Hike to Channarayana Durga Fort

Are you one of those people who love visiting historical places and learning the significance of those places? Just like me? I love it even more; when my two favourites i.e. love for hiking and love for history come together. Channarayana Durga Fort is one such place where both of these favourites meet. It is truly a destination of historical significance with a pinch of adventure.

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About Channarayana Durga

Channarayana Durga is a hill in the Tumkur district in the Karnataka state of India. The place is famous for its beautiful fort on the top that has a great history. For a hiking/trekking enthusiast, Channarayana Durga Fort makes a great weekend getaway. It is surely one of the most spectacular hikes to do from Bangalore.

History

Channarayana Durga Fort was constructed by a local king Chikakappa Gowda, the ruler of Madhugiri Fort and its surroundings. The fort was built in the 17th century. The fort then fell into the hands of Marathas. But in the subsequent years, the control of the fort changed between the Marathas and Mysore Wodeyars. At the end, the British took over the fort during the Third Mysore War.

One of the most fascinating fact is that there are 6 stone entrances to get to the fort.

How to get to Channarayana Durga Fort?

The fort is on the Channarayana Durga Hill and the hill is accessible by road.

• Public transport – Unfortunately, there is no public transport to Channarayana Durga hill. However, there are trains between Bangalore and Tumkur. And one needs to make their way from the Tumkur train station to the Channarayana Durga Hill.
• Road – The base of the hill is around 100 kilometres (2.5 hours) from Bangalore towards Tumkur. And this is the easiest way to get to Channarayana Durga hill.

Hiking details of Channarayana Durga Fort

Itinerary

This is a one day itinerary that the tour company I went with followed. This worked really well and we were back in Bangalore right on time.

Early morning 7 AM – Start from Bangalore towards Tumkur. It takes 2.5 hours by road to reach the base of the Channarayana Durga hill.

Ensure to have breakfast on the way. There are plenty of darshinis (restaurants) to have good breakfast.

10:30 AM – Reach the base of the hill and start climbing towards the fort.

11:30 AM – Reach the peak which is where the fort is.

Ensure to carry your lunch and have lunch at the peak. Note: DO NOT LITTER. CARRY YOUR GARBAGE WITH YOU AND DISPOSE IT IN A GARBAGE BIN.

12:30 PM/1 PM – After exploring the fort, start descending towards the base.

The descend can be very slippery as it is quite steep and is rocky.

2:00 PM – Start for Bangalore.

4:30 PM – Reach Bangalore.

Logistics

Below are the things to know before attempting this hike:

• Total distance: 4.5 to 5 kilometres return
• Elevation: 1188 metres
• Grade: Easy (even though the hill is quite steep)
• Time taken for hiking: 2 to 2.5 hours (excluding the lunch or break hour at the top)
• Path: There is only one path that leads to the top. Just follow that path and you will reach the peak.
• Best time to visit: During winters; Summers can be very hot and it will be difficult to hike. And it is a definite no for the rainy season.

Important information

• Wear sturdy shoes. As the hill is quite steep, it is advisable to wear a pair of strong comfortable shoes.
• Always carry an extra pair of socks.
• Carry sufficient water. There is no source of water on top of the peak or even around the base of the hill.
• Be careful of the monkeys, especially when you are carrying bags and backpacks.
• There are no shops around so ensure to take packed lunch and snacks.
• The path has no shade anywhere so it can get difficult when hiking during summers. Ensure to start the hike really early.
• DO NOT THROW LITTER ANYWHERE. Please respect nature and dispose of your garbage only in proper garbage bins or carry them back with you if you do not find any garbage bins.

Hiking Provider

• Company: Bangalore Mountaineering Club (BMC)
• Cost: INR 1050 per person.
• How to book? Online on their website
• After booking, always make sure to call them to confirm if the hike is going ahead. In Bangalore, every trekking agency requires a minimum number of participants, and generally, they cancel the hike if they have not received the minimum participants.

Safety for Solo female travelers

I would not recommend hiking this hill solo even for male travelers/hikers. Hence, a definite No for solo female travelers/hikers. There are very few people attempting the hike and it can get risky. And also as a principle, for hiking, it is always best to have a hiking buddy just in case of unexpected situations.

I suggest going with a trekking agency or a group of friends. The trekking agency is great because all the safety and first aid needs are taken care of.

Ensure to go with a reputed trekking agency. There are so many trekking agencies now in Bangalore and not all are a legalised registered trekking agency. So, please read the reviews and do your research before choosing the trekking agency.

My reviews

Hike

This hike is an absolutely beautiful hike and the fort is stunning. I was in love with the fort and the history that it has. This has to be in few of my favourite one day hikes around Bangalore. It is worth spending a day hiking this hill to see the fort.

Hiking agency

After researching and being on a lot of treks with different trekking agencies, I must say that I love going with BMC for sure. Some of my reasons are:

• The trek lead who accompanied us on this trek was really awesome and friendly.
• Most of the group members that came along were really good and it was a relatively young crowd.
• The safety of the trekkers were taken care of and the trek lead had the first aid kit.
• Lunch served by BMC was very tasty.
• The overall experience was very awesome and pleasant.

Closing Notes

Channarayana Durga Fort trek is one of my favourite treks around Bangalore. The views from the top are absolutely stunning. I highly recommend visiting this fort when you are in Bangalore.

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Note: This post is not written in collaboration or in affiliation with Bangalore Mountaineering Club (BMC). The reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions and are influenced only by my own experience with them.

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