Trek to Gudibande Fort

One of the easiest treks I have done around Bangalore is the trek to Gudibande Fort. It is a popular trekking spot that is very close to Bangalore and can be covered in one day. As I have always been in love with forts, I jumped on the opportunity of visiting the this fort. If you love history and old structures, then Gudibande fort is a perfect place to be. The fort, even though small, still stands strong and showcases the gone era of Karnataka.

For other one day treks around Bangalore, refer One day trips from Bangalore section.

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About Gudibande Fort

Gudibande Fort is a 17th century fort, built by a yogi and local chieftain Byre Gowda. Supposedly, the Gudibande Fort is an exact replica of the Madhugiri Fort. The Gudibande fort is believed to be more than 400 years ago.

Do you love forts? Read about the other forts in India.

The name Gudibande is derived from the temple on the rock. On the peak is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as Sri Rameshwara temple, established by Sage Vishwamitra and Lord Rama. The temple is supposedly one of the 108 Jyotirlingas. There is a pillar with a square base at the entrance of the temple that has well sculpted images.

The views from the Gudibande fort is spectacular. One can get amazing views of the Byrasagara reservoir and the villages surrounding the fort. The best time to visit the Gudibande fort is during spring, autumn and winter seasons as the summer can be very hot. The trail does have a little bit of shade between the gates but most times it is open. It is also best to trek in the morning as it can get hot during the day.

How to get to Gudibande Fort?

The Gudibande fort is located in Gudibande village in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka state.

• Driving – Gudibande village is around 90 kilometres from Bangalore towards the airport. The route has toll roads and the roads are in good condition. There is free parking at the base of the hill.

• Public transportation – Gudibande has a bus stop of its own and is well connected by government and private buses. It is best to travel by the government buses, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), as there are less chances of them getting cancelled.

Trek to Gudibande Fort

The trek to Gudibande fort is very easy and relaxed as there are a set of cemented stairs to get to the peak. The path has a lot of greenery with many pretty flowers on both sides of the path.

• Starting and finishing points: Base of the hill at Gudibande village.
• Total steps: Around 500 stairs one way.
• Total distance: 2 kilometres one way.
• Time taken: 30 to 40 minutes one way.
• Type of trek: Return.
• Grade: Very easy.

Important information

• The trail is child friendly as it has the well defined set of stairs.
• The trek has no toilets and water sources. But there are tender coconut vendors on the trail where one can enjoy good and fresh coconut water. The cost of one tender coconut is INR 40.
• The trail has a lot of monkeys so be careful of the bags and water bottles.
• Carry a day pack with sufficient drinking water.
• There are some shops at the base of the trek in Gudibande, where one can purchase water and food.
• Carry your lunch and trail snacks to enjoy good food on the peak.
• No permission is required to trek to the fort.
• Ensure to wear sturdy and comfortable shoes.
• Be prepared for a lot of crowd over the weekends.
• DO NOT throw garbage. Take your rubbish with you and throw it only at dedicated dustbins.

Trekking agency

This trek can easily be done by yourself and does not require any trekking agency. Getting to the base of the hill is easy and the trail itself is very relaxed and doable on your own. But as I do not have any transportation of my own, I decided to go with Bangalore Mountaineering Club (BMC) adventures.

• Trekking agency: BMC.
• Cost: INR 1297 + GST.
• The expenses include transportation between Gudibande and Bangalore.

Safety for solo female travelers

The trail is perfect for solo female travelers as there are a lot of people climbing to the peak. However, be cautious, especially after dark and try to be down at the base before sunset.

Closing Notes

The Gudibande fort is a beautiful fort. Even though small, it still has the outer walls intact. And the views are very pretty and really worth the climb. I highly recommend trekking to the Gudibande Fort if you love to go back in time and experience some history.

Have you visited Gudibande fort? Let me know in the comments below.

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