Great Hyderabad Adventure Club GHAC Newsletter Aug 10

Carnival Edition Aug ‘10 ISSUE 10
GREAT HYDERABAD
ADVENTURE CLUB
TREKKING, HIKING, ROCK CLIMBING AND ADVENTURE SPORTS
Page 2 Great Hyderabad Adventure Club Carnival Edition Aug ‘10
From the Editor’s Desk

Howdy GHACians!
The monsoon did not dampen the adventure spirit of GHACians by one bit . Perhaps, there were more
treks and trips in Jul-Aug than before. Be it exploring new frontiers like the Narsapur Forest, be it treading tough
terrains like Ladakh-Leh-Kargil, or be it climbing rocks at the Ghattuppal Hills, we’ve done it all. Way to go!
It is also wonderful to see organizers taking adventure trips to another level arranging for trek-and-camp events
like A night with the Chenchus, Dhoodsagar waterfalls and more. Innovation at its best.
What’s more? GHAC organized the Hyderabad Bouldering Cup in association with the Indian Moun-
taineering Federation, and the First Aid Certificate Course for a third time, to make sure we knew how to deal with
risks during our adventures.
Hats off to the enthusiastic and ever growing bunch of organizers and adventurers!
It’s a pleasure to present to you this GHAC Carnival 2010 edition of the news letter.
The Editor.
Bharath Reddy T
Message from the Chief Organizer

Dear Members and Guests!
The "GHAC Carnival 2010" is our second annual meet aimed at creating awareness on the importance
of incorporating adventure and environmental concern in our lives. The event is also a celebration of the
achievements by our members who fared well in the various adventure activities despite numerous challenges.
For the first time in India, the club is introducing the concept of adventure wear fashion show and we hope it
will be received well by everyone.
It’s been a successful journey for 2 years since the GHAC’s inception. What was started with a small group of
friends is now a strong group of 2300+. Though we had little response from Hyderabad City initially, after the
Everest Base camp Trek in June 2009 we had adventurers pouring in. It’s a matter of pride for me to announce
that we have recently completed 217 adventure activities, ranging from trekking, hiking, camping, bouldering,
to rock climbing, paragliding, scuba diving and more.
The Club's safety record has been phenomenal, thanks to the outmost importance to safety norms the
club has established. The organizers are well trained and we’ve Medical doctors available 24/7 for advice. The
club has conducted three First Aid workshops and St. Johns Ambulance has certified 85 GHACians as trained
in First Aid.
We plan to make a Hyderabad city and the state of Andhra Pradesh an Adventure tourist destination. I wish
you an adventurous and a healthy lifestyle with GHAC.
Regards,
Diyanat Ali
Chief Organizer.
Great Hyderabad Adventure Club Carnival Edition Aug ‘10 Page 3
Inside this issue:
2 From the Editors Desk 15 About Great Hyderabad Adventure

Club
2 Message from the Chief Organizer
18 GHAC Management
Events
4 Ananthagiri Hills & Nagasamudra
18 Upcoming Events
Lake Trek
Features:
4 Bidar Fort Visit
6 I can still hear it…
5 Hyderabad Bouldering Cup - Priyank Shah
5 Golkonda Fort Trek 9 Bitter Litter.

- Srinivas Bitla
7 Laknavaram, Ramappa Lake Trek
10 A 1000Km along the Himalayas
8 Jog Falls & Gokarna Beach Trek - Prathima Vee
8 Narsapur Forest & Lake Trek 13 Buying a Sleeping Bag

- Diyanat Ali
9 Trekking in Ghattuppal Hills
Want to join GHAC?
12 Mallelathertham & Bheemunikonallu Sign up at www.ghac.in
Trek
Do you read blogs?
12 Talakona Waterfall & Forest Trek Read ours at blog.ghac.in
14 First Aid Certificate Course 3 Want to join the gang on Facebook?

Search for Great Hyderabad Adventure Club
14 Night with the Chenchus
Twitter follower eh?
Our tweets are on twitter.com/hydadventure
Anantagiri hills & Nagasamudra lake Trek

16 adventurers gathered in the early hours of July 18, and headed towards a
beautiful hill station with stunning viewpoints….The Ananthagiri hills. About 70
kms from Hyderabad, Ananthagiri hills is the origin to the famous Musi River.
The temple of lord Padmanabham built by a Muslim king is yet another place that
bears testimony to the glorious history of the land.
What’s in store: Trekking, boating, fishing, walk along the Nagasamudra lake.
Trek to Ananthagiri hills is not new to GHACians, but every time the
group follow different routes and this time our members trekked a good 12 kms
exploring the forest which was its at its best in the monsoon season. Apart from
trekking the members had a great time sighting beautiful butterflies, flowers, and
even tasted some fruits!!
The GHAC Trekometer rates Ananthagiri hills as moderate.
Photo Album:
http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=992702
Bidar Fort Visit

Bidar fort located in Bidar, Karnataka, about 140Km south of Hyderabad, is
considered one of the most formidable forts of the country. Built in the 15th cen-
tury, the fort houses Royal Palaces, Mahals and Mosques.
GHACians on this trip had an opportunity to explore a place of historic impor-

tance, be inspired by the massive built and the architecture of the aged fort. Add to
it loads of fun climbing the fort walls.
You can’t miss their photo album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?

photoAlbumId=990875
One of them said – “Probably the best time to visit the Fort ... Awesome
greenery around. Should have mixed some stories to the buildings in the fort, it
would have been awesome!”
Hyderabad Bouldering cup

Indian Mountaineering Federation planned to conduct bouldering champi-
onship on the 3rd of July at Durgam Cheruvu in Hitech city and we GHACians
took pride to welcome climbers from all around India and also volunteer in con-
ducting the competition.
After an initial round of introductions the volunteers were given training for choos-
ing boulder locations, numbering, spotting, about handling injuries and technical
terminologies after which began the much awaited bouldering cup .
Competition was held on the strict guidelines as defined by the IMF and the
GHAC rules were applicable as well .The bouldering championship was conducted
in two categories namely the Bouldering cup on real rocks for seniors and Speed
climbing for juniors.
With about 110 climbers doing competitive climbing right in Hyderabad and at an
accessible place - Durgam Cheruvu it was an experience of its kind.
We are proud to be part of the GHAC family, cheers!
Photo Album:
Golkonda Fort Trek

Golkonda fort is 11km south-west of Hyderabad. The hill was once known
as Golla Konda (Golla- shepherd, konda-hill in Telugu) but is in vogue as Golk-
onda ever since the Kakatiyas built a fort on it in the 13th century. The fort was
later rebuilt by the Qutub Shahi Kings of the then Hyderabad state.
At Golkonda one could trek and photograph a lot. GHAC Trekometer rates Golk-
onda trek as easy.
Though this is a usual tourist spot in Hyderabad, for a trekker it’s still as
interesting, as it provides ample opportunity for a good trek. There are other attrac-
tions like the acoustics engineering in the fort’s architecture, the sound and light
show etc., And When GHAC conducts it, it’s a whole new experience.
Rightly said by one of the trekkers: “Rely on GHAC to make even a local trip a
great adventure.”
Photo Album:
I can still hear it – Dhoodsagar Falls

- Priyank Shah
I was very excited to be going on my first trek with GHAC. The plan was to get
down at Castle Rock station in Karnataka and walk for 14KM on the railway track
to Dhoodsagar waterfalls. As I settled down in my seat, the only thing on my mind
was to get acquainted with the group. So I took out my camera and started clicking
as it is the best ice breaker for any situation. The overnight journey was restful and
we played dumb charades, which was a great way to know each other..
We reached Castle Rock station around 12:30PM and it was already raining
heavily, I decided to change into my tracks. After lunch as we were set to walk for 14KM to
Dhoodsagar and there were no intended stops in between.
Around 1:30 we started our trek and soon realized it was going to be slippery road when one of
our group members Varun fell on his head. Luckily he did not get a serious injury and was coura-
geous enough to continue the trek.
On the way we came across several tunnels and the best we could do
while crossing them was to hope that no train came when we were in the tun-
nel. But as they say when we fear something it will always comes to haunt us, and in our very
first tunnel we had a goods train coming, luckily for us it was a wide tunnel hence we could eas-
ily manage by sticking to the walls. That was thrilling!
How does it feel to walk for 14KM on railway tracks? Painful, pitiful, adventurous, dangerous
.........well I can use many superlatives yet you have to actually walk to experience it. Why the
hell did we walk for 14KM when we could have gone by train? Is that what you are thinking?
To answer that, let me ask you if you ever came across a scenery and wished that time stopped but it wouldn’t?
For those 14 KM we could stop time whenever we wanted and let the nature's love seep in for eternity. The deep
valleys, small water streams, invisible waterfalls (we could only hear water gushing) made it worth walking 14KM.
We reached Dhoodsagar station by 6PM and it was getting dark, Prashant had
gone ahead to make arrangements for the group to stay for the night. As we
started walking for accommodation, we could hear the sound of the waterfall com-
ing closer after walking for another 5 minutes we saw a white veil of water across
the tracks and there it was gushing and rushing down the hill. It was so soothing
and satisfying to see it at last, probably this is how people feel when they suddenly
find water in a desert!
We saw some steps near to the hill which lead to a small room. We put up two tents in the room which
could together accommodate 12 people and others would sleep in sleeping bags outside the tents. But why tents in
a room? The room had only roof and no walls and any strong wind blew rain into the room. Some of the guys did
not have sleeping bag so they huddled together wrapped in shawl talking all the night and taking short naps when-
ever possible. I got up at 5AM it was pitch dark and was shivering like mad, Prashant suggested me to wear my
coat which will help to trap my body heat even though it was wet and it worked like charm (experience helps a lot
on such trips and I am very thankful to Prashant). Most of the group was up by 7AM we all went to see the spec-
tacular Dhoodsagar water fall, get wet and play like children.
It was time to get back so we packed and walked back to the Dhoodsagar
station around 8:45 AM and reached Londa by train at around 10AM. Now my
only quest was for dry clothes, and we managed to find a market nearby and we
could find some clothes and hot wada pav to treat ourselves with. Having
changed into the new clothes, were officially looked like the Londa Fashion bri-
gade in colorful t-shirts and shorts.
We boarded train to Hyderabad around 5PM and parted ways soon after we reached there
When I look back at the trip I know there could not have been a better learning experience, no better way of
making friends, no better way of seeing nature. All the time I was trying to sleep that night, I very much felt the
might of nature and that everything lived under its shadow. Nature does not show discrimination, it acknowl-
edges everyone and treats them equally. I was made aware of its existence and it was aware of mine.
You can read more on the author’s blog: http://see-throughmyeyes.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-was-very-excited-

to-go-on-my-first.html
Photo Albums:
Laknavaram & Ramappa Lake Trek

Laknavaram is a lake some 250Km north-east of Hyderabad and near Warangal. The 10
thousand acre lake stores rain water, and is every bit inviting with its thirteen odd serene
islands. What’s more interesting is the hanging bridge that connects three of these is-
lands. Ramappa Lake built by the Kakatiyas is nearby and serves irrigation water for the
areas around it.
The 20 member team had loads of fun trekking, walking over the suspension
bridge, visiting temples, singing, boating and what not.
This is what participants had to say – “Had awesome time with friends! Laknava-
ram and Ramappa Lake was beautiful. Kranthi was awesome host right from working all
the logistics to arranging yummy lunch to adding a lot of charm with his guitar. His sing-
ing and guitar playing were the highlight. Weather added its own charm bringing all the
jovial souls together. I must say the group was lovely and I totally cherish meeting and
spending time with everyone. GHAC is such a fabulous club, people meeting for the first
time feel like they know one another already. Thank You GHAC for yet another remark-
able event! God bless the club and all GHACians!!”
“Enthusiastic group of people. The view from Ramappa Lake and dancing in the
rain will be memories to cherish. Thanks to everybody and especially Venkee for keeping
us fully entertained along the journey :).”
Photo Album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/102356009778416770484/LaknavaramRamappaLake
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43mleSKeico
Jog Falls & Gokarna Beach Trek

Jog falls is the highest natural plunge of 253mt for a natural water fall in In-
dia. Located in the Shimoga district in Karnataka, some 700Km south-east of Hy-
derabad. Gokarna on the other hand is a Hindu pilgrimage place around 140Km
east of Jogfalls. Apart from a Siva temple, Gokarna is famous for its beaches (Kudle
Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach and Paradise Beach) and scenic landscapes.
GHACians on this trip were awe struck at the beauty of the beaches
at Gokarna and by the might of the Jog falls. The trip involved trek in the beaches
and by the sides of Jogfalls.
Here’s what the trekkers had to say – “A beautiful trip. Walk and trek along
the Om beach was my favorite part. Also the 40km drive from Sirsi to Unchalli
Falls was pure bliss, the greenery was completely mesmerizing. I hope to visit this
region again. Thanks Sreenath for organizing this meetup.”
“Nice getaway in Monsoon, beach trek was good, could have done
more though. Jog falls was scenic, bad luck that some renovation work is underway
on stairway leading to the bottom of the falls.... but that turned us to Unchalli Falls
which I’d call my highlight of the trip; fierce and fascinating”
Photo Album
Narsapur Forest & Lake Trek

The Narsapur forest is 45 KM north of Hyderabad, spread between Gummadidala and Nar-
sapur towns in the Medak district. This forest spans over 30sq km and has a mini-ghat sec-
tion, thick forest, a hill, a large lake, a good number of birds, butterflies, varied flora and
fauna and our ancestors (monkeys!).
Trekkers who participated were treated to lush greenery, they could even spot Pea
Hen, Deer, Rabbit, Owl and lots of butterflies.
The GHAC Trekometer rates Narsapur Forest hills trek as of easy to medium difficulty.
Here’s what one of them had to say: “Never knew so much greenery close to Hy-
derabad, it was a good forest trek, unfortunate for those who missed expecting rain, it was
pleasant weather the forest was a curious mix of trees, grass and spotted with rocks in. The
highlight was walking for two hours and coming back to other side of the same place. Over
all it was memorable experience and not to forget the orange berries we ate, they tasted like
mangoes though! It was a wonderful company all of them demonstrated a lot of enthusiasm
and endurance to walk around 14km,”
Photo Album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=984253

Bitter Litter
- Srinivas Bitla
How often do we come across the words “Do not litter” on our adventure club website? Every time a
meet up is scheduled, Right? But do we really follow it once we are back from an outdoor adventure is a question
we need to ask ourselves. The answer is "No" for most of us. Reason? No, it’s not that we do not love nature.
Reason again, can be lack of knowledge about the detrimental effects of litter or just ignorance.
Do Not Litter, But Why?

♦ Eyesore, yes litter is more of an eyesore amidst the grandeur of nature.
♦ Litter clogs the drainage system and can cause havoc during rainy sea-
son.
♦ Health hazards: Litter attracts vermin and is a breeding ground for
bacteria.
♦ Plastic litter may choke marine life and suffocate birds.
♦ Contamination: Dog poo , grass, leaves etc, may pollute our water-
ways.
♦ Hole in the pocket: Yes, it does make a hole in your pocket as remov-
ing litter from environment costs everyone money. And who doesn’t
love money…!!?
Environmentalists consider litter a nasty side effect of our convenience-oriented disposable culture. So
until we change this culture, I hope, posting these reasons might help motivate most of “US” not to litter and
even spread the word outside this club as well, because we being adventurers would definitely hate to be called
litter louts….What say?!
Trekking in Ghattuppal Hills

GHAC’s organizers are always on the search for newer and interesting places to travel
and trek. One such endeavor was this trek to Ghattuppal hills some 90Km south-east
of Hyderabad. The place is a stretch of seven to eight hillocks with a highest altitude
of about 600mt.
This trek did not only give the participants an experience of a new place but
also some tough rock climbing opportunity too.
GHAC Trekometer rates Ghattuppal hill trek as medium to hard.
As said by one of the participants about the place and the experience - “A
splendid venue for some descent rock climbing and treading through the fairly thick
bushes. Enjoyed the beautiful location and wonderful company a lot. Lot more to
explore in the area in coming months....”
Photo Album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1015243

A 1000Km along the Himalayas

- Prathima Vee
The itinerary said: Fly from Hyderabad to Delhi. Then take a car from Delhi to Ma-
nali-600kms, then drive from Manali to Leh Ladakh, drive from Manali to Srinagar, roughly
1000km. That soundsed simple eh? But windy uphill roads about 2/3rds of the way, driving at
an average of 15km per hour or less, it took a lot more time than one could estimate.
It is true that the drive from Manali to Leh is the the most beautiful and mesmerizing
drive of my life, and I have been to many wonderful places. Yet the facts are simple: you are
basically driving through the Himalayas. Don’t underestimate the raw strength of something
just because it is beautiful and amusing – that’s the main lesson I learnt from the mighty moun-
tains.
Starting from Manali, we stopped by Keylong, stayed at Nordaling Guest house. With no meals
included, it cost us Rs.2000 for three rooms for five people. Is that too cheap? I don’t know.
Next morning, we started for Kelong at 7am, which was a big mistake. If you get lazy
and don’t get started at the crack of dawn, you will pay the dues by the end of the day. Early to
bed, early to rise. The rule of the jungle works in trips like this. We were headed to Sarchu antici-
pating we would notice it, but it was not more than a few shops and camp sites, so we missed it.
The next town, the only town between Sarchu and Leh, is Pang.
In a case like this, I made the call that it would be better to move forward than to go back and
forth. So we proceeded to Pang. Again, this is a town with around a dozen tents, mostly food
and basic beds in each large tent, to serve travelers. They were nomadic people. The food was
very basic, the accommodation minimal. Its freezing cold too so don’t forget a sleeping bag.
Given all this, one should be prepared for a rugged trip, both physically and mentally. Whining
won’t help, fussing about won’t build a hotel. This is the great Himalayas, as God created it, to
make us stand in awe and fear of the vastness and indifference of this natural wonder. All the
beautiful scenes of green mountains with low hung clouds creating the most romantic set up for
a song and dance, the shapes and colors of different stones as the ranges change form and the
romance of it; all disappear when most of us face uncomfortable situations. The trick here is to
prepare yourself to be tough, take something from the rough ranges into yourself. Else you be-
come too easy a target for nature and it will bring you to your knees, sick, tired, crying and re-
senting the idea of the adventure. As I said, this is as much a mental game as it is a physical challenge. Sarchu to Pang was the most diffi-
cult drive, the most beautiful one thus far and at the highest point of road reached to over 16,500ft. Pang itself is over 14,500ft.
We hit the road at the crack of dawn, 5am, to Leh so that we could be near a hospital in
case things got bad. The distance from Pang to Leh is about 175km; the road stays tough as usual
for half the distance, but greatly improves in the second half. So we got to Leh late afternoon
around 3pm.
There are plenty of hotels in Leh. It is truly the commerce centre there and the
centre of tourism in that region. Local places worth seeing are the Thiksey Monastery, Stok palace
(you will miss the fun in this if you are not willing to hike up to the dilapidated palace and dis-
cover old wonders the hard way), Hemis monastery and the downtown of Leh itself.
Rafting was great. It was a scene out of some movie, Lord of the Rings comes to mind, with the canyon feel and a river cutting through
it. 32km over three hours in a wet suit and life jacket in the sun has got to make one tired. The rapids are about a grade three, average and
not too bad. It isn’t too hot in July on the waters, especially if you get wet, then you start to feel a little chilly too. All there is to do after
that, is to walk around the Tibetan stores in the evening and do some shopping for handicrafts and other knick knacks.
Then, we left for Nubra Valley the following day. That is where the Bactrian camels are in the high altitude desert. I heard that; I couldn’t
have imagined it though. It didn’t make sense to see sand dunes, camels and snow peaks in one picture frame. It was extremely hot and
the sun drained me of any enthusiasm and energy I had mustered that morning heading out for camel rides into the dunes. The camel ride
was fun. It is a photo op if there ever was one: snow peaks, sand dunes perfectly staged, camels with fur on their knees and double
humps, and me riding alone.
That being done, we headed back to Leh. Oh, and by the way, on the drive between Leh and Nubra comes the
highest motorable pass in the world, Kahrdongle Pass at 18,500 ft. So you go from desert to snow peaks in freezing cold
and frozen high altitude lakes, then back into warm Leh.
There are two lakes worth seeing near Leh. Both are around five hour drive
each way. One is Pangong Lake and the other is Tsongo Lake. While Pangong is the
more popular one and is seen in many movies, locals claim Tsongo is a much more
beautiful lake and holds more meaning to the people there. Accordingly, there are
plenty of tourists at Pangong Lake, a small contributing factor being a drive less by an-
hour each way than Tsongo Lake. That is the information I have! Our stay at Ladakh
came to an end as of July 13th morning. So we packed up and headed west towards our
final destination, Srinagar. Leh to Srinagar is about 485km. Don’t miss Alchi monastery
and Lamayuru Monastery. We took about 12 hours to get to our guest house in Mul-
bekh, a small town about 30km before Kargil.
Through this journey, I learnt a lot about hostile cities, conflict zones, people played by politicians and how, beneath it all,
life still goes on although cautiously.
Still, we stayed at one of the nicest boat houses in a quiet area looking out at the Dal lake; its water lily gardens,
see weeds, birds of all kinds, and more. The thing to do was to become one of the lake people and set out discovering
each corner of the lake on a Shikara, a decorated canoe that a man rows gracefully. Dal Lake is 70sqkm and filled with
romantic corners. The owner of the house boat was gracious enough to send us our own personal guide, his son.
Other things to check out around Srinagar are Nishat Bagh and tulip gardens. The rest of them, Pari Mahal, Mughal Gar-
dens etc were kind of a waste of time, really. It would have been nice to be able to walk along the road by the lake in the
evening and have some corn and other Indian treats, but even the locals abandoned their local spots and so we ran back
onto the safety of the water.
One gets to see a lot of mountain communities, nomads, and their lifestyles in the
country up and down the mountains. It is quite interesting, actually. It is hard selling in these
regions, and hard core bargaining. My friend got a Pashmina scarf that started at a price of
Rs2100 for Rs850!!! “How much is it really worth?”, she asked, confused that she actually got
it for such a ridiculous price. Ultimately, these things are worth what you think they are, so if
you have the guts to ask for a price, do it, you may get it!!
Cost of my trip including flight from Hyderabad to Delhi, 14 nights accommodation, car from Delhi to Srinagar (no pub-
lic buses in between), rafting, food, water, flight back from Srinagar to Hyderabad, horse ride, Shikara for a day and tips
along the way = Rs.40,000 per person.
It was a long trip for sure. It packed a lot of continuous action and movement every day for long hours. One of
the outstanding things that define the state of Jammu & Kashmir for me is the difference in people, culture and religion
from east to west. Whereas Ladakh and its surroundings are very Buddhist in look and feel and the way people look, Kar-
gil onwards is mainly Muslim and the people look very different and lead lives that are quite contrasting to their eastern
half. I can’t write everything I have learnt. It is too much and I haven’t digested it all yet.
You can read more on the author’s blog:

http://exclusivexcursionsinc.com/2010/07/manali-leh-kargil-srinagar-2/
Photo Album:
Mallelathertham & Bheemunikonallu Trek

About 180kms from Hyderabad and 58 kms from Srisailam, amidst the Nal-
lamala forest lies another nature’s marvel ...Mallelatheertham literally meaning a
'Shower of Jasmines', a waterfall showering from a height of about 110ft. The wa-
ter collects in a deep and wide pool in which one could swim and enjoy a natural
spa and massage. The lush green canopy covering the nearby areas is a great treat
to the eyes.
What can one do there: Trekking, camping, bird watching and spot wild animals.
The night camping in the woods with yummy aloo roast and Maggie
(courtesy Sukumar and Abhishek) were something which made the trek more
memorable.
The GHAC Trekometer rates Mallelateertham trek to be medium.
This is what some of the members had to say about their visit:
“Bheemunikonallu was Srisailam's Grand Canyon.” And “Mallela was like ‘GHAC
guys in wonder land’”
Photo Album:
Talakona Waterfall & Forest Trek

Talakona falls is 50 km from Temple town of Tirupathi. Famous for the falls,
Talakona forest is all welcoming for trekkers and nature lovers alike with its calm and
serene atmosphere. It is home to some endangered species. According to the locals
the source of the falls cannot be traced as some underground spring surfaces but we
GHACians have found one more perfect weekend retreat.
Overnight journey to Tirupathi by train from Hyderabad and another hour journey to
be lost in nature’s embrace but save a little to guard your belongings from the intelli-
gent thieves “Monkeys” as one of the trekkers says!
Well organized by Natraj and Padmaja to make it memorable for all the participants.
Photo Album:
http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/992587/16544439/
Buying a Sleeping Bag

- Diyanat Ali
Buying a sleeping bag is a not a child play because Sleeping Bags vary a lot in terms of weight, price and
the weather condition you want to use them in. You should certainly know beforehand what you should look out
for when you are buying one.
SIZE
Most sleeping bags available are good for people with average builds and height of
5 4" to 5 10". For tall persons you need a longer length, for heavy persons you
need more space, generally you get mostly 3 sizes, small, medium and large.
SHAPE
The rectangle ones are big enough for 2 people and can be made into a backpack too with some straps. The
mummy shaped ones are narrower at the legs and head. The mummy shaped ones are lighter and better for
regular use.
AIR CIRCULATION
Sleeping bags with side zips are better as they allow for air circulation, especially if someone sweats a lot, they can
open the zip.
TEMPERATURE
A sleeping bag made for 15 degrees is good, it will help you in cold temperatures
and you can always open the zip to let in some air if it’s hot, better to be too warm
and have to unzip the bag than too cold and shivering through the night.
COMFORT
If you are using a mat underneath, then a light weight and thin sleeping bag is ok, if
not using a mat then the material should be thick underneath.
WEIGHT
The lighter the better. Sleeping bag for regular usage should not be heavier than 3 kgs. The lighter ones tend to
be more costly but are great for long duration treks and lessen your load. A sleeping bag for high altitude or cold
temperature can be heavy depending on the temperature.
MATERIAL
Synthetic material is better as its light weight, and is a good insulation in wet and monsoon weather and dries
quicker when washed. Choose a bag that can cover the face with a hood or one that can be cinched around the
face. The inside material should absorb the sweat or it will feel damp.
First Aid Certificate Course 3

GHACians are epitome of the spirit of adventure. And every adventure,
whatever its nature, involves some amount of risk. That’s why at GHAC, we be-
lieve in being completely prepared to face situations. One such endeavor was the
third of a series of First Aid Certificate Courses.
The course takes participants through basic techniques of administering first aid,
acquaintance with equipment, life saving procedures referring to bleeding, respira-
tory problems, wounds, bone and joint injuries etc. After an 8 hour participation
in the course, a certificate from St.John Ambulance Association, Hyderabad,
comes as a token of recognition.
The event was fun packed with lively instructors and interactive partici-
pants. One of the participants observed – “Had a Gr8 time..The course was really
informative with lot of fun and humor...Learned many life saving techniques...If
we could save a life in future then the credit also goes to instructors and organiz-
ers who organized this event...Thanks a lot to them :) :)”
Photo Album:
A Night with the Chenchus

On Jul24 ’10 a bunch of 10 adventurers from GHAC set out on a very unique journey into the wild.
Geesugandi is a remote tribal hamlet deep in the Nallamala forests in Mahabubnagar district. The
destination is roughly 220 Km from Hyderabad.
Travelling to the place was unique in many ways. For one, it involved a 3hour upstream
boat journey from Nagarjunasagar to Geesugandi. The boat journey took GHACians through Na-
garjuna Konda amidst some scenic views of the numerous island hillocks on the way.
The trip was a combination of boating, trek through serene forests, camping and staying with the
Chenchus (tribes/forest dwellers are so called locally). Chenchus thrive on fishing and live mostly
by the riverside and in the forest.
The trip left the participants with invaluable experiences of travelling to virgin landscapes,
interacting with the Chenchus, camping and more.
One of them was so excited to say – “The amazing lion-hearted hospitality of the Chenchu people
swept us off our feet. The trip was beautiful... light rain which never let us feel exhausted and the
beautiful forests, the small temple inside a long lost fort, the crystal-clear waterfalls, the sound of
the peacocks in the deep jungles, the tasty food prepared and kept ready for us inside the tent and
the ever smiling Chenchus in their cute little hamlet, the amazing beauty surrounding us during the
3 hour and odd boat ride.... words fall short to describe the pleasant experience...”
Photo Album:
About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club
Great Hyderabad Adventure Club is a Non Profit community group from Hyderabad city in the state of An-
dhra Pradesh, India, consisting of like minded volunteers and individuals who are interested in adventure, nature
and outdoor activities.
Hyderabad and Adventure - an unlikely combination but the Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC) merges
them into an adventurous union. Started in May 2008 by Diyanat Ali, a software engineer by profession, GHAC is
one of the first online adventure clubs of Hyderabad. The club has received a great response from the otherwise
‘laidback’ city of the Nizams and till date has successfully completed over 220 Adventure Events and has a total of
2400 members and growing!
Inception:
Diyanat Ali who is the chief organizer of the club developed an interest for adventure when he was a member of
the NCC. Even after leaving the NCC he didn’t let go of his love for adventure and turned it into a full-fledged
hobby. Together with a small group of friends Diyanat would go on regular treks and participate in adventure ac-
tivities until 2008, when he came up with an idea of starting a club for people who were keen on trekking. So he
started a meet up website http://meetup.ghac.in and the rest is history.
GHAC found lot of support from initial members like Dr Prasad, Mario, Priyank, Ali Razvi, Rajan
Patel, Vibha, Padmaja, Javed and few other members who joined in later like Ranga, Manisha, Sreenath, Prashant
Pai, Deepam, Arun Raj who added a lot of value to the club by introducing new places and conducting score of
adventure activities. Without the support of these people GHAC would not have reached where it stands today.
GHAC has experienced and trained volunteers and had conducted a range of adventure activities from Rock
climbing, Rappelling, Bouldering, Water Rafting, Sea sailing, trekking, Jungle Treks, Scaling hillocks, camping and
anything that spells adventure.
More and more ideas and adventures are added by the very active and creative organizers who are
dedicated to making this group a leading adventure sports and activity centre for the residents of Hyderabad. The
fiber and fabric of this is to provide a better quality of life as well as make new friends in an exciting, healthy and
safe manner.
GHAC focuses on weekend getaways, with a physically challenging twist and professionals on hand to help partici-
pants explore their active side. The group is a mix of professionals in their early twenties as well as those in their
late Mid Fifties. There are also two junior divisions that plan appropriate children’s activities which are aimed to
fostering personal growth and instilling courage and confidence through outdoor activities.
"GET MORE OUT OF LIFE"
The club’s philosophy "GET MORE OUT OF LIFE" prompts us to venture out in the wilderness at least on the
weekends away from the concrete jails. We are constantly looking for people who share the same values, have the
same goals and love outdoors and selflessly support the movement.
About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club ..cntd
The club is for open to everyone, irrespective of gender, caste, creed, religion or economic status. It’s a
right place to start for the novice, for the amateur who wants to experiment and also for the professional who
want to share. Everyone with a good sense of fun and adventure is welcome.
The Club's Mission is to get people together for the purposes of:
- Getting close to nature and enjoy nature in an eco friendly manner.

- Experiencing local, regional & far away trekking, hiking & other outdoor activities at all skill levels.
- Learning tips, tricks, techniques and first aid for safe and comfortable outdoor adventuring.
- Networking with the group and its members.
- Organize Social Treks for poor children and contribute towards their education & welfare.
- Build courage and confidence by taking part in outdoor activities.
- Foster team spirit, friendship and build leadership qualities in every individual.
- Inculcate & enhance a sense of discipline and spirit of sportsmanship and adventure.
- Promote overall personality development of an individual and stay fit and Healthy too.
- Enhance outdoor experience while living in or visiting Hyderabad.
The age limit are

Adults (18 - 60 Years) - can participate at free will.
Junior II (13-17 Years) - will need parent or guardian's written consent for participation.
Junior I (8-12 years) - can only participate along with a parent or a guardian.
Let others know, we are on

GHAC Management
The Great Hyderabad Adventure Club is managed by the most active and enthusiastic members of the club. The
Club consists of the following committees and Boards
1) Executive committee 2) Organizing committee

Chief Organiser: Diyanat Ali - Diyanat
Organiser - Training: Ali Razvi - Rajan Patel
Organiser - Membership: Padmaja - Ali Razvi
Organiser - Public Relations: Prathima - Dr. Vibha
Organiser - Publications: Shishir Chandra - Ranga Rao
Organiser - Equipment : Ranga Rao - Prashant Pai
Organiser - First Aid & Emergency: Dr. Vibha - Shishir Chandra
General Counsel: Javed Razack - Arun Raj
Treasurer: Ranga Rao - Sreenath
- Sreedhar R
- Jayanta Mondal
3) Training Committee - Deepam Morporia
Trainer - Physical Fitness & Performance Train-
ing : Ali Razvi
Trainer - Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Boul- 4) Web Team:
dering: Deepam Morporia Webmaster : Diyanat
Trainer - Trekking, Hiking, Camping : Diyanat Moderators: Padmaja, Rajan, Sudhansu
Trainer - Outdoor Survival : Arun Raj
Trainer - Search & Rescue : Diyanat 5) Newsletter Team
Editor: Bharat Reddy T
Trainer - First Aid & Emergency Medicine: Dr
Contributors: Srinivas, Karteek, Naresh
Vibha Naik
Adventure Reminders
21st Aug 2nd Sep 25th Sep 9th Oct
Trek: Dhoodsagar Falls Trek: Chandoli National Trip: Brahmagiri Peak Trek: Everest Base Camp
Railwaytrack. Park Trek and Iruppu Falls Trek Nepal
Organizers: Organizer: Organizer: Organizers:

Padmaja & Sukumar Sreenath Sreenath Diyanat Ali & Ali Razvi
Know More: Know More: Know More: Know More:

http://meetup.ghac.in/ http://meetup.ghac.in/ http://meetup.ghac.in/ http://meetup.ghac.in/
calendar/14017458/ calendar/14226213/ calendar/13826963/ calendar/12871705/

Great Hyderabad Adventure Club GHAC Newsletter Aug 10

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Great Hyderabad Adventure Club GHAC Newsletter Aug 10

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Carnival Edition Aug ‘10 ISSUE 10

From the Editor’s Desk

Message from the Chief Organizer

Inside this issue:

2 From the Editors Desk 15 About Great Hyderabad Adventure

5 Golkonda Fort Trek 9 Bitter Litter.

8 Narsapur Forest & Lake Trek 13 Buying a Sleeping Bag

14 First Aid Certificate Course 3 Want to join the gang on Facebook?

Anantagiri hills & Nagasamudra lake Trek

The GHAC Trekometer rates Ananthagiri hills as moderate.

Bidar Fort Visit

GHACians on this trip had an opportunity to explore a place of historic impor-

You can’t miss their photo album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?

Hyderabad Bouldering cup

Golkonda Fort Trek

I can still hear it – Dhoodsagar Falls

You can read more on the author’s blog: http://see-throughmyeyes.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-was-very-excited-

Laknavaram & Ramappa Lake Trek

Jog Falls & Gokarna Beach Trek

Narsapur Forest & Lake Trek

Photo Album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=984253

Do Not Litter, But Why?

Trekking in Ghattuppal Hills

GHAC Trekometer rates Ghattuppal hill trek as medium to hard.

Photo Album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1015243

A 1000Km along the Himalayas

You can read more on the author’s blog:

Mallelathertham & Bheemunikonallu Trek

Talakona Waterfall & Forest Trek

Buying a Sleeping Bag

First Aid Certificate Course 3

A Night with the Chenchus

About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club

"GET MORE OUT OF LIFE"

About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club ..cntd

- Getting close to nature and enjoy nature in an eco friendly manner.

The age limit are

Let others know, we are on

1) Executive committee 2) Organizing committee

Organizers: Organizer: Organizer: Organizers:

Know More: Know More: Know More: Know More:

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