Bandaje Hills in Charmadi range, Belthangady Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka.
8 hrs Drive from Gudalur (Nilgiris) to Bandaje Via Mysore- Hassan- Belur- Mudigere- Charmadi Ghats - Bandaje - Kishore Gowda (Home or base point of trek)
Had breakfast and packed food for the day from Kishore Gowda's place and started the trek by crossing a stream.
After the stream a patch of concrete road leads to a mud road with a couple of houses. Ask for the way ahead as there are zig zag trails diverting. Once you find the trail then till the top of the falls there are markings.
We were not rushing at all this time. After 3 hrs reached the first stream. Friends cooled off. For me the forest felt with less variety of trees and species but i enjoyed the tone of green brightness which pierced through the leaves. All through the sholas of 7 km was of similar shades. Just before entering into the grasslands we had lunch and took a small nap as it was 1pm and thought not to walk under the direct heat as we had only 2 more km to the falls.
This was one of the best camping site i ever had. There were other people trekking the same day but all of them choose to pitch tent on the upper ground on top of the hill. We found this place climbing down near to the falls and the whole night was a bliss. A stream, A cliff and A tent...
After pitching tents and gathering woods we walked down to the falls to see a thrilling view. Crawled to the edge of the cliff and the view down through the falls was an experience in itself. Others too joined as there was a beautiful sunset. 
Nobody would try sambhar curry in camping but ours was exceptional. With the packed chappatis and coffee with Maggie the night around the campfire went perfect.
Slept tight till 6am. Again went to the falls to crawl to the edges of the cliff as the view down was pulling us like a magnet. As usual my cam took a timer of us and we decided to wrap up the tent to leave the place by 8am. We cleaned up not only our junk but all the visible waste and plastic around the campsite and left the place. Climbed upto the camping ground and started descending. The grasslands was on fire some weeks ago so the place was more drier than usual.
Reached to base point by 12pm and had a wonderfull lunch at Kishore Gowda's home. It was a long drive back to home near Mudumalai Tiger reserve which closes by 9pm i had to rush but all was well by 10 pm with an other memory called Bandaje.
Video
Author : Anish vk
Clicked By : Anish vk, Sreejith
Team : Sreejith, Sharmesh, Santhosh, Anish
Place : Bandaje falls, Karnataka
Km Covered : 2 days || 18km
Permission : Belthangady wildlife Range Office 08256-233189
( Permission is must now )
Food : Kishore Gowda - 99019 39829
