Well, if you are climbing the hills at night i. There is a temple at the base of the hill along with two other buildings I guess, it is a Mutt and all are fenced and gated as one campus.

I couldn't enter the gate with my car as it was chained and locked. So there is no way to overcome the thugs looking for your money posing as Guide and Parking owners. I saw many such thugs trying to stop my vehicle at different places from 2km ahead of the temple. My advise is, dont stop the vehicle until you reach the gates of the temple. I was totally not prepared to see a closed gate after skipping 3 thug group who tried to stop me on the way, so I finally gave up and had to talk with one who stood up next to the gate.

The words uttered from his mouth are "This place is closed by Police during night, and you have to pay for the parking. The price would be Rs. I was reluctant to pay Rs. I thought its wise to pay Rs. The maps will not show the other paths around so it will be really tricky to choose the path if you end up in multiple paths joining in one place.

The arrow marks that show the way to reach top is not available in most of the critical places. Be careful while taking a seat during breaks, we saw a 7inch centipede crawling under our legs during a break while descending, luckily it was after dawn. An average person needs atleast 1. However, Its always safe to have more water.

I saw other people skid while descending because of their shoes especially girls , Please have a nice pair of trekking shoes with good ankle support. It will be more slippery during monsoons. We were sweating while initial climb and got colder as we ascend.

In the top,the wind will be at max; along with the cold weather it will make you feel uncomfortable if you are not prepared.

It will be hard to find a place to escape the blowing wind. My advise is to take a winter cap, winter gloves and a shawl. If you are okay to spend some bucks have a bonfire.

Finally - is it worth going? Well, its up to you and your luck. This is my first time Night Trek so it was a new experience and not lucky enough to see clouds during the sunrise. The panoramic view from the top is blissfull. What I see there is an organized crime, I guess the thugs acting as guides have wantedly erased the Arrow marks so that people will be forced to seek their help.

It is hard to find the initial path after the temple and there is no signboard, the guides will follow you upto one kilometer asking for their need because upto that point there are multiple paths and you could easily get lost; once you know they are not following you, then you are on the right track :. The police is also teaming up with these thugs for money, there were about people on the top, I dont see how could so many people trespass the prohibited area without the knowledge of Police.

Instead of make using of these thugs they can legally allow the trekking for some nominal price and put proper signboards.

Viklogs Bengaluru, India 49 contributions. The way to skandagiri is very well put on google maps, follow it till the temple and park your vehicles. A group of ppl acting as guides will stop you well before the actual spot and ask you to park. They expect you to hire them and pay up the charges - remember they are cheats and will lead you to the wrong side. If you don't hire them they'll ask for parking charge and lead you into the bushes to find your own way.

That is not the starting point of skandagiri- its the backside of the hill and you will lose your way and get tired as you won't find anyway to reach the top of the hill. Just make sure you follow google maps till the temple. Its a 10 min walk from the temple to the starting point of the hill.

The trek's difficulty is moderate and can be completed in 2hrs. Make sure you carry essentials like torch and water. The view is beautiful and magnificent, with clouds fog covering the entire hillock. Points to remember- 1. Follow google maps till the temple. Do not let anyone stop you and ask you to park and hire them. Carry essentials. Enjoy the trek. Do not litter the hill, kindly respect the nature and environment. You can take a village person as a guide for trek.

They are very nice people and ready to guide you , also wlll let u park ur vehicle safely. Trek become Moderate after Halfway. View is beautiful and mesmerising. I went for a night trek and was a very good experience. Shashishas Bengaluru, India contributions. Awesome night trek topped with beautiful sunrise and bed of cloud.

This is the second time I have been to Skandagiri for night trek. According to some source it has been banned, but we din't find anyone to stop us. We started the climb by hrs, reached top by hrs. Took sufficient breaks on the way up. Spent the night above the clouds. Enjoyed the campfire. The night trek here is awesome. If you are is lucky enough, you will be blessed with cloud of bed and a beautiful sunrise. The trek is of moderate difficulty depends on your fitness level and takes around 2 hrs to reach the top.

Few points to remember: - Carry a powerful torch, even on a full moon day, cloud cover and fog will reduce the visibility significantly. Switch to terrain mode and you can see the clear trail. Sujay K Bengaluru, India contributions.

Wonderful Terrain for a great Night Trek beware of cheaters. Do not pay any parking fees to men who pretends like land owner. TREK: We started trek around 1. Then we returned back and followed a group which hired a guide. After 1 hour trek we got thorough with trail and overtook the group with the guide. After several breaks and beautiful view of Chikballapur at night we reached top by 4.

It was too cold out there. We literally started to shiver. Arranged a camp fire in a closed area and saved ourselves. Other hill top around were looking like tiny island in that golden ocean. It was worth of taking such risk to climb that hill.

NOTE: -Beware of men posing like in charge of parking and avoid getting looted. Since mobile network is good all over place you can call them back when you reach base. Cold wind will blow on top at kmph -Torch is must for night trekkers. If you get caught to night patrol police with alcohol, you will end up in jail for entire weekend losing your valuables.

Vinamra Jain Bengaluru, India 91 contributions. Skandagiri Hills is an amazing beauty of nature. People often go her for trekking.

Let me tell you about my trekking experience. We went to skandagiri Hills on bikes from Bangalore. When you reach the trekk start point. You need to park your vehicles there and head to the trekking.

Skandagiri, also known as Kalavara Durga, is an ancient mountain fortress located approximately 70 km from Bangalore city, and 3 km from Chikballapur in the Indian state of Karnataka. The peak is at an altitude of about meters. Skandagiri is a perfect weekend getaway near Bangalore, preferred by most adventure and nature lovers. Located in the Nandi Hill ranges, at a distance of about 68 kms from Bangalore, the historic hill fort of Skandagiri is also famous by the name of Kalwarebetta.

It is one of the most loved destinations for trekking near Bangalore that offers a perfect break from the busy and stressful city life and transports the participants into a calm and peaceful environment. The trek is an exciting climbing adventure for enthusiasts. Skandagiri hiking is a day long trip that is usually commenced after breakfast in the morning.

The total hiking distance is 8 kms moderate to tough difficulty level, which makes it important for the participants to be physically and mentally fit. Hiking to Skandagiri commences from the Papagni Temple, which is located at the foothills of the Kalwara village. The participants get to see a majestic view of the fortress located on the peak at a height of m above sea level, through the entire hiking trail.

The trail itself passes through a maze of dense shrubs which can be quite intriguing. Upon reaching the top, hikers often feel mesmerized by the sight of old fortress, which despite being in a dilapidated condition reflects the majestic appeal it once held. Strength training is equally important to trek comfortably. Work on your glutes, calves and knees. Additionally, work on strengthening your core. You must strengthen your core muscles. Flexibility determines the amount of movement your bones can make in any direction around joints such as shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.

It is an aspect that will help you trek comfortably. Carrying a backpack, however light, can become a strain. Stretching your hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors and lower back muscles regularly, promotes relaxation in the tissues reducing the strain on your back. Note: Always consult a doctor before taking any medicine. A person who follows an active lifestyle, can consider Skandagiri as their first time trek.

For people who lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle, we recommend a bit of preparation before attempting to trek. You need to register yourself online prior to starting your journey for the trek. Ticket costs Rs. The nearest town is called Nandi grama, at the base of Nandi hills. There are a few small eateries in the town. If you want a decent restaurant, then Chikballapur is your option.

Water is available at the base of the trek, Papagni Mutt. A small groundwater tank is your source of water.

You can reach them on for assistance. The trail to the fort is probably as straightforward as it can get. We do not recommend a guide for this trek.

Visvesvaraya, the first Indian engineer. It is also the place where he was buried after his death in Author: Gautam Singh. Your email address will not be published. Hello Indiahikes team, Thank you for the detailed information about the trek. I did this trek on 01st Nov and loved it. The KML file on the Gaia app worked flawlessly and that combined with the route markers helped to find the way easily. Special shoutout to Suhas who helped me with the KML file.

Keep up the good work. Just did the trek this past weekend and even though the clouds blocked our view for the majority of the hike, it was still very serene. Thank you Indiahikes and suhas for the kml file.

This is very handy to find the route in the early morning hours. We enjoyed the trek along with the kids in the family, it is very safe and encourage families to take their kids up for the sun rise! Indiahikes is the safest trekking organisation in India. Over 20, people trek with Indiahikes each year and vouch for our unmatched safety standards. Trek type. Max Altitude. Best time to visit.

Gautam Singh. We were quietly walking up the trail and all of a sudden I saw a baby Keelback snake slithering casually right next to me. Tanmay Bain. I do not wear proper trekking shoes for any of my treks in and around Bangalore as they are not suitable for this kind of terrain. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

Profile Picture. Leave this field empty. Did you register for the trek online or at the location itself? Thanks in advance! Suhas is jumping with joy for your lovely shoutout. Thanks for all the info on this trek, came in handy. Totally appreciated the gesture. Complete trek guide Last updated: November - Complete trek guide.

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