My trekking experience at Vellingiri hills

    Last year i had seen a interesting post in Facebook by one of my classmate Ashok who studied along with me in college.  He had posted few interesting pictures about his trekking experience in Vellingiri hills. Few days later my uncle also told his experience about his spiritual visit to Vellingiri hills. Around May of last year i decided to trek this hill. From June it will be rainy season and it is impossible to trek.  So i fixed January or february 2013 to trek. I told about this to my friends and they also liked this idea. I informed Ashok and he  made all arrangements for the trekking.

    28th jan around 5 pm Me, Karthic and Yuvaraj started from Tirupur and reached Isha yoga center cottage around 7.30 PM. There we met Ashok after a gap of 12 years. He had arranged accommodation for us in Isha yoga centre. Isha was a unique place where lot of  people and more foreigners were also seen. We had dinner there and it was different experience, there was no dining table for dinner we had to sit down. The food was served by volunteers including foreigners. The dish contained some grains, fruits, and rice.

     After our dinner, around 8.30pm we had a meeting with the organizers in Isha who arranged for trekking. They had briefed about our next day's plan. Our group was with 25 members including 2 Canadians and  6 organizers.

Trekking

     We started from our cottage and reached Poondi temple (foothills) at 6AM. Organizers had provided food bag which contained 4 chapatis with takkali tokku for Breakfast, Pack of pulisadam for lunch, 2 Apples, Glucose packet, juice, water bottle and few sweets.

     It looked like we are starting to walk 70 degree, It took almost 1 hr to reach the 1st hill. We had a 10 minutes break there. We had almost tired, started feeling pain and slightly thought of quitting.

     From thereon steps were available only in few areas, there is a small stream at end of 2nd hill after 1.45hrs of hiking and we can refill our water bottle. At end of 3rd hill we settled for breakfast around 8.30AM  and after 2.30hrs of hiking. Its been so hungry and the taste of chapati was great.

     4th  hill  there is no steps at all and route was so hard. We have to hike in between bushes.

     5th and 6th hill its not so steep. Its almost a plain area. 

     This is defiantly most beautiful place. From here on the breeze was cool and pleasant.  There were beautiful misty clouds passing across us. This valley gives you a spectacular view. The opposite hill and valley looked beautiful.

     At the end of 6th hill there is a small stream. We had a memorable bath in freezing water. I never had such a cold shaver before.Its very very cold at 10AM. Water was clear and tasty. It was  refreshing and body got more energetic . From 6th hill we can see the top of 7th hill. 

     After around 10AM we started feeling the heat. After few meters the organizers asked us to remove our shoes. We kept our shoes behind the bush and started hiking. The path was slippery and difficult to walk. It could have been very very tough to walk with shoes. It looked like we need to walk few meters but took more time and pain. It almost took 45 minutes to reach top. There is a small temple near the huge rock on the top of the hill.

     It took 4.45 hrs to reach top. The breeze and view was spectacular. It was more satisfying, we once thought we may not able to make it to the top. Climbing around 1600 ft was amazing. From there on organizers took us to a place they call it as Sadhguru spot. We spent around 30 minutes there by meditating and enjoying the view and breeze. 

     Around 1 PM we had our lunch and started to get down. Getting down was as hard as hiking. It took 3.53hrs to reach poondi temple. Everyone had  to take 5-6 ft Bamboo stick (organisers will provide). It is impossible for the 1st time trekkers to get down without that stick.

     After few minutes we reached our cottage in Isha yoga centre. Had a wonderful hot water shower which was relaxing and got little relief from pain. Started from there at 7pm and reached home by 9pm.

Pain

It was a unique experience for me, karthic and yuvaa. We stretched our body to the maximum. We did not had such a tough workout in a single day like this before. Pain around calf, ties and knee continued for almost a week. We might have had lost 2-3 kgs. Body felt fitter now. You have to continue your routine workouts after 2-3days, because it will make you much fitter and you can feel the difference.  

Next plan

We are planning to comeback each year around January. This is our first trekking and it was a great experience. We are planning to trek once in every month. Who knows we may be trekking in Himalayas in 5 years from now.

View my workout session at

http://www.runtastic.com/sport-sessions/42730883