Located at a distance of approximately 70 KM from Bangalore, Skandagiri is the perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore for several reasons- its close proximity to the city, the scenic views and the picture perfect sunrise from the peak and of course the exciting night trek opportunity it offers.
Historically known as Kalwarbetta or Kalavara Durga, the mountain fortress of Skandagiri holds immense importance – it is said that this fortress was built by Tipu Sultan which has been left deserted since 1791 after he lost the Anglo-Mysore War. Since then, the fortress has been weathered away and now, nothing but the ruins remain. However, the beauty of the ancient Skandagiri Hills has increased over time. And with more and more restrictions being placed on night treks across the State, the Skandagiri trek is one of the very few night treks remaining that one can do legally.
Note: The booking closes 2 days prior to trek! The Forest Department presently allows only 40 persons per day. We request you to book at the earliest and send mandatory details as regards Name, Mail Id and Age of everyone for permits.
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Skandagiri Night Trek
We’ll be departing at 11:30 PM from Bangalore to reach the base camp at around 2 AM. But rest assured we shall make the best of this 70 km bus journey as this would be the best opportunity for all of us to get to know each other. And our trek-leads have some fun ice-breaking sessions planned designed to do just that.
Once at the base camp, you can either take a quick power nap and catch up on your sleep or take a short walk under the moonlit sky along with a whiff of the midnight breeze as we while away some time before the exhilarating Skandagiri trek.
The trek starts at 3:30 AM from the Papagni Temple near the village of Kalwara towards the forest checkpoint where we’ll have our permits checked and forest guides allocated. From this point, you’ll be making your way through pitch darkness over rocky terrains with just the silence of the forests for company. Make sure to carry headlamps or torches as you’ll be navigating over slippery boulders and loose stones all along this tricky trail.
The trek starts off along a semi-dry trail from the checkpoint for a few minutes before making its way through thick forest cover. You soon make your way up through the dense foliage into more rocky terrains as the hike becomes more challenging and the inclines steeper. But the views of Chikkaballapura town glistening in the distance amidst the darkness makes it well worth the effort. Don’t worry about the missed photographic opportunities as you’ll have plenty of time to grasp it all on your way down.
All through this narrow trail, one will find several rocky platforms in between where you can take a quick break to catch your breath or simply take in the midnight views down below. But don’t take too long as the sunrise will be anywhere around 5:45 AM and you need to make sure you reach the peak before that. Keep a steady pace as you climb closer to the peak with the sky now giving out various hues of blue and orange letting you know it’s almost show time! The chilly early morning breeze also adds to the electricity in the air.
Once at the peak, find your perfect spot and make yourself comfortable for the spectacle about to follow. Watch as the Sun plays hide and seek with the clouds as the first rays of light hits your cold and tired bodies and all the panoramic views of the surrounding hills and fields down below comes into view. Don’t forget to catch a sight of the beautiful Nandi hills located close by as well. One of the best things about the Skandagiri trek is that it rewards you with a different sunrise every time, making it a unique experience each time you visit these ancient hills. Spend some good time exploring the peak that houses the dilapidated ruins of Tipu Sultan’s fort along with an ancient Temple or simply enjoying the 360 degree view it offers.
In total there are six such ruined fortresses along the trail which lead to the ancient temple at the top. In case you’ve missed them in the dark, do try spotting them on your way down from the peak. The descend offers a completely different experience as you can now enjoy the glorious views all throughout the trail. There are also small samadhi caves in between where you can give your tired legs a break.
We’ll be making our way back to the base camp around 9 AM from where we’ll hop back into our buses and stop for some well-deserved breakfast on our way back to Bangalore. Expect to be back at Bangalore by around 2 PM.
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