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Night trek near Ramnagaram, Karnataka.

The Bangalore Mountaineering Club organizes weekend treks at locations not far from the city.

This trek was at Jalamangala in Ramnagaram district. We were picked up at 10:00 pm and driven to the base of the hill. The climb lasted an hour or so. In some places we could pick out a rough trail in the torchlight, but mostly  we climbed by holding on to  firm rocks with our hands, and feeling for  footholds. It was an easy climb, and  I was actually relieved because  I haven’t been on a night-trek for many years now.

The top of the hill was a flat rock, and we were given sleeping bags to snuggle into. The breeze was strong and smelt clean after the city air we are used to. Refreshed after sleeping for about three hours, we headed down at daybreak.

I would definitely recommend this sort of a break  for all city-dwellers.

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Climbing up the rocky hill in torchlight.
Climbing up the rocky hill in torchlight.
Patchwork of fields, and the lovely red soil of Karnataka.
Patchwork of fields, and the lovely red soil of Karnataka.
Gnarled old trees like abstract paintings in the darkness
Gnarled old trees like abstract paintings in the darkness

Bangalore in March

Bangalore’s trees are starting to bloom, hiding the ugly wires and uglier billboards for the next few weeks. Purple Jacarandas, and pink and yellow Tabebuias are everywhere.  Some Copper pods too, and a few early Mayflowers. Yesterday I spotted a Flame-of-the-forest in full bloom, but couldn’t stop for a photo.

New Life at Ulsoor Lake

Every spring there is a new litter of eight or nine puppies on the banks of Ulsoor Lake. This year I managed to get nice pictures of them as they dozed in a heap in a patch of sunlight to keep warm. I wasn’t much of dog person till I saw this bunch with their warm, trusting eyes, playfully putting their little paws on my sneakers and sniffing my hands to see if they held a biscuit (some walkers regularly get them biscuits).