Madhugiri

Date: 26-Jul-14

We had been planning to visit Madhugiri fort for quite some time. We had already caught a glimpse of the hill while returning from Siddarabetta earlier, and that brief view had stayed in our minds. Finally, we decided to make it happen that Saturday. My cousins Deepika and Priyanka joined us for the trip, which made the plan even more exciting. When I looked up Madhugiri online, the images of the massive monolithic hill only added to the anticipation.

On the way to Madhugiri Hill

We started from home at around 7:00 AM. The weather was beautiful and completely overcast, which made the morning drive even more pleasant. We kept chatting through most of the journey, enjoying the relaxed start to the day. At Dabaspet, we stopped for breakfast. Instead of our usual choice, Kamath, we had breakfast at a small restaurant called Brindavan. After a satisfying meal, we continued towards Madhugiri.

The weather remained consistently cloudy, which made the drive comfortable. The road, which was under construction during our earlier visit to Siddarabetta, was now much better. Along the way, we passed several massive hillocks rising from the plains, giving the landscape a dramatic and rugged beauty. We stopped at one point to take photos. Although the surroundings had greenery, the terrain still looked dry and raw, and the scattered monoliths made the scenery stand out.

First view of Madhugiri

As we approached closer, the massive Madhugiri hill came into view. For a moment, it felt almost impossible to climb such a huge structure. However, we convinced ourselves that there would likely be a manageable route up. We reached the entrance around 10:45 AM. Inside, we saw an old court building and parked the car nearby. There was also an old structure that looked like a jail. From there, the view of the hill was striking, and the fort walls at the top were clearly visible.

The climb begins

We started the trek around 11:00 AM. The initial stretch was relatively easy, with well-laid steps in many sections. The fort ruins and pillars along the way added to the historic feel of the climb. We took our time, stopping frequently to rest and take photos. With every step upward, the view of the surrounding landscape became more and more beautiful. The cloudy weather worked in our favor, keeping the climb comfortable.

One of the most interesting aspects of the trek was that the top always seemed farther than expected. Every time we thought we were close, another stretch of the hill would appear ahead. It truly felt like an endless climb. As the gradient became steeper, Deepika and Thilak climbed with ease, while Priyanka and I found it more challenging. At one point, I almost slipped on a rocky step, but Thilak quickly held me steady. That moment was quite scary, but it passed quickly, and we continued after a short break. The view from that point was breathtaking, and we paused to enjoy the scenery before moving ahead again.

Even after reaching what seemed like the summit, we could see further steep sections ahead. A group of trekkers was already descending, and watching them struggle made me realize that going further might be too difficult. At that point, I decided not to continue. Thilak and Deepika were initially keen to go ahead, but Priyanka also chose to stay back with me. Only Thilak continued further up and later returned, confirming that the remaining stretch was extremely steep.

After a short rest, we began our descent, knowing it would be just as challenging.

Descending the hill

We started climbing down around 2:00 PM. Surprisingly, the descent was smoother than expected, though a few sections required careful movement. Halfway down, it began to rain lightly. The weather quickly turned refreshing, and the entire landscape around Madhugiri looked even more beautiful in the mist and drizzle. By around 3:00 PM, we reached the base of the hill.

A quick break and lunch

We were all very hungry and thirsty. After some searching, we stopped at a Hopcoms outlet and had fresh fruit juice, which was refreshing. We then checked for a nearby restaurant and were directed to a place called Madhura. The food was simple with just roti and coffee, but it helped us regain energy before continuing our journey.

Ghati Subramanya temple

Our next stop was Ghati Subramanya. We passed through Gowribidanur, and the road leading there was pleasant, though the journey took longer than expected.

We reached the temple around 5:30 PM. The temple was simple and not very crowded. After a short visit, we continued our return journey at around 6:00 PM.

We took the route via Yelahanka and KR Puram and reached BTM Layout by 8:30 PM.

Travel snapshot

This was an unforgettable trek. Thilak aptly described it as an “ascend to infinity,” and that truly captured the essence of the experience. The challenging climb, the ever-changing views, the unexpected rain, and the peaceful drive back all came together to make it a memorable day.

• Route Travelled: Onward: BTM Layout > Yashwanthpura > Dabaspete > Koratagere > Madhugiri
  Return: Madhugiri > Gowri Bidanooru > Ghati Subrahmanya > Yalahanka > K R Puram > Marathhalli > Silk Board > BTM Layout
• Total distance (To & Fro): 270 km
• Mileage (Car): 23 km/l
• Fuel expense: 927 Rs
• Total expense: 1780 Rs

Route map