How much of the city life can you take at a time? There are only so many parties you can attend, food you can eat and shopping you can do before you long for something more adventurous. And you’ll be surprised to find out how much Bangalore has to offer in this department.
You do have to spend some time travelling to the hiking trail, but that’s part of all the fun. We’ve ranked the top 10 trekking places near Bangalore, and have even separated them by difficulty level. Do let us know if you’ve done any of these in the comments section.
Quick Facts about Trekking Places near Bangalore
The distance of trekking places: There are many hiking trails on the outskirts of Bangalore within a range of 50 to 300 kilometres.
Are these trails safe? All of the areas we’ve listed get a lot of visitors. However, as with all such destinations, you need to take the necessary precautions and pay special attention to notifications put out by local authorities from time to time.
Trekking Places near Bangalore – Level Easy
1. Savandurga Hill
Considered to be one of the largest monolith hills in India, the Savandurga range consists of two hills, Karigudda and Billigudda. At the base of the hills are two temples. The route to the top takes you to a marvellous fort that is said to have been built by Kempe Gowda II, from where you can get an excellent view of Bangalore’s outskirts.
Here, you don’t have to be worried about getting lost as the place is always filled with trekkers who come here from different parts of Bangalore and India. The monolith makes climbing up to the top an easy task.
- Location: Off the Magadi Road
- Distance from Bangalore: About 60 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Easy
2. Narayangiri
An ideal spot for trekking near Bangalore at night, Narayanagiri sees even tourists because you can even hire kayaks nearby.
The climb to the top isn’t that difficult; however there are some parts of the mountain where you’ll have to tread carefully because of the deep crevices. From the top of the mountain, you’ll get a fabulous view of the entire town of Ramanagaram.
- Location: Ramanagaram
- Distance from Bangalore: 54 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
3. Ramanagara
Located away from Bangalore, Ramanagara is a small town in Karnataka. Ramanagara has many short treks that one can embark on, including one to the spot where they shot Sholay! These treks are perfect for the weekend as climbing up doesn’t take up much of your time, unless you like to take it slow.
Some of them will last only a little over an hour. Popular spots for trekking in the area are Ramadevara, Yatirajagiri, Revana Siddeshwara hill, and Ramagiri Hill.
- Location: Ramanagara
- Distance from Bangalore: 54 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
4. Nandi Hills
You have two options to get to the top of the Nandi Hills: you can trek from either the south or the north of the mountains. The northern side has a proper road and is a little more crowded, as it is also used by cyclists and bikers. If you want a real trek to the top, take the southern route.
At the top you can see the outside of Tipu Sultan’s summer residence and can click amazing photographs from this point. There is also a temple at the top of the mountain. You could even spend the rest of the day at Nandi Hills and only head back in the evening.
- Location: Chikkaballapur
- Distance from Bangalore: 60 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Easy
5. Devarayanadurga Hill
A hill station where Buddha Purnima is celebrated with great fanfare in March and April (including a car festival), Devarayanadurga is an amazing trek for the whole family. This is because there are three levels. Up to the lowest, the trek is very easy and no really effort is needed.
At this elevation, you can find the Lakshmi-Narasimha Swamy Temple (at higher levels, the Yoga Narasimha and Bhoga Narasimha temples can be found). The next level is a bit more challenging, but it’s still doable.
Here, you can see a natural spring and a small pond. As you go higher up the mountain, the trek gets tougher, so if you aren’t in the best physical health, avoid going any further. If you are confident, though, the view is excellent. There is also a small spring known as Jaya-tirtha at the top.
- Location: Devarayanadurga, near Tumkur
- Distance from Bangalore: 70 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Easy to Difficult
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6. Madhugiri Hill
One of the easier and more relaxed climbs, the Madhugiri Hill is the second-largest monolith hill in Karnataka. Trekking here is pretty easy as there are steps right up to the top of the hill. At the top of the hill is a fort (Madhugiri Fort) that is rooted in Karnataka’s history.
It will take you around two hours to complete the trek, walking at a leisurely pace; many experienced trekkers will take even half the time.
- Location: Madhugiri
- Distance from Bangalore: 105 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Easy
Trekking Places near Bangalore – Level Difficult
1. Bheemeshwari
Every trekker’s fantasy, the climb up the Bheemeshwari hill presents you with panoramic views of nature. This trek is a mixed bag, as there are some easy and other very challenging sections.
The landscape is wonderful throughout, with rich flora and fauna; in particular, it is an amazing spot for bird-watching. There are also a few watchtowers from where the surrounding areas are best seen.
- Location: Bheemeshwari
- Distance from Bangalore: 105 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
2. Skandagiri Hill
Skandagiri is a hill located in the Chikballapur district. A difficult trek, it will take around five to complete, but it’s very popular with hiking enthusiasts. You will find plenty of groups, including some beginners, trekking up to the top.
The beginning of the trail is pretty easy, but as you go up, you will have to make your way through a maze of dense shrubs. But the climb is totally worth it, as you will witness some amazing views from the top of the mountain. If you’re interested in history or architecture, check out the old fort that once belonged to Tipu Sultan at the top.
- Location: Skandagiri
- Distance from Bangalore: 61 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Difficult
3. Anthargange
Besides being an excellent trekking spot, the Anthargange doubles up as a cave exploration site. The hill offers you the best of both worlds. If you love taking up challenges, you will love the climb up the top of this 1712-metre mountain.
Along the way you will have to bend, twist, crawl, through the tricky path to find your way to the top. A tough, but short trek, it’s also not that far away from the city. So in case you only have a few hours and must get out of the city, here’s where you go.
- Location: Kolar
- Distance from Bangalore: About 70 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
4. Kunti Betta
A popular trekking trail, Kunti Betta is frequented by both amateur and professional trekkers. The route to the top is picturesque and you’ll find photography enthusiasts bringing large lenses up to the top, too. 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 of the hill. At a moderate pace, it will take you around five hours to conquer this peak.
- Location: SH 19, Pandavapura.
- Distance from Bangalore: About 130 kilometres
- Trek Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
If you live in Bangalore, take a weekend out from your busy schedule and trek to one of these mountains. It’s a great way to get away from the city and get some exercise. It’s also a popular way to bring groups together, whether it’s college students or even office colleagues.
Have you been on any of these weekend treks in Bangalore? Which ones did you enjoy? We would love to hear about them in the comments section below.
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