Nagabhushan M N
18 Places to visit in Chikkaballapur- 2021
Swap far-flung destinations for the beauty of our own backyard. If you are living in Bangalore, you won't need to travel far to explore...
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SKANDAGIRI TREK
Weekend Trek to Skandagiri from Bangalore
Escape the urban buzz of Bangalore & spend a day amidst nature, on Skandagiri trek. Marvel at the ethereal sunrise of Skandagiri, stand in awe of the history of this place & come back with a lot of memories & friends made, on our guided trek to Skandagiri aka Kalavaradurga. When you are bored in Bangalore, Skandagiri is the answer!
SKANDAGIRI TREK OVERVIEW
SKANDAGIRI DISTANCE FROM BANGALORE
Skandagiri is around 70 km from Bangalore & 5 km from Chikkaballapur.
SKANDAGIRI TREK DISTANCE
The total trek distance of Skandagiri hills is 8 km (up & down)
SKANDAGIRI TREK DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Skandagiri hills trek is a moderate trek to do. But difficulty level is always subjective & for a few, it may seem a difficult one.
ALTITUDE
Skandagiri peak is at an altitude of around 1350 meters.
SKANDAGIRI TREK REVIEWS
Skandagiri hills trek was my first ever trek & I'm glad I chose this as my first trek. Best sunrise I've ever seen in my life. Hiking in the dark with just a torch to light my path was the first time for me too. Must-do trek near Bangalore.
Shwetha Kulkarni
An exciting experience! I had done a day trek at Skandagiri but this was my first night trek & watching the sunrise from the peak of Skandagiri after walking in dark was thrilling! Most memorable trek.
Anup Trivedi
Awesome trek! Skandagiri is definitely one of the best treks near Bangalore. I've done many treks around Bangalore but Skandagiri sunrise trek was the most beautiful to date. Great coordination by Wanderophile team & thanks to the trek guides who made the trek fun.
Pallavi Ramakrishna
HIGHLIGHTS OF SKANDAGIRI HILLS TREK
Paapagni Mutt & temple at the base of the hill is one of the oldest mutts of Karnataka. This is where we start our trek from.
Watch the spectacular sunrise from the peak of the hill (if you're lucky you'll get to see the stunning view of the cloud-bed too!).
Experience the thrill of trekking in the dark under the safe guidance of our expert guides.
Go back in time discovering the ruins of an ancient fort & temple.
Cap your trek experience with an incredible view of the surrounding hills & Chikkaballpura city from the summit.
SHORT ITINERARY OF SKANDAGIRI TREK
Day 0
Start from Bangalore at 11.30 PM
Day 1
Reach the base point by 2 AM
Take a short nap
Start the trek at 4 AM
Reach peak, watch the sunrise & explore the surroundings
Start descending & reach base by 9 AM
Have breakfast on the way back
Reach Bangalore by 1.30 PM
THINGS TO CARRY FOR SKANDAGIRI TREK
ID PROOF (SOFT COPY)
Preferably Aadhar
SMALL BACKPACK
To carry essentials
2 LITRES OF WATER
You know why😅
PONCHO & RAIN-COVER FOR BAG
Just in case it rains🌧
TORCH OR HEADLAMP
Must-have! 🔦
CLOTHES & CAP TO KEEP YOU WARM
Weather can get real cold sometimes!🥶
SUNGLASSES, A CAP & SUNSCREEN
For later when the sun shines bright☀️
LOTS OF ENTHUSIASM!
Do you need a reason for this?
SKANDAGIRI SUNRISE TREK DETAILED ITINERARY
The adventure begins now! We pick you up at the chosen pick-up point & start off our journey towards Skandagiri from Bangalore at 11.30 PM.
On the journey, you'll be briefed about the trek by your trek lead and everyone in the group will introduce themselves on a fun ice-breaking session.
After this enjoy the 2-hour drive to Skandagiri with your group or catch up on some sleep. We'll reach the base of Skandagiri hills around 2.00 AM. Take a stroll under the star-lit sky in the cool breeze or take a nap until we start the trek at 4.00 AM.
The trail stretches over 4 km from the base to the summit & takes in the region's stunning combination of shrub forests & rocky terrain. Dotted along the way are stunning glimpses of the valley you leave behind & the glistening lights of Chikkaballpur city in the distance. Reaching the peak of Skandagiri from the base takes 2 hours approximately.
We take our first steps of the Skandagiri hills trek while it is still dark from Papagni temple in the fringes of Kalavara village which is the base point of this trek. A few minutes of walk from here, we'll reach the forest check post where our permits will be checked & a guide from the forest department is assigned to our group.
The actual trek trail of Skandagiri starts after we cross this forest check-post. We walk ahead with our torches/headlamps on, leaving behind the check-post. All we can hear now is the sound of our muffled footsteps and the occasional chirping of birds.
After walking for a few hundred meters on flat terrain we enter the thick forest and start our climb up the hill. From here it is a gradual ascent till the peak and you might need to take a few pit-stops along the way before you reach the peak to catch your breath or refuel yourself. Keep going at a steady pace as you'd not want to miss the sunrise.
The undulating path takes us amidst woods, through narrow passes between boulders, and eventually to the slopes of the hill from where you catch your first sight of the horizon. Get ready to watch the unassuming majesty of the sunrise at Skandagiri now! Those who watch this spectacle will know the real loveliness of the world!
What makes this surreal sunrise even more special is, it happens in the backdrop of the ruins of an ancient fort. After enjoying watching the sunrise, take some time to explore around, see the ruins of the fort which is said to be built by Tipu Sultan & an abandoned temple. Soak in the 360° view that the peak offers & relax stretching your muscles a little before we start our descend back to the base. On your way back admire the view or pause to take some photos that you couldn't take on your climb up owing to the darkness.
Climb down to the base point and head to have breakfast to refuel yourself after the toil you just went through.
After finishing your breakfast we'll start our journey back to Bangalore. We'll be reaching Bangalore around 1.30 PM.
How to reach Skandagiri from Bangalore?
Reaching Skandagiri in your own vehicle:
Distance from Bangalore to Skandagiri is around 65 km & it is 5 km away from Chikkaballpura city. Here's the location of Skandagiri trek starting point: Papagni Mutt
If you choose to go by your own vehicle, you'll have to park your vehicles here and walk from here to the forest check post where your online booking for Skandagiri trek will be checked.
Reaching Skandagiri using public transport:
Take a bus or train from Majestic to Chikkaballapur & take an auto-rickshaw from there to Papagni mutt in Kalawara.
(Using public transport is suitable only if you are planning for a day & not the sunrise trek, if you are going for a sunrise trek, it is suggested that you use private vehicle or join an organised trek to Skandagiri from Bangalore )
FAQ
Get Informed
IS SKANDAGIRI TREK EASY?
We grade Skandagiri trek as a moderate to difficult trek. Anyone with moderate physical fitness should be able to do this trek.
IS SKANDAGIRI TREK SAFE TO DO?
Skandagiri trek trail is a safe one. With an expert guide by your side, you can stay assured of safety on our Skandagiri trek.
HOW LONG IS SKANDAGIRI TREK?
The total trek distance of Skandagiri is 8 km. (4 km each way)
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SKANDAGIRI?
Skandagiri hills can be visited throughout the year. If you want to watch the sunrise the best time to visit would be between the months of November & April when it's not too cloudy.
HOW MUCH IS SKANDAGIRI TREK ENTRY FEES?
There is an entry fee of Rs.250 per person to be paid while you are booking Skandagiri trek online on the website of Karnataka ecotourism. If you want to skip the hassle of planning the trek you can register for the trek with us & we'll take care of the booking, permission, transport & all other logistics.
HOW DO I GET PERMISSION FOR SKANDAGIRI TREK?
You can get permission for the trek by booking tickets online in advance at myecotrails website.
How to book tickets for Skandagiri trek?
Online booking for Skandagiri trek can be done at https://myecotrip.com/trailDetail/3/Skandagiri . This will be checked by the forest department staff at the entry point of the trek.
If you wish to cut down all the hassle of planning the trek, you can register for the trek with us & we'll take care of the trek permission & all other logistics including an expert guide, while you enjoy your trek.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER PLACES TO VISIT NEAR SKANDAGIRI?
Nandi hills, Bhoga Nandishwara temple, Avala Betta, Gudibande, Dandiganahalli dam are some of the places to visit near Skandagiri.
IS THERE ANYWAY I CAN GET PERMISSION FOR SKANDAGIRI NIGHT TREK?
Night trekking was banned at Skandagiri sometime ago. Now trekkers are allowed to start the trek only at 4 AM. But if you start the trek at 4 AM, you'll reach on time or even before to watch the sunrise.
WHAT IS THE IDEAL TIME TO START SKANDAGIRI TREK?
The best time to start Skandagiri trek is early in the morning at 4 AM when the forest department starts allowing trekkers at the check post. If you start at 4 AM, you can witness the spellbinding sunrise of Skandagiri. But, if night treks are not your thing, then you can opt for Skandagiri day trek & start at 6-6.30 AM & reach the peak before the sun starts shining bright.
HOW SOON BEFORE THE TREK DATE SHOULD I DO SKANDAGIRI TREK BOOKING?
Book your tickets for Skandagiri trek at least a week in advance before your chosen trek dates. A limited number of people are allowed to do the trek each day & there are a lot of people wanting to do both Skandagiri sunrise trek & Skandagiri day trek every weekend.
Whatsapp or call us on +91 7892-890-115 if you need help with online booking for Skandagiri trek, transport & trek guide services.
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