby trekkers. Residing in Western ghats, first time and experienced trekkers can also try their hand at climbing. People flock around not just for the best trekking experience, but also to visit the legendary hill town of Madikeri or Coorg. The trek boasts the highest peak in the Kodagu district and the third highest peak of Karnataka.
The trekking in Tadiandamol includes walking through the thick forests of shola, slow-flowing creeks around, enveloped by green pastures. To be very honest, it wouldn’t be something like you have ever experienced before. Trekking through scenic greenery and climbing through the clouds is the best memory you’ll make on any trip. That’s not all, Tadiandamol is a western ghat trek that is situated in the Brahmagiri Wildlife sanctuary of the Bhagamandala range forest. The climb is pretty hard, but not hard enough for a beginner.
TREKKING IN SHOLA FORESTS
The shola forests are scrubby tropical forests located in the valleys, among surging plains in the higher mountain regions. The trek exudes distinct flora and fauna. You can also explore coffee plantations spread on the grasslands. Arecanut ( Betel nut ) trees, Nutmeg trees, fishtail palms, and other various types of trees grow here. To the naturalists, out there you can spot millipedes, Calotes Versicolor lizards, many species of butterflies, and do make sure to watch out for snakes along the trail. Keep an eye on leeches, especially if you’re trekking during monsoon or post-monsoon season.
Before trekking off to the western ghats, we would like you to first know about the trail in detail. Make a plan on what to cover and enjoy all aspects of the trek.
ABOUT THE TRAIL
The trek is divided into four sections. If you hire a private vehicle, then you can exclude Nalknad palace. You can go ahead with the rest on the itinerary :
You can walk on the road from Kakkabe bridge to Nalknad palace
Slowly climb up from Nalknad palace to the base of Tadiandamol
Trek for the base of Tadiandamol to the boulder point
GETTING TO THE TOP
Now that we have discussed in brief the various ways you can get here, let’s see more clearly how to get there and what attractions await you on the go!
Kakkabe bridge to Nalknad palace
You will be covering about 5.54 km during this trial, and go on for an hour. As usual, you have to start the trek in the morning. You can also catch a bus that drops you at the Kakkabe bridge. The bus on route Virajpet-Talakaveri road gives you the option to get down at the junction of Aramane and Kakkabe, giving you a 15 min head start.
A tip for our readers: If you’re not up for climbing this far, you can always hire an auto or a jeep, from the bridge to Nalknad palace. The auto’s expense is INR 400, while a jeep is INR 700 to 800. While on this trek, you can see various flora and fauna, dense coffee estates and many homestays. You can visit the Nalknad palace on the way down. Recently, due to construction, you can now travel up the base of the hill in a car.
Nalknad palace to the foothill of Tadiandamol
This trek is about 2 km and would take you 55 min overall. This trail is easier to climb through the mud and gravel section from the Nalknad palace to the base of Tadiandamol. This is where the actual climbing starts from. There is an amazing waterfall at the start of the Nalknad palace. It is completely gushing in the monsoon season. After stopping by the waterfall, head back on the main trail of the trek. The path is a mix of gravel, mud and concrete that takes you through the lush and serene grasslands. After an hour of walking through the grassland, you will reach a small house where a creek flows adjacent from. You can quench your thirst here, and head to the base of Tadiandamol in 10 mins.
Foothill of Tadiandamol to the boulder point
This trek is about 2.30 km and takes you 1 hour and 20 mins. At the base of the Tadiandamol trek, you will find two trails. One path goes right and the other path goes left. You must take the left one while going uphill. You can spot a green board from the forest department, which would be pointing to the left. It is a mud trail going up. You would be crossing small creeks along the way, therefore a tip from us would be to apply savlon on your feet to avoid leeches.
That’s all folks! Make sure to follow our trials to reach the best trekking spot in southern India. Until next time.
