Hey,what is in your mind for next weekend? Is it the same as the previous one, like watching movies and meeting friends? Are you planning to make your weekend a bit special this time? Then spending time with nature, these days, has become a special occasion. If you are in Bangalore then trekking to Skandagiri is a perfect place to explore.
Skandagiri is located 65 kilometers away from Bangalore. It is a perfect place to refresh and rejuvenate the energy in you. And the speciality of Skandagiri is that the trek here is early morning. There are 2 slots that one can book to hike. One is around 4am and the other around 9am. There is only online booking available for Skandagiri. You can book the slot in myecotrip.com, which is a government website of Karnataka. Since a night trek in Skandagiri is a must take, then opting for the 4am slot is the best. Skandagiri, also known as Kalavara Durga. It is off Bellary Road ( National Highway 7), and overlooks Nandi Hills. The peak is at an altitude of 1460 meters above sea level. It is accessed from Kalavara Village.
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Some More Info
You can start hiking at around 4am in the morning. Please note that the trek is allowed only from 4am and no permission will be given before that.If you have reached before 4am, then do not worry as you are allowed to pitch the tent at the base area, which is Papagni Temple, until 4am. You need to make an online payment of around ₹250. And per day only 200-250 people are allowed, so you must book early in order to start your trek on your comfortable day. The trek length is approximately 8 kilometers and it would take around 2-3 hours to reach the peak.
Things to Carry
In almost all the treks the things which you must carry are the same but since it is a night trek ten torch lights become more important than anything else. Other than this, a backpack, water bottles, hiking shoes, windcheater, food and comfortable clothing are some essential things to carry. If you want, you can also carry a trekking pole to get the support and grip since there are some difficult ascending points.
The Trail
The starting point of the trek is Kalwara village. And as noted earlier, you must reach the base area, Papagni Temple, before 4am. Papagni Temple is located in Kalwara village. Skandagiri Night Trek is a long trek because of its sheer size and difficulty. And the level of toughness to this trek is medium to difficult. The path to trek is pretty clear as the directions are shown on the rocks to lead the way towards the top.
There is a parking area near the base for your vehicle. So when you come straight after parking, there are 2 ways – one is straight and the other one is left. So here you have to opt the left route. There is also a sign board near the road that you can follow to the hill. Since it would be dark, opting for a guide would be helpful. There will also be a guide to take you through the trek. And around 15 people are assigned under each guide so that you will not be missed in the midst of the trek .
The trekkers get to see a majestic view of Skandagiri mountains along with the views of Nandi Hills from Skandagiri. There is also a fort on the hilltop. It is almost in ruins. The trail passes through the maze of dense forest, especially in monsoon season. This trail is a mix of mud, forest, boulders and the rocks. A physically fit person can easily pass through this majestic trail but for a beginner it would be tough to cross over. So do a warm up before hiking to the Skandagiri top, if you are a beginner.
And Finally
After you cross the midway the view from the hill would be pretty cool. The place offers an enthralling experience as it is known for its early morning trek. It would end the laziness and rejuvenate life towards your goals and aspirations. On the top of the hill you will get to see an abandoned Shiva Temple, where you can stop and enjoy. The sun would slowly start to rise from the mountains, that will wipe all your tiredness that happened because of the trek.
