Hogenakkal MM Hills Trek Feedback

Hogenakkal MM Hills Trek Feedback - Submitted by Anirudh Basu

I had organised and exploratory trek to MM Hills last weekend with GHAC and the feedback is as follows:

  • We had done the following route: Bangalore - Hogenakkal (Cross Cauvery into Karnataka) -Gopinatham - Ponnacchi 2nd Cross - Mysore - Bangalore.
  • Gopinatham is a small hamlet on the foot hills of MM Hills and is the birthplace of Veerappan. Karnataka Forest
  • Department operates a Tourist Lodge here and is the start/end point of various treks. You can get more info at http://www.mysterytrails.com/ . Its a decent stay option with Rs.200/bed for the dormitory.
  • The trek from Gopinatham to Ponnacchi 2nd Cross is through a forest trail. Its 18Kms with the last 4 Kms to Ponacchi consists of steep climb.Generally the KFD organises trek from Ponnachi to Gopinatham and doesn't have any climb. Since the trek is through Reserve Forest with wildlife, permission along with Forest Department guides are must. The charge is Rs. 300 per head and Guide Fees is Rs.500/guide. Group of 10 or above requires 2 guides.
  • As per FD Gopinatham to Ponnachi will take about 10 hours but we did the 18Kms in 5.5 hours at an average pace.

Anybody wanting to do the trek, my suggestion would be as follows:

  • Head to Mysore on reaching Bangalore. That will take 3 hours. From Mysore any bus going to Salem will go thru Ponnachi 2nd Cross and will take about 3 hours.
  • Get off and trek the 18 Kms downhill to Gopinatham. This will not take more than 5.5 Hours.
  • Stay at Gopinatham Forest Guest House.
  • Next day early morning trek to Hogenakkal (12 Kms).This should take max 4 hours.
  • Cross the river in a Coracle and can have a bath et al at Hogenakkal.
  • From Hogenakkal take bus to Dharmapuri and there on to Bangalore.

This will be a good trek and make better utilisation of time than we did.

Please feel free to ask me any queries if you have on the page discussion forum

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