At the end of my Ultra running season last year, Ranga put
up a suggestion in my running group BHUKMP to do an overnighter at his alma
mater – Rishi Valley School. Nested in Madanapalle near Chitoor, amidst stony
hills, the lush green 400 acre campus seemed like a perfect outing for the
kids.
The morning duties takes much longer with the kids, we left
mid-morning. Although the roads were good, the 150+ kms seemed to take forever.
It was brutally hot, we managed to reach the campus just in time when the rest
of the folks were headed to the campus mess for lunch. We had simple, but
delicious and healthy lunch, seated cross legged on mats and low tables. The
lunch was tastefully prepared.
The guest house was earthy and cool, perfect for resting
after the drive and meal.
In the evening, the entire gang headed to the nearby Cave
Rock hill overlooking the campus for a hike. Rishi valley is nested in the
middle of a few hills – Cave Rock hill, Rishi Konda, Peddu Konda and Horsley
Konda. We decided to take the stroller along for a bit for my daughter, with my
one year old on a sling. Within a few mins, we had to lose the stroller due to
the tough terrain. Soon enough, my daughter tripped over a stone and refused to
take another step.
So we climbed then, with my son on the back and my daughter on
the front clinging on the superdad. Cheenu, who studies in the school, was our
guide for the trek.
We had company of a friend’s mom who at 70+ climbed the hill
wearing a saree. Its only after you climb the peak that you get to know the
difficult part is getting down!!
Thick dry thorny shrubs were all we could get for support as
we scrapped our behind on sliding rocks. Balance was precarious as we shifted
kids from hand to hand and the sling from front to back. We missed the “cave”
of the cave rock on the way down, but made it down in one piece.
The evening was spent in listening to one of the teachers
talk passionately and answer a whole lot of questions on life and philosophy of
Jiddu Krishnamurti, the founder of the boarding school.
The highlight of the next morning was breakfast of Ragi Idli
& vada sambar (mini vadas floating in sambar that goes with Idli) for
breakfast at the student mess. Coming after a forgettable, hot and exhausting
run up to Horsley hills made it doubly delightful. While some chose to go to
the nearby sliding rock, others decided to take a shorter trek to Horsley hills
via the pipeline route.
Overall a fantastic outing – a first trek for my little one!
