"Trek to Kote Betta: A Journey of Discovery and Adventure"

Feeling restless during the holidays, I sought various trekking opportunities with friends, but none materialized. Fortunately, my luck took a turn when I registered with BASC for a trek to Bandaje, even though I wasn't shortlisted. However, my gratitude goes to my teacher Arun and his friend Srikanth for making an unforgettable trek to "KOTE BETTA" possible.

Our adventure commenced on the night of April 30th from the satellite bus stand on Mysore road, with our destination being Madikeri. We reached Madikeri at 5 AM the next day and proceeded to Hatti Halli, reaching there by 7 AM. After a refreshing stop at a nearby river, we embarked on our trek. The journey began with Srikanth accidentally cutting his hand with a Swiss knife, a moment that exemplified our commitment to the trek - "Navu raktha surisi trek madudvi" (We trek with our blood).

Our trek took us through different water points, offering moments of rest and contemplation. By 2 PM, we reached the peak, where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and took a well-deserved nap for an hour. However, our return journey presented a challenge as we lost our way. After half an hour of wandering, my camera proved to be our savior, helping us find our way back.

Trekking back, we reached the base by 5 PM, and before bidding farewell, we relished some moments at the river. Waiting at Hatti Halli until 7:30 PM for the bus, we contemplated hiring a jeep to reach Madikeri as an alternative. Fortunately, the bus arrived on time, and we reached Madikeri by 8:30 PM, half an hour before the scheduled time.

Reflecting on this experience, my first trek with my sir was nothing short of a journey of discovery and adventure. Safely dropped at Banashankari bus stand by Srikanth, I reached home with cherished memories of an extraordinary trek.