Indiahikes Trekking Club

On May 4, 2025, a team of 32 trekkers from the Bangalore chapter of the Indiahikes Trekking Club participated in a sunrise-cleanup trek to Uttari Betta (Hutridurga), coordinated by club member Sanjay Kumar V H.

The group collected over 60.6 kilograms of waste from the trail in just a few hours, venturing beyond the main path to clean around the mountain and ensure no hidden spots were overlooked. Their efforts left the hill visibly cleaner and set a strong example for other visitors.

On the descent, the team’s actions inspired fellow trekkers, some of whom joined in the cleanup spontaneously. Another group greeted them with applause, acknowledging their hard work and dedication. The event highlighted the collective spirit and commitment of the team to preserving the natural beauty of trekking trails.

On April 26, 2025, members from the Bangalore and Chennai chapters came together for their first combined event—an overnight stargazing and camping experience at Stream Side, Yelagiri, followed by a morning trek.

The stargazing session began around 11 PM on a new moon night, offering dark skies ideal for viewing. While cloud cover occasionally obscured the Milky Way, participants were treated to sightings of the Lyrids meteor shower—spotting both bright, short-lived meteors and longer-tailed streaks across the sky. The session continued late into the night, offering a peaceful and immersive skywatching experience.

Trekkers woke to a soft sunrise viewed from their tents and enjoyed a refreshing dip in a nearby well, with life jackets and safety gear provided. Around 11 AM, the group set out on a short 1.5 km forest trek to a hidden waterfall. Although the waterfall had mostly dried up due to the summer heat, the trail offered a pleasant walk through shaded woodland. Permissions for the forest route were arranged in advance by Stream Side.

While the natural highlights were modest, the event served as a meaningful opportunity for inter-chapter bonding. Trekkers exchanged stories, shared their experiences with Intrek events, and strengthened the growing sense of community across regions.

On April 26, members of the Intrek Club gathered at the Indiahikes office for a hands-on workshop focused on understanding topographical maps and GPX files. The session aimed to strengthen the community’s documentation skills, especially for pre-trek planning and route analysis.

Participants explored the technical aspects of reading contour lines, interpreting elevation profiles, and navigating with GPX data. The interactive format allowed for open discussions, practical demonstrations, and real-world examples from past treks. This workshop marks another step in Intrek’s mission to empower members with the skills needed for detailed and reliable trekking documentation.

It was one of our casual conversations in the group about the Kaiwara Betta trek that inspired Preeti to organize this trek. Trekkers who had been on this trek shared that the trail and the view from the summit were beautiful and serene.

Wanting to do an easy trek with her child, she jumped on the opportunity to organize this trek. 

While it was challenging to get the slots, those who managed to get the slots pooled their cars to get everyone to the trek (I loved that the team came together to support each other with the transport).

The team set off early.  The trail was beautiful.  Early morning mist hung over the trail, the surroundings were full of greenery, peacock calls all around and the trekkers enjoying the trail and the company all along. 

At the summit, they were met with monkeys eagerly eyeing their snacks. 

“All in all, it was a lovely experience organizing and going on the trek”, says Preeti.  “The group dynamic was fantastic.  It was a beautiful start to the weekend.”, she adds.

Having done three Himalayan treks, Sharath has been looking for opportunities to explore and trek in and around Bangalore. So when there was an interest for the Kumaraparvatha trek, Sharath took the opportunity to organise the trek. 

They decided to do the trek from the other side - Beedahalli to Beedahalli. 

With a small team of 5, they set out to do the trek on Feb 1st, 2025.  This route was marked with a dense forest except for the last 1.5-2 km.  The team enjoyed the walk through the forest, challenging themselves by climbing in the rocky sections instead of taking the regular trail. 

The team was fit and they completed the trek with ease and comfort.  Having reached the summit early, they took time to relax and enjoy the view from the top. 

Sharath is looking forward to his next trek with the club, hopefully, post-summer.

Last Sunday, on Feb 2nd, 22 members went on a birding walk to Jakkur Lake.  We have always believed that nature walks including birdwatching walks are a great way to connect with nature. 

Led by our club member - a fantastic birder, photographer, and nature enthusiast, Basava Kumar, the participants spotted an amazing 36 birds in just 2 hours and 30 minutes!

Basava shared so many fascinating stories and insights about each bird, making the experience even more enriching for everyone!

Indiahikes Team Member and Co-facilitator Sanjay had the pleasure of introducing the Merlin Bird ID and eBird app to the group.  This got the participants to start identifying birds on their own and they were thrilled. 

The team came back inspired to go for more birding walks and even longer treks in the future.

We will be planning another bird walk soon.

18 trekkers including 9 children went on the Harihara Betta trek this weekend.

Abhijith who organized this trek is a regular trekker and climber in the Himalayas. He had been wanting to introduce his kids to trekking and nature for sometime now. The club became the ideal place to not just take his children on trek but also use this opportunity to invite fellow parents from the club to bring their children too.

"The kids really enjoyed themselves on the trek", Abhijith said. He mentioned that although he couldn't spend much time getting to know others, he observed that the children mingled well and enjoyed the time spent.

"For sure, I will hike more locally around Bangalore and in the western ghats too. And don't mind organizing these hikes in the future", Abhijith adds.

We at Indiahikes are delighted that families trekked together. Nothing brings families together more than spending time in the outdoors together. In fact, on our family groups, we have parents coming back sharing how they were able to see a different side to their children on treks. So we hope that more and more families use the club to trek in and around their home.

On February 8, 2025, a team of 21 trekkers undertook a documentation trek, coordinated by Upayan Chatterjee, a member of the club and an Indiahikes Team Member. This was the community’s first attempt at systematically documenting a trek, with detailed pre-trek planning and assigned responsibilities to ensure a thorough record of the route.

The team explored a lesser-known trail in the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, passing through dense forests, open meadows, and flowing streams before tackling a challenging 500-foot summit climb. Along the way, trekkers spotted Malabar giant squirrels, sambar deer, and signs of larger wildlife, including tiger pugmarks and elephant droppings. The grueling summit climb had an equally rewarding view of some of Karnataka’s highest peaks, including Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri, Kumara Parvatha, and the Kudremukh range.

The documentation was completed and published on the Indiahikes portal within three days of the trek. This effort showcases the power of community-driven exploration and the value of detailed trekking records.

You can read the full documentation here.

Securing a slot for the Agasthyakoodam Trek is no easy feat. When registrations opened, three InTrek Club members managed to grab a spot in just 43 seconds. But as the trek dates approached, two had to drop out. That didn’t stop Sruthi from going ahead and completing the trek solo.

The trek covered 22 km through forests, boulder sections, and open grasslands. Along the way, she crossed waterfalls and climbed steep stretches, including a rope-assisted boulder climb. Sruthi shared that the highlight was the summit view at 6,129 ft, where she saw the Western Ghats stretching endlessly into the mist. 

A few takeaways from her experience: some sections were hot in February, but the forest cover and wind helped. A medical certificate is mandatory. The stay was basic but clean, and every trekker had to take a river bath before entering the campsite.

Agasthyakoodam remains one of the hardest treks to access, making it all the more special. Sruthi’s journey is a reminder that with the right mindset, even a solo trek can be an unforgettable experience.

When Swaroop from InTrek Club shared his experience of a stunning trek in Agumbe, it immediately sparked interest. Without much debate, a group of twelve members decided to take on the trail, setting out on February 22 to explore it together.

Right from the start, the trek felt different. Unlike the more crowded trails in the Western Ghats, they had this one all to themselves. It made the experience even more special—they could stay together, walk at their own pace, and soak in the wilderness without distractions.

The trail had everything—open grasslands, dense forests, and a steep climb to the peak. It was around 17 km long, and while it wasn’t easy, it was manageable with moderate fitness. The real highlight was Barkana Waterfalls, a breathtaking viewpoint where they paused to take in the vast mountain ranges ahead. It was the perfect spot to rest and refuel.

The afternoon heat posed a challenge at times, but it did not deter their progress. The group remained motivated, maintaining a steady pace and supporting each other throughout the trek. By the end of the day, they had successfully completed the trail, marking yet another memorable adventure for the InTrek Club.

34 InTrek Club members gathered for a virtual session to learn about adventure therapy treks offered by Indiahikes. The session was led by Izzat Yaganagi, head of INSOUL, and focused on how these treks can support mental well-being.

The discussion was highly interactive, with members sharing personal stories of how trekking had helped them navigate life’s challenges. They also explored ways to identify who could benefit from these treks and how to encourage open conversations about mental wellness. With stigma still surrounding the topic, many were eager to learn how to introduce it sensitively to those who might need it.

By the end of the session, several members expressed interest in experiencing an adventure therapy trek for themselves, seeing it as a unique way to combine nature and healing.

After the Chennai chapter was formed, members were eager to meet in person, share their trekking experiences, and plan adventures together. On a bright morning at Besant Nagar Beach, 19 trekkers, including 17 members and 2 children, gathered at 6:30 AM for their first meet-up.

Many were excited to finally have a trekking club in the city. Some had been waiting for something like this for a long time, while others had never trekked with Indiahikes before but joined after seeing the event on Instagram or hearing about it from friends.

Prathima Chhabria from INSOUL led a fun activity where members shared stories and got to know each other better. The group also discussed ideas for future events, including forest walks, beach walks, birdwatching, fitness activities, and yoga sessions.

Even as the sun grew stronger, the energy remained high. The Chennai InTrek Club is now off to a great start, with many exciting events to look forward to.