Discover the Top 10 Spectacular Treks Near Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Karnataka's capital and thriving tech hub is not only renowned for its IT expertise but also for its breathtaking natural beauty. This bustling metropolis is surrounded by numerous charming trekking destinations that provide the ideal escape from the chaos of the city. These top 10 treks near Bengaluru are sure to leave you spellbound, whether you're a seasoned trekker or a nature lover looking for a weekend adventure.

1. Skandagiri (Kalavara Durga): About 70 kilometers from Bengaluru, is a popular destination for night/early morning treks because of the stunning sunrise views from the hilltop. To reach the ancient fort ruins atop this picturesque hill, embark on an exciting journey through rugged terrain and thick forests. This trek comes under the Karnataka forest department and is a paid trek. Click here for more details. 

Skandagiri Hill

Sunrise View - Skandagiri

The Grand Sunrise - Skandagiri

2. Nandi Hills: Renowned for its scenic beauty and historical significance, Nandi Hills is a short trek located just 60 kilometers from Bengaluru. Witness the majestic sunrise, explore ancient forts and temples, and enjoy panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Nandi Hills 

Entrance to Nandidurga

Kalyani inside Bhoganandeshwara temple Complex, Nandi

3. Ramadevara Betta: Famous as the shooting location of the iconic movie "Sholay," Ramanagara is an ideal destination for rock climbing and trekking enthusiasts. This rocky terrain, situated around 50 kilometers from Bengaluru, boasts impressive hill formations that offer thrilling challenges and breathtaking views.

Ramadevara Betta 

A Bird's Eye View of Temple and Temple Pond - Ramadevara Betta

Indian Vulture At Ramadevara Betta 

4. Savandurga: The largest monolithic hill in Asia, Savandurga, can be found about 60 kilometers from Bengaluru. Take on a risky and difficult trek to reach this majestic peak, which offers stunning views of the surrounding forests and tranquil Manchinabele Dam. This trek comes under the Karnataka forest department and is a paid trek. Click here for more details.

Waterfalls at Savanadurga during Monsoon 

Manchinabele Back Waters 

5. Anthargange: Just a short drive from Bengaluru, Anthargange is a unique trekking destination known for its volcanic rock formations and cave exploration opportunities. Embark on a night trek to witness the surreal beauty of the starlit sky and try your hand at cave exploration amidst these intriguing geological wonders. This trek comes under the Karnataka forest department and is a paid trek. Click here for more details.

Antharagange Hill Range Kolar

Natural Water Pond 

Mesmerizing Sunset 

6. Channarayanadurga: Channarayanadurga is a less-known trekking destination about 100 kilometers from Bengaluru that provides a tranquil experience. To reach the hilltop, where a historic fort awaits, trek through picturesque trails that wind through lush greenery and rocky terrain. Take in the peace and quiet of this unusual hike while taking in panoramic views of the landscape that surrounds you.

Channarayanadurga Fort

A Colony

Fortifications of Channarayanadurga 

7. Kabbaladurga: Kabbaladurga is a less-known trekking destination about 80 kilometers from Bengaluru that provides a peaceful escape from the city. The trek takes you through streams, rocky terrain, and lush green forests before reaching a mesmerizing hilltop with an ancient temple.

Kabbaladurga 

Temple Atop Kabbaladurga

Ruined Mansion Atop Kabbaladurga

8. Makalidurga: Makalidurga is the ideal weekend getaway for adventurers because it is tucked away among the picturesque surroundings. The 60-kilometer trek to this hill fort from Bengaluru offers a moderate climb, panoramic views, and the chance to spot a variety of wildlife. This trek comes under the Karnataka forest department and is a paid trek. Click here for more details.

Temple Atop Makalidurga

Makalidurga Fort Wall 

Makalidurga Hill 

9. Shivagange: Shivagange is a sacred hill and a popular pilgrimage destination about 50 kilometers from Bengaluru. Along the way, you'll pass through a series of steps, ancient shrines, and natural springs to reach the top, where you can take in breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

Shivagange Fort

Nandi Atop Shivagange Hill 

10. Hutridurga: This trekking destination offers a peaceful and serene experience. Located around 60 kilometers from Bengaluru, Hutridurga features a beautiful hill fort with remnants of an ancient civilization. The trek involves traversing through scenic trails, dense vegetation, and a historic fort, providing a refreshing retreat for nature lovers.

Aerial View of Huthridurga 

Temple Atop Huthridurga

A Misty Morning at Huthridurga

Tips and Caution for Trekking: While embarking on these treks near Bengaluru, it's essential to keep a few tips and cautions in mind to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:

1. Plan and investigate: Gather information about the trek, including the distance, level of difficulty, weather, and required permits, before setting out. Inform someone about your trekking plans and plan your itinerary.

2. Wear the right clothes and shoes: Pick out clothes that are comfortable and appropriate for the weather. To avoid injuries, wear sturdy trekking shoes with ankle support and good grip.

3. Carry the essentials: A first aid kit, a map or GPS device, a headlamp or flashlight, a raincoat or poncho, and sunscreen lotion should all be included. In addition, bring snacks that are high in energy.

4. Trek together: It's best to go on a hike with a group or at least one friend. Safety, companionship, and emergency assistance are all guaranteed by this.

5. Follow the signs and trail markers: Respect any signs or warnings along the way, stick to the paths that have been marked, and follow trail markers. Accidents and getting lost can result from deviating from the trail.

6. Respect wildlife and nature: Carry your trash and respect the environment to leave no trace behind. Feeding or otherwise disturbing wildlife should be avoided at all costs.

7. Be cautious when it comes to the weather: Before you go hiking, check the weather forecast. Due to the potential for danger, avoid trekking during storms, severe weather, or periods of heavy rain.

8. Take breaks and pace yourself: Trek at a pace that works for you and your fitness level. Regular breaks are a good way to rest, rehydrate, and take in the scenery.

9. Keep an open mind and alert: Particularly when trekking in remote areas, be aware of your surroundings. Steep ascents and descents, slick surfaces, and loose rocks should be avoided.

10. Trek safely and by the rules: Respect and adhere to any particular regulations established by trekking organizers or local authorities. During your trek, be respectful of the communities and local culture.

Take a memorable trekking journey to these stunning locations to escape Bengaluru's urban chaos. The top ten treks near Bengaluru offer a perfect combination of natural beauty and adrenaline-pumping experiences, including ancient ruins, monolithic hills, breathtaking views, and thrilling adventures. So, don your boots, get outside, and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure just a short distance from the lively city. Have fun hiking! Also, let us know how many of these treks you have already done below in the comments section. 

Nagamalai Fort- A Lesser Known Fort Near Krishnagiri, A Good Weekend Trek From Bengaluru

The Mighty Hill - Nagamalai 

Our search for the twelve forts constituting the “Baramahal” or “the twelve Palaces” this time lead us to Nagamangalam, situated in Krishnagiri. We had spotted a hill fort from Jagadevi fort during our visit to that place but we were unable to explore this fort.  Finally, this year, on a fine Sunday morning we decided to explore this hill. After having a good breakfast at one of the hotels in Krishnagiri and packing enough food to survive during the trek, we headed towards Nagamangalam. Reaching this fort was easy as were aware of the location. Confirming the route again to the hill base with the locals to ensure we were on the right track, we reached the base of the hill fort. The locals helped us find the start point of the trek.

Nagamalai Fort 

Not much of the history of this forts seems to be documented in the English literature. The only reference we were able to find was the “Madras District Gazetteer - Salem”.  It is mentioned in this that Nagamangalam was one among the twelve palaces constituting “the Baramahal”. This information was sufficient for us to explore the fort. The fort seems to have been built during the rule of Channarayapatna Palegar, Sri Jagadevaraya who also built the fort at Jagadevi. Although the fort of Nagamangalam has more resemblance to Thattakaldurgam in terms of its location and architecture, the absence of any temple here signifies that it was built during Sri Jagadevaraya's rule, similar to the Fort of Jagadevi.

The trek initially is through the forest path after which we had to cross a small hillock to reach the base of the main hill. Hereon, the trek turned more adventurous. We had to climb a 70-degree inclined slope and without any proper route nor support while ascending, it was quite a challenge to overcome this stretch until we reached the ramparts of the fort. Here we were welcomed by a small door, probably used for emergency escape during any contingencies. Moving further along the walking path lead us to a point which deviated into two routes, one leading downwards and another leading upwards. We decided to take the downward route first to explore the main portions of the fort.

The Young Trekker

The Wild Trek Route

A nicely laid staircase led us downwards to the main entrance of the fort. Half-way down the staircase, we spotted the living area of the fortress on the other side. However, we wanted to explore the gateway area first and come back to exploring this later. The gateway here is very beautiful with Lord Ganesha sculpted on its lintel. Lord Ganesha seems to be the istha devata of Sri Jagadevaraya, which is quite evident across the forts built during his period. This fort gateway is associated with a building probably one that served as a guard’s room for the soldiers to rest. The top portion of the gateway made of brick and mortar seems like a later addition. After exploring the gateway, we walked along the ramparts to reach the living area of the fort.

The Slope

Enter The Dragon Moment 

The Well Laid Steps

The Gateway 

We headed straight towards the structure that looked like the base of a Mahal/ royal palace/ residence of army chieftain. This beautiful structure is made of locally sourced stones. Besides this structure is a huge granary. Further ahead are 2 structures resembling an armoury, a place to store gun powder and other ammunitions. There is a big rain water harvesting pond which probably was the main source of drinking water. The water here was clean and clear except for the fallen leaves. There is a big bastion overlooking this living place, which served as the vantage point to keep an eye on the enemies. This single tiered hill fort probably served more like a military outpost to Jagadevi fort. The Bastion gave clear view of Jagadevi fort; any attack over there seemed to have alerted the army here. We now halted for some rest and food under a shade.

The Remains of Palace

The Structures inside the Fortress

The Major Water Source

We emptied our packed food in no time since we were dead hungry. After resting for a while, we headed towards exploring the upper part of the fort and started to back track. We came across a beautiful carving of Lord Anjaneya on a stone. As we get down from here, there are remains of the foundation of a structure resembling a mantapa, the foundation or the base platform was seen having some carvings of animals. Now, it was time for us to start our descent.  While descending the 70-degree slope, we were very cautious and carefully got down the slope. Rest of the descent was uneventful.

The View From Big Bastion

Remains of Structure Probably Residence

The Other View of the Residence

Inside the Armoury 

The Ruins of Armoury

The Bastion 

The Mantapa

Kote Anjaneya Swamy

One of the interesting aspects of this place was finding a dolmen on the inclined slope. Although we did not sight or find any rock art or cave paintings apart from the dolmen, this place seemed perfect for prehistoric settlement owing to the presence of numerous caves and rock shelters. The Fort is well preserved naturally due to its location and not many people venturing here. The overall route is easy except for the slopy stretch, but is quite lengthy being about 8 km (to and fro).

Fort Gateway & The Trekker 

Related Posts: 

1. Udedurgam Fort, Krishnagiri

2. Forts of Karnataka

3. The Oldest fort of India