If doable treks is part of your fitness journey, there’s one around Bengaluru that should be on every beginner’s list. Madhugiri, Asia’s second-largest monolithic rock is about 110 kilometres away from Bengaluru towards Tumkur district. Famous for its fort, the ruins of which lie atop the steep hill at a height of 3,950 feet, it is quite an adventurous task to climb it. The drive to Madhugiri takes about two hours from Bengaluru, while the nearest railway station is Tumkur. It’s best to leave early and reach the base of the fort to avoid the harsh sun while climbing. The trek is not recommended during the rainy season for it’s slippery and can be dangerous.
We reached the base of Madhugiri fort at 8 am. There are not many options for breakfast on the way, so it is advisable to carry your own breakfast along with snacks and water. There are no fees charged for the trek. However, you have to register with the guards for reasons of safety. So do remember to carry your photo ID.
The start was comfortably doable. Just about 200 steps away is the watch tower of the fort. There is also a well, now dry, with steps cut into it. As you climb higher, the steep and rocky hill becomes very demanding. Though there are small steps, just enough to rest your toes, and a rope along the path for support, it is quite strenuous and even scary in a couple of places.
The real adventure starts midway. The way up from there is zig zag and without any support. There are a few points where iron rods and side pillars help, but the wind makes it challenging.
At one point, we found a flat area with shade and stopped for a break of 15-20 minutes. From this point, the way up was rocky. The view of the town from here was magnificent. A number of small hills surrounded by Madhugiri fort made us feel like we were on top of the world.
- The nearest airport is at Bengaluru, about 100 kilometres away. Taxis can be taken to reach Madhugiri.
- By road, Bengaluru is well-connected to Madhugiri via Tumkur, and can be reached by KSRTC buses, which ply from Majestic bus stand at regular intervals.
- The nearest railway station is Tumkur.
This is an ideal spot for photography. For the climb further, a pair of shoes with good grip is recommended. At a point where the climb is almost 80 degrees, with only iron bars to rest your feet at, I almost froze. There was no point looking up or down — one needed to just keep going. There are many memorable but bone-chilling experiences.
On top, lie the ruins of a temple. By then, we had exhausted all our energy. We spent some time there, listened to music, chatted and planned our next trek. The sun was at its peak when we began our descent. It took about five hours for us to climb and return to base point, but it was well worth it.
