The Green Route is a trekking segment that falls on the railway line between Sakleshpur and Mangalore which is 147 kilometres long and offers a hiker with the best of sub-tropical climate. Flanking the entire route are the Western Ghats with forests that seem impenetrable, colouring up the entire place in a shocking green.
The Sakleshpur - Subrahmanya railway segment is about 52 km. It has around 50 tunnels that have their serial number and length painted on them and bridges as much as 0.75 km long and height varying from a few metres to 200 metres.
The 20 km trail called the ‘Green Route’ begins from the Donegal station and ends at Yedakumeri. Several segments appear en route.
The railway track has bridges, most of which do not have railings on either sides. Most of them are long enough and high enough to intimidate the trekker. To be specific, a few of them seem to be built over an abyss, some have waterfalls underneath, or the remnants of a river.
The tunnels that fall along this route have the serial numbers painted on them.
A few of them are nearly half a kilometre long or more and are curved in such a way that light fades into darkness towards the centre. So a powerful torch would be indispensable to tread through these paths and it is best to stay towards the centre of the path to avoid snakes and other creepy crawlers.
Waterfalls that can be heard from afar are also common as one goes along. There are shallow streams where one could also take a swim. There are leeches especially where there is a water body close by. It is best to carry some salt along so that leeches stuck to the skin can be cast off.
Trains passing through the track could be heard from almost a kilometre away. So, one has to step down from the track to the side and it is a thrilling experience to watch the train pass from such a short distance.
Since it is not exactly a ‘climb’, the trek is possible even during summers and as always it is best to start before sunrise in order to save up some energy for the rest of the day. The weather is pretty unpredictable as it can rain or get warm and muggy all of a sudden. The trails are muddy so it is best to wear trekking shoes. Floaters will just not work.
Carry light food like a few dry chapatis or bun, essentially food that won’t get spoilt due to weather changes. Water bottles can be refilled from the plethora of springs that come along.
On continuing into the rest of the day there is a forest that has to be crossed in about two hours to reach the Sakleshpur Highway from where it is a seven hour drive back to Bangalore.
The Bisle Reserve Forest located here at Sakleshpur is listed as one of the most diverse spots in the world. This is a place where one will end up forming a lifelong relationship with nature. Do not forget your camera.
There are KSRTC buses available from Bangalore to Sakleshpur. Donegal station is just an auto ride away from Sakleshpur. Another option is to take a train from Bangalore to Subramanya Road Station where Yedakumeri station falls on the way. On getting off at Yedakumeri, one can begin to pursue the railway track and head towards Donegal.
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