George of the jungle

A wall of greenery, bloodthirsty leeches, and streams of fresh water: What's not to love?

It may seem that the adventurequotient of a hike is proportionalto its altitude, but not everyoneclimbs just to get to the top. Fortropical trekkers, there's morepleasure to be found in exploringjungles and observing nature.

If you've walked through a wildlifereserve or even a coffee estate, you'llknow what to expect. Unlike mountaintreks that are about climbingand soaring views, jungle hikes areabout greenery so abundant it hemsyou in. The land is undulating, theweather humid, it rains often andyou frequently come across lakes,rivers and waterfalls.

"It can suddenly become dark atnoon because of the thick vegetation;finding your way out while tryingnot to disturb the ecological balanceis the challenge," says SankaraSubramanian, 28, from Bangalore.Even plucking a leaf in a bio diversespot can disturb the balance, sotrekkers have to be very cautious.

Subramanian has been on tropicaltreks in central and southernIndia, traversing coffee plantationsat Baba Mulayangiri, wildlife sanctuariesat Brahmagiri, and theKodachadri hills. "I've walked on railwaytracks, through honey valleys,and in dense jungles. It's just beautyof all kinds put together," he says.

Know the challenges
Acclimatisation in tropical areas isabout dealing with humidity, stayinghydrated, and protectingyourself from pollenand dust mite allergies. "Beforestarting out, know your area welland go on a three-hour long trial atdifferent times of the day," sayswildlife filmmaker Mike Pandey.

At various times, Pandey has sufferedallergies, been stung by leechesand encountered charging elephants,tigers and leopards. But he'slearnt these things can be avoided.

"You're not part of their food cycleso animals won't attack unless theyfeel threatened. Listen to the soundsand remain a mute spectator. In thatlies the adventure," he says.

Leeches are a major concern it'shard to escape them. Some trekkersmix salt, lemon, snuff and tobaccoin cloth and tie it around their legs.Others take saltwater baths withDettol and soaktheir socks, jeans and cap in thesame solution.

Some places have specific challenges.For the Sabarimala templetrek in Kerala, for example, hikerspractise walking barefoot on athorny path 40 days before the journey.And if you go to the Dudhsagarwaterfalls in Goa, you'll encounterwhisper rain: A moisture-filled mistthat condenses into water when youwalk through it.

Staying safe in the wild
Exploring uncharted lands maysound tempting, but wandering intothe forest without foreknowledge isa bad idea. "A map isn't always helpful,since rain can transform thetopography," says Subramanian. Tobe safe, travel in a group, stay onthe trail, and take along a local guide.

"Trekking on forest territory isn'tpermitted in quite a few places, soapprise the local authorities of yourtrip. They might mistake you forpoachers otherwise," says Pandey.

You'll need to have the right gear,but travelling light is important. Usea headlamp, wear good boots, a raincoatand carry thick clothing so thatyou can avoid being bitten by insectsand other small creatures.

So take along a camera. Sayswildlife photographer GauravAthalye, "If you're bored of landscapephotography, on tropical treksyou can explore a whole new vista-- that of macro-photography."

Start your trek early in the day,and camp near a village at night. "Asyou walk across the Nilgiris, you hitsmall towns where farmers growspices and even herbal medicines.It's overwhelming to see what naturekeeps hidden from you until you discoverit for yourself," says Pandey.

Tropical treks
Periyar forest in Kerala, can beexplored on day/night trek.Kodagu peak in Coorg is the highestin Karnataka and known for thelocals who're beekeepers.At the Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuaryin Karnataka you may see gaurs,elephants, tigers and deer.At Silent Valley park, Kerala, youcan study butterflies, orchids.
Keep these in mind
Carry empty bags and bring backyour trash. Never chop trees.Try not to use toothpaste as it hasfluoride that can kill fish in the water.Conduct a recce beforehand or trekwith a local who knows the forest.Plan the trek so that you end theday at a village on the forest's edge.Don't panic if faced by an animal;they don't attack unless cornered.

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