Chitra Aiyer

Continuing from the previous post …. After lunch on arrival, we decided to go check out the tunneled railway track nearby. This is the railway track that connects Hassan to Mangalore and passes through the Western Ghats past Sakleshpur. Since the track runs through the Western Ghats, that entire stretch has many tunnels. The entire stretch is said to be very scenic overlooking many valleys and peaks. Many trekkers do long stretches and well, we weren’t aiming anything close to that. We had my mom and our 2 kids with us. So, whatever they could do was our target. There is a spot about 4kms from the home-stay where we can get on to the track. The road is terrible and you cant take your car on it. You have to rent a jeep to take you to and fro. So, a jeep was arranged for us to go there after lunch. Another couple who was staying at the home-stay also decided to join us on this trip to the tracks. That turned out to be really nice. The guy was enthusiastic and the girl was sweet and it seemed like they really wanted to hang out with us. Why, I wouldn’t know. lol

Anyway, we all arrived to where the tracks were. A small little hike and we were on the tracks. Luckily for us, though it was cloudy, it really didn’t rain during our outing. We also found out that there wasn’t going to be a train running until late in the night.

Here’s our little boy spear-heading our little trek team.

Saw this lovely tree against the beautiful clouds.

As we arrived near the first tunnel, our girl hesitates and stops in her tracks, literally.

This is at the start of a tunnel. The tunnels are dark and you will need a flash light.

There’s this opening in tunnel 1, where you can step out to take in the view. Here’re my mom and daughter stepping out.

When you step out of the tunnel, you see this gorge running right beneath. The running water provides the beautiful sound that completes the picturesque scene.

We trekked through 3 tunnels in total and started our walk back. The jeep guy was supposed to be back to pick us up and we had to get to the starting point by then.

Just as we were returning, it started to drizzle just a little. And soon after, the fog rolled in. When we arrived at the starting point, we had to wait a while for the vehicle. So, we all just sat down and watched the fog - that was just beautiful …. to be amidst the green mountains, in the narrow tracks, and to be enveloped by the rolling fog. The fog rolled in really quickly, and before we knew it everything vanished from sight.

Here’s my husband walking the other way on the track from the start point, when the fog rolled in.

The foggy scene we bid good-bye to. Overall, a lovely afternoon in a beautiful place.

Filed under: Trips, photography