This trek is a day time jungle thing, and we stay in a guest house at night. Cost per head 1600 INR. Payment deadline is 22nd of November, GHAC refund policy applies. The second day of the trek is about 20 to 22kms, weak legs and weak hearts are advised to try other meet-ups. However, the endeavor of spirited trekkers to surpass such limitations is the very essence of GHAC.

Uma-maheshwaram: This spot is on the fringe of the Nallamalai forests, about 100kms from Hyd. A very scenic serpentine route takes us to the hill top to a small cave temple which is believed to be centuries old with a stream trickling by. Walking onto the top of the ridge a couple of hundred feet high, we get a clear view of the valley, the very scenic dragon tail route and the vast landscape which precedes the Nallamalai hills and the forests.

Mallelateertham: We take a diversion at Vatavarlapalli which is about 150kms from Hyd and travel another 10kms into the jungle. We descend about 600ft and reach a spot which seems like a spring burst out of the seams of the heavens. Literally meaning a 'Shower of Jasmines', this spot is a waterfall about 110ft high. A wonderful lush canopy covers the nearby areas (used to be much thicker when I first went 10 years ago). The initial 40ft of the waterfall are heavily jagged rocks both dangerous and adventurous for Free Hand Rock Climbers (I climbed it often, I hope to do so again). The remaining length is a majestic monolith. The water collects in a deep and wide pool and the landscape is a great treat for the eyes.

Mallelateertham Pictures : http://www.hyderabad-...

Ishta-kameshwari : This is a remote spot about 9kms from the road en route Kurnool from Srisailam. This is a much famed temple (the name means 'the wish fulfilling goddess') and held in deep devotion and respect by the tribals. An old sadhu used to live alone near the temple until a few years ago; The forest department moved a few tribal hutments into the area for the convenience of the pilgrims and upkeep. The trek is a winding route crossed by streams at several points with a probability to spot deers, bears, leopards or even tigers, although it is a highly conditional event. Ishta-kameshwari leads to a few tribal villages which are about 20kms ahead (Nakkanti and Palutla) and are a dense tiger country and frequent area of tiger census. The jungle is dense, the route is hard and the wild country is deep.

Day 1:
4:30 am : We start from Hyderbad in a rented transportation.
6:00 am : Cross out skirts
8:00 am : Breakfast near Dindi
10:30 am : We reach Uma-maheshwaram. Trek over the hill ridge till 12 or 1. Have lunch (mostly pre-packed Idlis / Bread & Butter / cakes / nuts and other filling stuff )
2:30 pm : Reach Mallelateertham. Trek around till late evening. Start off to Srisailam
7:30 pm : Reach Srisailam. Get accommodated in the Punnami Guest houses or A.P. Tourism or a similar accommodation. Dinner and retire to bed by 9:30 pm. I mean it, 9:30 pm.

Day 2 - long trek of 20 to 22 kms
4:30 am : Wake up call. I mean that too!
6:30 am : We assemble by 630 am, pack our breakfast and vacate the guest house. Begin the trek at Ishtkamyarthi jungle entrance near Shikharam and begin our trek. The vehicle will pick us up near Shikharam in the evening and the luggage will remain in the vehicle.
8:00 am : We halt for breakfast.
9:15 am : Restart the trek and only wait for 5 or 10mins every 1 hour.
12:00 pm : We intend to reach Ishtakamyarthi temple by 12pm, spend a couple hours trekking near the streams and the dense jungle. Visit the waterfall point 2kms downstream. Complete a frugal working lunch, mostly Bread & Butter / cakes / nuts
and other filling stuff.
2:30 pm : We start off again, we need to cross the jungle before nightfall. Sloth bears, panthers, tigers and wild boars are said to prowl the area. I overheard their noises a few times in the two treks I have done previously.
6:30 pm: We start off for Hyd.
9:00 pm: Dinner at Mannanur, Punnami guest house of APTDC.
10:30 pm: Reach Hyd and to our respective places.