BANGALORE: Kaddle vaddu, a check dam is situated about eight kilometres from Shimoga city. It is a place where one can enjoy a day long picnic during the weekends.
The dam is located in Purdal village. This dam was constructed to store water coming from the surrounding hillocks of Shetty Halli reserve forest area. The water overflows during the rainy season from the dam. The water from this dam is used by the surrounding villages of Purdal, Govindapura and others. Apart from home use, the water is also used for irrigation in their fields.
During the hot summers the dam’s cool water seduces swimmers to take a dip and let off some heat. Young children and adults usually come to the pool to break the monotony of their mundane daily routines by taking a dip or just relaxing on the banks. Once you cross the Purdal village limit, you will enter the Shettyhalli reserve forest area. To enter the forest reserve one needs permission from the Shimoga Wild Life division office.
The forest reserve is spread lavishly across a span of 395.6 square kilometres. Speaking with City Express, DFO Wild Life, Ravi Kumar says that though trekking is possible ion the reserve, special permission has to be taken before hand. Also, a nominal fees has to be paid to do the same.
He adds that the apart from the natural beauty of that the wilderness has to offer, there are many wild animals to look out for as well. The reserve is known to be home to one of the biggest wild cats, the tiger along with other animals like the wild boar, porcupine, deer, sambaar. The forest area here is known to be thick and dense and the DFO suggests and advises to maintain extreme precaution and care while traversing through the region. Trekking To Hulibai Halla: The Hulibai Halla falls is situated about 14 kilometres from Kaddle Vaddu dam site inside the forest. In case the trek seems a bit too long for comfort, trekkers can stop and take a break at the guest house which is on the way itself. The guest house is not very far from the falls. In fact a little ahead of the guest house one can actually hear the fierce sounds of the water gushing. The sense of hearing would probably work as better compass in pointing you to the falls than any map ever could.
Though the falls are not very high, and the water falls a height of approximately four feet, it is still a sight to be witnessed.