Skandagiri

Skandagiri, well known as KalavaraDurga, is a mountain fortress positioned approximately 62 km from Bangalore city, and 3 km from Chikkaballapur in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is away from Bellary Road and leaves Nandi Hills and Muddenahalli. The peak is at a height of about 1350 m.

This sightseer spot has been closed by the forest division when checked on May 21, 2016, they declare someone was murdered in the hills and that is the reason it’s closed for public.

We can reach Skandagiri within two hours of ride from the Bangalore city. Offering scenic views of the night sky and the sunrise, this 8km trek consists of ascending and descending through rough terrains and can be completed within 4-5 hours of ascending and descending.

It is a mountain with the disintegration of a fort which dates back to the 18th century. The fort is in a tumble-down condition, and so is the temple situated close to it, but that takes nothing away from the trek to the top of the hill.

There are regular buses that start from Bangalore to Skandagiri. In order to reach Skandagiri, you need to take a bus from Bangalore and get down at Chikkaballapur. From here, there are two ways to outstretch the base of Skandagiri hill. You can either take an auto, which takes about 15 minutes, or you could walk to the bottom. A walk to the bottom takes about an hour, but you also get the chance to traverse the rural lifestyle and the panoramic views on the way.

The trek to the peak of Skandagiri is on the easier side, with a well-marked out route. The prior part of the trek is pretty dry in terms of vegetation. However, as you start getting close to the peak of the hill, you start to see abundant vegetation. The top of the hill offers scenic views of the valley below.

Standing there, on the peak of the hill, you almost feel like a ruler yourself, with an eye on your domain. Although the fort is in a very bad condition, do take a walk around it to enjoy the magical surrounding it.There is a pond of water too at the top of the mountain. However, there is hardly any water in the pond now since it has been used as a dustbin by careless trekkers.

Skandagiri hill is one of the few trekking routes around Bangalore where a night trek is possible. The trek to the peak of the hill takes about 2 hours, which means if you start at midnight; you should reach the top by 2:00 am and spend a little time camping at the top before the break of daylight.

While a trek to the peak of Skandagiri is always a great skill, the best time to do it would be in the winter months. During the winter months, the peak of the mountain is often enclosed in a blanket of mist, making it a really picturesque experience.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION OF SKANDAGIRI

As of December 2011, Skandagiri trekking has been totally banned by Chikkaballapur police, during the night as well as day. All the local guides have been warned as well. Police are very serious about the ban after a recent case of death of a person while trekking. Any endeavor of trekking would end you up in the Chikkaballapur police station along with your conveyance.

The reasons cited by the police for the prohibition are:

• Some stretches of the mountain are very slippery and could be dangerous.
• Danger from wild animals.
• Some incidents wherein the locals show you the wrong way, as they are not paid for their favor, which could lead you to danger.
• Lack of any medical help nearby.

As of August 2014, day trekking is permitted. Most of the series has been marked with guiding arrows which if followed, leads to a safe route to the mountain top. Guides are available near the temple. Parking can be done besides the village near the temple.