Railway track trek to Dudhsagar Waterfalls

Dudhsagar is  one of the most scenic and beautiful waterfall in India and is listed as fifth tallest waterfall in India. The most spectacular natural phenomena, located on the border of Goa and Karnataka states.The cascading of water in large volume from the top of a hill appears like a milky flow!!

So the group of 20 GHACians started off with the Monsoon Trek on railway track passing through the tunnels and heading towards the beautiful Waterfalls. My self and Yogi being the host of the trek and were leading the group.The journey started with only few confirmed train tickets in hand and rest in RAC. So the adventure and the 'No comfort' travel started rite from the beginning! Thanks for the awesome group for 'No complaints' in regards to travel :) but luck favoured us... the other group from GHAC were traveling in the same train to Jog falls and were having few extra reserved tickets :) So, most of them got the berths and had a tight sleep night journey. Thanks for our sleeping bags which helped us in all the time when we don't have reserved train tickets ;)

Saturday:

The initial plan was to start the trek from Castle Rock station and reach Dudhsagar. It was a 14 Kilometer trek on railway track passing through the tunnels, but by the time we reach the waterfalls it will be almost dark and we cannot have the proper view of falls and most importantly we don't get the space for camping... and being a weekend this route will be too crowded. So, we decided to go little further and start the trek from Caranzol. From Caranzol the distance is around 5-6 Kilometer. We started the trek passing through the tunnels and mountains of western ghats. We entered the first tunnel...it was pitch-dark and we dint switched ON the torch light, just to feel a little adventure!! It's being a monsoon season, it was drizzling from top of the tunnels and the moment we came out of the tunnel we could see many tiny falls from the top of the mountains and of-course plenty of greenery all around!!
 

Tunnel

There were couple of falls on the way where we spent some time. Everyone in the group were amused and were rejoicing a fun filled trek. In the middest of the trek we saw a couple of goods transmitting trains with people on board. The guard allowed few people to board the train. We too had a chance, but we were happy to trek all along and reach the falls and more than that we do not want to miss the beauty of the nature and of-course the Adventure!!
 

View on the way

The views during the trek were immensely mesmerizing!! Deep valleys, water falls, railway track, tunnels and greenery all around... one must visit this place at least once in a life time!! The nature lovers were busy capturing the beauty of nature through lens and others were throughly enjoying the mother nature and of-course there were also few Kodak moments of the group!! Soon we reached the Dudhsagar station and we could here the sound of gushing water falls cascading down!! It was just a Ten minutes walk from Dudhsagar station to the actual water fall... and here we saw the spectacular natural falls... water plummets from hundreds of feet in cascade of large volume and creating a mist all around!! The cascading water appear like a milky flow!!

Water falls

The moment our eyes captured the spectacular falls we lost ourselves in the beauty of nature and were standing still and forgot about the world outside and were thoroughly, deeply rejoicing the waterfalls!! Living the life to the fullest!! After spending a good time at the falls we started pitching the tents for camping quite opposite to the water falls, and just beside the railway track... must be 4-5 steps beside the track not more than that. There is a small canteen at the water falls, where you have enough space for 15 people to accommodate under a shed. After pitching the tents we again went near to the falls... this time we descended little down from where we can feel the gushing water on our feet!! It was getting dark and we all moved to our camping place for dinner. We have enough packed food... a lot of varieties on the menu!! Dinner followed by lot of fun filled activities! It was a different experience to spend the night in the tent near to the falls and the track, lisitening to gushing sound of the water and shuddering sound of a train and feeling the vibrations on the ground!!

Pitching Tents

Next day on Sunday we woke up at Five in the morning and decided to go little further, cross two more tunnels to view the complete water falls from a distance. After crossing two tunnels from the camping place not more than a kilometer, just turn around and look back.... there you can see beautiful view of dudhsagar with a railway bridge passing along!! Words are not enough to describe the beauty!! Picture says it all! 

View of Dudhsagar

One more View

We spent enough time over there and whilst back to the camping place we saw a small water fall, where the water is crystal clear.

We have to catch the train at Nine in the morning from Dudhsagar station, the interesting part is there is no proper stop at this station, but the train stops here for signal not more than for Two minutes... with not much difficulty we have boarded the train and started towards Londa Junction from where we have to board another train to Hyderabad. After getting down at Londa we have enough time for the next train to Hyderabad so, we all had a leisure lunch at near by hotel and yeah... today is the birthday of 'Haripriya' one of the member in our group! So.. cake cutting, group pictures and some fun time and now its time for boarding the train to Hyderabad. The moment we boarded the train it started raining cats and dogs!! We have spent some good time in journey and thanks to the wonderful group for all the fun in the return journey.

Back to Hyderabad on Monday morning... toughest time starts now!! Office...

Finally the group

Monsoon Trek at Araku valley

Yet another Trek with GHAC to the land of valleys - Araku

ARAKU Valley is a familiar Hill Station in the state of Andhra Pradesh. A valley in the Eastern ghats of INDIA. A wonderful Hill station with waterfalls, valleys, streams and greenery all around. Ananthagiri forest is the part of Araku valley surrounded by Galikonda, Rakthakonda and few other mountains. One must experience the climatic conditions and the natural beauty of this valley to relish the fog and to fell the feather bunch of the cloud.
It all started when Chandu & Siri initiated the plan and 11 other GHACians where excited to join the trek. Everyone were charged and eagerly waiting to get drenched in rain and explore the valley. 

Araku View

The day arrived and meetup point was at railway station as we were traveling by train. (Train journey is the bestest way to travel to araku). All set to Go!!
The group of twelve GHACians started from Hyderabd to Vizag and our Super Dude (Read as Professor) Lokesh will be joining us at Vijayawada. Goodbye to Hyderabd for the next three days. The journey started and excitement increased. Fun filled journey with lot of hilarious games, rummy and much more followed by dinner and yeah.. photo session of course! It was almost eleven in the night, the lights in our couch are still ON and were busy playing rummy and here enters our Super dude (Mind you -read as professor) Lokesh Sai Kumar, greeted everyone. And its time for a quick nap, will be reaching Vizag early in the morning 5.30

Red handed

Next Day.. here we come Vizag! Rishi is the one guy in the entire group, very energetic, wakes up first and gets ready. We just had 45 minutes to freshen up and have breakfast and board the train to Araku. All done and boarded the train with heavy back packs and tarps and tents. We planned to camp in the nature, no fun in staying under a roof and between four walls... The train started, it was a scenic view on both sides, thick forest, greenery all around. Pictures captured by professionals Satbeer paaji and Sunil. Time just flew away, we arrived at Borra caves station where we planned to get down and visit Borra Caves. Its a 2-3 Km distance from railway station to Borra Caves, so we decided to walk rather hiring a vehicle. Its like a warm up for the trek which we are going to start post lunch. On the way to caves we ordered the lunch in a small hotel. Visited Borra caves, captured few group pictures, profile pic, cover pic. whatever you say!! Came back, had lunch and here comes the much awaited part of the trip... trekking to Katiki waterfalls, which is about 8-10 KM from borra caves.

way to Borra caves

 

Borra caves

The first kilometer was all good.. as excepted it started drizzling..(we wanted it to pour heavily :)) and the moment we entered the muddy pathways between the patches of green fields.. few of them started to explore new route and other few were following the path.. Cool weather, greenery on both sides, rain,  steep and moderate path in between... imagine the scenic view!! all i can say is, it was awesome! We dint even noticed that we crossed almost 3KM of distance.. and here the fun begins! Priyanka is completely exhausted.. paaji was helping her and motivating her to move on..  just after a while in the midst we saw a water stream and decided to pass through the stream... who doesn't want to get into the water? It's monsoon after all! and we are here to get drenched completely. After looking at the water flow Priyanka's energy level boosted up! and wanted to get into water... we slowly started crossing the stream and Priyanka's "Hatrick fall" into the water... Yes.. she fell for every two steps she take!! We noticed that the water flow is getting high and decided to move out from water. Slowly one-by-one energy levels are getting down.. and now its sunil's turn, want to rest for a while because of leg cramps. The 4x4 vehicles were passing by and the people in it are happily moving with loud music. Than Priyanks says.. why are we walking? we can also hire a vehicle... than we decided to send Priyanka in a vehicle and Laxmi will accompany her.. believe me after that not even a single vehicle we saw :P... by than our Super dude Lokesh was aslo down. We stop many times, just to rest for a while. We almost crossed Seven km, there we can see the vehicles parked. aah!! relief.... we reached the destination... we asked a cab driver, way to water falls. Driver: straight route... just two km from here. One needs to walk from here, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point. What the hell! Still two kilometers? ah! Started again, we have to climb the steps, cross the railway track , pass through the steep slippery way... and there you can see the view of gushing waterfall from a distance of more than 50 feet height. It was a stupendous experience to watch the spray of water cascading down. We are ready to soak in the waterfall. The water was so pure, clean and clear, Very soon we get lost in the beauty of nature. spent much of the time under the waterfall. It was almost past Four'O clock. We were getting late as we have to continue our trek to reach the Galikonda view point before the sunset. Had a tasty & spicy Bamboo chicken! and continued the trek to the view point. 

One of the Hat-trick fall

The trek was a little challenge, not a tough one though. One needs to pass through the forest, the path was little slippery, ascending and descending. A local guy guided us. Gautham and Randy had a little tough time at the beginning, but handled very well till the end. Everyone kept moving, except me and Chandu coz we were accompanying Priyanka. Her energy levels were completely down and too tired. But nevertheless as a beginner she did a fantastic job! Good start Priyanka! Just few minutes before the sky is set to dark, we reached the View point of Galikonda. (View point from top of the hill) yeaah...!! we did it! climbed all over the forest hill.. amazing experience! We hired a cab to reach araku and the actual plan was to setup the tents and camp in the nature, but no luck it was pouring heavily.. so we have checked in at a Hotel.  By the time most of them were tired and drowsy. Post dinner few of them hit the beds and few others were playing cards, chatting and all fun... and its time for a tight sleep.

Way to Katiki waterfall

 

Katiki waterfall

Way to Galikonda View point

Next morning... I woke up at around Six and thought I am the first one to wake up! but as i said it earlier, it was Rishi who woke up first at early morning Five i guess. It was dam chill in the morning, cool breeze and dusky out side due to fog. Without wasting much time, we had a quick breakfast and moved towards Chaprai Waterfalls. Its not exactly a waterfall, its like heavy stream dodging across a huge rock formations. The whole area was covered by gushing stream. We slowly moved towards the top of the slide. The water forcefully makes its way down the slide. The moment we took the position we were dragged away by  the force of water and with in seconds we landed in the pool at the bottom. I bet, You will not find a single water parks that offers you a good slide than this natural slide combined with thrill. The only thing was the water was little muddy, but who cares? spent most of the time here filled with fun and sliding. It was worth spending time there. We dried up and changed & again its time to have the last Bamboo Chicken of the trip! 

Sliding at Chaparai

 

The Group

Than we moved to catch the bus to Vizag, no wonder we missed one bus as many of us were busy shopping ;) we do not want to miss the second one too. so everyone assembled at one place. Within few minutes bus arrived and started towards Vizag. 
 We reached vizag some where around 6'O clock in the evening and our train to Hyderabad was scheduled at 10'O clock. We have enough time to go around vizag, at-least visit one of the beach. So here we come R.K. Beach... spent some good time at the beach followed by dinner and moved towards railway station. Bid a final adieu to our Super Dude as he was boarding a different train. Next morning stepped into the land of Nizams! Apna Hyderabad!!
Now enough of having fun, traveling, trekking and all, hitting the toughest part of all. Getting back to work!!