TREK TO MAKALIDURGA

This trek was planned by our company colleagues. Our team wanted to go for an outing & spend time. We wanted a place which should be nearer to Bangalore. Then this outing was planned.

ATTRACTIONS IN VICINITY:

There are remains of fort on top of Granite hillock. There is a Shiva temple on top of the hill & a huge lake at one side of the foot hill.

TREK DATE:

This was executed on 5^th of September, 2009.

Total trek length was around 6kms.

ROUTE:

 Yelahanka New Town ~ Doddaballapura ~ Gauribidanur Road ~ Makalidurga ~ Doddaballapura ~ Yelahanka New Town.

THE TEAM:

Our teams of 23 members were involved in this outing.

This outing was planned by one of my colleague in Kennametal called Naveen.

Only 12 of us only did hiking & rest of them spent time by playing & cooking near Lake.

JOURNEY:

The Journey started @8.00am in 3 cars & I have been picked up at Puttenahalli near Yelahanka around 8.30am. We got down near the hill around 9.30am. Crossed the railway track & parked the vehicles in an open space. Here only we had breakfast which we brought. We headed towards lake along with utensils, water bottle & fire wood. Here we arranged everything for cooking & at 10.30am 12 of us started to trek towards the hill top.

As we started trek from lake side, there was no defined path & the taller grass had grown all over. Initially we ventured thru a little dense area of small trees & later on the trees given up with tall grass & boulders. While hiking thru these boulders we saw 2 rabbits jumping & running away from us. In some places the ascent was almost vertical to 90 degrees.

Further we trekked & saw the ruins of the fort. From here the view was beautiful as one could see huge lake below in one side & railway track towards the other. We further climbed & saw the ruins of fort & when started discussing we came to know that this was constructed by Vijayanagar emperors for army exercise and later on ruled by Magadi Kempegowda. It took almost 1.5hrs to reach the hill top. On top of the hill there is a Shiva temple. Also we saw ruins of Shivalinga, Basavanna & Garudagamba. We felt sorrow after seeing damages done to our historical sculptures. In some areas near the temple, was dug up by some greedy people in search of treasure. We felt pathetic by seeing the litter all over the hill top. I request all my fellow trekkers not to litter the place.

From top of the hill one can see the railway station, trains plying, curvy road & vehicle travelling on the road in miniature size, lakes on the other side & agricultural land. We spent an hour at top & got down in the regular trek path. It was around 2.30pm when we reached bottom of the hill.  By the time we reached near the lake my fellow colleagues had cooked lunch for us. The Vangibath, Rice & rasam, Halva & curd rice everything tasted mouthwatering. We did batting very nicely. 

Later on we played cricket & some fun games. Later on we had Tea in the evening, packed all items & started back towards the home. Finally I got down near NES-Yelahanka at around 6.00pm.  

    

TIPS FOR TREKKERS:

Carry water & food as it is not available.

Please do not litter the place.

PERMISSIONS:

Permission is not required. But do carry Local guy’s contact no. in case of emergency.

Plenty of trains & buses ply in this route. So there is no necessity to take own vehicle.

I will catch you soon with my next blog.

Till then…………………………Bye.