The Sharavathi Valley
The Sharavathi river valley nestled in the central Western Ghats, Shimoga district has been an ecological paradise. The Sharavathi River, rising at Ambuthirtha in Thirthahalli taluk flows north-west and drops down in the Ghats at the world famous Jog falls.
The sharavathi Valley is home for many water falls and to some of the beautiful streams. The valley is evergreen to semi-evergreen forest along with moist deciduous type of forests that dominate the entire basin along with scrub savannah, grasslands, marshy areas and plantation of acacia, cash crops like areca and rubber providing diverse niches for a variety of taxa. Rare evergreen species such as Dipterocarpus, Syzygium, Cinnamon, Diospyros, Aglaia, endemic Palms along with the globally endangered Myrist-icasps makes this an ecologically sensitive region to be conserved and not marketed.
Sharavathi Backwater:
Sharavathi backwater is about 60 KM in length and about 15 KM wide !!!. It became backwater when dam was constructed at Linganamakki of Sagara taluk in Shivamogga(Shimoga) district to the river Sharavathi. This backwater has created lots of islands. It is so great to explore all these, where thick vegetation still exist and lot of wild life in it including some rare birds.
And he has quite a good summary of the trip as well:
Trekking bare foot,
Swimming in the baby pool,
Enjoying hot meals in the jungle,
Sitting on the edge of rocks watching small natural aquarium,
Rowing boats to home island without knowing any technical details first day and getting all detail and instruction next day :),
Playing antakshri "the symbol of unity in diversity",
Taking dinner under the shelter of stars and moon,
Asking the sun "Give me some sunshine, give me some rays, give one more chance to grow up again" in the morning,
Our toilet island/hill,
Floating just like the last leaf,
Joining graduation ceremony of Praveen aka toppler who got graduated in toppling(For master he need to topple speed boat and for PhD need to topple ship :) :)),
Hijacking the boat,
Taking mud bath at bathroom island,
Rowing the kayak a far away and realizing the cacophony of the concrete jungle,
And the photography prohibited dhaba.
PS: Quoted lines in Italics.
