Trek to Kumar Parvatha — Everything you need to know
If you are reading this article right now, I believe you are planning your next trek to Kumar Parvatha. Popularly known as the toughest trek in south India, Kumar Parvatha trek stands out for the vast landscape that trekkers get to cover while climbing this magnanimous peak. In this article I share my experiences of finishing this trek while providing guidelines for anyone who plans to visit this place.
First comes the essentials. For this two-day trek, you would require the following equipment.
(a) Good trekking shoes — Although me and my friends could finish the trek in our sport shoes, I highly recommend that you use good trekking shoes for a comfortable journey and to prevent ankle twists (quite frequent during this trek).
(b) Camp and sleeping bags — You would require one sleeping bag with a tent (1 per 2 people depending on the capacity), since you will have to make a camp. There are plenty of tent rentals available in the city and can be rented for a nominal cost of 100/- per tent.
(c) Plenty of drinking water
(d) Energy bars
(e) Prevent unnecessary luggage.
(f) Rain jacket ( a must )
(g) Waterproof bag.
(h) Trekking stick.
(i) Torch, power bank and something to protect them from rain .
(j) Plenty of cash to pay for food and registration.
(k) Aadhar card copy.
The trek starts from a narrow passage to which you can reach after passing the Swami Koragajja temple. You can ask a couple of locals to reach the starting point of the trek . The appropriate time to start the trek would be before 2:00pm so that you can reach the the house of Bathra mane before it gets dark .
The trek starts with a mild climbing on a semi rocky terrain and some steep slopes. This might give you a slight idea of how the rest of the journey would be. However , the climb only gets tougher as you reach the peak . With motivation and sufficient will power this trek is possible to finish successfully even for first timers.
We had to take plenty of breaks in between to get used to the terrain since it was our first trek. After passing through some beautiful meadows and breathtaking views we reached the house of Bathra Mane .Bathra Mane is the only resting point during this trek and also offers some tenting space .
After reaching Bathra Mane at 6:30pm we had to arrange our tents and sleeping bags before it got dark. A good torch comes in handy to navigate to the Bathra Mane house from your tent location. The dinner is served at around 8:30pm for a nominal cost of Rs. 150/- per person. It mostly contains of rice along with sambar and curd. Well, the food does receive some mixed reviews but realistically this is the best you can get at this location.
After a good night’s sleep, we start at 5:00 am in the morning for the climb. Bathra Mane also serves breakfast however its provided around 8:00am. Thus, climbers usually skip this meal to make it back on time. Before we can proceed, we stop at the forest office about 100 meters from the Bathra house. This is a good location to freshen up. After paying the appropriate fee (nearly Rs. 350/- per person) and accounting for the plastic waste we are carrying we start of with the trek. Keep in mind to avoid throwing any plastic waste you are carrying during the climb since you can be heavily fined if the there is a count mismatch .
Although there are up to four viewpoints till you reach the peak . The most significant are the Shesha Parvatha and the fifth viewpoint. Be sure to spend some time here and relax watching the picturesque view.
Right from the Shesha Parvath the most challenging part of the trek begins . There are some very steep slopes and slippery surfaces . After a about 2 hours climb from Shesha Parvatha you would reach the peak point. Its recommended that you try reaching the top of Kumara Parvath by 10:30 am to rest before you start the descend
Descending the Kumar Parvath can be tricky, painful and very tiring. Infact, climbing the Parvath is relatively easier. Hence good trekking gear would greatly reduce the effort. To reach the base point on time its recommended to start the descend by 11:30 am. Be sure to have enough rest on the peak to have a comfortable journey down the hill.
At around 2:30 pm we reached the house of Bathra Mane and had our lunch and continued our journey down the hill. Accompanied by heavy rain and a rocky terrain we finally reached the base point. Its better to book a room close by the climbing point to avoid unnecessary travelling from the base point to the city.
Kumar Parvath is one of the finest treks of south India because of the wide range of vegetation and terrains along with the beautiful landscapes that it accommodates. It’s a great place to visit along with your family and friends if you are looking for some fun and adventure.
P.S — Beware of the leeches and the heavy rain.
