Night Trek to Nijagal Betta - 29th & 30th Sep 2012

Even though I love to write my Experience in Kannada this time I am writing in English, since I organized this trek for first time from BASC( Bangalore Ascenders - www.bangaloreascenders.org) and some Non-Kannadigas were part of it.

About Nijgal Betta:

“Nijgal Betta” which is situated in Bangalore -Tumkur Highway(NH-4) near to Dabaspet. Foot steps are there so it is very easy to climb. We Can reach peak in 1 to 1½  hours.

Ruins have their own charm and historical importance and Nijagal Betta is one of those which is the proof of Ruined Kingdom. It is with full of ruined caves, forts and temples.

A mid-seventeenth century fort, build by Chikkadevaraya Wadiyar, adorns this hillock. Here in Nijagal Betta, it’s believed that a war was fought between Hyder Ali and Peshwa Madhav Rao. 

In Durgastamaana Kannada Novel( By T.R.Subbarao famous as ತ.ರ.ಸು) explained about Nijgal fort like how strong that Fort was, how Chitradurga Paalegaara Madakari Nayaka, who supported Hyder Ali acquired Nijgal Fort n all.

Nijagal Mountain

Nijagal Betta - Singing Competition

Nijagal Betta - Kalyani

Nijagal Betta

Nijagal Betta - Ruined Temple

Nijagal Betta

Group Photo in BH Road

 

My Experience:

Contrary to the invite letter, I can no more call it a “Moon Light Night Trek”, as the dear MOON was hiding behind Clouds.  In spite of the last moment intimation, happy that 15 ASCENDers (1 drop & 1 on spot addition) ventured out for this Night Trek (or Treknic in Jinu John’s Language) gathered at our meeting point i.e., Govardhan Theatre(in front of Yeshwanthpur Railway Station) at 9:30 pm and started from there around 10pm. Around 11:10pm, we reached CCD (Café Coffee Day), situated around 55 K.M away from B’lore on Bangalore-Tumkur Highway ( NH-4)and treating CCD as our parking lot, we headed towards Nijgal Betta.Our first break for the night was around 12 midnight, when we had covered more than half the distance and had the Self-introduction session and a bit of ragging.

Here are the peeps who entertained us with their talent:

• Abhinaya- Sung like Usha Uttup
• Viswanath Banakar – Told “A for Apple” for the alphabets (He told many wrong words which is not part of LKG syllabus. For Eg. C for Camera!, which makes me suspect whether he really passed LKG or scrapped thru with the help of fake marks card!!)
• Anuj Agarwal – mimicked Jinu John( Treknic Specialist)
• Ashwin – Acted like a Handloom Weaver
• Jagadeesh & Sayeesha – Briefed us about the Social cause they are part of.
• Ram & Shruthi BK – Sung very beautifully.
• Raveendra – Alphabet game in Kannada like A for Arasa., :D
• Shruthi Revankar - Did Bharathanatyam 2nd Step.

After that bit of fun, we started trekking again and reached the destination by 1:30am. Our efforts to start camp fire was not successful, we lost our patience and dropped the idea.As it started raining, we took shelter under a huge rock.And there, just 4-5 of us started singing Kannada songs, only to realize, slowly everyone had joined us along which turned out to be an unforgettable moment of my life.  Vishwa’s effort to shift to hindi songs were failed by Jagadeesh (who love Tapanguchi songs) who sung songs like “ee nimbe hanninanta hudugi” and Sayeesha who sung “Bidde Bidde bath roomalli” (I don’t know why he fell down in Bath Room, that too in this age!!! ... He is just one month elder than Shruthi)        
                                                                            

Santosh & Ram’s Jugalbandi of Kannada Bhavageete (Light Music) was too good with Harsh’s BGM (Back Ground Music) and Ashwin’s was involved in singing to the core with full of Expression!! After that, we slept for a while and woke up in the morning due to the great Galata by the fellow Trekkers.Needless to say, I woke up scolding them. We ate chapatti, Biscuit and all and started descending in the drizzling rain. We reached CCD at 8:10am ( Sayeesha, Raveendra n Jinu reached at 8:35 and told that they lost the trail – Truth to be discovered yet). 

We headed to Kyatsandra(Towards Tumkur) to have our Breakfast in Pavithra Idly Hotel, which is famous in Karnataka for Tatte Idly (Plate Idly). After finishing our Breakfast and final settlement of trip expenses (which turned out to be only 75Rs. per head, excluding petrol) we headed back B’lore and reached Yaswanthpur by 10:30am.

Behind the Screen (As an organizer) :

As Saturday was a full moon day, I didn’t want to miss out the joy of moon light trekking and was discussing the same with one of my friend on Sat morning.  On an impulse, I sent a SMS to some of my BASC friends, to check would-they join, if I organize one for the night.The 4 positive replies which I got within 15 minutes, made me call Mudassar (BASC pillar) and ask for a permission to organize the trek. He was surprised and expressed his doubt that people may not join on late intimation (as it was already 10:30am).  I convinced him by giving details of the replies I’d got and got the “Go Ahead” signal from him.

It was my first experience as an organizer. I am in BASC since 2010 and attended so many treks, had supported organizers many times. But as an Independent organizer, I was a bit nervous initially and later after meeting everyone at the meeting point my heart beat comes to normal condition!!

In mail I’d mentioned that “Full Moon will give you a warm welcome”, but unfortunately we couldn’t see the Moon and Harsh was pulling my leg by repeatedly asking “where is the MOON?”

Special Thanks to:

Muddassar - For his support and Motivation to organise. 
Shruthi BK - For nice photographs.

Chandrakala Venkatesh- For Proof Reading of this Blog.

Needful Information:

Place: Nijagal, Tumkur Dist. Karnataka

Distance: 55 KM from Bangalore

Nearest Town: Dabaspet

How to Travel : Own Vehicle/ Private Bus (will stop at CCD on Request).

Route: Bangalore-Tumkur Highway(NH-4) – Dabaspet CCD(Café Coffee Day) – Park your Vehicle there n start Trekking – Move little bit say 0.2 KM towards Tumkur – Take left – Go in Tunnel below Railway track – Leads to Nijgal Betta.