Top 9 Trekking Places near Bangalore You Should not Miss

Raggi Mudde

6 years ago

Categories: Bangalore

There are many trekking places near Bangalore that you should not miss. The beautiful garden city has no dearth of parks, gardens, picturesque hills and trekking places in and around. The city is particularly known for its lush green stretches and boasts of endless getaways within a small radius. Its location, terrain, and approach easily make it one of the best destinations for nearby getaways and treks.

Ramdevarabetta, Ramanagaram. Image courtesy L. Shyamal

Trekking Places near Bangalore – A Comprehensive List

A quick drive outside the city unfurls valleys and hills like no other. Let’s discuss the top 5 trekking places around Bangalore where one can trek in a space not too far from home.

Ramanagara –This is easily the best place to go trekking around the garden city. Known for its rock climbing and bird watching activities, it is the same spot where the movie Sholay was shot. Situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet just 50 odd kilometres from Bengaluru, Ramanagara has 7 hills with easy to moderate trails. You can choose out of these: Krishnagiri, Somagiri, Sidikallu Hill, Jala Siddeshwara Hill, Yatirajagiri, Shivaramagiri and Revana Siddeshwara Hill.
Skandagiri – Less than 70 kilometres from Bengaluru, this stretch is the most diverse one for trekkers. This is because trekkers get the best of both day and night trekking. Wait to watch the sunset or the sunrise against the hills. Additionally, you get to indulge in bird watching, camping as well as a tour of the Papagani Temple. Some people fondly call it Kalavara Durga. The beautiful hills indeed top among the best trekking places near Bangalore.
Kudremukh – Ready for some challenge? Take up the trek to Kudremukh, which is layered with vast grasslands, blessed with a brilliant climate and comprises of thick hilly forests. The trek is moderate to challenging in nature and takes at least 6 hours to complete. Covering a distance of 22 kilometres at 6,200 plus feet, it is worth every second of trekking there.
Savanadurga –If you are looking at monolith trekking place near Bengaluru, then this is the best place to trek in. The trek is about 3 kilometers and can be taken up anytime during the year, except the monsoon months, of course. Some of the interesting things that cross a trekker’s path here are the huge rock walls, fort, Manchanabele Dam and the reserve forest to name a few. It is considered one of the biggest monoliths of Asia and is easy to moderate trek.
Kunti Betta – A dash of stunning views, beautiful grasslands, granite outcrops and rocky boulders is what describes the Kunti Betta trek the best. Although slightly farther away from Bengaluru, about 120 kilometres, at 2,880 feet, it offers amazing overnight trekking. It offers the most stunning views of Lake Thonnur. Enjoy the nature trails, lake and night trek with backdrops of sugarcane fields, coconut trees, and paddy fields. What more does the place need to get its name on the list?
Chikmagalur– Crowned by the Chandrodana range, decorated with waterfalls seeped in history, exotic rose gardens, magnificent cave temples and challenging trek paths beckoning you, the Baba Budan hills in Chikmagalur are ever inviting the hungry traveler. It’s the Mullayanagiri peak of Baba Budan that has created history as one of the highest peaks in India. With kurinji flowers decorating either side of its serpentine trek paths leading to its 6,330 feet high peak, Mullayanagiri is a paradise for trekkers.
Coorg– Talk of Coorg and your mind’s eye pictures plantations kissed by passing clouds. But did you know that Coorg offers a zillion trekking trails that run through thickly wooded forests, leading you to heights that you would never want to return from? Trek atop the highest peak of Coorg at Thadiyandamol and watch the Arabian Sea spread out like a blue-green carpet. Climb the Pushpagiri and Subramania hills, camp at the summit and watch the rising sun turn the hills purple, then lush green. Trek through jungles and plantations to Iruppu and Abbey falls, and get a great dose of nature than you can ever digest at Nagarhole.
Shimoga – Standing high on Kodachadri peak and watching the Arabian Sea turn into a dazzling golden shade, then red and slowly embracing the evening sun in its waters is something you must experience in a lifetime. The perfect way to enjoy this exhilarating experience is to trek up 1,343 meters to Kodachadri in Shimoga. The trek up Kodachadri is challenging, but rappel down its perpendicular slope on the western side for the ultimate thrill. Heighten the thrill meter by taking the dicey mud track that passes through a dense jungle and leads to Agastya Theertha, a rivulet that runs a little below the summit. But ensure you trek to this rivulet in broad daylight or you may lose your way. Laden with sunset spots, trek trails, lakes and mountains is Agumbe, the Cheerapunji of Karnataka.
Dandeli -Climb the steep Sahayadri cliffs of Dandeli and rapple down the rocky sides of these 300-feet high monolith granite Syntheri rocks. Situated on the banks of River Kalindi, Dandeli is one of the best trekking places near Bangalore and a breathtaking creation of nature. Signed off by Nature, Moolangi in Dandeli is clothed in dense bamboo thickets and makes for a perfect backpacking spot. Trek into its heart, set up a camp, light a camp fire, cook a barbeque and live in harmony with the wild here. Then set off to Siroly peak to watch colourful hornbills gliding through the bright blue sky, and the rainforests carpeting the earth below.

As you can see, places around Bengaluru offer the best treks possible in lush green hillocks, monoliths, rich fields and gorgeous plantations. Keep two days aside to enjoy these treks to the fullest, so that you can camp a night at the trekking spot itself. Fuel up and stay motivated and head to one of these trekking places near Bangalore.