My First Waterfalls Trek - Ballalarayana Durga - Bandaje falls trek experience with Copravasi
The Ballalarayana Durga – Bandaje Falls trek is a beautiful combination of two trails, Ballalarayana Durga and Bandaje Arbi, that people often miss as a single long route. The word "Arbi" means "waterfall" in the local language, which is why people use the names Bandaje Arbi, Bandaje Arbi Falls, and Bandaje Falls to mean the same thing. This trek is in Chikmagalur, which is in the lush Western Ghats and about 280 km from Bangalore. It is surrounded by coffee plantations and rich greenery, which makes the whole experience even more special.
There is an abandoned fort from the 17th century at the top of the hill that was built by Veera Ballala I. This fort gives us a look into the past. The Rani Jhari cliff, which is linked to a local legend about a queen's fall, is another interesting part of the trek. It is especially beautiful during the monsoon. The best part is the stunning Bandaje Falls, where water falls almost 1,000 feet, making for a thrilling and unforgettable view. This hike is popular during the monsoon season and is good for both beginners and experienced trekkers if they are ready.
Things to Be Careful Of ;
1. The First Part of the Forest
The forest part is short, but it is full of life. Be careful of its old trees, many kinds of insects, birds, and plants.
2. The Himalayan Meadow-Like Shola Grasslands and Shola forests
The grasslands along the trek are so beautiful that they look like the Ali and Bedni meadows in the Himalayas.
3. The view of the waterfall from the snout
There aren't many hikes that let you see the water falling from the snout to the ground over 1,000 feet. And the Ballalarayana Durga trek is one of those!
Information about the trail
The Ballalarayana durga trek starts at a higher altitude, so the climb to the fort isn't too hard. You will, however, go down almost 1,300 feet to the Bandaje waterfalls and then back up the same way, covering about 6.5 kilometers in total.
The trek is split into two parts based on the distance and the height gain:
Part I: From Kalabhyraveshwara Temple to Ballalarayana Durga Fort
Part II: From Ballalarayana Durga Fort to Bandaje Falls
