Makalidurga Trek: Treks in Karnataka

The Makalidurga trek is situated near the village Makalidurga which is 60 Km away from Bangalore, Karnataka. It is a perfect place to quench your thirst for adventure. When you are visiting Bangalore, you must also visit Makalidurga trek which lies in the outskirts of the city. The iconic hump of the peak helps you to spot it from a distance.

This trek has a historical significance. It got its name from a late ruler Makaliraya who used it as a granary. It was a part of many empires and kingdoms and due to its historical significance, it is a famous attraction for the tourists and visitors. During the Vijayanagara Empire, the soldiers and military were trained on this hill. As the hill was significantly used in history, therefore, it is one of India’s best treks.

The picturesque view from the top makes it a trek to cover in the bucket list of the trekkers. In addition to this, it also comes in the best treks in India. It is also a good place to go for the people who like to capture the beauty of nature. The best thing about this trek is that on reaching the top, people can also see the peak of Nandi hills which adds beauty to the spectacular scenery.

Important facts about Makalidurga trek

• Altitude: 4430 ft.
• Best time to visit: you can visit this trek all year round. However, if you are one of those travel enthusiasts who want to go extreme with nature, then you must visit in the monsoon in order to enjoy the thrilling and challenging experience.
• Duration: 1 day
• Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
• Nearest railway station: The nearest railway station is Makalidurga railway station.
• Nearest airport: If you like to travel by air, then Kempegowda International airport, Bengaluru is the nearest airport.
• Travel by bus: You can also travel by bus from Bengaluru which is just 60 kms away from Makalidurga village.
• Minimum age: The minimum age required for this trek is 10 years.
• Distance: 7-8 Kms one side.
• Base camp: It is a one-day trek and there is no camping site, so you will ascent and descent on the same day.

The Main Trek

The trail is filled with thorny bushes and small rocks, therefore, you must come prepared for this. If you are lucky and travel on a windy day, the fragrance of the lemongrass will fill your energetic aura. When you ascend towards the destination, you will notice larger rocks and more barren. Therefore, it is also a good spot for mountain climbing enthusiasts. If you want to do mountain climbing, then you can bring your own equipment.

Short Description of The Itinerary

• DAY 1: Reach Bengaluru.
• DAY 2: 60 Km drive Bengaluru to Makalidurga and then 7-8 Km trek to the Makalidurga peak (4430 ft.)

Detailed Description of the Itinerary

DAY 1

On the first day, you need to reach Bengaluru. You can check in to a hotel and spend the day there. However, if you are directly reaching the Makalidurga village, you can stay at a hotel there as well and prepare yourself for the trek. An alternative option is that you can travel overnight to Bengaluru or Makalidurga village and after having a good breakfast and refreshment, start your trek early in the morning.

DAY 2

• Altitude: 4430 ft.
• Distance: 60 Km drive and then 7 Km trek
• Time: 2-hour drive and then 3-4 hour trek
• Water sources: Carry 2-3 L with you, refill on the way, plenty of water sources.
• Gradient: Continuous ascent until you reach the top. The descent on the way back.

If you are travelling from Bengaluru, then you will need to travel 60Km by road and reach Makalidurga village. From here, you can start your 7 km trek. It is advisable that you start your trek maximum by 10 am so that you can easily return on the same day. In your way, you will pass Krishna temple at the very base of the trek. This temple will mark the start of your trek. You will enter a fort at the end and then the ruins of the trek. On top of the hill, you will visit a Shiva and Nandi temple. You will also see Gunjar Lake on one side, surrounded by lush green grasslands. After exploring the peak, you can head back. There are plenty of waterfalls and streams and you can easily get water from there.

Fitness Requirement

Makalidurga trek is considered as easy to moderated trek and therefore, it is doable by an absolute beginner as well. However, it is still advisable to undergo a fitness regime before planning to do this trek as you will need to walk approximately 20 kms during a day. In order to start preparing yourself for the trek, you can start with a normal walk and then increase your workout day by day. You can do some exercises to strengthen your core as well as to build your stamina. In addition to this, you can do some cardio, cycling, jogging, and swimming in order to be ready to cover the Makalidurga trek.

Things to carry

In order to cover the trek with ease, you must make sure that you take the following items along with you:

• Clothes: The weather at Makalidurga changes drastically, therefore, it is advisable to bring the jackets and winter wears including the caps, gloves, winter socks, sweaters, thermals, etc. In addition to this, also bring sun cap and sunglasses with you. You must wear a light synthetic cargo or trek pants which can easily dry if there is any rain. Please make sure that don’t wear any shorts due to thorns in the trek.
• Gear: A backpack of 45-50L capacity. Also, wear a good pair of hiking shoes with good grip. In addition to this take a raincoat and some plastic wraps in which you can protect your delicate belongings.
• Accessories: Bring a torch, towel, toiletries including soap, toothpaste,
• Medical Kit: Bring a personal medical kit which contains medicines for fever, inflammation, digestion, insect repellents, and loose motions. Also, bring medicines according to your needs.
• Permissions: There is no permission required to cover Makalidurga trek.