If you love early morning treks and want to challenge yourself, there's nothing like trekking up Skandagiri. Part of the Panchagiris or five hills of Chikkaballapur, Skandagiri is perhaps the most famous of the five and offers amateur to seasoned trekkers an opportunity to climb up the rock terrain and enjoy the brilliant views from the top. You can also spot the other four hills of Chikkaballapur. Oh, and the peak is located about 1350 metres high, so you do have yourself a nice uphill climb. We've done the trek a few times and if this is your first time, then boy this guide is for you. Here's everything you need to know about the Skandagiri Trek.
The Ultimate Guide To Trekking Up Skandagiri, Best Of The Panchagiris
How To Reach Skandagiri
Skandagiri is located in Chikkaballapur district (the same place where Nandi Hills are and both Skandagiri and Nandi Hills are part of the Panchagiris). You can drive down to Skandagiri via Bellary Road and it would take about 1.5 hours from the city. Public buses ply from Majestic to Skandagiri as well. Or you can also take the train from KSR Station to Chikkaballapur Station as well. The first train leaves at 7:55 AM from KSR and the last train from Chikkaballapur Station to KSR Station is at 6:10 PM.
Things To Know About Skandagiri Trek
Here are some important things you need to know about the trek:
Trek Time: 4 Hours—2 hours ascend and 2 hours descend. You can choose to stay at the summit for however long you want.
Trek Length: 8 kilometres
Trek Difficulty: Easy to moderately difficult
Trek Terrain: Rocky terrain during summers slippery, muddy terrain during monsoon
Best Time To Trek: Skandagiri Trek is an all-year trek
Guided Trek: Skandagiri is a guided trek where many clubs offer treks throughout the year. The Karnataka Eco Tourism board also offers guided tours with qualified guides taking you through the trail.
Who Is It For: Folks between the age group of 10 and 60
The Trek
Skandagiri is also a hill fort because there are ruins of an old 18th-century fort that once belonged to the local ruler and was later conquered and used as a stronghold against the British by Tipu Sultan. On your way up, you'll find the ruins of the fort.
The Trek starts at Papagni Temple, which is located at the foothills and in the Kalwara Village. The climb uphill is easy to moderately difficult and since this is a popular trail, even if you are trekking on your own, there are markers and rest stops and boards that line the trail. Depending on what time of the day you are doing the trek, you can watch the sunrise or sunset from the top, which is one of the most popular activities at the end of the trek. Else, there are always the best views from the top.
Throughout your ascend (and descend) you will be going through rocky, dusty trails and there are enough and more rest points and boulders to sit up should you need to catch your breath. The final stretch which takes about an hour is slightly tricky as it's a steeper ascend, so be sure to tread carefully.
Almost at the top, you will find the ruins of the fort, temple structures, and an old abandoned Shiva temple at the top. You can rest here for a bit, and enjoy the views, breeze, and nature at its finest. Once you are done, come down the same way.
How To Book A Skandagiri Guided Trek
The best way to book a guided trek is to log into the Karnataka Eco Tourism website and select between the 4 AM or 8 AM trek slots and book. You can find the list of nature guides on the website itself.
Price: INR 250 on Monday to Friday and INR 500 on Saturday and Sunday for adults.
