Narsimha Parvata Trek: Treks in Karnataka

The Narsimha Parvata Trek comes under the Kudermukh National park. It is located in Agumbe which is a high-altitude village in the south-western Indian state of Karnataka. The Narsimha Parvata is also known as the Agumbe Park as it is the highest peak of the town Agumbe.

You will enjoy the panoramic views on this trek which makes it one of the most famous treks among the trekkers. The enormous beauty also makes it one of India’s best treks. There is a huge valley between the Narsimha Parvata and a nearby village known as Maladur and this valley is extremely pleasing to the eyes. The mountain peaks here have shola green lands which just adds the cherry on top to the beauty of this trek.

Important facts about Narsimha Parvata trek

• Altitude: 3780 ft
• Best time to visit: October to February
• Duration: (2-3 days Round Trip) (1 Day Trek)
• Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult
• Nearest railway station: Udupi railway station which is 61 Km away from Agumbe.
• Nearest airport: Mangalore airport is the nearest airport which is 98 Km from Agumbe.
• Minimum age: The minimum age required for this trek is 10 years.
• Distance: 18 Km from Sringeri
• Base camp: Narsimha Parvata peak

Brief Description of the Itinerary

• DAY 1: Reach Agumbe either via train or by air. You need to travel on public transport or private vehicle from the nearest railway station and the nearest airport to reach Agumbe.
• DAY 2: Reach Malandur from Agumbe which is a few kms away. You can take an auto and then start the trek, 9 Km, 8-9 hour trek.
  Another Way: Reach Kigga via bus, 1-hour drive, then trek for 6 Km, 6-7 hours
• DAY 3: Return

Detailed Description of the Itinerary

DAY 1: Reach Agumbe

On the first day, you need to reach Agumbe. If you travelled to Udupi via train, then you can hire a bus or taxi to reach Agumbe. This is a 61 Km drive and will take approximately 2 hours. However, if you travelled by air and reached Mangalore, then also you can either travel on public conveyance or hire a private taxi. This is a 98 Km drive and will take 3-4 hours approximately. You can stay at night in a hotel or guest house.

DAY 2: Agumbe – Malandur – Narsimha Parvata peak

• Altitude: 3780 ft.
• Distance: 8-9 kms trek
• Time: 8-9 hours
• Gradient: Steep slopes and forest in the way
• Water source: Carry 2-3L with you. Refill at Barkhana falls

After having breakfast and filling up your water bottles, you can start your journey. First, you will need to reach Malandur. You can reach there by taking an auto-rickshaw and it is a few kms away. The trek starts from Malandur. From here, you will ascent towards the beautiful peak of Narsimha Parvata. The trekking from Agumbe can be difficult due to steep slopes. Moreover, you will also trek inside a forest for a few kms to reach the zenith point. The visibility inside the forest is minimal and therefore, there are high chances of getting lost, so it is advisable to take a compass with you. After crossing the forest, you will encounter Barkhana falls from where you can refill your water bottles. After this waterfall, you will need to travel via the steep slope which will make the trek difficult. You can camp at the peak and spend the night in your tents.

Another path: Agumbe – Kigga – Narsimha Parvata peak

• Altitude: 3780 ft
• Distance: 6 kms trek
• Time: 6-7 hours
• Gradient: forest and normal slopes
• Water source: carry 2-3L with you. Refill near the peak

However, if you are worried about the forest, then there is also another way to reach the top. For this, you need to reach Kigga which is 35 Km from Agumbe and you can travel this distance by bus or public vehicle. In this trek, you will need to travel via the forest for only 2 Kms. The trek from Kigga temple till forest is very easy. Moreover, you will also need to cover less distance from this way. However, it is difficult to get water on your way. You will get water only near the peak. After reaching the peak, you can sleep overnight in your tents.

DAY 3

In the early morning, you will head back to where you came from. It is advisable to cover your trek during the day only due to forests.

Fitness Requirement

There is a reasonable amount of fitness required if you wish to cover the entire Narsimha Parvata trek. As there are a lot of steep slopes in the trek, therefore, you must start preparing yourself before planning for this trek. If you are an absolute beginner, then you must start at least 15 days prior to your trek. You can start with walking, jogging and slowly shifting to high-intensity cardio. The other activities also include cycling, swimming, treadmills (inclined mode), cross-trainer, running etc. build your stamina and strength before starting the trek.

What to bring

If you want to cover the entire trek with ease, then you must have the following items along with you:

• Clothes: Bring the jackets and winter clothing along with you as the nights at Narsimha Parvata might be cold. Also bring winter caps, socks, gloves with you. Make sure that you have at least 2 pair of clothes with you. 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.
• Gear: Bring a sturdy and waterproof backpack of 45-50L capacity. Also, wear a good pair of hiking shoes with good grip. Also, take a raincoat with you and some plastic wraps in which you can protect your delicate belongings in case of rain.
• Accessories: Bring a torch with you and pack some toiletries.
• 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: Permissions from the forest office are required.