My Weekend Odysseys

When I started searching for some treks option in Uttarakhand, my main criteria was to do some trek which doesn't have any technical climb and was not very difficult. I wanted to do some treks which had long walks, wilderness surrounded by mountains, some walks in snow, stay in budget home stays and travel by local public transport for this was going to be a self planned trek. The first place which came to my mind was Chopta which is known as mini Switzerland of India and a trek to temple of Tungnath and above it the Chandrashila peak with its mesmerizing sunrise. Being a Mumbaite, it takes two days of one way travel to reach any place in mountains so wanted to do more than only Chopta - Tungnath - Chandrashila. So after lot of reading, connecting with people on FB and taking their experience and insight, decided to do Sari - Deoriatal lake and then take a long wilderness trail from Deoria tal lake to Chopta.  After much planning and long deliberations on stays, travel and tr...

Yana: Nestled in Sahyadri mountain range of western ghats, surrounded by forest near Kumta - Uttar Kannada lies this unusual karst rock formation called Yana rocks and a cave underneath. About 60 kms from Karwar port, 40 kms from Sirsi and 31 kms from Kumta these rocky sentinels of Yana are a tourist attraction today, reached by a small hike of 1.5 kms in scenic and evergreen forest from Kumta side or 3 kms from side of Sirsi. Yana shot to fame after being portrayed in Kannada movie "Nammoora Mandara Hoove". Bhairaveshwara Shikhara Mohini Shikhara Though there are total of over 60 rock formation in the entire region but nothing huge as compared to two massive rock outcrop known as Bhairaveshwara Shikhara & Mohini Shikhara. Bhairaveshwara shikhara is around 390 ft in height while Mohini Shikhara is smaller at 300 ft. Yana is also a pilgrimage center because of cave temple below Bhairaveshwara hillock where a "Linga" has been formed due to water d...