We start with a short walk into the forest - only 200 meters in, and you are under the canopy of trees where the sun plays with the leaves. It is silent, wet, and full of nature. There is always the danger of leeches following you during monsoons and thus a bit of precaution is important. The untouched beauty of this trail makes it worth it though.

As the wood thins out you are greeted by just a long stretch of grassland that just keeps going on and on, kind of like a Windows wallpaper in reality. Green waves of the landscape are illuminated by the sunlight and shaded by the clouds passing over. It is where one relaxes, takes a deep breath, and suddenly feels free.

This journey has its mood swings- and that is magical. Clouds taunt you with a glimpse of them and raindrops softly kiss your face and the rays of sun sneak out to shine just when you desire it. Monsoon simply takes the drama up to another level adding a little extra life to each step one takes.

The reward is there as you get to the top. The view up above is stunning with peeps of the Lakya dam backwaters and the faraway Kudremukh peak. We shall stop here a little - unfold, look all round, and eat our lunch by the panoramic view.

After we have descended we can afford a bit of adventure more. Depending upon the time available on the day, we will go to the Kudremukh hanging bridge where the view is perfect to click photographs and you can relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

When we arrive at the homestay, it’s time to relax. Shower, eat a hot meal and sit around a bonfire (as long as those skies are nice). It could be giggles based on board games or silent chats under the sky: the night is yours to spend before going up to bed. Thankful, exhausted and with a story to tell.

We will begin the day with a healthy breakfast that is easy, delicious, and what you want after sleeping a night. The next destination is at Kodige Falls where we get a chance to nestle in the arms of nature. When the current is not brisk we may do it a little swimming--or just rested ourselves on the rocks and listened, until we are lulled, to the restful murmur of the cascades through a quiet morning.

We then shall return to the car and start heading home, having spent time absorbing the peace. A self-sponsored lunch stop on the road, at your own speed, will provide a much-needed opportunity to all of you to refill in energy and look back at the best moments of the trip during a collective meal.

As you go down the road, the actual adventure begins to nestle in the bones. Others may play games or just watch the landscape going past us, some may even fall asleep to road rhyme. In all cases, your mind would still be traversing the grasslands, the falls and even the small moments of silence experienced on the trail.

To cool off a bit we will take a short tea break and toilet break and then we are going into the final stretch. At 10pm, we are back in Bangalore - saying goodbye is never easy, particularly when you had days to be together and became closer than expected. However, our bodies are tired and the chance to reunite is promised so we bid farewells... till the next big adventure calls.

The mountains call back again. So do we. View our treks in the future and soon we will get your next escape happening.