Tropical Trek to Chingara Falls, Coorg
The Chingara falls is one of the bigger waterfalls in the Virajpet side of Coorg in Karnataka. This waterfall, tucked between coffee estates and tropical forests is an ideal place for a tropical trek and that too especially in the monsoons. But, for those who are not in the mood for a trek can still enjoy this waterfall by taking the small concrete road that turns left from Kabinnakad junction on the Virajpet – Madikeri road.
When I was here with my friends sometime back, we preferred to do the tropical trek in the rains from Honey Valley to Chingara Falls. The total round trip for the trek was about 5 kilometres. One side of the journey is a steep descent, while the other one is an ascent that will send the heart racing for even the fittest. The trek is fairly straight forward except for a knee deep stream that needs to be crossed to reach the waterfall. This stream crossing adds some excitement and variety to the trek.
And as is norm in the Western Ghats, a lot of leeches gave us company during the trek. One can get a lot of views of this waterfall during the trek. At certain points, the waterfall will look like a mighty dam of milk that is falling amidst dense greenery. And equally synonymous with this beauty is the thundering roar of this waterfall, which carries excess amounts of water during the monsoons.
The special part about this waterfall is that it offers the trekker the opportunity to go right under it apart from the tropical trek, a spectacular sight and the ability to take a dip in the mountain stream. So, if you are carrying your swimming trunks, you can have a great time at either the stream or the waterfall, both of which will give you a refreshing experience.
If you wish to indulge in photography here, do remember to carry some plastic covers or other rain protection gear for your camera lens as the waterfall spray can carry quite a distance. And if you do not wish to get drenched in the rain, do remember to carry your rain wear. This is one waterfall I would definitely recommend for a high energy and fun-filled half day trip around Virajpet.
