Unknown falls: for that awesome adventure

Place: Unknown falls

Located deep in the Western Ghats, near Yellapur town, Karnataka

(lovely inviting streams...photo by the author)

It’s quite common for people to visit known locations and famous tourist spots, but how common is it to go to an unexplored place, deep in the jungle, miles away from civilization, on the quest of an unknown falls, for that thrilling adventure, to explore the uncharted territories, to unravel the hidden secrets, for that alive is awesome epic!

(off we go for those awesome moments, photo by the author)

On our adventurous visit to a remote hamlet deep in the Western Ghats, after a mammoth river crossing and trekking through the jungles in the night, we reached the remote hamlet Shivapura with barely few settlements here and there and their plantations and fields in between. Almost an island surrounded by water on 3 sides and delicate connectivity on the 4^th primarily as the hamlet being in the backwaters of a major dam nearby.

(enjoying the cherished moment, photo by the author)

We had a local guy who would be our guide in the quest to the unknown falls. Rains had just stopped and the lush green cover all around made us nostalgic and with no vehicles at all, it was ‘pure’ air that we were inhaling that tickled our senses too. The trek was a fairly long one as we crossed multiple streams, made our way through dense forests, being bitten by numerous blood sucking leeches, chartering through the rocky terrain, climbing uphill and sliding downhill, treading on non-existent paths in many places, a real adventure in real life.

(A flip-flop somersault dive, photo by the author)

As we reached the falls after all the adventure in getting there, we were greeted by crystal clear cold water and the sun lashing out in full glow but the breeze being still pleasant. The real adventure had just begun, a few somersaults, dives, flip-flops, thrills of energetic activities and all the fatigue and tiredness was washed away and the pure natural spring infusing us with freshness and loads of energy, a real alive is awesome moment to cherish. Sitting under the falls, the cool water engulfing you all over, those slippery rocks and sudden shivers, with a no-care attitude in the world, with the only idea of ‘living the moment’, with friends to share and friends to live for, life couldn’t be more adventurous, more bliss, more awesome, surely alive is awesome. The thrills of adventure bathing filled us with life and laughter and what better way than not to 'live' the alive is awesome moments with your friends :)

Awesome waterfall bath destinations – Coorg and Kudremukh

Place: Scotland of India – Coorg

Irpu / Irupu falls

Well, nestled in the pristine Western Ghats of Karnataka and home to some rich evergreen forests and an amazing climate, rich in biodiversity – be it summer, winter or the monsoon, the land of aromatic coffee and the estates, the birthplace of river Kaveri, the terrain of undulating mountain peaks, the land of shola forests and barren hillocks, the land of mesmerizing greenery, the land of the beautiful Kodava tribes, the land of warriors and the place not to be missed is Coorg. Coorg is home to some of the finest waterfalls located amidst thick jungles and some of them thrive round the year and some prosper particularly during the monsoons.

(Photograph by the author)

On one such casual visit to Coorg, we happened to visit the Irpu falls after obtaining permissions from the forest department as it’s located in a wildlife sanctuary. There was dew in the air and chillness in the breeze as we made our way on the moss infested concrete steps laid out for easier access to the falls. Songs of the birds and the roars of the river were the only sounds we could hear as we moved on feasting upon the rich green covered hillocks in the surroundings that we could see. Irpu looked ravishing from the viewpoint and as we moved ahead, we reached a place much closer where actually the little pellets of water were splashing on to us. Getting drenched slowly by those numerous little pellets, we needed no further invitation to get in right away and within minutes the ice cold water had us soaked and chilled our spines with no mercy and all that we could hear was the continuous chattering of our teeth. Slowly as we moved towards the base of the majestic falls, the thundering splash made us quiver for an instant but later turned out to be a awesome massage relieving us of all the fatigue and filling us with some energy and loads of freshness, we went in tired and came out quivering with freshness and joy, a true blue alive is awesome bathing moment.

Place: Kudremukha, Karnataka

Hanumangundi falls

(Photograph by the author)

Kudremukha is a well known tourist destination located in the lap of Western Ghats in Karnataka, an earlier iron-ore mining area now rich with wildlife after the mining has ceased. It’s a major trekking destination and home to thick dense forests making its terrain pretty difficult to navigate. Kudremukha shines in the finest of glory when it rains and sends shivers down your spine in the winters and attracts huge crowds to its folds and not to the mention it has a lot of hidden treasures in the form of streams, valleys and waterfalls. Hanumangundi falls is pretty well known and visited by many people and easily accessible. The water here is bone-chilling and a dip refreshes the senses no end and a shower beneath the thundering falls makes you forget your pain and misery and fills you up with enthusiasm, freshness and life, its an testimony for being an alive is awesome moment.

(Video by the author)

Both the above mentioned falls have similar characteristics and makes you forget your pain, fatigue and fills you with freshness and life. You may ask why?

Let me tell you both of the river sources originate in dense forests and travels through untouched, pristine nature filling themselves with rich mineral properties and are pretty much clean and thankfully away from pollution. The pain and fatigue that we carry along are removed when the thundering falls roar upon you cleaning you with the pristine crystal clear waters rich in minerals and natural elements and in the process filling you with freshness and energy making you cherish those alive is awesome moments for a lifetime.

More videos of "Alive is Awesome" here - www.youtube.com/cinthol

Rafting - the feeling of being alive

Continuing the posts on ‘Alive is Awesome’, let me take you on a new set this time, a new journey, new adventures, new thrill, new excitement that left me gasping, an adventure that filled me with a breath of new life, confidence and increased my quest for more.

Rafting: Rafting is an adventurous, challenging outdoor water sports activity using a inflatable raft to negotiate a river or other water bodies with varying rapids.

When I first heard about an opportunity to go river rafting, I was pretty excited and equally scared, scared of the phobia of water, a feel of drowning every time I’m in a water body. Putting up a confident face in front of my friends to convince them to go rafting with me, all along I being nervous and timid. After certain years, the question still haunts me, why? What made you do it?

Probably now after seeing the series of ‘crazy’ adverts of Cinthol advocating the concept of ‘Alive is Awesome’, the answer is pretty much clear and the adverts showcase them in a brilliant manner.

Now you may still ask me why? I would just reply, to experience life, for extreme adventure, to feel the feeling of being alive, to do something different, for the thrill, for an awesome experience, to survive, to pacify your crazy adventure gene, to live, to get over the phobia, to quiver ‘alive is awesome’.

On board the raft with a nervous feel and more nervous friends for company, with the heart rate soaring each passing second, following the instructions of the guide, the raft moves ahead slowly amidst placid waters, flowing wide and silent, life around me comes to a standstill when I hear “Guys, Jump off the raft now!!!”

2 minutes of silence…!!!

Now death sounds imminent when I next hear the words “Jump now or be thrown!!!”

With closed eyes and shivering souls, the next moment all that I hear is a loud splash (my heavenly body falling into the water) and blank…blank…

The life jacket propels me up and I rise to keep my neck afloat, a sigh of relief engulfs me, the shivering souls calm down, my senses make a slow comeback, the joy of being alive erupts and I quiver deep inside with the shrillest of voices “Alive is Awesome” and then its fun, gala, joy and happiness :)

Rafting not only helps you as an individual, it helps you grow team skills, to work in tandem with the others, with efficiency, co-ordination, trust and the joy of togetherness.

I would love to recommend these new Alive is Awesome video’s of Cinthol to be seen, felt and lived.

1. The Deep Cave Bath - here

2. The Elephant Bath - here