Channagiri- A day trek for beginners

About Channagiri Trek

Karnataka state is one of the most promising states in India, especially for adventure enthusiasts. Karnataka has one of the best peaks for trekking of which few are identified even by Karnataka Tourism highlighting as Eco Trails. It offers difficult to moderate easy treks within the state and in and around Bangalore City. At a distance of about 60 km from Bangalore city lies Channagiri, one of the hills amid the famous Nandi Hills range. With a total height of approximately 1350 meters above sea level, Channagiri Trek is easy to moderate about 3 km, and takes about two to two and a half hours to complete. Take some more time in hand to enjoy the scenic view atop hills from where you can also see other hills in the range. The other hills in this range are Skandagiri, Brahmagiri, and a few others.

The trail

The trail, especially after the monsoon, is densely covered with life-size shrubs and thorny bushes. There are rocks in between to reach the highest point. There are few places where one has to be very careful as there are lots of narrow passages but is great fun to cross. The hill is quite steep with some points at an angle of 70 degrees though difficult to climb for amateurs but when with the group one can easily do it. Channagiri Trek is one of the easiest trails and can be a good start for those who aspire to start trekking.

The start

The access to trek is easy and can be done with or without any guidance. It takes about an hour from Bangalore city to reach the base of Nandi Hills. You can either take Karnataka State buses from Bus Terminal to reach Chikballapur. Ideally, if you are going in a group take your own vehicle and reach the base by 8 am to avoid the sun as it really becomes hot. The base is where Shree Kanive Basaveshwara Swamy Temple (Nandi) is situated. You can park your vehicle there visit the temple if you wish to and then start your trek which starts just from there.

It’s an easy trek so enthusiasts of all age group will love it. You can break in between for snacks or breakfast to be carried by yourself. You need to load yourself with carbs for instant energy, so we took Puliyogre rice, some sandwiches, dates, Chikkis and lots of own water bottles to keep ourselves hydrated.   There is no facility for any food or water availability. Make sure you do not litter the area and carry your own trash bags to take back which implies travel lightJ. The Channagiri hills is an adjoined by 2 hills and the view from top seeing 2 more hills by your side is any trekkers delight.

Channagiri trek promises an exciting and rejuvenating adventure through diverse beautiful terrains to enjoy the panoramic view. Though it becomes warm as the sun rises higher if you plan to leave early morning you can enjoy good weather with lesser temperature along with misty and windy surrounding. It makes a fond memory. There are a couple of options available to trek in Channagiri. For those looking for an easier route, the Southern side of the hill is would suit you best and for seasoned trekkers who are looking for a challenging trek can opt for the Western side. If you are lucky to witness, you can spot the Peregrine Falcon, the Nilgiri Woodpigeon and the Shaheen Falcon which are believed to be nestled on the route. Even if you wish to spend some time atop the hill and enjoy the panoramic view the trek can be completed in half a day with loads of memories and stories to share.

More day treks from Bangalore : Madhugiri Fort | Ramadevera Betta Hike