| Sixty kilometers from Bangalore was our | | | | would truly be tested. It's better to have either a |
| destination drive for the Saturday night; we | | | | guide who knows the path from entrance to exit, |
| couldn't compromise on the activity either, given | | | | or someone who has visited the place before. |
| the ungodly hour we chose! Though each of us | | | | Otherwise, you could end up on a giant boulder |
| was extremely tired after a week-long toil at | | | | with nowhere to go further, and going back is not |
| work, adventure was still the priority on every | | | | an option you could choose, if you've landed there |
| one's list. And if not the adventure- thirsty souls, | | | | after a few jumps! |
| who would capitulate to night time adventure? | | | | One sight that you shouldn't miss - the moon (it |
| Forty miles from Bangalore, Anthargange in Kolar | | | | was full moon when we went) from deep inside |
| - a perennial spring in the east of the Kolar hills on | | | | the cave. After literally crawling your way out |
| a naturally formed hill of boulder sized rocks | | | | from between two gigantic boulders, you should |
| heaped together to form an excellent network of | | | | be at the exit, but there's actually more than one |
| caves; heavily wooded near the foot of the hill | | | | exit. The entire activity should take about an hour |
| but just dried thorny bushes into the climb - this | | | | or two. So time yourself such that you get out at |
| was just about the perfect destination. The place | | | | sunrise - something worth the trouble you took |
| had religious associations owing to the spring and | | | | to trek through the cave! It was so wonderful |
| a temple, and frequented by tourists and pilgrims | | | | that I actually dropped my cam trying to |
| alike in the day. But the night solely belonged to | | | | compose the setting while trying to reach a higher |
| audacious traveler. | | | | point! |
| Few minutes into the trek, you would reach the | | | | Apart from that, I think the entire experience |
| spring that culminates in the mouth of a stone bull. | | | | was enthralling. Climbing our way down, about |
| About half an hour into the trek, you're almost | | | | fifteen minutes is what it takes. What had |
| done reaching the top of the hill. Only, you just | | | | seemed devoid of any traces of life was now |
| can't find 'the' highest point on this hill, hence the | | | | abounding with life; the place was infested with |
| name Satasringa Parvata, the land of hundred | | | | monkeys. The night had them confined to their |
| peaks. The view of the Kolar city from atop this | | | | branches I guess. I never happened to be so |
| hill at night - lights scattered across the city, like | | | | close to scores of monkeys, it was frightening to |
| fireflies in the night sky - you should definitely | | | | walk past them. Strangely, the monkeys seemed |
| stop for a drink. A can of beer should be fine, | | | | to be at ease with us, they were probably used |
| save the rest for later. | | | | to humans. Unless you are carrying any object |
| Once you're ready to resume your trek, gear up | | | | that interests them, there isn't a reason to worry; |
| to the true test of endurance. The night makes it | | | | nonetheless they're still monkeys - unpredictable is |
| a lot tougher to spot the one cave that is the | | | | the word! |
| most celebrated of all. Most other caves are small | | | | Stuff that might come in handy: Torch lights, First |
| and rather not a choice for explorers. Camping is | | | | Aid kit, well packed food (make sure they're well |
| a popular choice in such caves, though as a word | | | | inside your backpacks) and some cans of beer |
| of caution, I'd add that fires are not to be lit. The | | | | and sleeping bags if you wish to spend the night |
| bigger cave is what you're in search of - narrow | | | | star-gazing! |
| gaps, slippery boulders, vertical passages; you | | | | |