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Travel Report: Skandagiri - The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of
Suruchi
I call up my Mom just after office on Thursday night. Sample the conversation.
Me : “I am going on a trek.”
Mum (surprised) : “Today is Friday?”
Me : “No, it is Thursday, But I am going on a moonlight trek”
Mum (shocked): What about office tomorrow?
Me : “I’ll come back by morning.”
Mum : “Tu pagal hai” (Your’re mad.)
So I’ve been traveling like crazy on weekends for the last two months much to my parents’ chagrin. But the idea of a night trek to Skandagiri (aka Kalwarbetta) on a weekday was a little too insane even by my standards.
I’ve never been on a night trek before and when an opportunity for a trek on a full moon night with the BWS gang presents itself, I won’t miss it, come what may. So after rushing through a meeting at office I take an auto from Maratahalli to Hebbal (Ignorant that I would’ve to shell out three hundred bucks for it) to meet the rest of the gang.
Post dinner we head for Skandagiri , which is around 75 Kms from Bangalore close to the more famous Nandi Hills . Tired after a long day I promptly doze off as soon as I get into the car, getting up only when we’ve reached the foot of Skandagiri.
The night is beautiful; the moon is beaming in the sky stealing the glory from the stars, which twinkle half-heartedly. I can make out the rugged outlines of the hill we’ve to climb, it doesn’t look even a wee bit intimidating in the night. A pleasant breeze is blowing I find my sleepiness being replaced by excitement and slowly I feel fully awakened to the night.
We start walking without torches, which have been rendered useless owning to the bright moonlight, with our guide and his dog showing the way. The terrain is arid the only vegetation being the thorny bushes and dried grass interspersed along the way. The huddled lights of Chikballapur are visible after a distance making for a lovely sight. The climb is not too steep but still we tire off after walking only for a few minutes, so much for the sedentary lifestyles most of us lead.
We may be tired, but never too tired for photography. The cameras and the tripods come out rolling, with people experimenting some long exposure group shots by flashing the torchlight on each of the group member’s face progressively. The guide looks amused at all this but pushes us to start walking again.
But we walk slowly, drinking in the surroundings, snacking on kismish and chips, taking frequent breaks, lazing on the rocks sometimes even dozing off as the breeze pleasantly fans us. As we go higher the wind grows stronger making my hair fly wildly, mist also starts to gather shrouding the adjacent peaks.
Thus we reach the peak, Nandi-the bull a fixture in most of the South Indian temples welcomes us. We stand at the cliff for sometime braving the winds; I could very well fly given my weight. Nandi hills is visible in the distance. An ancient temple stands on the peak alone, providing a haven from the gutsy wings. People busy themselves; some try to pitch tents as they thrash noisily, some struggle to start a bonfire whereas I snuggle inside my sleeping bag.
I wish the total lunar eclipse were visible in India too, I’ve seen only two total lunar eclipses till now. The first, through our bedroom window early on a summer morning some ten years back. I had made sure that everyone in the house was awake to witness the breathtaking sight. The second, in March last year, again early in the morning from the terrace of my abode in Bangalore and this time too, though I was away from home, my frequent calls made sure that my parents and sister didn’t miss it.
Thus, thinking and dreaming of lunar eclipses and breathtaking sights I fall asleep inside the temple only to wake up to another dream.
Adjectives fail to describe the heady sight before us, so we fall back on nouns, heaven and dream could be the two befitting terms used to describe the sight. The moon has not set yet and it glows eerily through the mist. Sheets of cloud hiding the valley below appear so cushiony that I am almost tempted to take a plunge.
A faint orange is discernible on one part of the sky marking the direction for the sunrise. 
All the sunrises I’ve seen recently I’ve felt that the sun rises a little too fast and it becomes harsh on the eyes a little too soon. But not at Skandagiri, the sun here rises with a sluggish grace, its brilliance sifted through the clouds and mist is a joy for the eyes. And as the sun rises on the firmament taking a cue from it the clouds rise too and cover the Sun, as if this is a game they are accustomed to play.
We stay at the peak for some more time living the dream, but then the realities of the other world make themselves felt. Most of us have to attend office, so reluctantly we start back for the base. My legs shake as I go down the muddy slopes; the very idea of going to office now feels like crazy and the idea of a trek on a weekday even a crazier. “Sur, you’re mad.” I tell myself. 
I am glad that I am.
Travel Report: Skandagiri - The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of
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Aaman
URL
February 27, 2008
01:14 PM
Awesome, glad you made the effort.
Speaking of those hills, I did have a close encounter on them once...
Ms.Anona
February 27, 2008
01:23 PM
Aaman, are you talking about UFOs or what?
lol
temporal
URL
February 27, 2008
01:48 PM
suruchi:
nice pics...could have borrowed one for the "it is written on the clouds" yesterday
;)
ps: for some reason the first three links were not working. fixed them
pps: so what! don't let go of this "madness"
DotMom
URL
February 27, 2008
02:12 PM
Amazing pictures. I am glad you went despite work.
Aditi Nadkarni
February 27, 2008
03:19 PM
Gorgeous pictures. Beautiful and awe-inspiring. I absolutely love the black and white collage. The ones with the moon and the clouds are just breathtaking. Kudos!
Tanay
URL
February 27, 2008
10:59 PM
Sur, 'Sur, you're mad.' don't ever think so, guess without a camera and a tripod, you would turn mad..
am in sync with t's last line in comment #3.
Great pics and nice commentary to go with it.
Btw, how was work after that breath taking trek :)
bob
February 27, 2008
11:47 PM
those are amazing photos. I once had the pleasure of climbing a famous mountain near the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala to watch the sunrise. The view was much like yours.
Suruchi
February 28, 2008
12:10 AM
@Aaman - Thanks Aaman. I've the same question as Ms. Anona! :P
@temporal - It is never too late, you can write a poem on these clouds if u want. ;)
Oops! Had forgotten to check the links! Thanks for fixing them! he he I am perfectly fine with my "madness".
In fact I am glad that I am mad! :D
@DotMom - Thanks, yeah I am glad too, else I would've cribbed after seeing others' pics from there.
@Aditi - Thanks a lot! feels good to see my pics being appreciated!
@Tanay - No No, I am lil' mad and a lil' madness is a good thing, don't you think so?
BTW, thanks for suggesting this post, else I would've taken ages to finish it!
ahem ahem..It would be better if I don't speak about the work I did after the trek. ;)
Suruchi
February 28, 2008
12:14 AM
@bob - Thanks Bob! Ohh wow, Kerala, it would've been awesome for sure! I still remember the view from Vellarimala peak in Wayanad, it was amazing with the whole valley covered in clouds, though we missed the sunrise there! :(
Ledzius
February 28, 2008
12:18 AM
Good pics.. they reminded me of a night-time trek to Savandurga five years ago, though we didn't stay there till sunrise.
IdeaSmith
URL
February 28, 2008
03:55 AM
Really lovely photographs! Each time I try shooting the moon all I get is a blurry blob. I see you've managed a beautiful moonlight shot as well.
Suruchi
February 28, 2008
07:50 AM
@Ledzius - Thanks Ledzius! Trekking Savandurga in the night sounds cool! I had been to Savandurga about a year back on a really sunny day needless to say that the trek was a real sweater!
@IdeaSmith - Thanks IdeaSmith! You should try to keep the cam on a steady surface (preferably on a tripod) and click the moon by setting the self timer. It has worked for me sans tripod!
commonsense
February 28, 2008
11:19 PM
S, great pics, yet again! I am a regular visitor to your blog!! Keep up the good work. Amazing!
(a bit puzzled why you like Ann Raynd (sp?), but then, that's just me! always puzzled...)
commonsense
February 28, 2008
11:24 PM
BTW, I watched the total lunar eclipse here in N. America...lucky to have a clear night...
commonsense
February 28, 2008
11:27 PM
S,
I like the way you write too! Your style is like Ernest Hemingway - expressive, non-ornamental, no bullshit...
Suruchi
February 29, 2008
04:39 AM
CS, thanks a lot! I am flattered by your comments! :) I should warn u though that I write very sporadically!
The other day I was reading abt rationalism and Ayn Rand was mentioned. And I am like am I rationalist, because I like her writings. But then I don't subscribe to all facets of rationalism, basically I am a very reasonable person, finding a valid reason for whatever I like. :)
lucky u! I would have so wished to see it from the hill top! Do you have any pictures from there?
Ms.Anona
February 29, 2008
05:17 AM
cs, Haha.
For some reason I find it hard to visualize some lone Indian hanging out on a cliff watching the solar eclipse over here in this hemisphere.
Why is it that desis like to hike/camp/etc. over there, but no one seems to do it in US much? I certainly couldn't pay most of the desis I know to accompany me on such things.
Jawahara
URL
February 29, 2008
06:10 AM
Maybe you just know the wrong desis, Ms. Anona. Or do I hear a stereo...and...ummm...could it be...typing?
Ms.Anona
February 29, 2008
06:35 AM
There must be some truth to every stereotype and actually I didn't know this was one, just my casual observation.
yes, I know the wrong desis.
Grab ur fishin' pole n meet me out back.
commonsense
February 29, 2008
08:52 AM
Ms A,
It was a full lunar eclipse here last week, not a solar one, and I could see it from inside my house, thru the window! Brutally cold night, but I was lucky with the angle.
Suruchi: I did take some fuzzy pics, and will send them to you. Could not get my act together with the tripod and SLR, so shot it with a compact (for shame!). But the end result wasn't as bad as I expected.
Ayn Rand...I guess I'm a rationalist too, pretty hyper-rationalist in fact! I did not care for her very much as she is one of the gurus of the neo-liberal economics and corporatist models ie. let individuals fend for themselves, the state has no business in creating the conditions for a liveable society. Sort of like Mrs. Margaret Thatcher's quip "there is no such thing as society" ie. don't expect any help, pensions, medicare...just fend for yourself, just like I did. The hyper valourization of individualism, not recognizing that individuals become individuals via society. At least in Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_. But that's just me and my ideological blinkers!!
Keep posting those fantastic pics and text! Hope your mother was ok after you got back! ("Tu paagal hai!??"")
Ms.Anona
URL
February 29, 2008
10:41 AM
cs, do you have a job?
Cool, me neither.
Jersey, I presume.
commonsense
February 29, 2008
10:51 AM
Ms A,
Of course I have a job. Writing for DC! Just kidding. On leave for a year; supposed to be writing a book; I may end up writing one about my experience at DC...Seriously, I have gone as far as I can in my career. Besides I'm insanely curious about humans! "Nothing human is alien to me"...besides, I type fast, think (well, in my register at least...garbage no doubt for others!) faster, so it does not really take me that long to post...
commonsense
February 29, 2008
11:02 AM
Seriously Ms. A,
I teach at an elite research university (I pause for boos at my smug boastful self-righteousness), where I am treated as an adult and there is no bottom-line in terms of productivity or profits. As a full professor at a relatively young age, I have only one more promotion to look forward to: "full of it professor." DC allows me to gain some experience towards that goal! Plus I am bored stiff of the natural sciences, so I dabble in the humanities and the social sciences now. Slow on the uptake (I pause for the "aahs" in response to my obvious non-fake modesty and humility), but ever willing to learn what makes the humanities and social sciences tick! Forever on the look-out for "cant" that needs to be dealt with. No, not the philosopher, but the ideas that emanate from the keyboards of the likes of Kerty and Man Singh (he seems to have disappeared).
Ms.Anona
URL
February 29, 2008
11:03 AM
wow, you're going to write a book about power posting? hmmm.
Yeh, well I think I have met my kindred spirit here although lately I feel like I have no desire to go as far as I can in my field.
Professor?
commonsense
February 29, 2008
11:07 AM
nah, not a book on power posting on DC! I'm not even sure what I want to write about. Possibly on the social-psychology of uber cyber-nationalism...there, I gave my game away!
Ms.Anona
URL
February 29, 2008
11:10 AM
I don't know, is there anyone else playing this game?
commonsense
February 29, 2008
11:15 AM
Ms A;
Probably all of us do without knowing it..
But we are way seriously off-topic, from Suruchi's incredible pics and text. Suruchi, I will mail you the lunar eclipse pics, once i get organized!! Please continue posting more pics! The images of the cows you'd posted earlier, still haunt me, especially the first one...
Ms.Anona
URL
February 29, 2008
11:17 AM
Well, this site desperately needs a chatterbox. Give me a link to chat with you then or does uber cyber-nationalism restrict you from doing so.
commonsense
February 29, 2008
11:20 AM
Naah, this is my only link to the cyberworld!
Suruchi
March 4, 2008
11:15 PM
Wow! Ms. A and CS what a discussion going on here! I didn't join coz I was on my way to M'lore! An exciting post(with lotsa pics of course) coming up on that trip!
CS, when I last saw the lunar eclipse I so wished that I could capture it on a cam, but didn't have one then, good you got pics.And you know what Atlas shrugged is my fav book of Rand.:)
You on leave for a year!! I am so so J!! :(
commonsense
March 5, 2008
10:16 AM
Suruchi,
Looking forward to the pics and text from your M'lore trip!
Not really on "leave"...supposed to be doing something productive with my time...so I'm learning Japanese!
Will send you the eclipse pics soon...unfortunately snapped with a compact (shame!)
Tanay
URL
February 5, 2010
12:57 PM
The “India Habitat Centre Fellowship for Photography 2009”, Suruchi Dumpawar will be awarded a citation along with an amount of Rs.1.20lakhs, and her works will be showcased in a week-long photography exhibition at the gallery in the summer next year.
Complete details here:
http://www.indiahabitat.org/vag/ihc-fellowship-photography-award/ihc_fellowship_photography_2009_winner.html
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