Venkatagiri Trek – Travelogue
Date – 3rd & 4th Jan 2009
Trek Leader – Mr. Chenchu
No of participants – 32
Helpers – 3 local guides from Venkatagiri town
Vehicles – 5 Cars & 2 Bikes
3rd Jan 09:
0625 hrs – Departure from Koyambedu (Scheduled time of departure – 0530 hrs)
- 0830 hrs – Breakfast at Sulurpeta (85 Km) at Chennai Woodlands Drive-in Restaurant (Hot Idli, Pongal & Vada)
- 0920 hrs – Departure from Sulurpeta after breakfast
- Arrival at Naidupeta (25 Km) and took a left turn from the NH-5
- 1120 hrs – Arrived at the spot (nearly 8 Km from Venkatagiri town), where the cars had been parked (60 Km)
- 1215 hrs – Trails started
- 1330 hrs – Arrival at the Mango tree near a stream followed by lunch (packed lunch – Veg Biriyani with boiled egg)
- 1415 hrs – Trails resumed after lunch
- 1545 hrs – Reached the destination – Shiva temple at Malleshwar Kona)
- 1600 hrs to 1700 hrs – Bath in the waterfalls
- 1730 hrs-1830 hrs – Trek on the hills which is on the western side of the temple
- 1830 hrs – Returned to Shiva temple
- 1845 hrs to 1945 hrs – Campfire (thanks to Chaithanya) with dinner (Packed dinner – Lemon rice with boiled egg)
- 2000 hrs – Majority gone to sleep (nice snoring experience!!!)
- 2000 hrs to 2215 hrs – Few spent time on star gazing, etc. Heard the barking sound of a wild dog, half a Km away on the eastern direction from the temple
- 2215 hrs – Good night sleep
4th Jan 09:
0600 hrs – Rise up from bed
- 0750 hrs – Trek started on the hill on the western side of the temple (same hill which we climbed the previous evening)
- 0915 hrs – Reached the peak of the hill (around 800 feet). One can have a good view of the Durgam peak in the front.
- 0945 hrs – Started trekking down after a group photo
- 1200 hrs – Arrived at Shiva temple
- Till 1230 hrs – Bath in the waterfalls followed by lunch, sorry brunch (Poori with tomato chutney)
- 1400 hrs – Departure from Shiva temple, Malleshwar Kona
- 1515 hrs – Arrived at the Mango tree where we had lunch the previous day
- 1530 hrs – Trails resumed
- 1650 hrs – Trail ended on the main road
- 1745 hrs – Departure for Chennai
- 1800 hrs – Arrived Venkatagiri town (8 Km) – Met Mr. Chenchu’s father. There were huge crowds at many places as the actor turned politician Chiranjeevi was visiting the town.
- 1845 hrs – Departure from Venkatagiri after having tea. Our departure was slightly delayed due to the arrival of Chiranjeevi at the time of our departure from the town.
- 2000 hrs – Arrival at Sulurpeta (65 Km) followed by dinner at Munnabhai Dhabah (Phulka with boneless chicken)
- 2100 hrs – Resumed our journey to Chennai
- 2300 hrs – Arrival at Chennai (Koyambedu – 85 Km)
- Open bill stork
- Indian roller
- Black-shouldered kite
- Shikra
- Green bee-eater
- Black drongo
- Little egret
- Pond heron
- Cormorant
- Coppersmith barbet (heard the call)
- Spittle bug
- Dove
- Common tailor bird
- Purple sunbird
- Purple-rumped sunbird
- White-breasted kingfisher
- Common kingfisher
- Asian koel
- Rose-ringed parakeet
- Asian paradise flycatcher (Brown)
- Asian paradise flycatcher (white) – with long tail – Highlight of the trek
- Red-vented bulbul
- White-headed babbler
- Quills of a dead (or killed) porcupine
- Scat of wild cat
- Scat of civet cat
- Scat of wild dog
- Dug-marks of the wild boars
- Dug-marks of the bears
- Lunar Moth – Highlight of the trek
- Goblet fungus
- Red sander trees – Has high commercial value
- Dry-deciduous forest with very few shady trees
- Proper trail available
- Trail is mostly on small boulders (proper soled shoes is advisable)
- Need to cross wild streams at least on 7 to 8 occasions and water availability in 3 to 4 streams
- No electricity at the place of stay (Shiva temple at Malleshwar Kona)
What ever I have mentioned above is subjected to my limited knowledge on nature. Any correction / suggestion are most welcome!!!
“When the going gets tough, only the TOUGH gets going!!!”
Written by: Chenchu
Organized by: Chenchu
Image Galleries:
Mohan
Hari
Shyam
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