Donigal dossier

It was a close brush with death. It was simply the most determined effort i've ever put in anything! Crossing an alien river flowing with full flourish, without knowing its depth, and that too in fading light, WE came unscathed n alive!
It was definitely the most tiring, the most adventurous trek for me. Probably a lil' low on hoopla as only three of us (me, Viks n Apps) were left in fray after many drop-outs. But there wasn't no dearth of excitement. A trek being contemplated for maybe more than a year (n everytime some or other thing coming in between) finally was coming true.
We started Friday night and reached Sakhleshpura before dawn. A shot of hot tea at a road-side tapari and we were on our way...Early rays saw us reaching Donigal and then started a memorable journey thru dark, bat-infested tunnels and slippery bridges. The bridges are normally too slippery because of the morning dew. Also for those having a fear of heights, it can be a testing time. 24 bridges, 17 tunnels, 22 long kms and we were at Yedkumeri.
But this was not the final destination. We needed to go to highway to catch the last evening bus. So another trek started thru thick jungle. An estimated 5 kms walk was full of surprizes and sanguivorous leeches! So we found big balls of elephant dung and many uprooted trees - sufficient to scare hell out of us! But to our relief, soon we started hearing those vehicle sounds. But the real drama was yet to start. When we reached the end of road...50 meters away was the highway, but in-between this roaring river with nothing to cross it (We later found a namesake bridge, whose leftover parts were telling its one time existence).
After 2-3 hours of searching for the shortest distance banks - which didn'tt help much as wherever the distance was short, the flow was furious - we were left with two options. Either stay back in jungle whole night or cross the river how-so-ever! Finally in a true bollywood style we three vowed - Jiyenge to saath me, marenge to bhi saath me! After another hour of trecherous tryst with destiny, we were through!
Bruised and battered, but thoroughly contented. To sum up all in one word...it was awesome!
(Check out Viks' take : http://www.geocities.com/vikrantpv/Sakaleshpur_trek.doc)
Song for the moment : Zinda Hoon - Strings (isn't it too apt for the moment?)
i remain.
7 Comments:
I can just imagine how exciting and interesting it would have been... really feeling the miss.
I would appreciate if u could post a travelogue like the one u posted earlier for Kerala trip.
Get some rest first...and give ur best effort in writing too...hope that will motivate me to be one of the characters in ur next trek .. ;-)
Great trek guys..!
Amazing!! shucks - that makes me long for treks like this - guess with Bhram also wanting to come, we can all go!!
you still didn't say how u crossed the river!
Even i'm curious.. how did you cross the river???
VP
-o-`-o-`-o-
.^...^...^.
So it was like....we three held our hands together n made a chain. Then one by one got into the water. We all took the babiest steps possible. The 1st one will take a step, the other two will stand still n balance out, then the middle one will do the same n lastly the last one will follow...that one hour felt like eons!
Can't describe it in words...lets all go again to Donigal n we'll give you all a live demo...wht say Apps, Viks???
Any time ...
With few exceptions on the second thought :) ...
1) Donigal strictly no in rainy season. best time to go is nov-jan when its not slippery and less infested with leaches...
by the way any updates on when the railway track is going to open.
2) And this time around I want to take a left turn instead of right ;) :))
forgot to sign
~Apoorva
Great sketch Anks ;-) I agree with Apps... rainy season's a no-no for this trek. Would even discourage in summer coz' the rails will get real hot.
No idea when the line is opening... but check that before you go coz' IT'S A SINGLE LINE.
Find my travelogue on http://www.geocities.com/vikrantpv/My_treks.html
-Vicks
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