Channarayana Durga Trek

Channarayana Durga is a small village near Madhugiri and Tumkur, about 100 kms from Bengaluru, Karnataka. The village is situated at the base of the hill that houses Channarayana Durga fort. It is usually frequented by trekkers on weekends due to its close proximity to Bengaluru. The fort has a 500+ years interesting history which adds to its charm. 

Do refer to our previous sections on how best to reach the location.

It is an easy trek. These sections are anticipated to be of some difficulty:

• Initial steep section from the base of the hill, for about 20 to 30 mins
• Steps section 10 mins before the summit, for about 10 mins

Since the majority of the trek is on boulders / granite, it becomes quite slippery during and immediately after rain. It is advised not to trek the hill during such treacherous conditions.

Although the trek can be done throughout the year in all seasons, the rock surfaces get quite slippery in monsoon. If it is just a passing rain, the rocks dry up quite quickly. So, please time your ascent and descent accordingly. Wait for rain to clear before embarking on the trek.

The village adjacent to the hill does not have any hotels or lodges. Indiahike groups have a southern base camp about 10 mins from the village where tents are pitched during active days. However, if you are doing the trek on your own, it is best to plan this as a single day trek and head back in the evening. The nearest town where some accommodation can be found is Koratagere, which is about 12 km, 20 min drive away from the hill. It is highly recommended NOT to camp on top of the hill or in the village outskirts as it is not safe. The area is frequented by bears.

There is consistent network connectivity throughout the trek from all major mobile operators - Jio, Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone.

There are certain steep boulder sections on the trek which are slightly technical. Hence we recommend NOT to take children below 6 years on this trek. There are also no fresh water sources on the trek and medical emergency response is also limited if at all any.  

This is not a long trek and a fit person can complete it even if above 55 years of age. Please take note that there are steep sections on the trek which shall put pressure on knees and ankles. Please speak to an Indiahikes team member if in doubt before finalizing.

There are no washrooms or toilets throughout the trek. In an emergency, there are a few sections inside the fort walls which are secluded and with some bush cover. However be extra careful of the thorny bushes if you venture in. We strongly recommend keeping the entire trail clean and it is best to relieve yourself before starting the trail.

You don’t need any permission to go on the Channarayana Durga trek. 

Camping on Channarayana Durga is also not required. You can complete the trek in one day and reach back to the base village. Also, the villagers at the base might not be happy to hear trekkers camping on top of the hill.

If you want to camp, then you can take permission from the local villagers and get some space near the base in one of the farmlands. 

There is a small food stall at the base of Channarayana Durga, where you get packaged food and a small eatery.

For water sources, there are no clean sources on the trek. You can refill the water bottle before you start at the village. There is a water tank where you can refill or in the village homes.

So have your water bottles filled from the base itself or from your home. Two litres of water per person will be sufficient to start the trek with. 

Green Tip: The best practice will be to carry your own snacks and food in a reusable dabba. Do not take any packaged food packets on the trek. 

Go through this video to see more tips on what you can carry on a trek.

Hospital: The closest hospital is Koratagere Government Hospital which is around 12 km away. Here is the location of the closest hospital from the base village.

Police Station: There are two police stations closest to Channarayana Durga Trek. 

If you move North, then Madhugiri would be the closest, 10 km from the base village. Here is the contact number: 08137-282381 / 9480802974

The second option will be moving South to Koratagere. This is 11 km from Channarayana Durga. This is the contact number: 08138-232136 / 9480802954

ERSS: For any kind of emergency help, you can contact the Pan-India Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) number- 112

ATMs: There are ATMs in the main towns of Madhugiri and Koratagere. All these nearest ATMs are around 10-12 km away. You don’t have any ATMs at the base village.

We recommend you follow a fitness routine 5 times a week (combination of walks, stair climbing and stretching).

By the time your trek starts, you should be able to walk 5 km between 50-60 minutes comfortably. Ideally, closer to 50 minutes.

Trekking is a sport that primarily uses your lungs, your core, and your lower body.  To reach this fitness, there are just two things to work on - your cardiovascular endurance and your muscle strength. Being fit will help you enjoy the trek and will keep you safe.

Weeks 1 - 4:

1. Walking

- Week 1: Keep the distance of your walk to just 2 km

- Week 2: Keep the distance of your walk to just 3 km

- Week 3: Keep the distance of your walk to just 4 km

- Week 4: Keep the distance of your walk to 5 km

1. Stair Climbing: When you climb stairs, target for at least 10 floors (20 stairs per floor), and repeat it for 2 sets.
2. Stretching: Keep stretching everyday. This video will help you with stretching: https://youtu.be/IDjWoSPV6ok

Take your rest days seriously, and rest. Your body recovers quickly when you rest.

Weeks 5 - 8:

- Once you can comfortably walk 5 km, the following weeks are focused on building speed.

- Everyday, walk 5 km with an intention to finish within 50-60 minutes. Do not worry if you are not there yet. You will get there by the end of Week 8.

- Once a week, go for 10 km walk at a stretch. This will help build your endurance. Do not worry about the time you take to cover this distance.

- Continue with stair climbing and stretching.

Important Note: If you are not a regular runner, do not start running all of a sudden.

Three things happen when you are not fit:

1. You do not enjoy the trek
2. You struggle to be a part of the team
3. You miss out on a deep transformative experience that trekking can offer

Good part is, it’s not difficult. All you need to do is start following the fitness routine 45-60 days before the trek begins. 

We are here to help you in this fitness journey. Just start slow and as long as you are committed and consistent with your routine, you are in for an unforgettable trek experience.

❖ Madhugiri Trek

Madhugiri Trek is one of the most spoken-about treks, among the treks in Karnataka. This Trek is to the peak of the fort standing on one of Asia’s largest monoliths.

The highlight is the rock dome, atop which stands a fort!

❖ Jayamangali Black Buck Reserve

The Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve is one of only two reserves dedicated to the antelope in Karnataka.

There are about 80 species of plants that have been recorded and around 67 species of butterflies that have been sighted along with the gorgeous blackbucks in their natural habitat. Apart from blackbucks, the area consists of Acacia and Eucalyptus plantations.

The reserve is an absolute delight for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers or simply anyone who wants to spend a day amidst the fresh countryside air!

There are no safaris as such so you will have to move around in your own vehicles.

❖ Siddarabetta

Siddarabetta in Kannada means ‘Hill of Saints’. It is one of the most popular places to visit around Madhugiri.

This is an appealing hike for Trekkers and Pilgrims. The pilgrims come to visit the Shrine of Lord Shiva at the top of the hill. There is also an ashram situated at the base.

The rocky trail and the caves add a lot of thrill to the climb. The route from the caves has uneven rocks and boulders, allowing only a single person to cross at a time.  Exploring the caves is a cherry on the cake, as the view from the peak is equally rewarding as it is surrounded by the lush greens of the Devanarayana Durga Forest.

Yes, we do have parking facilities at the basecamp. You are welcome to come in your car/ bike.
However, you will park your vehicle about 300 meters away from the actual base. Indiahikes cannot take responsibility for the safety of your vehicle.
We have been running this trek since 2022. Our trekker's vehicles have remained completely safe at the parking space. We have not encountered any untoward incidence regarding the same.