After ages i was so determined to go for a trek and somehow Ettina Bhuja was lingering in my mind. I spoke to Gopu Gokhale and checked with him if it was a season good enough for the trek. He gave an answer which i was eagerly looking for. My face lit up with joy! Initially it was supposed to be a team of 8 or so, but then due to various situations and circumstances many dropped out but for three. We still decided to go ahead. We boarded a bus heading to Dharmasthala but got down 15 kms before at Kokkada. Hiring a rickshaw we reached Gokhale's house. Freshening up and post breakfast we got into a rickshaw to go to the last road head at Holegundi. I was very surprised looking at the freshly laid roads and couldn’t recognise much of the area though I had been here a year and half ago. 
Autowallah showed us the way to approach a stream which we had to cross to get onto the trail. Our guide was supposed to meet us somewhere here. Another team who were behind us approached the stream which we had just crossed. Chandappa who was guiding them showed us the path to take. So, the three decided to go ahead. The canopy engulfed almost immediately. It was almost 9AM when we started from this point. Yup, I know, we were pretty late even though we had a time advantage. The path was parallel to a stream which extended to almost two kilometers where the first deviation comes which has to be taken to go to Ettina bhuja. 
A localite named Lingappa met us and gave us further directions. He asked us to take the deviation and head straight where we would be meeting our guide Chennappa who would be descending from the top. Since the direction was known now, we proceeded. A while later the path disappeared. Looking around we found two paths, one leading to the left and another which was heading almost in the direction we were going. The left path wasn’t a clear track, so we decided to take the well beaten path. We were still walking along the stream for some more time and then the background noise faded gradually. The path only widened the further up we went to the size of an elephant track. It was close to 12 noon. Our guide was nowhere to be seen. Some doubts cropped up in our minds which couldn’t be ignored. The path was leading up so we decided to climb up the hill and then locate ourselves. Ettina Bhuja was very unique and could be spotted from anywhere. Once we know, then we could proceed in that direction.
A localite named Lingappa met us and gave us further directions. He asked us to take the deviation and head straight where we would be meeting our guide Chennappa who would be descending from the top. Since the direction was known now, we proceeded. A while later the path disappeared. Looking around we found two paths, one leading to the left and another which was heading almost in the direction we were going. The left path wasn’t a clear track, so we decided to take the well beaten path. We were still walking along the stream for some more time and then the background noise faded gradually. The path only widened the further up we went to the size of an elephant track. It was close to 12 noon. Our guide was nowhere to be seen. Some doubts cropped up in our minds which couldn’t be ignored. The path was leading up so we decided to climb up the hill and then locate ourselves. Ettina Bhuja was very unique and could be spotted from anywhere. Once we know, then we could proceed in that direction. 
Resting for a while we picked up our bags and were about to start when we heard some call signs. We responded but then we didn’t get any response. We thought it must be the other group which was trailing us and then started to move. Then one guy came running to us and introduced that he was the guide whom we were supposed to go along with. He told us we were taking the wrong path and he ran around looking out for us. We coolly told him that shouldn’t have been a problem and none panicked. I could see a shocked expression in his face. 
We didn’t react probably the way he expected. I had made calculations even before he met us as I was carrying a GPS with 3 days battery backup. That gave me the confidence of returning back to the village incase if we lose our way. That would have made it a real adventure into the forest which we were denied unfortunately. Chennappa took charge from there and pulled us to the well taken path by taking a detour.
We didn’t react probably the way he expected. I had made calculations even before he met us as I was carrying a GPS with 3 days battery backup. That gave me the confidence of returning back to the village incase if we lose our way. That would have made it a real adventure into the forest which we were denied unfortunately. Chennappa took charge from there and pulled us to the well taken path by taking a detour. The other group was resting while we overtook them. It was lunch time and we decided to eat. Gokhale had packed rotis and curry for us. While we ate and rested, the other group overtook us. An hour later we resumed the hike. We could feel the climb only now as for all the while we almost walked in the valley. We still were very much in the valley but were gaining some height. We slowed down considerably cause Anirudh happened to get a headache which made it difficult for him to take even a step further. I literally pushed him and kept him going though I knew his problem. I wanted him to rest at one stretch once we reach the base camp rather than resting for a few minutes every now and then which would be of no help.
We emerged out of the valley into the grasslands which indicated that we were almost on top of a peak. To the left stood the Bhuja. 
The look was stunning. But the sun curtailed our excitement and reminded us to move ahead to look out for some shade. It was screeching hot. Bottles & bottles of water ran down our throats but it did little to reprieve us from the heat. Luckily there were patches of trees every now and then which gave us an opportunity to rest for a while. By the time we made it near the base camp it was close to 4PM. Way too long for a 9 km trek. But the deviation which we took meant an additional 3 kms of walk. That way I would say we weren’t that bad. Just as you come up near the base camp, there is a way in the valley which leads to the water point. We were blessed with the sweetness of the fresh water which also was cold. What a way to cool the heated bodies. We just went on gulping to hydrate ourselves. We prepared our base camp and relaxed for a while.
The look was stunning. But the sun curtailed our excitement and reminded us to move ahead to look out for some shade. It was screeching hot. Bottles & bottles of water ran down our throats but it did little to reprieve us from the heat. Luckily there were patches of trees every now and then which gave us an opportunity to rest for a while. By the time we made it near the base camp it was close to 4PM. Way too long for a 9 km trek. But the deviation which we took meant an additional 3 kms of walk. That way I would say we weren’t that bad. Just as you come up near the base camp, there is a way in the valley which leads to the water point. We were blessed with the sweetness of the fresh water which also was cold. What a way to cool the heated bodies. We just went on gulping to hydrate ourselves. We prepared our base camp and relaxed for a while. 
Around 6PM, we marched towards the Ettina Bhuja peak. The climb was damn easy given that we didn’t carry any load on our backs. The last leg was very steep and tricky to climb. We reached the top in a few mins. The sunset was to happen at 630PM which meant we had lot of time to gaze around. I enquired about the surrounding peaks, the way to approach them with Chennappa. I already was making plans for them. While the sun started setting, we geared up for capturing it. We were slightly disappointed cause of the presence of heavy mist which didn’t give us good shots. Nevertheless we were happy to see it setting. Descending to the base camp we slept for a while. None of us had proper dinner cause I too ended up getting a headache and wanted to crash the bed. Chennappa started the camp fire but we decided to sleep. Next day morning, I was woken up by Anirudh. He was all joshed up unlike the previous day. The sun was coming up. Without second thoughts I got up, took the camera and headed upwards with Srivathsa. Wind was very heavy as expected. I wonder how the other group managed to camp here in an open area right on top of the ridge. The sun came up within minutes and then our photo shoot completed with it. Now was the time to pack up and start descending. We wanted to get down before noon. There were two options to get down. One being the same route as we came up from Shishila, the other to get down towards Byreshwara temple which takes just 30 mins. A bus links from here to Mudigere from where we could head to Bangalore. For obvious reasons we decided to take the longer route to Shishila.
We had plenty of time as we were in no hurry. That way we descended slowly looking around to capture some things in our camera. At a point we heard a wood pecker, spotting it was a real challenge. Anirudh went behind it and I followed. He was able to spot the bird and managed to take a pic as well. By the time I came, it changed its location. Obattu was our breakfast. Somehow we had lost our appetite, we barely could eat anything. I was constantly looking at the GPS to find out where exactly we had deviated. When we reached the place we realized that the path where we weren’t sure of was exactly the point which resulted in taking a huge detour. We were near the stream by 11AM. We spent an hour and then boarded a waiting rickshaw to head to Gokhale’s house.
Bathing was in a stream that flows behind his house. Water was chill here too but then all three managed to take a dip. Lunch was ready by then. We hogged the delicious food as our appetite was back with a bang. A bus leaves Shishila at 4PM to Dharmasthala which meant there were two more hours to spare. Anirudh & Srivathsa decided to take a nap; I was conversing with the Gokhale’s family. While we were about to leave, we went to the temple in Shishila, famous for its fishes. They are easily some 20 to 30 inches long and are in hundreds. A little rice when dropped, they go haywire, each trying to get the maximum. 
This marked the end of our Ettina Bhuja trek. The second in Charmadi Ghats. I hope I could come back for the rest of the hills soon which are equally tempting.
Getting there: Take a bus heading to Dharmasthala from Bangalore. Inform the driver to drop you off at Kokkada (16kms before Dharmasthala). There are rickshaws & jeeps which will take you to Shishila which is 15kms away. Else a bus comes around 7AM to Kokkada.
Gopu Gokhale’s contact no: 08251- 269246
Season – Post monsoon – Between November and February.
