Climb to an ancient fort with dominating views

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Channarayana Durga Trek is located near to Madhugiri in the Tumkur district of Karnataka. A trek that is very close to our hearts at Indiahikes since it reveals many surprises as you go climbing through each of its layers of the fort. 

The trek is very much accessible and close to the state highway 9 connecting Madhugiri and Dabbaspet. The beautiful majestic fort reminds you of medieval times that was used as a strategic fortress in this region of Madhugiri and Tumkur. It is one of the Navadurgas around Bangalore. 

The entire fort is divided into multiple layers and sections. One can clearly see the brilliant minds that went into the design and structure of this fort that was built during the 16th century. The fort is daunting to you right from the time you are starting the trek from the base and it gets grandiose as you come closer. 

Just the sheer climb through the granite rocks adds to the thrill. Be it with false doors leading you to the wrong side of the fort, a reservoir to store water throughout the year and ancient hallways mark this for an exploration one must truly venture into. 

The view from the top of the fort is also a sight to witness. You get to see the famous monolith of Madhugiri from the top and other surrounding hillocks in a grand setting. 

The trek is ideal for any age group and especially for families, friends, and colleagues to start trekking. A fit trekker can complete the trek within a couple of hours while those who want to take it leisurely can spend half a day easily exploring the trek.

Watch these videos to get a glimpse of the trek

Watch these videos to prepare well for your trek

Channarayana Durga - Complete Trek Information 

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on any trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Indiahikes Southern Campus trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Don’t miss the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section at the end. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

Read More on the Channarayana Durga Weekend Trek

- You will be staying in tents overnight 

- Carry own cutlery : 1 tiffin box, tumbler (or just plate and cup if not planning to pack food for the trek)

1. This trek could either be very warm or cool and rainy, depending on the weather. Plan your gear according to the weather forecast. In case of sunny days, ensure you have a sun cap and wear full-sleeved tshirts. In case of rain, don't forget your rainwear. 

2. Start your drive well in advance so that you reach the campus on time. Factor in any traffic jams you may face in and around Bangalore. 

What are the highlights from Channarayana Durga Trek

Start your trek early in the morning. This way you would avoid the sun hitting on your head directly. The granite boulders also will be cooler and easier to climb.  

The trek can be divided into two sections

Base of the Hillock to First Level of Fort

From the First Level to the Top of the Fort

Section I: Base of the Hillock to First Level of Fort 

Trek Distance: 1 km
Trek Duration: 30-40 minutes

The trek starts from the main lane of the Channarayana Durga village area. This is the space where you will see locals catching up and chatting near the petty shop.


The trail starts just after the water tank where the villagers collect the water from. This would be the last space where you can fill your water bottles. The alternative option is to request the houses surrounding for some water. 



Take the lane just after the water tank at the right-hand side and head towards the hillock. There is no trail as such where the trek starts. It starts with a climb from here.


You will see arrow marks painted on the granite rocks which will guide you on the route. 

A gradual ascent takes you through a section of granite monolith rock. Stick a bit towards the right where you will get a better grip against the smaller boulders and bushes growing near these sections. 


The climb takes a bit towards the left and then you start climbing up again. Notice a small stone ruin towards the leftmost flank when you are climbing up. You will find a patch where there are grasses and cactus growing. Cross this section and the climb gets slightly steeper until you reach a flatter surface.

| Tip: Put your weight forward and towards the mountain when climbing up. If you are finding it difficult to climb the granite rock surface, remove your shoes and climb with your bare feet. This will be easier. 

You have the option of climbing up directly towards the first level or taking a slight deviation towards the left-hand side where the rock formation reminds you of a fissure or how this incredible geology takes place.

We would suggest taking this later route and having some fun trying to squeeze your way in lying on the rock surface. 


Notice the dark lines on the rocks. During the monsoon and post-monsoon season, you will see water trickling down these portions.

Few more minutes of this climb and you reach the huge entrance for the first level of the fort.


Look out on the carvings on a few of the rocks as you enter the fort. There are various shapes carved - snake, tortoise and many other animal figures. 


Walk through the majestic entrance and through the massive granite pillars supporting the entrance. You can take a sip of water and take a small break near the entrance where you get some good shade. 

Section 2: First Level to the Top of the Fort

Trek Distance: 1.2 km
Trek Duration: 50 mins to 1 hour

The first level of the fort has very interesting and exciting components to explore.


To begin with, go to the North-eastern side to see the pond/reservoir which stores water throughout the year. You can take a walk alongside this pond and spot many bastions of the fort.

Walking along the sides of the pond will easily take you about 10-15 minutes.


If you want to explore, take the North-western side. There is a small door that leads you towards a false route or perhaps another section of the fort during the earlier times.

You can wonder if this was actually a trap for soldiers. From the top, spotting the troops and attacking would have been much easier if you landed up over here.


Retrace back to the main trail and you will enter a section that is slightly flatter.

The trail opens up and the expanse is slightly broader now. This particular section resembles a feeling of trekking through the grassland. If you are walking in the autumn season or during the evening, watch out when sunlight hits on these golden-colored grass. 

Go around the perimeters of the fort and explore the ruins.


You are on the second level of the fort and trek through other features. You will come across stables, gallery sections when the armies were using the fort.

From here, the top of the fort is around 15 minutes. 

Climb through the last stretch and enter through the last of the doorway into a rectangular flat top surrounded by the fort structure on all sides. The view is hidden from your sight when you enter.


You need to climb onto the walls of the fort to take in the surrounding views and get the vantage point from the top. 

Walk around the entire top section of the fort. You will see the monolith mountain of Madhugiri towards your North, Siddarabetta, and other hillocks surrounding the Madhugiri city of Tumkur district.


The fort has many openings where canons used to be placed for protection.

Notice stone steps that can be climbed up to the top. It is beautifully camouflaged amongst the trees growing on the cracks of these rocks. Do not break any part of the ancient tree which has been growing for centuries. 


Be careful when placing your foot here on the steps and on the top while having a glance down. 

The descent to the base takes you through the same route. Exercise caution when you are descending down. It is very easy to lose your grip or slip when climbing down the granite boulder. 

If there are signs of weather going bad or clouds forming, then it’s better to descend down when the rock surface is dry and not slipping.


It will take you about 45 minutes to an hour to reach back to the base village. Make sure you have a Turn Around Time (TAT) at 5 pmif you start the trek post afternoon. 

➤ How to Reach Channarayana Durga Trek

Channarayana Durga trek starts from a small village called Channarayana Durga in the Tumkur district. 

Reaching Channarayana Durga by your own vehicle

If you are traveling in your own vehicle, then you need to head on the Bangalore-Tumkur highway, NH48. 

As you are nearing Dobbaspet, do not take the flyover. Enter the service road and the road going towards Madhugiri. A junction comes at Dobbaspet where one road goes to Doddaballapur and the other to Madhugiri. 

As soon as you cross the junction, you hit the state highway of SH3 towards Madhugiri. 

On the state highway, cross the major town of Koratagere. From here, you need to take the left turn on the road going towards Siddarabetta. It is about 5 km from the Koratagere town where this left turn comes. Watch out for the arch where the left turn needs to be taken. 

| Tip: You will see a board mentioning Siddarabetta and the turn to be taken for this. Follow this since there is nothing mentioned about Channarayana Durga on the main road. 

The other approach that you can take is to enter the Madhugiri region from Doddaballapur. You can drive either via Madhugiri or come to Dobbaspet. 

Use the Google map or GPX file to reach the base of the trek. 

Reaching Channarayana Durga by Public Transport System

If you are planning to take public transport, then the best way is to take a bus from Majestic and then head to Tumkur. 

From Tumkur, there are two buses that would leave and reach the base of Channarayana Durga. The first bus leaves at around 9.30 am from Tumkur. It would take the route of Siddarabetta, Tovinakere. 

There is also another bus leaving at 11.30 am from Koratagere to Channarayana Durga. The same bus goes back to Koratagere around 12.45 pm from the base village.

The last public bus would leave from Channarayarana Durga at around 1.30 pm to Tumkur. After this, there are no public buses from the base of the village. 

However, you can call for autos from the petty shops that sell limited essentials. 

Here are a few contact numbers of Auto folks who might be able to help – Ravi: 9480500309, Laxminarayan: 9731059781

The cost of the Auto from the State highway of the arch to the base village of Channarayana Durga will be INR 150-200.


Nearest International and Domestic Airport

Kempegowda International Airport – 43 km

Trek explored, documented by Indiahikes Team

Photos contributed by Suhas Saya, Gautam Singh, and Venkat Ganesh of the Indiahikes team

Even during the coldest months of December, January, and February this region is fairly hot, hitting temperatures of around 26-28° C during the day. 

The nights are pleasant at around 18–22° C. 

You would only need one jacket and a poncho for early mornings or in case of rain. 

➤ Best Season to do the Channarayana Durga Trek

The best time to do Channarayana Durga Trek would be between the months of September to February. The months of post-monsoon are the best time to do the trek since you have a lot of greenery surrounding Channarayana Durga. The trek also comes out alive with small sections having water trickling down the rocky terrain.

The winter months are also very pleasant and a good time to experience the trek. 

The peak of the monsoon season is not recommended due to the rocks being extremely slippery. During this season, you need to keep an eye on the weather and then take the call. 

During the summer season, you can do this trek. However, it tends to get very tiring and hot without proper shade or cover on the trail. This can hamper your experience of the trek. Due to less tree cover on the trail, we recommend you wear a cap or a hat if you are trekking during the summer months. 

These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.

Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. ID cards of either Aadhar card or passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.  

Disclaimer certificate: Download the PDF, read carefully, fill in and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp. – Download disclaimer certificate

Please carry the above document with you. The document needs to be downloaded (PDF), filled in, signed, and handed over to the trek leader at the base camp. Please print these back-to-back on two sheets. Do not print separately and help in reducing paper usage.

Given that this is just a one-night weekend outdoor program, with very comfortable weather, we advise you to travel light.

Here’s a list of things you must bring along with you: 

A 20L backpack – A small comfortable backpack will suffice.

2 t-shirts – Expect to get sweaty, you will need a change of clothes after your trek

An extra pair of trekking pants – Avoid shorts at all costs, there are thorns along all the trails.

Shoes with good grip – Even sports shoes will work, as long as they have a good grip

2 light single sheets to lie on and cover yourself with in the tent.

As the trail is exposed, with very little tree cover, make sure you cover yourself well while trekking. Carry a full-sleeve t-shirt/shirt and full trekking pants for this trek.  

Keep a pair of sandals to walk around the campsite. 

We go to great lengths to keep you safe on your trek. However, trekking with the safest organisation in India comes with a few commitments from your end. Here are our eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria For The Indiahikes Southern Campus Trek

Wonderful experience.

That is an unforgettable night under the stars.

Complete information on the weekend trek from Indiahikes Southern Campus. Trek details, experiences, maps, photos, videos, when to go, what to take, how difficult is the trek etc.

Channarayana Durga Trek 2024 - Weekend Trek - Indiahikes

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Minchukallu betta is a massive hill, located around 85 km from Bangalore. Not so popular among trekkers, this was once a three-stage fortified hill. The ruins of the fort wall and temple are some wonders to think about when you are trekking here.

The trek starts from Masanipalya village, 18 km away from Tumkur. You can also approach the hilllock from Hoskote of Tumkur region. The hill looks like a perfectly carved hemisphere from Hoskote. From Masanipalya village, the stepped multilayered hillock is a great sight for the start of your adventure.

Minchukallu trek, also called Minchukallu by locals, takes you through many different trails. For a short trek, the surprises that it takes you through in the first 1 km is unpredictable. During monsoon, you’ll get to see many pretty streams along the way. You’ll even have to walk in the water canal to reach the base!

Once on top, it opens to the magnificent views of all the hills around. You get to see Jenukallu gudda, Hoskote Timappa betta, Devarayana Durga hills and even an aerial view of Hoskote lake and its surroundings. There is a Hanuman Temple on the top and villagers trek there on occasions to worship. During other times, mostly the hill is deserted.

The trek is ideal for any age group and especially for families, friends, and colleagues to start trekking. A fit trekker can complete the trek within a couple of hours while those who want to take it leisurely can spend half a day easily exploring the trek. 

Minchukallu Betta - Complete Trek Information 

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a surficial experience.

What are the highlights from Minchukallu Betta Trek

The Minchukallu betta trek can be divided into two sections.

Section I : Masanipalya to Minchukallu Base

Trek Distance: 1.2 km
Trek Duration: Half an hour

Minchukallu Betta Trek starts from Masanipalya village. Masanipalya is a small village in Tumkur located around 7 km from Hoskote. The trek starts from Kindergarten School in Masanipalya.

If you’re travelling on your own, it’s better to park your vehicle here and walk from this point. The road condition from here to the base is very poor. Though the trail is well laid, it is narrow. During the monsoon season, this section can be filled with slush.

As you start from Masanipalya, you encounter one or two houses at first and the trail becomes deserted as you continue walking towards the base. The morning colors on this trail are beautiful. The orange sky, lush green vegetation on both sides of the road and morning sun rays falling on the grass is a beautiful sight to behold. 

About 400 metres in this trail, you’ll see a giant hill standing tall on your left. This is Masanipalya hill. One can go on a trek to this hilltop as well.

Continue walking on the same trail for another 100 metres and you enter into a valley-like setting. On your left, Masanipalya hill stands in close proximity. On your right, lies another rocky hill. A walk on this trail is a beautiful experience.

Just when you think that this doesn’t get any better, you see a water canal that you’ve to pass through. The water flows here only during monsoon. So it’s an added adventure this trek offers during monsoon. 

Walking on this trail gives you a unique experience. It’s sandy and feels like you’re on a beach. But then trees and bushes on either side of the trail remind you of a dense forest of Western Ghats.

During the monsoon, many small streams join this canal. They are just beautiful.

After around 300 metres of walk in the water canal, you see areca nut farms. You can see Minchukallu Betta on your right from here. The trail to Minchukallu base goes between two areca nut farms.

Section II: Minchukallu Base to Minchukallu Top

Trek Distance: 1.2 km
Trek Duration 1 hour

From the base, the trail is not well marked. It’s a rocky section that ascends gradually. Choose the trail carefully. Following a zig-zag trail will reduce the angle of your ascent and help in reaching the top.

After about 600 metres of climb in the same terrain, you will reach stage I. You get an aerial view of the path you have taken to reach from here.

Continue trekking towards the top through rocky terrain for another 200 m to reach stage II. As you carefully ascend to the top, surrounding hills and villages gradually unfold behind you. Don’t forget to look around and soak in the beautiful views it offers. 

At stage II viewpoint, there are ruins and structures of the fort. Spend some time exploring these structures.

From stage II to Minchukallu top, it’s another 300 m hike. 

From stage II, you have a marked trail that leads to the top. The initial trail ascends to a rock cliff through a valley. The deciduous forests you encounter in this section, again remind you of the Shola forests in Western Ghats. Also, the pop of greenery on what seemed like an endless boulder terrain is quite refreshing.

From the cliff, continue trekking towards the top. 10 minutes later, you’ll reach Minchukallu Top. There is a Hanuman Temple on the top. Occasionally, villagers climb to the top of the hill to worship, otherwise the place is usually deserted.

There are stone ruins on the summit and a watchpoint from where you get the best views of the neighbouring hills and villages. Spend an hour here.

The descent is along the same route. It takes around an hour and a half to descend. Keep a Turn Around Time (TAT) of 4 PM so that you’ll be back at the base before it gets dark.

The trek starts from Masanipalya Village which is around 85 km from Bangalore.

For ease of understanding, we have broken down the journey based on the transport and the route you take.

From Bangalore, it takes about 2 hours to reach. 

If you plan to go by your own vehicle, use this link to help set up navigation on Google Maps.

Reaching Masanipalya by Public Transport System

There are no direct buses to Masanipalya.

From Bangalore, take a bus that goes to Tumkur.

From Tumkur, you’ll get frequent buses to Koratagere. Board any of them and get down at Anjaneya Temple Stop. It’s on Tumkur - Koratagere Highway. From here, it’s around a kilometre walk to Masanipalya.

Kempegowda International Airport is the nearest airport and is around 110 km away from Masanipalya.

Tumkuru Railway Station is the nearest railway station and is around 18 km away from Masanipalya.


Trek documented by Manjunath Krishnamurthy.

Photos contributed by Manjunath Krishnamurthy and Hemanth N V.

Even during the coldest months of December, January, and February this region is fairly hot, hitting temperatures of around 26-28 °C during the day. 

The nights are pleasant at around 18 – 22 °C. 

Complete information on the weekend trek from Indiahikes Southern Campus near Bangalore. Trek details, experiences, maps, photos, videos, when to go, what to take, how difficult is the trek etc. 

Minchukallu Betta Trek 2024 - Weekend Trek - Indiahikes

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Trek through the Jungles of Pench Tiger Reserve

We have an expert team of Trek Advisors to help you choose the right trek. So if you have questions like, "Can I do this trek?" or "Who else is trekking?", please get in touch.

Trek through the jungles of Pench Tiger reserve

Indiahikes is opening yet another trek in Central India, this time in the heart of Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Pench, is one of the most famous tiger reserves in our country. This new trek runs through the buffer zone of this famous tiger reserve, teeming with flora and fauna, and yes, tigers too!

This trek is likely to become among the top national treks. Let us tell you why.

It is not every day that you get a chance to enter such protected tiger reserves of our country on foot. They are cordoned off to tourists and even trekkers. 

But here, in Madhya Pradesh, the forest officials have personally invited Indiahikes, to bring forth a trek. It is a very long relationship of many years with the Madhya Pradesh tourism and the forest department that has resulted in this. 

And why is trekking in the Pench National park special?

Trekking inside the Pench National Park is truly a privilege. Pench has been recognised as the reserve with the highest density of herbivores in the entire country. It is home to endangered animals like the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, the mighty Gaur, Indian wolf, and Sloth bear. 

These are the very same forests where Rudyard Kipling’s characters of The Jungle Book were born, where Rudyard Kipling spent several years of his life. That’s why the name: Pench Mowgli Trek.

“It brings shivers down your spine when you realise that you are so close to the habitat of so many wild animals. We saw tiger paw prints that were just 30 minutes old,” shares Nitesh Kumar, our Chief Explorer. 


But more than the animals, it is the forests that steal your heart. 


We have never seen such ideal forests for trekking, with beautifully carved trails (used by forest patrol officers). Deciduous canopies spread out above you; sometimes teak trees, sometimes mango, sometimes bamboo, and local trees like Mahua, Palash, and Arjun. The sheer variety in the trees is enchanting. 

And then come sudden clearings in the forest. Just when you may feel like the forest is too dense, it opens up and gives you a vast expanse of fresh air and sky. Given that the trails have very small inclines, you can focus entirely on the beauty of the trail, without huffing and puffing.

The cherry on top is climbing to a peak, where you stand at a vantage point and get a real glimpse of the forests of Pench. “It’s only when you stand at the peak that the enormity of the forest hits you. It gives you a high that you never thought you could have in Central India!” shares Nitesh. 

The wonderful thing is that even though MP is generally known for hot weather, the canopy here never allows you to feel the heat. You're always under shade and trekking with a cool breeze. 

On this trek, your camping areas are one-of-a-kind! 

Our first camp, Camp 1903, is on the grounds of a forest rest house, which was built in 1903. The forest rest house itself was and is designed for royalty. You don’t stay there, because the charges are also royal but you can do a tour of the house, and camp on the grounds of the rest house.

Our next camp at Nayegaon, is on a lovely grassy mound beside a large lake. Camping on the shores of this lake creates the perfect settings for a night of stargazing. 

Our final camp, at Nalyer, is one managed by the forest department. It is in the heart of the forest, with a small river flowing beside it. You’ll love staying in these Swiss tents. In this camp, you'll get the opportunity to experience local cuisine too. 

Frankly, we still have a lot to rave about this region: like India's first-ever light and soundproof elevated road that runs through the heart of the forest, which we will drive on. The pretty streams and rivers through the forest. The incredible amount of birdlife and butterflies. But we’ll let you discover those for yourself when you actually do the trek. 

Our first batch of the pilot groups has successfully completed the trek! Check out this unfiltered video by one of our favourite trekkers, Rajesh sir, to learn what the trek looked like through his camera :)

MP Tourism Film

MP Tourism teaser

Rajesh Sehgal sir

This fee includes everything from base camp to base camp.

Please note: The insurance has to be claimed within 7 days from the specific incident for it to be deemed valid.

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Pench Mowgli Trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

A rough sketch of how the Pench Mowgli Trek might shape up to be

➤ As we are running amongst the first few groups of the Pench Mowgli trek, please note that the itinerary is tentative and subject to change if need arises. This does not mean that the dates will change. You may book your tickets as per the scheduled dates.

➤ Documents required: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a photocopy of their Aadhar card and your passport-size photo for entry at forest check posts on the trek, along with your medical certificate and disclaimer.

➤ Stay facility: On the trek, you will be staying 2 in a hillman tent and 2 in the bigger Swiss tents as well. 

Here, we rate Pench Mowgli Trek as a ‘easy - moderate’ trek, It demands stronger legs to cover long distance and ideal judgment on footings for tricky descents. At Indiahikes, we take fitness very seriously. We believe that to enjoy a trek, you must be fit. 

For getting fitness approval, it is mandatory for you to follow the following process and share the screenshot of the run time.

1. Install any free running app like Strava or Nike on your phone.

2. Go for a 5 kms jog/run and cover it in less than 45 mins. 

If you are 45 years or above who don't run and prefer brisk walking, then you can cover 10 km in 90 mins. 

Note: If you are a cyclist then you should be able to cycle for 18-20 kms in 1 hour.

3. Jumping jacks, squats and stair climbing along with stretching will help you prepare well..

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider several factors. These include altitude gained every day, length of a trek every day, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

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