Antargange Trek

After planning and rescheduling many times, I finally made it to the peak of Antargange hill. It is one of the treks that I always wanted to do and was on my bucket list for Karnataka, but for some reason or the other I couldn’t do it. Even though the Antargange trek is famous for its night exploration and trek, I did the day trek. It is surely one of the best one day treks around Bangalore that is easily accessible and acts as a perfect adventure for adventure seekers.

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About Antargange

Antargange meaning Ganga from within or Ganga of the deep in Kannada language is a hill located in Kolar district of Karnataka. At an altitude of 1712 metres, the hill is a famous religious site. The hill has a Lord Shiva temple and is often referred as the Dakshin Kashi.

The best time to visit Antargange is during the winter season (between the months of November and February) as the weather is pleasant. The summer season is very hot and humid and can make the trek very difficult. It is also better to do the trek either as a night trek or early morning to avoid the harsh sun.

How to get to Antargange?

Driving

Located in Kolar district, Antargange is around 70 kilometres from Bangalore city and by road, the journey takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. The route is towards Hoskote and has toll roads.

• Antargange has a paid parking where trekkers can park their vehicles.

Public transportation

• Train – There is a railway station at Kolar and Antargange is around 3 kilometres from the railway station. Up to date information on trains can be found on IRCTC website.
• Bus – There are frequent buses between Kolar and Bangalore. You can take the local buses that are run by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

Statistics of Antargange Trek

Antargange trek can be divided into two parts, first part that reaches till the Lord Shiva temple and the second part to the peak that has only rocks and boulders.

Part 1: Stairs to Lord Shiva temple

The first part is an easy and straightforward flight of stairs to the temple. This is not a trek but just a few steps for religious people to visit the temple.

• Trek distance: Hardly 1 kilometre return.
• Time taken: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the time you spend at the temple.
• Grade: Easy.
• Type of trek: Set of stairs.
• Permission required: No.
• It is a place of worship so ensure to take off your footwear before going into the temple.

Part 2: Trek and Cave exploration

The second part of the trek is where the actual adventure begins. The trek is a combination of climbing the boulders and a cave exploration which is very adventurous and exciting. Path to the peak are only rocks and boulders. And the trekkers also need to go through the caves. This part of the trek is absolutely amazing and is an unforgettable experience.

• Trek distance: 4 kilometres return.
• Time taken: 3 to 4 hours return.
• Grade: Moderate.
• Type of trek: Mostly on the boulders and has cave exploration where trekkers need to pass through the caves by climbing, jumping, crawling and .
• Permission for the Trek: Yes. Need special permissions for this trek which can be obtained from MyEcoTrip and the cost of the permission is INR 250 per person.

Trekking agency

Even though this trek can easily be done with a group of friends by ourselves, I went with a trekking agency as I am a solo traveler and it is easy when the arrangements are taken care of. I went with Bangalore Mountaineering Club (BMC) Adventures and like always I had a good time and I met some very nice fellow trekkers. The trek cost me INR 1297 + GST and it included the transportation, permit fees, breakfast and lunch, and the guide charges.

Important information

• For the Antargange trek, the trekkers need not go with a trekking agency as it is just one path but for the caves, ensure to go with one of the trekking volunteers from MyEcoTrip.
• If you are claustrophobic, then it is best to avoid the caves as there are a few narrow paths that one needs to go through.
• There are a lot of monkeys so be careful of your belongings, especially food.
• Ensure to take sufficient water as there are no water sources inside the cave or to the peak. There is no shade to the peak (except for in the caves) so the sun can be very harsh.
• Take packed lunch to have it in the cave or at the peak.
• Wear comfortable shoes as the caves do require a good grip.
• Carry a torch with you for the cave exploration.
• There is network coverage throughout the trek, except for few places in the cave.
• There are tender coconut, and cucumber vendors along the way. So carry cash to pay these vendors.
• No toilet facilities are available near the temple or throughout the trek.
• Be alert and take small steps especially on the rocks and boulders.

Safety for solo female travelers

It is always advisable to go on a trek with a buddy so you are prepared for any unforeseen situations. Even though Antargange trek is not that dangerous as there are always people on the trail, but I would not suggest trekking it alone especially because of the cave exploration.

Closing Notes

Antargange trek is surely a very beautiful and adventurous trek around Bangalore. It is just 70 kilometres from the city and is a perfect one day getaway over the weekend. I highly suggest adding Antargange trek as one of the must visit places when you are in Bangalore.

Have you completed the Antargange trek? Let me know in the comments below.

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