INTRODUCTION:-
I do not remember in any particular order about my visit to the Dudhsagar
Waterfall Trek. Was it the wind?Was it foggy
weather?Or,was it just the excitement and excitement of seeing something so
magical?”Travelling is like flirting with life.It’s like saying,I will stay and
love you, but I will have to go,this is my station’!Abhi!! Aren’t you being too
poetic?Situated in Sangum Taluka of Goa,and also popular among locals by
Tambadi Surla,Dudhsagar Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in India falling
from a spectacular height of 310 meters.Originating in the Deccan Plateau in
the state of Karnataka and winding through the Western Ghats,the Mandovi River
falls on the highest peaks.And thus forms the Dudhsagar Falls.Doing justice to
its name,Dudhsagar which means ocean of milk,when the waterfalls from such a
height create an illusion.Like someone pouring a gallon of milk from the top of
a mountain.Milky water flowing with a gust is a boon for the eyes.Dudhsagar
Falls can definitely be counted in the list of most beautiful waterfalls in
India.The waterfall gained even more popularity among the masses after it was
featured in the scenes of the blockbuster Bollywood movie ‘Chennai Express’.The
falls are at their peak during the monsoon months of July to September,although
they are a popular tourist attraction throughout the year.
HOW TO REACH DUDHSAGAR WATERFALL TREK BASE VILLAGE:-
Dudhsagar Waterfall Trek The cheapest and most convenient way to
reach Base Village(Kulem)is via railways.Kulem Railway Station is directly
connected via railways to major Indian cities like New Delhi,
Madgaon,Chennai,Pune,Howrah,Bhubaneshwar and Bhopal.Catch a train from any of
these cities which reaches Kulem early in the morning.For train booking visit
IRCTC.If you are already in Goa,you can take Vasco-Kulem Passenger train which
runs every day or VSG Howrah Express which reaches Kulem early in the
morning.Don't confuse Kulem by Kalem as they are different stations.Those who
prefer bus travel over railways can take a bus from Panaji/Margao to
Kulem.
TREKKING AND ROAD ROUTES OPTIONS TO WITNESS THE BEAUTY OF
DUDHSAGAR WATERFALL:-
Due to the tragic incidents in the recent past,various
restrictions have been imposed in the trekking routes of Dudhsagar Falls.The
Castle Rock trekking route has been permanently closed to reach Dudhsagar
Falls.Heavy fine will be imposed on anyone found trekking along this route
along the railway track.The only permitted trekking route is the
Kulem-Dudhsagar route which is 12 kms one way.And,if want to trek through this
route.So a mandatory guide will have to be hired.The same can be rented from Kulem
village.The fee is around INR 3000 per guide.Which can take a group of 7-10
people.Also,no one is allowed on the bridge on which Dudhsagar Falls is
situated.Another option to witness the beauty of Dudhsagar Falls is to take a
jeep safari from Kulem which is organized by the Goa Forest Department.The jeep
covers a distance of around 8-9 kms and drops you a few meters before the base
of the waterfall.The jeep charges Rs 3500 for a maximum of 7 people and the
camera fee is Rs 50.Even if you have no plans to visit Dudhsagar Falls
separately,you can still experience the breathtaking views of this majestic
waterfall by train.You can put the Dudhsagar Waterfall Camp Site on Gmaps to
find out how close your train is to the waterfall.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF DUDHSAGAR WATERFALL TREK:-
In terms of difficulty,I would rate the Dudhsagar Falls Trek as
somewhere between an easy to moderate level trek.The total distance between
Kulem and Dudhsagar Falls is around 12 kms and it takes around 3-4 hours to
reach here.The trail is mostly flat with only a few climbs.
MY JOURNEY TO DUDHSAGAR WATERFALL:-
To be honest,in all my three trips to the tourist state of Goa
prior to August 2013,I had never heard of Dudhsagar Falls.I came to know about
this breathtaking waterfall only after the release of the famous Bollywood film
Chennai Express.A scene of the film was shot in the background of Dudhsagar
Waterfall.Seeing the beauty of autumn,I decided that it would not take much
time for me to visit this nature’s gift.Finally,a year later in the month of
September,I booked my tickets to reach Dudhsagar Waterfall Base Village.I
boarded the Pune to Goa Express which reaches Castle Rock station at around
3:00 PM.I had planned to go from Castle Rock to Dudhsagar Falls along the
railway track and then towards Kulem to end the trek.The trek distance between
Castle Rock Station and Dudhsagar Falls is approximately 14 kms and takes
around 5 hours to cover the distance.I decided to wait for the daylight to
start with my trek.As soon as I started with my trek,it started raining very
heavily.Since I had a waterproof bag and raincoat,I decided not to wait and
proceed with the trek.Within minutes I was walking on the tracks surrounded by
dense forest.Walking on the tracks is not as easy as it seems.There are around
11 tunnels that one has to cross before reaching the waterfall.It’s pleasant to
walk in those dark tunnels.But one needs to be very careful.Because the train
can pass anytime.The surrounding scenery on the way to Dudhsagar Falls was
spectacular.I never felt like it’s been almost 4 hours since I walked the
tracks.Finally,after crossing the 11th tunnel,I reached the Dudhsagar Falls.I
really had tears in my eyes.Tears of seeing something that is magical.Due to
the ongoing heavy rain, the Dudhsagar Falls was flowing with full flow and
everything looked foggy.After seeing this beauty from every possible angle,I
started my journey towards Kulem.After crossing the 12th and 13th tunnel,one can see the Dudhsagar
Falls.The view of the entire waterfall from this point is simply
spectacular.After walking for about 4 hours,I reached Kulem station.I was
exhausted after walking on the railway tracks for about 10 hours. But the
overall feel of the trek kept my energy levels high.
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