There is a time when you just plan to take a break from city life, the over-rated malls, and happening pubs. If you are looking for something adventurous then south India has a buffet to offer, especially the eyecatching highlands. So this time don’t ditch your work for the parties instead go and quench your thirst under the nature lap. The fresh current of breeze, stellar views, awe-inspiring serene, romantic strolls await you to experience it. Buckle-up rider, we humans have always been wanderers who are in search of wilderness. Exquisite trekking trails and the hills around Bangalore awaits to be conquered. Here are some listed below exclusively for the wild soul inside you all.
Here’s a list of top 10 best one-day trek places in and around Bangalore
1) Kunti Betta – Exiting and breathtaking view
It is a contour of rocky gibber, savanna, and granite outcrops. A popular trekking trail, Kunti Betta is frequented by both amateur and professional trekkers. Kunti Betta is a perfect place for rock climbing and rappelling. Overnight trekking near Bangalore in Kunti Betta is thrilling and worth the pain you take to trek it. People make their way at night and enjoy the mesmerizing first rays from the sky and stunning view of the skirting crop plantation, meadows, and a glistening lake. It’s common to find photography enthusiasts bringing large lenses up to the top. Besides this, it also has historic relevance.
Many believe that the Pandavas and Kunti once lived on this hill. At the peak, you can enjoy a bonfire or just gaze at the lovely sunset or sunrise, depending on what time you reach the top hill. At a moderate pace, it will take you around five hours to conquer this peak. Thonnur Lake, which is 4 km away from the Kunti Betta Peak, is a source of water for many villages in the neighborhood. It can be visited along with Kunti Betta. The best time to visit Kunti Betta is from October to May.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 122 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 2880 ft.
Popular for: Night Trek, Nature, Lake
2) Skandagiri – Trekking pro’s paradise
Skandagiri is a pre-historic mountain fort that lies at an elevation of about 1350 metres. This is a supreme landing for night trek and camping around Bangalore. The trek starts from the Papagni Temple at the foothill that can be easily accessed from major points like Bangalore, Nandi Hills, or Chikballapur town. The trail itself passes through a maze of dense shrubs which can be quite intriguing. One can find two caves in the entire expanse. One is at the base of the hill and the other is on the midway – approximately thirty feet from the top.
Skandagiri is prominent for night trekking. It is best climbed at dawn or on full moon night. The first light seen from the top is awe-inspiring. The best time to visit Skandagiri is from May to December. Exploring the wilderness during the night time is what sets it apart from the rest of the available choices. It has an ancient fort that belonged to a local ruler and was later concurred and used by Tipu Sultan.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 61 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 1430 ft.
Popular for: Night Trek, Camping, Sunrise View
Must Read: Top 20 things to do and tourist places to visit in Bangalore
3) Makalidurga Hills – Skipping a beat at the picturesque landscape
Makalidurga is a hill fort which is situated 60 km north of Bangalore, in a small village known as Makalidurga. It takes almost a couple of hours to reach this place. Makali hills come under Makali Reserve Forest. This place is under the supervision of the Doddaballapur forest department. This hill is surrounded by a lake on the west and at the base of the hill, passes a railway track, making the trek even more alluring, and making it the perfect weekend destination. The best time to trek in Makalidurga is preferably the cooler months, September to February. Because it gets peppery in summers, and rainy months make the granite rocks very slippery and dangerous, hence should be avoided.
The trek begins with a 2-km walk on the railway track from Makalidurga Railway station. It is a moderately difficult trek, and requires little muscle, to easily climb the barren rocks and boulders. There are some directions are written on the boulders itself which we can follow. You have to stroll for a couple of kilometers on the track and take left to reach the base point. The base camp is an ancient temple of Lord Krishna. As you continue to walk, you come across two big rocks and a road that leads to the Makalidurga fort. Turning right would lead one to the trek path with markings all around. you can find fort ruins and a temple at the top. Makalidurga Fort stands at the top of a huge granite hillock, huddled up amidst the chains of hills, formed like a valley close to Ghati Subramanya, a well-known pilgrimage center. The fort on top is at a height of 1117 metres. Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated while you experience this fascinating trekking adventure because this trek can make you trudge.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 60 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Medium – Difficult
Average Elevation: 1117 Metres
Popular for: Day and Night Trek
4) Anthargange – Trek of a kind, adrenaline rush
Anthargange is located in the Shathashrunga mountain range in the southeastern part of Karnataka, Kolar district. The name Anthargange means perpetual spring that flows through the rocks from the middle of the mountains. It is almost two miles from Kolar town and 70 kilometres from Bangalore. The altitude of the mountain is 1712 metres from sea level with rocky boulders, small caves and dense plantations. It is one of the best getaways for trekking, rock climbing and cave exploration enthusiast tourists also do night trekking and camping here, especially in summer months. Antara Gange is famous for Sri Kashi Vishweshwara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which attracts devotees as well. You can see a pond In the temple which gets a continuous flow of underground water from the mouth of a stone bull and is believed that drinking water from the pond cleanses many diseases.
When you move towards the Antara Gange caves you would find a steep and narrow path behind the temple to top of the mountain. The caves are about 3-4 km from the temple. There are seven villages on this mountain and it’s made up of rocks such as granite, huge volcanic rocks and boulders and the thorny shrubs cover the hill, and there is dense plantation forest at the base with a lot of caves around. Stairway, halfway the hill leads to an ancient temple. Almost forty-five minutes of hill climbing leads to an extensive and exquisite green plateau on the top. Anthargange is ideal for trekking in and around caves, night trek, rock climbing and camping. There are Big and small boulders heaped to form cave-like formations best cave exploration activity making it popular here.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 70 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 1712 Metres from Sea Level
Popular for: Day and Night Trek, Camping, Pilgrim
Must Read: 10 best things to do in and around Bangalore for adventure travelers
5) Devarayanadurga – Amid lush green forests and remarkable caves
With a company of two temples, Bhoga Narsimha at the foothill and Yoga Narsimha at the hill top, the trekking of Devarayanadurga extends the captivating view of the surrounding. The region is dotted with numerous natural springs and Namada Chilume (most popular) is one of them which is considered as the source of Jayamangali River. There are two other springs known as Ramatirtha and Dhanushtirtha. One will also find a huge cave with idols of Rama, Laxmana and Sita en-route which makes it one of the most charming trekking places near Bangalore for pilgrims and adventure seekers. Highlights: Cave festival of Sri Bhoga Narasimha Swamy from March to April, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Jayanthi, an annual celebration of Narasimha avatar day takes place here during the month of May.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 72 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 3940 ft.
Popular for: Water Springs, Views
6) Rangaswamy Betta – Extraordinary white rocks
This hillock comprises of a temple hosted beneath a massive granite rock, which translates to the name of Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta situated near Kanakapura town, a town in Karnataka. The hill derives its name from the Ranganathaswamy temple atop the hill. “Bili” in Kannada means white, and “Kallu” means stone. As the name indicates, there are fascinating white rocks atop the hill. This place comes with a package of a forest as well, providing a resting place for many neighbouring wild animals. The peak is reachable through drive or trek; however, both get tedious as the path narrows and is comparatively advisable to trek. An approximate 3 and a half hour upward and a two-hour downward trek, the Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta belongs to the Eastern Ghats and is filled with shrub forest also facilitates night trekking and rappelling. You can also visit at the time of the Rangaswamy temple festival which the locals celebrate there at the top. This trek is worth the breath taking view and route.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 75 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 3780 ft.
Popular for: Nature
7) Ramanagra – Glooming along the silk town
Ramanagaram is a favourite hangout amongst other destinations which is 50 kilometres from Bangalore. It is famously known as silk city & the land of the seven hills, and Mecca for Rock Climbing and is one of the first sought places for Rock Climbing in Southern part of India. It is also known for the world’s oldest deposits of granite and other rock outcrops. Also, the famous Sholay Movie was shot in the backgrounds of Ramgiri and today called as Ramdevara Betta or Sholay Hills. This region has several tall granitic hills which are famous for short rock climbs because of which this place is always surrounded by nature enthusiasts all time of the year.
The Ramadevara Betta hill and Revana Siddeshwara Betta close to Ramanagara which is one of the most popular and admired locations for trekking in Ramanagara. The trek on the granite slopes is really influential activity but it may be a little tricky for those who are first-timers in trekking. The Ramanagara trekking and mountaineering activity are the perfect stress buster that’s why it is a vacation spot to enjoy adventure activities.
You can start the trek from the base camp and head into the reserve forests of Ramgiri, moving towards the peak where the climbing level is very moderate and from the peak, you can see the panoramic view of the city with the Street lights glowing on one side and on the other side is the forest view with the background. You can witness wonderful views of the sparsely vegetated surroundings which the individuals encounter while enjoying trekking. Once you reach the hilltop your eyes will be packed with some mesmerising scenic beauties of the hill. This place is best for overnight camping, night trekking, nature walk, birds watching, sightseeing, and rock climbing.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 50 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 747 Metres
Popular for: Day and Night Trek, Camping, Sightseeing and Rock Climbing
Must Read: Top 20 things to do and tourist places to visit in Bangalore
8) Madhugiri and Channarayana Durga Fort – Explore the unexplored
Asia’s second-largest monolith, situated in the town of Tumkur, Madhugiri acquired its name from the honey bee colonies near the fort of Madhugiri which is located on the inclinations of the hills. The fort has three arches, Antaralada Bagilu, Diddibagilu, and Mysore Gate. The ruins of the Gopalkrishna temple lie at the top of the fort. Other tourist attractions at this popular place for trekking near Bangalore include the Malleswara and Venkataramana temples famous for their Dravidian style architecture and towers, the Jain temple within the fort, Channarayana Durga fort, Siddara Betta, Timmalapura Forests and Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve. In addition, there are huge arches, watchtowers and large circular granaries. October to March is the best time to visit Madhugiri. Carrying plenty of water and some snacks is never a bad idea.
Channarayana Durga is a hilltop fort near Madhugiri in Tumkur district of Karnataka. There are few temples and old structures inside the fort. The trek to Channarayana Durga is quite interesting and there are no signboards with very few tourists visiting. Channarayana Durga was a strategic fortress during medieval times and many battles were fought for its possession. The fort was originally built by Channapa Gouda in the 17th century, a feudal lord from Madhugiri. Later the fort was conquered by the Marathas. But in the following year’s control of the fort changed several times between Marathas and Mysore Wodeyars. The fort was held by the British during third Mysore war and then it was abandoned.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 106 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 3930 ft.
Popular for: Fort, Views
9) Savandurga Trek – ‘Peek-a-view at largest monoliths in Asia”
The most massive monolith of Asia, Savandurga comprises the twin peaks of Karigudda (The Black Hill) and Billigudda (The White Hill) and is one of the most beloved places for trekking in Bangalore. Savandurga is one of the largest and most challenging monolithic rocks in Asia, for treks located about 60 km west of Bengaluru off the Magadi road, situated at a height of 4220 feet above sea level composed mainly of granite. It is formed by two hills known locally as “Karigudda”, which in Kannada translates to “black “. If seen from a distance, it looks like massive stones and lush green views will keep you enchanted and the panoramic landscape is magnificent. On the top of the hill, you can see ruins of the fort built by Kempegowda.
This trek starts from Sri Narasimha Swamy temple at the foot, and as one moves along, the trail gets slippery and steep but not hard enough to stop you from reaching the top. A lot of pilgrims can be seen as it is quite famous in the region. Huge rocks and boulders can be seen on the way which is lifesavers during the sunny hot noons. The short distance makes it a perfect trek for all adventure lovers who have a time crisis. You can see River Arkavathi flowing into Thippagondanahalli reservoir which adds to the wide beautiful view on your way to the fort.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 50 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Medium – Difficult
Average Elevation: 4220 ft.
Popular for: Day and Night Trek, Camping, Sightseeing and Rock Climbing
There are a plenty of tourist places in Bangalore to visit and wonderful adventurous things to do in and around Bangalore which you really need to visit.
10) Nandi Hills – Bangalorean’s favourite maggie point
Nandi Hills is of the ancient hill fortress built by Ganga Dynasty which was later enlarged and strengthened by Tipu Sultan in southern part India situated in the Chikkaballapur district in Karnataka which is 10 km from Chikkaballapur town and approximately 60 km from the city of Bengaluru. The hills are near the town of Nandi. According to traditional belief, the hills are the origin of the rivers Arkavathy, Ponnaiyar, Palar, Papagni and Penna. It features beautifully carved arches and majestic pillars with intricately painted walls and ceilings, Nandi Hills is scattered with shrines and monument and is surrounded by mesmerizing views, making this place no less than a hidden paradise. Situated at a height of 4851 feet above sea level, you can see a convoy of weekenders from Bangalore during early hours catching the glimpse of sunrise.
Nandi hills is a very picturesque place to view the sunrise. Being close to Bangalore International Airport, now called Kempegowda International Airport, it is very easy to reach and the drive to the top of the hill is a great experience. The place is quite fresh and well maintained. There are two trekking routes to the Nandi Hills. One of the trails lies to the north of the Nandi hills and the other lies to the south of the Nandi hills. You can Enjoy dew formed over grasses, cold wind piercing through woollens, clouds hanging down the hill, mesmerizing sunrise, tall trees appearing black and white in the morning.
Apart from gorgeous views, there are ancient temples, forts and colonial houses to see at Nandi Hills. There are a few vantage points with rocks jutting out from where you can get a picture of the village. The hills timings are from 6 AM to 10 PM with an entry fee of INR 5, and parking charges of INR 15 for two-wheelers, and INR 60 for four-wheelers. There are ruins of Tipu’s fort at the top and the exact point where it is rumoured that Tipu pushed his prisoners to their death named Tipu’s Drop. The Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple and the Nandi Bull are worth a watch.
The pond at the temple is also a great crowd puller, they sometimes organise paragliding from the peak, for that thrill of flying. You can also take your rollerblades, skateboard or bicycle. Nandi Hills is one of the places of choice for hiking as well as trekking for beginners to intermediate level. The staircase-based trekking path provides an easy challenge for beginners. Watching the sunrise at Nandi Hills is popular with tourists and trekking in groups is common.
Distance (From Bangalore City): 56 km
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Average Elevation: 1478 Metres
Popular for: Trekking, Paragliding, Tipu’s Drop, Sightseeing, Cycling / Biking
