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7-8th May 2011
No. of days: 2
How to get to Shishila: Bangalore > Hassan > Sakelshpur > Kokkada > Shishila.
Bus from Bangalore: Bus going to Dharmasthala (Lot of rajahamsa's, even volvo's). Get down at Kokkada and take a jeep/bus/auto to shishila. (Just say Gopu's place)
Cost: Jeep from Kokkada to Gopu's place cost us: Rs.300. Food at Gopu costed: Rs. 1600 (6 of us). Guide: Rs. 800. From Gopu's house to start of trek, by jeep Rs. 150 ((Note: These costs are from a historical account and may have changed. Always confirm current rates.)
Contact Person: Gopu Gokhale. Ph:+919483211246
Best time to visit: Winter.
Be-aware of : Snakes and leeches
Routes: 7kms from shishila side. 1 km from Mudigere side. (Not a trek route. Just a family outing i'd say)
Other Nearby Attractions:
Shishileshwara Temple: Known for its abundance of fish.
Dharmasthala: A major pilgrimage center, often visited in conjunction with this trek.
Other Trek Spots: Amedikallu and Ombattu Gudda (OG) are nearby trekking options for more adventurous souls.
Note: Guide recommended for first timers or folks not into exploratory treks
My Journey to Ettina Bhuja: A Well-Planned Wilderness Escape
My Journey to Ettina Bhuja: A Well-Planned Wilderness Escape
This trek to Ettina Bhuja was a rare instance of proper planning, right down to confirming our food arrangements with Gopu Gokhale at Shishila just the day before. We had comfortable seats booked on a Rajahamsa bus. Anil joined me at my place with his rucksack, and after I packed my gear and we had dinner, we headed to the bus stand. There, we met up with the rest of our trekking crew: Suri, Anbu, Parsoon, and Shikhar. Our bus, surprisingly, departed 15 minutes early as everyone was already on board!
We arrived in Kokkada at 5:30 AM. A slight hiccup: Suri had forgotten his shoes on the bus! While Anil bravely went back to Dharmasthala to retrieve them, Anbu and I kept ourselves entertained with a game of Frisbee as the sun rose, enjoying some hot tea. Once Anil returned, we all piled into a jeep for Gopu's place. Gopu welcomed us warmly, showing us a dedicated room with both Western and Indian toilets—a sign of true professionalism for trekkers! We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of hot sambar, chutney, and idlis. Gopu had also arranged our guide, Chandappa, who arrived at 8:15 AM.
After our preparations, we set off by jeep to the trek's starting point at 9:25 AM, hitting the trail by 9:50 AM. As usual, we trekked with well-deserved breaks. The weather was intensely hot, and we encountered a few leeches, but we powered through, reaching the summit at 2:10 PM. Lunch consisted of three chapatis each, thoughtfully packed by Gopu. Afterward, we indulged in a delightful nap. Suri, ever the enthusiast, even went down to the stream to refill everyone's water bottles—a true lifesaver.
By 5:00 PM, our tents were pitched. We then ascended to the very peak of Ettina Bhuja for expansive views, descending slightly to witness a breathtaking sunset before returning to our base camp. Fearing rain, we quickly boiled water for our MTR ready-to-eat meals; I opted for pongal. After dinner and some time around the campfire, I retired for the night. Sachchi’s birthday provided a midnight wake-up call at 12:00 AM for wishes, though I missed some of the group's moon-watching adventure as I was fast asleep. Our only "wildlife" encounter was with a couple of buffaloes, whose curiosity about our tent provided some unexpected amusement!
The next morning, our guide woke us early to listen to the forest sounds – apparently, elephants were nearby. I could distinctly hear wood breaking in the valley. After capturing a stunning sunrise, we devoured our remaining pongal packets and packed up the tents. We departed at 9:00 AM. The descent was far easier than the climb, allowing us to lose altitude quickly. We soon reached a beautiful waterfall, where we spent over an hour enjoying a refreshing, albeit cold, dip after all our sweating. By 1:45 PM, fully refreshed, we made our way down to the main road.
An auto-rickshaw took us back to Gopu's place, where we freshened up and enjoyed a hearty lunch of rice, sambar, and rasam. Anil and I then visited the Shishileshwara Temple to see the incredible number of fish in its waters. We caught the 2:30 PM bus from Shishila to Kokkada, arriving by 3:00 PM, where we grabbed some cold sugarcane juice. A quick tangent: I also distinctly remember picking and eating cashew fruit near the bus stand with Anil and Suri, which, retrospectively, might have contributed to my subsequent illness! Back in Kokkada, we boarded a packed 3:20 PM bus to Bangalore, standing until Sakleshpur before finally getting seats. We thought we'd be home by 9:00 PM, but we were mistaken, arriving in Bangalore at 11:20 PM. After a quick chapati dinner at my place, I crashed. The next day, work called, but the following three days were spent battling chest congestion, fever, and a cough—being sick is truly boring! Despite the post-trek illness, it was an incredibly rewarding adventure.
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