Have you ever been afraid of being alone in an unfamiliar place you’d never been before? the response could be Yes or No.
What was it like to be alone in a lonely location, afraid and helpless? I’d never had anything like it till I went on the Skandagiri Trek by myself.
Skandagiri is a mountain 70 kilometers from Bangalore with a fortification at its summit. The peak is roughly 1350 meters above sea level.
Before You Begin Your Journey:
While reading several of the internet posts about this location, I noticed that night treks were prohibited, residents were unpleasant, and police would detain hikers, among other things. Even before we started the walk, it had become a terrifying prospect. The terror that these thoughts instilled in me made me reconsider going there for a hike.
But, for some reason, I convinced myself that all of my fears were unfounded, and I chose to go ahead and do it anyway.
The Adventure Begins:
I found a train from Bangalore to ChikBallapur because I’m usually on the lookout for a cheap excursion. It will just cost you 20/- to travel from Bangalore to Chik
● Skandagiri is reached by train.
The train was scheduled to leave Bangalore city Junction at 08:30 a.m., but it arrived late. And the train, which was expected to arrive at ChikBallapur at 11 a.m., arrived at midnight.
I walked into town from the railway station and had my Bruch at a nearby nice restaurant
● To get to the base from Chickballapur Town:
In broken Kannada, I asked a handful of people how to travel to Skandagiri, but I didn’t get any satisfactory answers. So, as is customary, I chose to rely solely on Google Maps.
According to maps, the base is 5 kilometers from the town, which takes an hour to walk. So, around 1:00 p.m., I began trekking towards Skandagiri’s base, following the charts. And I took a stroll down the village road, taking in the scenery without the glare of the sun.
● Skandagiri is reached via the village.
I arrived at the bottom of the slope around 14:00 hours. I discovered the temple mentioned in previous blog articles, confirming that I had not taken any false turns.
The Adventure Begins:
According to Google maps, the peak was 3 kilometers from the base, which meant another hour of hiking.
From the base, the first view of Skandagiri
When I first started trekking, I was a little confused about where the trails were because Google maps didn’t indicate my specific location on the map. But, with no other option, I simply followed the path until I came across a few arrow marks on the rocks signifying the beginning of the trekking track.
On the rocks, there were similar markings.
There was no one else in the area. It was two o’clock in the afternoon. The sun shone brightly and to its full extent. There was only a sliver of a breeze to provide some relief. But, sooner or later, some clouds arrived to assist, and things began to improve.
The Route:
The hiking trail was indicated. As a result, it wasn’t difficult to follow. When I first started hiking, I even turned off Google Maps.
● Skandagiri’s Trails
After a long trek, I was able to glimpse a portion of the stronghold.
● The first sighting of the SkandaGiri fort wall.
It was a fraction of an hour. So I thought I was moving quickly. However, as I approached that area of the stronghold, I noticed another similar fortress a little higher up. In actuality, they were a series of fort walls, stacked one on top of the other at various levels.
● There are no shortcuts in life, and there are none in trekking! :
I considered taking shortcuts when I spotted the fort walls. I decided to walk towards the fort walls because the straight line between them was the shortest distance between them
● The Pursuit of Happiness Is…:
Finding plastic waste thrown aside by someone can be a source of joy (even though it is a sad scene)
Conclusion:
To Conclude, The trekking route provides some spectacular views, so taking breaks to enjoy the scenery is always recommended. Don’t miss the vantage points from which you can get awe-inspiring views of the lush green landscape.