PAYANIGA

Beginning of the story – Beginning & Bheemeshwara

By the time we reached Dabbe mane (Dabbe house), all of us were exhausted, completely drenched with sweat. All we wanted was to just sit under water falls. After a quick break at the Dabbe mane we started towards the falls. A short walk through paddy fields for 200-300 meters, we were standing on a cliff and there is no way to continue. It was as if we had missed the route and there was no path ahead. At that time Nayana started climbing down the cliff using tree trunks, branches & roots for grip. And I was informed that that’s the only way to reach Dabbe falls. The real adventure started for us, climbing down a cliff of almost 80 degrees steep, down 300 ft. We moved slowly one behind the other for almost half an hour without sight of the waterfalls and just roaring sound reaching us from somewhere far. En route there was a huge fallen tree almost 100 meters long. Walking on the big tree trunk was like cruising on a NH, we moved faster during that stretch. We were half way down and we sighted the majestic Dabbe falls, with water falling from a height of 300ft. It took us an hour to reach the foot of the falls from Dabbe mane.

Only route that takes us to Dabbe falls. And first sight of the falls.
Without any delay we jumped into the water while Umapathi got busy preparing lunch for us. We sat under the falls and played on water for for an hour. Came out of the water refreshed and hungry. Delicious pulav was waiting for us. Lunch & a short break/nap. We were back on the track by 1.45PM. Climbing up the cliff was easier, but progress was slow. Reason heavy stomach, tired legs, sleepy eyes. We climbed lugging our backpacks. Took us just 40 minutes to be back at Dabbe mane.

By the time we reached Dabbe house, we had another bath with sweat. And from then onwards the race began, us and the time. Last bus from the main road, Hosagadde to Kargal was at 3.45PM. Missing that bus meant complete change of plans in return journey. By camera went inside my backpack as there was no time to stop & take picture. We dragged our legs as fast as possible. We walked through grass lands, paddy fields, along small canals, through sholas. With just stopping for water at a village, we reached Hosagadde in time. Within 2 minutes the bus came honking down the road.

Bus was almost empty and we could have got seats also. But we needed fresh air and chose bus top instead. Hosagadde to Kargal was a breeze. At Kargal, Srik & I got down as we had a day off next day and plans of roaming around Jog falls. Rest of the gang continued to Sagar and then to Bangalore. Both of us reached my relatives’ house near Kargal by 5.30.