Actress and anchor Ranjini Haridas has attracted numerous fans thanks to her gift of the gab and courage to speak her mind. Travels are close to Ranjini’s heart and she has visited numerous places as part of her work and on a personal note. “I wish to travel to every place that pleases my mind,” says the celebrity.
Ranjini loves adventure trips and conducts a detailed study of the destination with the help of Google. “By the time I reach that place, I would be familiar with the local culture, people and food,” she says.
Recently, Ranjini launched a YouTube channel on her travels which has earned many likes. Ranjini’s latest video shows her trip to Mookambika Temple and Kudajadri peak along with her mother.
“The Kudajadri visit was planned when we had plenty of time after praying at Mookambika Temple. There were no elaborate preparations before the trip but I will always remember the jeep ride,” says the celebrity.
Kudajadri is the thirteenth tallest peak in Karnataka and is surrounded by mist-covered rain forests. Experiencing rainfall during eight months of a year, Kudajadri is rich in biodiversity.
The jeep ride to Kudajadri starts from Kollur. A four-seat jeep charges Rs 2,800 as fare and an eight-seat vehicle Rs 350 per passenger. The travel time is one-and-a-half hours and visitors can spend the same amount of time at Kudajadri. For every hour of delay, a waiting charge of Rs 20 has to be paid. The road is bumpy and unpaved for a distance of 10 km.
The jeep will take travellers to about 1.5 km from the Top Station. From there, trekking starts. Facilities for safekeeping of visitors’ footwear and other items are available here.
Located 21 km from Kollur, Kudajadri can also be reached from the district headquarters in Shimoga. Travellers who prefer to trek on foot all way to the peak through the forest can also engage in this task. For this option, take a bus heading to Shimoga from Kollur and get down 8 km away where the forest path starts. On the way is a small village where some Keralites are among residents. The trek would last 4-5 hours.
Adi Mookambika Temple, considered the original abode of Goddess Mookambika, is located at Kudajadri. ‘Shankara peedom’, a monument where Shankaracharya meditated, can also be seen at the peak.
