There are some places you visit, and some places that stay with you long after the trip ends — and Kudajadri was one of those for me. I didn’t go there expecting anything big, but somewhere between the winding jeep track, the mist that kept playing hide-and-seek, and those silent stretches of forest, the place started speaking in its own way.
This photo story is just my way of reliving that day… the views I stopped for, the trails that made me slow down, and the small moments that felt bigger than they looked. Not a detailed guide or anything — just the scenes exactly as I saw them.
Scroll through if you want to feel the vibe of Kudajadri the way I felt it — raw, cloudy, peaceful, and a little magical.
And here I start……….
The last quiet stretch before the checkpost… just a calm village road with the hills slowly rising ahead.The track slowly turned wild here… red mud, tight curves, and the first real hint of how raw the climb was going to be.This was the moment the climb turned real—broken mud, rocks, and the first glimpse of the vast valley below.This rocky climb was the last segment before we reached the trek’s starting baseClosing in on the base from where the actual Kudajadri trek starts.The base temple area, from where the final walk towards Sarvanjapeetha beginsThe first clear view after taking the U-turn—trekkers already dotted along the steep ridge ahead.The ridge walk started to feel real here… a narrow path on the edge, climbing slowly towards the top.A stunning left-side view opened up here… endless hills fading into the distance.The trail curved along the ridge here… a quiet walk with open hills stretching aheadUp here, the clouds kept drifting in and out… throwing moving shadows across the valleys belowAfter the open ridges, this shaded forest stretch felt like a small relief.The shade stayed… but the rocky climb continued inside the forest.The last climb towards Sarvanjapeetha… the small stone shelter finally coming into viewAt Sarvanjapeetha, Ifound a friend slipping into a quiet moment of meditation inside the ancient stone shrineJust beside Sarvanjapeetha, this cliffside opened up… offering a deep, endless view of the mountainsThe return had its own tough stretches… this rocky slope felt even steeper on the way down.The trail slowly opened back to the temple area… the same spot where the climb had startedOne more rough bend on the way back… the jeeps handled these curves like it was nothing.And just like that… the rough trails ended, and the smooth road towards Mookambika welcomed us back.
The journey to Kudajadri was not just about reaching the Sarvanjapeetha, but about every stretch of road, every climb, and every breath of the mountains that came with it. The rough trails, the shifting clouds, the sudden silence of the forest, and those sweeping views all stitched together a day worth remembering. By the time I reached the smooth road back to Mookambika, the whole ride felt like a story the hills whispered. Tiring for the body, yes — but refreshing for the soul in every possible way.
Click here to read my complete Kudajadri travel experience
