Tadiandamol Peak

During the monsoon season, which is arguably the best time to go there, water is not a concern at all. Many water sources are available, especially the river which is located near the big rock at the base camp.

1. If camping at the Big Rock, keep an eye out for elephants.
2. Although water is easily available at the base camp, not so much at the peak. So bring water along if camping at the peak.
3. The weather gets pretty windy and violently rainy at the peak during the monsoon, so make sure to check the weather forecast.
4. The trail is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, so there really isn't a need for a guide if you have previous experience trekking.

There are two best places to camp, the base camp near the big rock and the peak. The base camp is where I would recommend you set-up camp. There is water available nearby and it's a large area so it can easily accommodate a huge number of tents. The peak is an area which beginners shouldn't aim for. But if you do, carry large amounts of water with you as there isn't any available at the peak and reach early to save your spot because it can only take upto a maximum of 5 tents.

There are many trekkers who start their trek directly from the village of Kakkabe, but another feasible option is taking a vehicle directly to the start-up point A as the road is pretty straightforward and smooth.

The start of the trek is a place called "Nalakand Palace" which is only about 3 kms away from Kakkabe. The road to the palace is lined with greenery as far as the eye can see and the views yet to be seen are even more awe-inspiring. The trail from the Palace to the Big Rock is narrow but still well defined and easy to find. The path has beautiful waterfalls surrounding it.

The Big Rock is the first landmark that you will come across. It is a huge rock, evident from the name, at the base of the hill that has camping accommodation and a river nearby and it's the ideal place for camping. After this point, the trail gets steeper and narrower. Deep, dark and dense forests start surrounding the trail and it can get pitch black if you are not lucky enough to get clear skies. The last stretch is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and breathtaking with flowers and fauna all around you.

• Rail: Numerous trains are available from every possible location to Bangalore and Mysore, even Vijyapet for that matter. After reaching one of these start-up points, you will have to arrange for a personal vehicle for the rest of the journey, or you could always opt for public transportation which is much cheaper and safer.

• Road: The town of Kakkabe is approximately 250 kms away from Bangalore and 135 kms from Mysore. A car ride is a convenient and hassle-free option if you are aware of the area and the general region. After reaching the town of Kakkabe, the base camp is located a little further away near a big rock which is a major landmark of the trek. Many bus depots are also available for the journey from Virajpet which is 25kms to Kakkabe.

Approx trek time : around 5-8 hours

Availability of night trek: N/A

Base Camp: located near a village named Kakkabe

Days required for the trek: 2 to 4 days

Difficulty level: Moderate

Height above sea level: 5740 feet

Nearest Airport: Mysore airport

Nearest Railhead: Mysore railway station which is somewhat 100 kms away from Kakkabe

Region: Coorg

Starting point of trek: Kakkabe; There isn't really a proper name for the base camp but it is a forest cover around 3 km away from the main town of Kakkabe

Type: Hill and forest type