Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Trip to Mekedaatu - Bad Timing but Great Fun

After much procrastination and many uneventful plans, we (7 of us) had finally been to Mekedaatu (/Mekedatu/Mekadatu) - The Goat's leap.

The Place -
At Mekadaatu, river Cauvery flows in a narrow ravine. Long ago, a goat was believed to leap across this ravine when it was being chased by a hunter and hence the name. But no normal goat can do that distance in a single leap, and there comes the mythologicial significance of this place - the goat that leaped across the Cauvery was believed to be Lord Shiva in disguise. Mekedaatu is around 90 kms from Bangalore. Sangama, the confluence of River Arkavati and River Cauvery, is the nearest place where people can go by vehicles. Depending on the water level, we should either take a coracle or cross Sangama by foot. After crossing Sangama, a 4 km trek or a ride in an antique bus will take you to Mekedaatu with its wonderful antediluvian rock formations and offer you the sight of breath-taking Cauvey flowing with unstoppable force. It is best to visit this place before or after monsoons.



The Plan -
It was mid April and we planned for our trip on one fine Sunday! So as to prevent ourself from becoming a victim of The Scorching Sun, we thought of taking a cab and starting at 7 in the morning. This would help us reach Sangama by 9.30 AM. Then we thought of taking a Coracle ride to cross Sangama and trek the 4 km journey or take the bus service available to reach Mekedaatu by 11.30 AM. Two hours at Mekedaatu will give us ample time to explore every nook and corner, and ofcourse for those kodak moments!!! Starting after lunch will help us reach our home back by 4PM. This is all about our great plan.

The Fall of the Great Plan -
All went well till the night before that Sunday, as we planned for Mekedaatu on that night itself. ;) The cab fellow said a big NO in arranging a cab at 6.30 in the morning and said that he could provide us with one only at 9.00 AM. It was almost 10 AM by the time we started and reached at 12 noon approx! After filling our tummies with the stuff we got there, we rushed to Sangama at 2PM to feel the Sun snickering at us (may be out of excitement that we couldnt avoid Him despite all our plans). It was so dumb of us to expect a high water level for a Coracle ride at Sangama in such a heat. The level was too low and we had to cross it by foot. After crossing, we purchased tickets for a 4-km jumpy bumpy ride in that antique bus service available to reach Mekedaatu. And then at Mekedaatu, we felt the real heat due to all those granite rock. All due to bad timing, planning the trip at wrong time of the year and going there at the wrong time of the day!


The Fun and the Thrill part -
Despite the heat and the cabbie playing the spoilsport, we had real fun there. The not so wide route offered occasional sight of small-lakes, coconut plantations, road-side small villages, farming and bridges which made the drive enjoyable. The view at Mekedaatu is one to cherish for lifetime. The wonderful granite rock formations with mysterious gigantic holes and the mad rush with which Cauvery flows will definitely leave one awestruck. A word of caution to all those who are planning to go there - be careful as its a binary state near that rocky ravine "alive/dead". The force of the flow will hypnotize you to take a dive into it the way historical goat did, with the slippery rocks justifying their role absolutely well in this task will get your colleagues an extra holiday. After heading back from Mekedaatu and the jumpy bumpy return ride (we couldn't even think of a trek due to the hot sun) we reached Sangama where we had loads of fun. We exhibited our swimming skills, slipped while walking on the slippery rocks and what not, had very great time which I couldn't put in words. All followed by the clicks of our cam. Although it didnt turnout the way we had planned, we enjoyed the trip a lot. After all what thrill would it be if everything turns out the way we plan... :)


Directions -
Reach Kanakapura first and then ask for Sangam/Mekadaatu from there. I know this is unfair on my part, but this time we had been on a cab and we really didnt bother about the directions.

Other Attractions which we didn't see -

  • Lord Sangameshwara Temple at Sangam
  • Cauvery Fishing Camp


9 comments:

  1. Exactly, after all...wat great an adventure could be, if you could predict what can happen. This time the adrenaline dint pump, but just skipped few beats.

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  2. sounds good. but where's this place? "mekadaatu" seems to b a telugu word. anyways, i stick to what the other satish commented b4 me

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  3. The thrill and adventure in such trips is what makes them fun....

    check out http://thevariable-nachiketa.blogspot.com/2008/05/about-tunganath.html

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  4. @satish bolla -
    few kannada words sound telugu-ish.

    @nachiketa -
    thanks a lot for dropping by my blog. tunganath seems to be a very interesting place.

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  5. hmmm..Sir has studied hard gor GRE can be seen from the words like Antidiluvian .I would not have understood if not for my prep. Nice description!No detail is missed out :).

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  6. Hey, do you have any information on is it save to park private vehicles out there on sangam, go over the trek and find our vehicles safe!!

    :D

    All I want to know is if it be safe taking personal vehicles at Sangama.

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  7. i think it should be safe to go by your own vehicles, there is a lot of parking space over there and many people do that.
    but i cant assure you how safe it is :D

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  8. Hi,

    I am unsure whether it is the right place to post this question, but felt as there were quite good roaming spirits around I may get good answer.

    I am new to travel, and I am planing for one to two day outing around Bangalore on a personal car with family. Can you guys suggest me some good path/place that I can take on. I just dont want to dissapoint my family with my bad planing :(.

    Naresh

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  9. @ bunny -
    may be u shud check out www.Payaniga.com! I'm sure u wud find lotsa info abt places around bangalore with detailed info.

    ReplyDelete

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