Hike from picturesque and gorgeous Dudhsagar waterfall to Kuveshi - Goa Trek - Day 5

Day five of the Goa Trek organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India was, in my opinion, the most anticipated of all. We had covered more than 12 kilometers of the trek, including the very famous Dudhsagar waterfall, tunnels, crossing the bridge that goes right across the waterfalls, then the steep climb to the tip of the waterfall and swimming nearby, followed by a long walk all the way to Kuveshi, which is in Karnataka. On day five, we begin our walk in Goa at the Dudhsagar campground and finish in Karnataka at Kuveshi.

How can I go to Dudhsagar waterfall?

We walked for the Dudhsagar waterfalls after receiving stern instructions from our camp leader at Dudhsagar camp (related: how to approach Dudhsagar campground). But first, we had to cross a brook and then follow the jeep trail. We get our first view of the upper section of Dudhsagar waterfall on the approach, right before the main entrance to Dudhsagar. Continue walking until you reach the end of the jeep path. You may either climb to the overlook for a better view of the falls or continue the route to the waterfalls.

Can I swim at Dudhsagar waterfall Goa?

This is a well-kept tourist attraction. Cross the two iron bridges until you reach a vantage point from where you can see the entire cascade. Take a few photos and continue walking until you reach the foot of the waterfalls. This location may be a little congested. Swimming is permitted inside the designated safe zone area at this location. Wait a bit till you see the train crossing the bridge high above, and don't forget to take the classic photo that you've seen on the internet. The place may remain closed at any time (usually during monsoon because of heavy rain and it's dangerous to swim).

Crossing the bridge right across the waterfalls

Return to the spot at the viewpoint where there is a split to the left after spending some time at the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The following 30 minutes of the route are filled with thorns and palm palms, with a sharp ascent to the railway track. Continue walking to the left until you reach the tunnel. You may need a torch because it is very dark and a snake-infested area, however, I did not spot any.

Trains travel through the tunnel typically every 20 minutes, so move swiftly through it. Some individuals may feel suffocated within the tunnel, and there isn't much room to stand on the sides while the train passes. The first tunnel, number 12, is around 90 meters long, while the second tunnel, number 13, is 45 meters long, with a sinkhole appearing between the two tunnels.

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We were back in Dudhsagar, but at a different elevation, somewhere in the middle where the railway runs, shortly after passing through the second tunnel. The view from here is quite spectacular. The deep, dense rain forest that we've been exploring for many days is on the left, and the tallest half of the waterfalls is to the right. The waterfall's base is to the left, and it is considerably lower than what we had walked earlier in the morning.

There is little camping space near the bridge, and this camping location is generally closed, so you may be out of luck if you want to stay near the Dudhsagar waterfalls. Check with the local forest service for permission before camping, since the region is periodically prohibited.

The waterfalls were dry when we came during the Christmas holidays. This area has been abandoned, and you may see the ruins as well as the badly maintained vistas and steps leading under the bridge. Most sections have red flags because this region is extremely dangerous, and no one should attempt to enter the water near the railway track. There were nearly 100 fatalities reported.

Continue walking down the track until you reach Tunnel 14, which is a curving 110-meter-long tunnel. An ancient abandoned railway post with accommodations may be found at the other end of the tunnel. Enter this area and escape from the other side as we continue to climb upward through the forest above the tunnel to reach the waterfall's peak/mouth. Continue for another hour or so. As you travel up the route, you receive a mobile signal in between.

As we neared the summit, we were denied access to the waterfall's mouth for unknown reasons, and we were fortunate to come across a hawker selling chilly beverages and bananas at three times the typical price. We didn't mind paying because it was much needed after a long uphill journey.

We continued further for a while till we reached the stream where we took a long break. We hWe carried on for a bit until we arrived at the creek, where we had a long break. We had a lot of fun in the water and ate our lunch near to the stream. We kept walking for another hour into the Karnataka jungle till we arrived at the Kuveshi camp, the highest point of our entire hike.

You may see a few human villages and paddy fields here. We set a tent in one of these paddy fields. This campground is connected via a jeep trail. We arrived early and spent the night at the campground. On the next day, we go from Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock.

Commonly asked questions

What is the cost of Dudhsagar waterfall?

The admission fee to Dudhsagar Falls from Castle Rock is around INR 400. The best spot to grab a ride is the Dudhsagar Falls jeep booking center, or the Dudhsagar jeep taxi stand, where you can book your jeep the quickest.

What is the best time to visit dudhsagar?

During the monsoon, you will behold nature's ultimate splendor. So, from July to October, or during and after the monsoon, is the best time to see this waterfall. Can we take bath in Dudhsagar Falls? - The above pictures are from the end of December and the water level is low, ideal if you want to swim at the base of the waterfall.

So, Is Dudhsagar waterfall worth visiting? - The 'Dudhsagar Falls' is worth seeing, especially during the rainy season. It has its own unique beauty. Check the complete details of 10 days Goa trekking expedition. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Tarsar Trek - Day 4 - Shekwas to Tarsar

Day four of Tarsar trek is a gradual climb up the trail from Shekwas to all the way till Tarsar crossing grassland, valley, streams and boulders. The amazing landscape around as you climb up is just awesome. It's about five kilometers of hike and you gain about 500 meters in height. Finally, you reach the heaven on earth, the Tarsar lake.

If you have not gone through my previous three days of Tarsar trek, then check these out:

Tarsar Trek – Day 1 – Srinagar to Aru drive Tarsar Trek – Day 2 – Aru to Lidderwat Tarsar Trek – Day 3 – Lidderwat to Shekwas

Shekwas campsite early in the morning may be very beautiful if you can wake up early in the morning. The fog covered mountain peaks, sun rays appearing like some godly rays. We had our breakfast and were ready for the trek with our backpacks. You can spend more time at Shekwas campsite in the morning and leave the camp a bit late as the trek on day four is for hardly five kilometers and will not take much time. The valley to the left takes you to the Tarsar lake. But, the trail is a gradual climb initially followed by crossing over the huge boulders and then the ice cold stream and then the ridges. Don't forget to turn around and capture few photos as you can see the amazing landscape around and the valley that goes far below. There are few local shepherds huts on the way. The Shekwas campsite looks like a small dot from this place. Continue to trek further till you see the lake. Cross the stream again and you will be at your campsite.

Milky way captured at Tarsar Lake campsite in the Himalayas, J&K, India. In the foreground is our dining tent, in the... Posted by Ravindra Joisa Photography on Tuesday, September 8, 2015

The water at Tarsar lake is crystal clear. You may camp right next to the lake. Go in and around the campsite and have a wonderful evening, walk around this beautiful lake. Expect cold breeze at night and you get to hear the waves hitting those boulders. We had a wonderful experience at this campsite. Awesome place for some night time photography, Astro or galaxy shots. There is hardly any kind of light pollution in this area and an ideal place for those Milkyway shots. Check out the video below and subscribe to my channel.

Wonderful experience hiking the Dudhsagar trail full of streams - Goa Trek - Day 4

The fourth day of our Goa hike is the Dudgsagar trail from Cansaulim to Dudhsagar camp was a lot of fun. After spending the entire day on day 3 in Benaulim, Cansaulim beach, and so on, day 4 was very different because the entire Dudhsagar trail was in the forest. The first 45 kilometers were via railway, followed by a muddy jeep route and seven stream crossings in the forest. On this day, we don't get to view the Dudhsagar waterfall, but we do arrive at the campground, which is quite near to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.

The entire 10-kilometer route runs beside a railway track, and even if you can't see the track, you can clearly hear the freight train honking and making loud noises from its engines. On the fourth day, you will pass the most streams. The water in the streams comes from the Dudhsagar falls, and our hiking zigzag trail runs parallel to the stream, railway track, and jeep road.

Hike from Colem railway station

We arrived at Colem railway station and proceeded to cross the track to the opposite side. Most visitors drive a jeep from here all the way to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. This is the final shopping area as well as the last residential section. We took the jeep track and went through the dirt. The first stream crossing was only a ten-minute walk away from the taxi stand. There are far too many jeeps carrying visitors over this brook. We continued on the muddy jeep path after crossing the stream until we reached the main entrance.

Dudhsagar trail - Multiple Stream crossing

Purchase a forest entry ticket. You are entering the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. Our path weaved in and out of the jeep route, alongside a railroad track, and through various streams. As you will be crossing seven streams in the Dudgsagar trail, it is best not to wear hiking shoes and to wear something that can be readily removed. Along the route, you'll witness a few viewpoints along the stream, as well as man-made check dams and wooden bridges.

Dudhsagar waterfall campsite

Continue on the Dudgsagar trail till you reach the campground in Dudhsagar. We saw a Hornbill bird and a large brown squirrel with a whitetail in the campground. This campground has an antique home as well as beetle nut farming. The brook where you may take a bath is right next to the campground (remember not to use soap when you hike with YHAI or even otherwise).

It may be chilly here at Dudhsagar campground at night, and you can hear the train making too much noise and using its Doppler effect when it enters the tunnel and travels far away. The train does a U-turn around the campground and begins to ascend. The train may be seen moving far above and entering and exiting the tunnel. It used to be completely silent for a time, then there would be a boom of sound from the engines when the train exited the tunnel.

We heard a peculiar noise late at night that was thought to be deer. We were fortunate to have an LED light in our tent since someone in our hiking party brought a 5-kilogram battery all the way. It was entertaining. To get a sense of the hiking path, watch the video below. The hiking trail shown here is also known by the name Dudhsagar hiking trail or Dudhsagar trekking route, as people come here just to hike the Dudhsagar.

Climbing the Dudhsagar waterfall

The Dudhsagar waterfall path will be covered on Day 5 of the Goa trip. The walk begins with a visit to the foot of the waterfall, which is a popular tourist destination. We hiked up to the railway track and entered the middle section of the waterfall, then continued the hiking route along the railway track, traversed a few caves, and climbed up to the waterfall's mouth. For more details check - Day 5 – Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi.

Check the complete details of 10 days Goa trekking expedition. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Power of Light to get stunning images - 4 things to keep in mind

Understanding the power of light is an important aspect of photography to consider. Light is crucial because it has the ability to transform an ordinary image into something amazing. To capture those stunning photographs, one must be able to sense light, comprehend light, the direction of light, the moment the image is captured, and understand the camera sensor so that the same is caught in the final image output. Well, that's the power of light or the importance of light in photography.

What is the significance of light in photography?

Power of light has the ability to turn light and time into something tangible. We all speak the same universal language, and amazing images express so much in an instant, without the need of words or sound. We think in static pictures, and they help us remember things. Strong lighting gives a shot more depth and emotion. Soft light allows you to photograph subjects in a calm, peaceful environment. The direction of a light source has a big impact on how we perceive it and how an object in a scene appears. Front lighting, for instance, does not disclose shape.

What are the characteristics of light photography?

Power of light - Quantity 

The amount or power of light is also known as the intensity of light, and the concept is simple: how much light is there when you enter into a room where you plan to take a photo? Similarly, everything is underexposed when you step into a dimly lit environment. A camera operates in a similar manner. However, unlike the human eye, which must adjust to its surroundings naturally, we can regulate the intensity of light within our camera by adjusting the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.

If you're photographing a scene in bright sunlight, your ISO will be lower than if you're capturing the same picture at night. Similarly, in broad sunshine when the power of light is high, you'll want a quick shutter speed or a tiny aperture to go with your low ISO to avoid a blown-out shot.

Golden hours - Natural light Photography

The time of day when the photograph is recorded is quite critical. When compared to photographs acquired during the daylight under strong light, you obtain the greatest results when you capture images during the golden hours, in the morning at dawn and in the evening at sunset. What I like about the light during golden hour is that it gives my photos a dramatic feel. Photography feelings and emotions can be expressed in this kind of images.

The beautiful orange hue in the Arabian Sea is due to the sunset, as seen in the above photograph, and the reflection of light is caught. It's crucial to find the correct light for your image, and the time of day counts a lot when it comes to capturing that spectacular shot. Typically, images taken during the day or at midday are flat and too bright. The use of a polarizer will undoubtedly aid in the creation of those glare and reflections.

Your camera may also be used to regulate the strength of light. Although the aperture, ISO, and shutter cannot replace golden hours, you may manage the amount of light that enters the sensor by adjusting the aperture, ISO, and shutter. Warm light seems nicer and has a more attractive impact on the human eye, which may be achieved by changing the kelvin value from colder (blue) to warmer (yellow/orange) in post-production or by changing the white balance in the camera settings.

Only during the golden hours will you be able to catch the natural warm light on your camera. As a result, be prepared with your image's composition and catch it when the light is warm. Understanding the power of light can greatly assist you in capturing those amazing "Wow" moments. Checkout my article on Golden Hour – A truly magical hour to get the best of best photos.

Here is an image of mine captured at Dal Lake, Kashmir, India late in the evening soon after sunset published by 'Lonely Planet'.

Quality of light

The quality of light is more difficult to judge than the amount of light. Instead, it is determined by our perception of light. Hard lighting is a type of lighting that is harsh, directed, and can throw long shadows. It may make photographing conditions challenging, such as portraits taken outside. Hard light, on the other hand, isn't always a bad thing; it may be employed creatively to give dramatic flair to your photos.

Soft lighting, on the other hand, is diffused and comes from a non-directional source. It can aid in the creation of smoothness and the elimination of those sharp shadows that are common under harsh lighting. Soft lighting may be found in the natural world, such as when the sky is cloudy or when sunshine rushes in through a window.

Direction of light

The way light falls on your subject has an impact on its overall look and, as a result, the final shot. Experimenting with light direction in a studio situation may help you fine-tune your subject's appearance and bring your distinctive vision to life. Things get a little difficult if you're filming outside.

When the sun is your primary light source, you can't shift it about as easily as you can with artificial lighting. However, you may move your subject about until you achieve the desired effect. With a rudimentary grasp of light and its qualities, you can work to control the environment and acquire the exact shots you want as a photographer.

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post on power of light and how important it is to consider to get some stunning images. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

 

Hiking in the beautiful Benaulim Beach - South Goa Trek - Day 3

The third day of the Youth Hostel Goa trekking consists of a long flat 11-kilometer walk from Benaulim beach to Cansaulim beach. In between, we visited some well-known most beautiful, and cleanest south Goa beaches. This location is great for spending time with friends while on vacation.

What to expect on day 3 of Goa trekking?

We packed our belongings and walked the rest of the way. In little time, I had seen the majority of the so-called famed beaches in southern Goa. Sernabatim Beach, Colva Beach, Betalbatim Beach, Sunset Beach, Majorda Beach, Utorda Beach, and Arossim Beach were all visited. For a variety of reasons, this is a perfect location.

I saw pricey water activities, parasailing, surfing, boats, kids playing, fishing, beach volleyball, and intoxicated people. I even noticed family photoshoots and destination wedding celebrations taking place on the coast. The majority of Goa's resorts and fine hotels are concentrated in this region.

South Goa beach is a beautiful location with a clean beach that is less congested, making it perfect for New Year's Eve celebrations. A lovely location for water sports such as speed boats, parasailing, and a variety of other water sports.

Few commonly asked questions

Is Benaulim beach safe to visit?

Absolutely! One of the cleanest and safest beaches in South Goa. This location attracts a large number of international tourists and is less congested. Beach hotels in Benaulim are popular in this region.

Does Benaulim Beach have shacks?

When visiting Benaulim Beach, stop by this picturesque beach hut for some delicious steaks and mashed potatoes. Thursday nights are especially lively as well-known DJs spin vintage, techno, and rock oldies. If you want to dance to the music, there's also a hardwood dance floor.

Which beach is better colva or benaulim?

Beaches in and around Colva-Benaulim. Benaulim is around 2 kilometers distant from Colva and is more tranquil and serene than Colva. Benaulim offers a retreat to experience nature in all its splendor with few people who do not disrupt its quiet. The historic Portuguese homes may still be seen.

Is Benaulim beach in North or South Goa?

Benaulim is a hamlet in the Indian state of Goa. It is located in the Salcete taluka of the South Goa district, and it borders Colva village to the north, Margao to the northeast, and Varca village to the south. More on Benaulim beach can be found in Wiki.

Camping overnight and the next day

Even though it was a long flat walk, the beach was a lot of fun and we camped overnight at Campal Sports Complex. The next day, day 4 of the Goa trek saw us enter the rain forest of the western ghats, beginning with the train ride and continuing with the climb to Dudhsagar basecamp, which required us to cross many streams. More info here - Day 4 – Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp. The place is known for some endangered wildlife.

Check the complete details of 10 days Goa trekking expedition. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Controlling picture taking process to capture exceptional images

Most people make this common mistake of not knowing in and out of their camera and have no clue about controlling the picture taking process. Whatever your camera is, whether you have an expensive high-end full-frame or an entry-level camera body if you don't know how your camera works then there is no point in investing so much money on camera gear.

The exposure triangle

Learn the technical stuff about cameras first irrespective of the camera that you have. Once you buy a camera, learn what each button does and what options you have for that camera. Once you know these settings and buttons, picture taking process becomes easy. It is like knowing where the gear, breaks, clutch, and accelerator are, knowing where the indicator switches are while learning to drive. Once you master these you don't have to think about these while driving as we do these automatically without even looking at them. The same is the case with your camera settings. Once you know where and what these settings are and when to use them, the picture-taking process becomes much easier.

How do you do these? Well, first go through the manual or videos available online and know what each button does. Get familiarized with these buttons and settings present in the camera menu. Second, understand the basics - Aperture (check - basics of aperture), Shutter, and ISO, also called the exposure traingle.

We use a handful of the photographic skills we've studied to construct photographs, but it's primarily an unconscious act of applying what we've learned that results in a nice shot. Using diagonal lines, the rule of thirds, framing our topic in a specific way, and so on. This is critical for being quick and making judgments, but it also raises the chance of repeating the same photo "template."

Practice the picture taking process

Sit in one place, with the same subject in front of your camera, play with these three and compare the images. Next, think about composing images. I have seen many who capture in Auto mode. I don't say that auto mode is wrong. But, use auto mode once you know the manual mode in-depth and explore those possibilities that your camera can capture, which cannot be captured using auto mode or in other modes.

If you already know about the picture taking process, then try to play around with natural and artificial light, tripods, long exposure shots, filters, and polarizers. Once you master these which comes by practice, you don't have to worry about the technical side of an image or the picture-taking process, and instead, you will start enjoying photography.

Observation and anticipation

Because the photographer is aware of their surroundings, they will take less time to make key decisions like how to use natural light or which foreground and backdrop to employ. This is especially important when building a picture that includes the subject at the very end. A wedding photographer shooting candid images is the best example.

The next ability to develop in picture taking process is anticipation. Moving ahead with the photo concept, predicting where a possible subject will be and where the light will change, is critical to capturing a stunning shot. This necessitates being physically healthy enough to move rapidly, especially in crowded situations such as a wedding or an event.

Hope you enjoyed reading this picture taking process blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Lidderwat to Shekwas: Extraordinary journey in the Paradise | Tarsar Trek - Day 3

Day three of the Tarsar trek is a gradual climb from Lidderwat to Shekwas campsite. You gain about 1600 feet on this day, from 9100 feet at Lidderwat to 10700 feet at Shekwas. Following an hour of a steep climb, there is another hour of a flat walk. There is a place where you need to cross the stream, walk along the stream for a while, and then gradually climb till you reach a place full of boulders. Once you cross these huge boulders, you are at the Shekwas camp site.

If you have not gone through my previous two days of the Tarsar trek, then check these out:

Tarsar Trek – Day 1 – Srinagar to Aru drive

Tarsar Trek – Day 2 – Aru to Lidderwat

Lidderwat, a lovely campsite

Lidderwat is a famous local place. Many visit this place as it is a one-day trek and is considered an ideal place for a nice weekend hike. There is enough space to camp here, and the water source is not a problem at Lidderwat campsite. There are PDA (Pahalgam District Authority) guesthouses where you can stay. You can even request and stay in local Gujjar huts, maybe for a small fee, but it is nice to stay in their hut to get that unique experience. This is a lovely campsite with stunning mountain peaks on all sides and streams on both sides. Sunrise and sunset at this place make it an ideal place for some time-lapse photography.

Exploring the wilderness on the way to Shekwas

Soon after having breakfast, we packed our bags and were ready to go. It starts with a zig-zag climb up the hill right behind the PDA guest house. As you climb up, don't forget to turn around and see your campsite from above. The shadows on the nearby mountains fall on the mountain opposite that, and the sun's rays, or godly rays of light, are truly magical. As you climb further, you enter the pine forest. Continue further until you see the stream far below.

Walk all the way down and continue right next to the stream for another kilometer or two. You get to see a few huts of local Bhakarwals, Gujjars, and shepherd's houses. Right next to this is a place where you can cross the stream. It is ice cold, and you can get yourself refreshed and have your packed lunch as well. Continue further parallel to the stream, and the trail next is a gradual climb right next to the stream.

Crossing the slippery boulders and ice-cold water can be extremely challenging for these sheep. and a few even fell down while crossing. They just jumped, maybe because we were around and wanted to reach the other side of the river in no time. Luckily, the shepherds take care of each of them and make sure all of them cross. It took almost 15–20 minutes for a few hundred sheep to cross the river, and we had to wait for our turn. The local Gujjars and Bhakarwals come to this place during the summer so that these animals can graze on the Himalayan slopes, and during the winter they go to cities.

The view from Homwas - Kalahoi Peaks

This place is known by the name Homvas. As you continue further, turn around to see the beautiful mountain peaks and the glacier. The peak that you see in the above image is Kolahoi Peak, which is 17,799 feet high. Right next to or below is the Kolahoi glacier, which is the source of the Lidder River.

Kolahoi Peak is 17,799 feet high, and Kolahoi Glacier is the source of the Lidder River. View from Homvas near Tarsar, J&K, India

If you have a telephoto lens, then it's a must to capture this peak. It's far away, and the view that you get to see is visible only for 10 to 15 minutes during your trekking trail. Many are not even aware of this as it is too far away or always cloudy, and people also don't turn around to see the beautiful landscape around them.

Enjoying the hike and the beautiful landscape

I'm not sure why people are in a hurry to reach the destination or the camp site. Instead, I would say to take your time, be with your group, and enjoy the beautiful nature and landscape around you. Photograph, if possible, so that you can always remember and see these places for the rest of your life.

Continue the trail, which is a gradual climb, till you reach a place full of boulders. To the right is the stream, and to the left are the Silver Birch or Bhoj trees. Here, you can either cross this river of boulders or take a different trail. These are huge boulders and can be difficult to cross. It takes longer to cross, and you have to be careful. You can avoid this crossing of boulders by climbing further. There is a Gujjar hut and a single lonely tree next to the hut. The view from this place is just awesome.

The final stretch before Shekwas

It's all green meadows, multiple streams, valleys, and huge snow-covered mountain peaks. Spend some time enjoying the beautiful landscape next to the hut. Continue to walk down for a while until you reach Shekwas. The weather can be very cold at night, with a cold breeze. Ideal place to get some galaxy shots at night. The campsite is next to the stream again, but the stream is a few feet below your campsite, so do not venture out at night.