Jog falls

Jog Falls originated by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meter is the second-highest plunge waterfall located in Sagara, Shivamogga District of Karnataka state, India. There are many waterfalls which drop from a higher altitude. But unlike most of such falls, Jog Falls drops directly and does not stream on to rocks. Thus, it can be described as the first-highest untiered waterfall in India.

As routine like other tours, we planned to visit Jog Falls suddenly on a day of April 2010. We did scheduling as soon as we can. We bunk the engineering class and started preparing for the tour. Since Jog Falls is 70 km into the forest from Bhatkal, we decided to hire motor bikes. For six of us we hired three bikes. We also collected some stuff which may be predicted to be functional in some cases. We are now ready for the Jog Fall exploration. As in our prior trips we really can’t imagine what’s going to happen in this tour. The most things we realized in all our trip is, we plan one destination but we reach at another. The belongings are packed and we slept early in the hostel and waited for the next morning to begin our journey. It was about 4:30 AM while we left the hostel. I was feeling kind of cold while riding the bike in early morning. On road, we were just anxiety about the check post ahead. But who is going to look after the check post in early morning? So we passed the check post without any problem. After a while we stopped in the vicinity of a small tea shop in the forest. Good news for malayalees here too. The shopkeepers are malayalees. We had tea with unniappum and various other snacks. We continued our journey to Jog Falls. Very soon after travelling a few more distance we saw a beautiful small rocky place beside to road. We took some rest and capture many photos of the place. But we cannot stay here for long, so decided to continue to the bigger one. Continuing long time of journey we saw a Debbe Falls direction board close to the road. We decided to take diversion in that muddy road which points to Debbe Falls. The time was about 7:15 AM.

Here comes the turning point of our tour. The muddy road was not adequate to ride the bikes smoothly. One bike stopped suddenly since its chain got damaged and detached. We were really dazed by seeing this because we were in an isolated place. We understood no one may be there to help us. Still we searched for help in the nearby small huts. But they are even helpless to answer our question in an alien language. We tried a lot to fix the chain trouble. While we were working on the chain we find a native coming with bicycle. After discussing the problem with him, he show us one house little far apart were a man does some mechanic works. We really thanked this man for his kind support. Then we roll the bike to that house. When we reached the house and discussed the problem with the mechanic he said he is not a mechanic however he can try and help us to fix the trouble. But the mechanic got very few tools and experience to fix the trouble since he works on his scooter only. We tried a lot and a lot to fix the trouble. Meanwhile the daughter of mechanic brought us drinking water. The time was running. We talked to the entire mechanic family. It was so small and happy family with parents, one daughter and son. Mechanic’s house even it’s so small, it look beautiful in the forest. We worked again on the bike still the trouble was not fixed. The mechanic told us to bring any other mechanic from nearby town. Two friends in a bike went to other town in search of mechanic. Meanwhile we spend much concentration on the bike to fix the trouble. We were working working.......KLICK !!!..wow the chains are fixed. We were happy, mechanic was happy. Now we can leave the place. But can we? NO...we have to wait our friends those went in search of mechanic. At this time we asked the mechanic about the Debbe falls. He mentioned us the direction. After paying some cash to the mechanic for his grateful help we moved to Debbe falls. Then riding all through the forest we reach at Debbe fall location. We studied the surrounding, route and returned back to mechanic’s house. When we reached at his house we understood that the other friends had brought mechanics from the nearby town and they had went now to drop that mechanic back. But still if we wait them, our entire day will be lost. So we decided to continue to Jog fall, so that we can see our friends from nearby next town.

The road to Jog fall is so beautiful. But they are little bit crap and narrow. Still, friends ahead were riding bike so fast. But we couldn’t go fast since our bike is not fit as it is just recovered. The time was about 10.55AM. We were riding the bike so slowly looking all the surrounding beauty. I was riding the bike, I found a beautiful dam so far while riding, and I forgot to take my eyes from the dam. The road is turning, we didn’t notice it, suddenly my friend said “turn bike, turn bike, turn bike”, and I was kind of dazed and lost riding control. The bike slipped and crashed in the road making both of us to fly some distance apart. We were in unconscious mind. But some power in our conscious mind made us to stand straight. We looked each other cleaning the clothes from dust. I was totally wound. The bike too got some defects. Its headlight got damaged. We moved the bike to verge. No one comes through. No vehicles pass through. We were isolated in the road. We changed our clothes and started riding without any medication. After riding a short while we saw a town. It was so happy to see a town after a long distance. We as well saw our friends in 2 bikes waiting for us under a big tree on the verge. Reaching there we discussed the entire incident. We then went to a nearby Doctor to take medicine. But the doctor’s entire instruction was just to medicate me. So I lie on bed. My friends started taking many photos of me while I was on the bed.



Anyway after medication, we all together after a long interval had continued the journey to Jog falls. The time was about 11.30 AM. We have to cover few more distance to reach Jog falls. At last we all reached at the great Jog falls. It was very excite full to see the beautiful Jog falls at the first sight. We all took rest at Jog Fall Park. Afterwards some friends went to the Jog falls bottom keeping me at the pinnacle since I am medicated. Those friends who already visited this place accompanied me. We have to wait the friends for a long time since they will take much time to travel from top to bottom and bottom to top of Jog falls. There are approximately 1500 steps to reach bottom of hill. We slept until they came back. The time was about 03:15PM when they came back. Then we packed our belongings and left the Jog falls. Leaving the Jog falls, next town is Kargel. We decided to fix the damaged parts of our bike from Kargel. We take our bike to a workshop. Mechanic started fixing the troubles. He also ordered to bring a headlight in bus from other nearby city. So we have to wait for the bus to receive the package. The mechanic finished all the works he can do. Now the only thing remaining is to receive the headlight to fix it. But we have to wait for long. So we roamed the entire town and had food from a malayalee shop. Malayalees everywhere, I think the whole world should be renamed as kerala. After some time we went back to the workshop to enquire about headlight. But the headlight still didn’t received. So we decided to stay in kargel. Thus the picnic has changed to a tour. At late evening, bus came with headlight package and mechanic fixed it.
We later booked a lodge to stay the whole night and decided to continue in the early morning. After taking rooms we yet again roam the town and noticed a park. We spend some hours in the park and came back to room for asleep. The next fresh morning arrived. After breakfast we packed our belongings and continued our journey to Bhatkal after many disasters.

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