Skandagiri: The Sunrise Trek

Skandagiri is located approximately 65 km from Bangalore and is located in Kalavara village in Chikballapur district. Skandagiri is a preferred weekend getaway among nature lovers due to several positive factors:

• Proximity from Bangalore (appox 1.5 hours drive)

• Short but beautiful and serene trek

• Amazing over the cloud sunrise experience

Suggested Itinerary for the Trek (from Bangalore)

Skandagiri trek is enjoyed best if you reach the peak before sunrise and find yourself a great spot on the top to watch and capture the beautiful moment. You should also ensure to make an advance online booking for the trek, using this Link

• Start early & Arrive early - it is advised to start early morning (around 2:30 am if you are going on your personal vehicle or late night a day before, around 11 pm, if you are using public transport)

• Park your vehicle at Papagni Mutt (this is the starting point of the trek)

• Walk towards Forest office - 5 mins walk from Papagni Mutt

• Start the trek - guide from Forrest office will lead in the beginning. Trek details:

1. Starting Point - Forrest office

2. End Point - Skandagiri Peak

3. Duration - 1.5 - 2.5 hours, depending on speed

4. Trek type - Moderate (rocky terrain with slope throughout the trek)

5. Trail - well defined, easy to follow trail

• If you start around 4 am in the morning, it will still be dark and hence carry a torch

• Reach the peak between 6 - 6:30 and find a suitable spot to sit and relax

• Enjoy the scenery and prepare yourself for breath taking views of the sun rise on top of the clouds

Things to consider

1. Don't forget to carry the following:

• Water Bottle

• Snacks

• Small torch - for early morning trek

• Jacket / Sweater - it will be very windy and cold during the trek and at the peak

• Small backpack to carry things

2. Start early to reach the peak on time and enjoy the sunrise

3. Pace your trek and take proper breaks at the trail is rocky and steep

My Skandagiri Trek - Feb'2021

With little to no travel over the last 1 year due to Covid, it had been difficult time for nature lovers and explorers like me. After a gap of almost 10 months, I restarted my exploration journey of 2021 with a trek to Skandagiri. Key reasons to choose this trek were - the proximity, beautiful landscape and the chance to sit at a peak and watch the sunrise.

I started from Bangalore around 2:30 am in my car and reached the Papagni Mutt at 3:55 am. There was a dedicated parking spot next to the Mutt.

Papagni Mutt (Shiva Temple)

Parking Area

After parking, I walked for 5 mins to reach the Forrest area entry point at around 4 am. Trek started around 4:20 pm after around 10 people had gathered with the guide taking the lead.

It was still very dark, windy and cold and hence really exciting when the trek started.

After walking for about 5-7 minutes, we reached the start of the trail clearly marked by the Forrest officials.

Trail start point

After trekking for about 1.5 hours, reached the top around 5:45 am. It was still dark but beautiful at the peak. I found a nice spot to settle down and relax for a bit before exploring the temple at the peak.

Temple at the Peak

Then the wait started for the main attraction - the sunrise. It was amazing to see a huge crowd that included people of all ages - youngsters, elderly, even kids (around 7-8 years old) all equally excited and waiting patiently at their spots

Beautiful City View from the Peak

After about 1 hour, the sunrise happened at 6:45 am and it was really worth the trek and the long wait.

Sunrise

After spending about 15 mins, I started my trek back to the Forrest office. It was now bright and getting sunny. Trekking back was much easier but slightly tricky due to the slope. It took just over 1 hour to trek back to the starting. Overall it was a very satisfying experience.

It's a must do trek for anyone looking to explore something new.

Let's Xplore..!!