Tambdi Surla and Dudh Sagar Trek - by Latha Ramanan

"The earth has music for those who listen."

(Unknown Author)    

Tambdi Surla Trek

We went on train from Bangalore to Kulem, and on road to the camping site. We had lunch at camping site and started towards the trekking trail of 7Km, with the guide. We first visited the Mahadeva Tambdi Surla temple.

On the way to Kulem

Kulem station

Camp site

Mahadeva Temple,Tambdi Surla

From the beginning, it was an invitation to be in nature. Each step was taking us deeper into the forest through narrow walking trails. The guide walked in front and our fitness coaches walked interspersed to motivate the group members to keep moving. We walked almost along the stream, hearing the gushing sounds of water. Even the narrow path we tread on were loose stones and wet soil,indicating that during rains this path also fills up with water. 

Tambdi Surla Waterfalls

Weather being dry we were lucky to be free from leeches, snakes and swimming across streams. Chirping of birds, a warm climate, sun rays filtering through canopies,  up and down terrain created by strong roots of old trees, climbers, thorny shrubs were equally challenging and thrilling. Being in an enthusiastic young group was a positive force that motivated everyone to move towards the Tambdi Surla waterfalls inspite of depleting physical energy. I wasn't prepared to bathe in the waterfalls but seeing majority of the group members straight under the falling waters prompted me to grip the rocks and balance over slippery rocky water bed and bathe parts of my body including head, also drank that pristine sweet medicinal water. I was compensating, absorbing in and imprinting virgin nature's gifts as much as possible. We miss out so much living in polluted concrete jungles, it was a reminder to reconnect every now and then with nature as well as reduce interfering with natural ecosystem as much as possible. One of the precautions I took was to avoid plastics and resist polluting such a beautiful place with my litter.

Day 1 ended with dancing and singing around campfire; afterwards we had dinner. Most of the group members slept in tents; some slept in modest rooms which were used as changing room, within the compound.

Day 2 Dudhsagar Water Falls

We had some fruits, cucumbers, bread with jam and peanut butter as breakfast. Later on we left the camping site for good, with our luggage bags to the main attraction of the trip, Dudh Sagar falls. We went in 4X4s to Dudh Sagar entry counters which had long queues. Bought tickets and rented life jackets; here cameras, video cameras etc. have to be paid for at the gates. Water bottles are marked and have to be shown at the gates while returning or else there's a fine (supposed to be for reducing plastic waste).

Dudh Sagar Waterfalls

Dudh Sagar Waterfalls

We got onto our assigned vehicles for 9 km travel through a dirt road through forest. Vehicle is slowed down to see the railway track on the hill slopes, seen over the Dudh Sagar falls. This trip across the forest is exciting; we get to cross streams that over flow across low lying bridges. Once we reach a point where the dirt road ends, vehicle journey ends and have to proceed to the water falls on foot. The most challenging and exciting part is the swim wearing life jackets, in the Dudh Sagar falls. Our group members were cooperative to offer hand to swim towards falling milky waters and return to the banks. The waters are deep at some places and at others gigantic roots or rocks offer some place to sit or hold on. Within an hour or so and before the physical body shivers in the cold waters and exhaust out, we have to come out of the waters. Also, there's a time limit of one and a half hours to return to the parking lot. Dudh Sagar became a popular tourist spot after some scenes of the movie 'Chennai Express' was shot over here.  Visiting season is between October and May. Visit is not allowed during the monsoons.

We did some small shopping, had lunch from there and moved on to Kulem for boarding on a connection local train to Londa to catch our main train to Bangalore, a night journey.
On the whole, the energetic and supportive group plus the experience of being in pure air and staying amidst greenery and drinking clean water was a refreshing rejuvenating and healing experience.

Woman Who Inspires Me by Latha Ramanan

(Photo courtesy: Internet)

Woman Who Inspires Me

One of the strong women, apart from my mother - the first role model, I admire and has influenced my career choices and way of living is Medha Patkar. An alumni of TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences),  a professional social-worker who left her comforts and scholastic life to the cause of slum dwellers, unorganized labourers, street hawkers, forest dwellers and thousands of villagers who live around river Narmada. She could have lived a carefree  family life with her doctorate in hand, instead she chose to live for and with the villagers, discontinuing her PhD studies. She used her studies to bring social justice to the unorganized masses. Many times when Medha Patkar fought for social and environmental causes she would be seen as an enemy by the government or the people with power and had risked her life to bring about changes in policies to accommodate rights of  the affected communities.  

Whenever I think of higher studies I would remember people like her and that unless it would offer skills to serve society I will not take up any study. Her life has been an inspiration for me to take up social causes and be the agent of social change while being content with a simple living.  When I worked in social projects where I had to reach out to rural communities  by walking miles through unknown places I would remember her months long walks through villages in her social justice campaigns. Somehow a new spirit of joy and motivation fills me up and a courage to engage in selfless work in the role of a social change agent.Over the years, I have mellowed to look within and to work silently as a social change agent, without any titles.  The spark kindled by strong personalities like her and from my own family still lives in me, as strong as ember - an ash covered red-hot charcoal that looks like put-out fire externally yet ready to ignite whenever it is required. A strong warrior fights  relentlessly and courageously for silent masses until justice is done to them!I dedicate this article to the warrior in Medha Patkar who is still  fighting for the rights of rural people for the last 30 years plus.

Ref: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medha_Patkar

(Written for a voluntary agency for Woman's Day, on the same title,"Woman Who Inspires You")