Savandurga - overnight stay three

My earlier posts had covered overnight visit one, two, four and five. Three was pending since the pictures had to be located. I did find only three pictures. I think the trip happened in 1999 or 2000. We were six of us- Praveen, Murali, Nagesh, Kallappa, Appaji and I. Murali was a grocery store owner, a businessman accustomed to city life and typical family tours. I was surprised when Praveen told us that Murali would was joining, but happy that another person was seeing Savandurga, that too at night. The group sans Murali was familiar with Savandurga.

As before we organized all required stuff and prepared the bags for the trip. I think it was a cold season, we had to be prepared for the windy and cold weather on the monolith. We left Bangalore around 2-00 pm, reached Savandurga by 4-15 or so, parked our vehicles at Veerabhadreshwara Devastana and started our climb around 4-30 pm. Kalappa and I lead the pack, Nagesh and Appaji trailing behind us, Praveen and Murali struggling at the back. I knew Praveen's pace well, so we carried on just keeping them in eyesight but well out of earshot. Kalappa and I reached the guard house around 5-30 or so, had to wait 20+ minutes before everyone joined. As soon as Murali reached the guard house, he sat down saying that he did not know about the climb. He was little upset, I think. He said he'll never ever go out with us. I was laughing inside but managed not to show it. I tried to pacify him saying that he would enjoy the night but he was in no mood. Anyway, he didn't have any other choice but to stay :)

I think it was two or three days after full moon, we had sufficient moonlight to look around. This time we carried candles and lanterns, we had planned to stay inside the guard house. To our luck, the guard house floor was covered with hay. Looks like some other group had stayed here few days back. Of the six only Praveen and Appaji had whisky, rest of us had soft drinks. Murali had brought number of snacks. We had a pocket radio, tuned into Akashvani, listening to sweet Hindi songs. Dinner was around 9-30, we hit the sack around 11-00. Sleep was on and off. I guess Appaji and Praveen slept well. We got out of the beds at dawn, sunrise is little late because of the mist. One of the younger fellows made a small fire to keep out cold. That's Appaji trying to warm up.

Normally at day break we head to Nandi Mantapa at the summit. We asked Murali to come. The response was a stiff no. He didn't want to move step further. I tried to change his decision but he stuck to it. Praveen too decided to stay back to give company to his pal. Four of visited Nandi, offered him one or two Frangipani flowers and our Namaskara. Kalappa is holding on to the radio, probably he had tuned into Vividbharati, listening to old Hindi songs. The mist would not clear though we spent around twenty minutes. So we head back to the guard house.

At the guard house Murali surprises us with breakfast of bread and jam. I think it was Jan-26th hence the tricolor. We couldn't find a straight stick, had to do with a crooked one. The flag is a genuine one, made of Khadi, purchased at the manufacturing center at Khadi Gramudyog, Garag near Dharwad.

That's me. I like walking on this hill barefoot. After coming back from Nandi Mantapa, I'd been for a short walk alone, barefoot. The abrasive surface of the rock is so comforting to the sole. The acupuncture points in the sole are activated when sharp but momentary pressure is applied. Yes, one must walk barefoot on rocks or soil everyday.

Back at Bangalore, I asked Murali if he wanted to join us on another trip. He said nimm savasa beda nanage. Ha ha ha!

PS: There were two previous and two subsequent overnight stays on Savandurga, each time it was a different group. Here are the links to them: Overnight Stay One, Overnight Stay Two, Overnight Stay Four, and Overnight Stay Five.

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