Trekking in Gangamoola can be a pleasant experience, as you walk through dense jungles, cross rivers and streams and cascading waterfalls.
An Overview of the Spot
It is a hill in the Western Ghats, and is part of the Gangamoola-Aroli-Gangrikal hill range. Rising 1,458 meters above sea level, this region receives a lot of rainfall and so is covered with dense rainforests. It is located in the Chikmagalur district, Samse Taluq, Karnataka. Gangamoola has been designated a World heritage Site by UNESCO. This hill range is the source of three rivers – Tunga, Bhadra and Netravathy. It is also part of the Kudremukh bio-diversity cluster.
Gangamoola is also known as Varaha Parvata. Inside the dense jungle of this region, there is a temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy and a 1.8 meter tall image of Varaha inside a cave. This cave becomes inaccessible during the monsoon season.
Trekking In and Around Gangamoola
Gangamoola, which is within the bounds of the Kudremukh National Park, is rich in wildlife. This is also a bird lover’s paradise; as around 107 species of birds have been identified here. There are around 13 trekking trails in Kudremukh, and Gangamoola is an interesting one.
Trekkers have to get permission from the Forest Department for taking up trekking trips here. The trails take will you through the jungle, crossing streams and rivers and coming across beautiful waterfalls, cave temples, ruins and a wide variety of bird and animal life and lush greenery.
Trek to the source of rivers like Bhadra, and visit the Bhagavathy Temple and the Varaha Cave as these can spice up your trip.
- Hanumangundi Waterfalls: This waterfall, cascading down from a height of 100 feet, provides an interesting trekking experience.
- Lakya Dam: This dam, built over the Lakya River, a tributary of the Bhadra River, is a major tourist attraction. It was built by the Iron Ore mining company to filter out the silt and other wastes from the mining process to prevent it from contaminating the river water.
- Kudremukh Peak: This horse shaped peak is the highest in Karnataka, at a height of 1894 meters. This peak, covered in emerald green forests, is a favorite among trekkers.
Gangamoola is part of the Kudremukh region. Kudremukh is a popular hill station and nature reserve. It has many scenic trekking trails and is a favored destination among adventure tourists and nature lovers. These trails lead through jungles, up hills, around waterfalls, across streams and rivers, and can provide various levels of challenges for trekkers.
How to Reach Gangamoola
- By Air: Mangalore is the nearest airport.
- By Train: Mangalore, 130 km away, is the nearest Railway Station.
- By Road: Kudremukh, and hence Gangamoola, is well connected by roads to places like Kalasa, Karkala, Mangalore and Bangalore.
With more and more people looking for quick getaways from cities during short breaks like weekends, places like Kudremukh and Gangamoola are becoming prominent marks on the tourist map of Karnataka. These places also prove enticing destinations to tourists who seek other things besides just leisure.
They provide opportunities for adventure sports and for eco-tourism. Gangamoola, the source of more than one river, is a place that can satisfy all the needs of a vacationer. It has a beautiful temple hidden away in a cave in the jungle, and a place cradled in the beauty of nature. Trekking in Gangamoola can be an unforgettable experience, one that will leave you wanting to come back again.
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