As the city drowns itself in the fast paced lifestyle amidst honking horns, nerve wrecking traffic, tiresome working hours, one gets coiled in the hustle–bustle of the city life during the weekdays in a city like Bangalore. Hence, weekends are the time to unwind and begin another week with new enthusiasm! One such rejuvenating activity for the people of Bangalore is trekking. In the vicinity of the city (within 150 km) are some of the most picturesque and thrilling locations to trek.
Here are some of the trekking spots which are offbeat, yet worthy of a visiting, even for the people who are taking baby steps in the world of trekking!
Pic credits: www.thetravelreminiscences.inDistance: 120 km (Near Chikbalapur)
Trek Trail: 30 minutes, easy (stairs/pathway)
Avalabetta is worth a visit because of its unique hanging cliff with a pond on top of the mountain. The trail is quiet simple and has two options for the climb – either through a 100-and-odd count of stairs, or a walk through the cemented road after the parking space. Since it is faced towards the west, witnessing sunrise is not possible, and the spot is closed after 5 PM. Despite of not having the cliched perks of beautiful sunsets and sunrises, it is a sight to behold nonetheless! You can skip the shrine if you aren’t into that, and move on to relish the beautiful canvas created by mother nature!
Distance : 76 KM
Trek Trail: slightly challenging ,4 km one way.
The less explored trail of Narayangiri hill offers a double delight, firstly of an adventurous path through the rocky boulders of the Jalamangala forest, and secondly a spectacular view from the top, after a tremendous trek of an hour. You can also go for the night trek and camp under the roof of embezzled stars with the warmth of the camp fire at night, and witness the darkness fading to unveil the beautiful sunrise in an equally beautiful panoramic setting.
Distance: 65 km (near Kolar)
Trek Trail:Moderate ,3 km
One of the most exciting spots to visit around Bangalore is the thrilling trek up the mountain of Shathashrunga range, which is not so steep and makes it perfect for the amateurs. Start with the cave exploration- which gives you a feeling of Indiana Jones (a bit)! Then move on the mysterious stream flowing between the crevasses of the rocks. The peak of the hills are usually windy and offers a pretty amazing view of the city of Kolar. It also offers trekking opportunities during the night for the trek enthusiasts.
Distance: 60 km(Near Doddabalapur)
Trek Trail: Slightly challenging, 4 km
Makalidurga is a must visit spot to explore for the enthusiasts, the beginners, and the experienced alike, as it offers numerous paths to climb up the naturally occurring granite rock. As one passes by the fragrance of the lemon grass trail, one can feel the freshness of nature! The beginning of the trek is marked by a railway track , passing by the Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva shrines ( if you take the conventional path marked by painted arrows) and on the top stands the old ruins of the fort which once served as the granary of King Makaliraya. The top also offers a beautiful view of the crops beneath and a lake (which is in the shape of south American continent) nestled midst them. Night trekking is also a way here if you aren’t scared of the strange animal/insect sounds!
Distance: 70 km (near Chikaballapur)
Trek Trail: Moderate, 8 km
Skandagiri is a place that makes u feel as if u were among the clouds. Truly a surreal experience of seeing the crimson sky and the sun rising almost parallel to you. The trek is across six concentric fortified walls , and the summit stages the ruins of the fort. The trek is easy but can get tiresome for some people as it is comparatively longer. But hey, it’s all worth as the view beholds a quality of enchanting you to the point where all the stress, anxiety, and exhaustion leaves and gets replaced by calmness and contentment! Note:Some of the treks get closed on certain days. Hence, it is suggested to inquire before heading towards Skadagiri. The forest department charges Rs 450 per head on most of the treks (mandatory since Aug 2017).
The writer of this blog is a trek enthusiast and has cherished trekking at all the spots mentioned above.
