Impressions

Over the past year, with travel options limited, my family and I explored day treks around Bangalore - you'll be surprised to find the number of quaint and pristine trails there are which aren't commercialised or overrun by tourists! 😀

Some scenes from these outings left strong and lasting impressions at a visceral level - ones that I can vividly recall even now, months later. I realised that these experiences, nestled in the lap of nature, can be quite immersive and educative - the mind meanders through random trains of thought and reflection that don't find the time to run during the humdrum of a routine work-from-home week.

{Photo(s) => impression => a sentence or two to elaborate} is what you'll find in the vignettes below.

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Antaragange

Avalabetta

The path less trodden.

Both photos show a deviation from the tried, tested and safe routes that had already been chalked out by past travellers. There's an element of mystery and challenge that can be unravelled only by clambering along the path.

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Sri Revanna Siddeshwara (SRS) Hills

Devaramane

In the big picture, we are insignificant.

The vastness of the green landscape in the foreground coupled with the undulating silhouette of majestic hills in the background puts things in perspective.

I've cheated a bit on the second photo - Devaramane is in Chikkamagalur district and I was there on a weekend trip with some friends. 😅

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Kailasagiri

Growing through adversity.

I spotted this plant spreading its tiny branches in a rough, arid patch along the side of the trail.

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Haddinakallu

Avani

Painstaking labour.

I don't know the significance of these piles of stones; I came across these on two separate occasions. It would have taken hours to assemble these! 😮

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Kootagal

A pleasing mirroring? Complementary pieces - yin and yang? Partners à la Batman and Robin?

Need I say more?

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Antaragange

The animal-human conflict.

There were hordes of monkeys near the temple complex - we managed to click one of this family of three and I was quite moved by the look on the baby monkey's face. The metal grill marking the divide between nature and humans completes the scene.

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Makonahalli

Choices.

The junction of three roads (including the one that was behind me and not visible in the photo).

I first took the uphill road to the left and walked around 2 km before deciding to turn back as it seemed to continue on forever! 😛

Then, I took the downhill road to the right which terminated in less than 2 minutes at the gates of a private coffee estate! 😅

A bit symbolic of life itself and the forks in the road that are frequently encountered. Sometimes, turning back isn't an option.

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On the road to Lepakshi

Opportunity, calm and solitude.

Soak in the colours of the sky, the freshly tarred road, the white lines extending to infinity and the surrounding landscape with not a vehicle or soul in sight.

Roads aren't always bumpy and smooth ones should be relished!

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These trips over the weekend were immensely refreshing. One of the joys of independent trekking was to be able to savour the sights, sounds, smells and feel of the trail at a leisurely pace that we had control over. At times, a respite from the chaos of city life - be it dug up roads sans footpaths, a cacophony of blaring horns or a skyline that is more concrete than green - is just what I needed to think more deeply about life, my priorities, the people and things that matter to me and where I seem to be headed. 🌄

(All photographs have been clicked either by me or a family member and have not been edited in any manner.)