The Apex of Kempegowda's Territory (60 KM west of Bangalore)

If you work a six-day week, then Sunday is the day for rest and relaxation

Come Sunday, I dash off to the nearest place where I can trek amidst nature's splendour. Armed to shoot (with a camera of course) and dressed to kill (cargo pants, hiking boots and a backpack), my friend and I set of on a biking-hiking trail of Savandurga - one of the highest places around Bangalore.

Savandurga is around 60 kms from Bangalore towards the town of Magadi. The road has been recently asphalted and it is a pleasure to drive on. The weather was gloomy (so was my mood) and it certainly looked like it was going to rain.

Everybody knew of the road to Savandurga except us! We eventually did manage to find our way by asking for directions. One simple left turn before the town of Magadi, did the trick. We travelled for three or four kilometres through dense vegetation. At places, the vegetation cleared to let us have a glimpse the gigantic hill reaching out to the sky. Ironically quarrying is on at an alarming pace close by and we were wondering how much time will it take before it reaches the hill.


The view of the sheer black rock inspired us to have a go at it. The weather cleared (even I started to feel better) and the sun started to peek through the narrow openings in the clouds. We started at a brisk pace climbing the monstrous rock, but had to slow down. At some places, the rock slants upwards at an angle of 70 degrees and the ascent is difficult. If you are scared of heights, then do not look down! You might not continue upwards and may feel like descending immediately.

There have been instances of people getting lost amid the huge rocks. So we stuck to the trail, which has been marked by arrows on the rocks using paint, thanks to the people who meticulously did the job. The other way is to follow the foot holds carved on the ground and the electric lines overhead. It took us right to the top, in a couple of hours. At places we had to literally crawl on the ground to get through the narrow crevices. We had to watch carefully where we treaded. One false step could have meant a downward plunge.

Once we reached the top, we found a stone Nandi inside a mantap (similar to those built by Kempegowda to mark the boundaries of Bangalore) facing the breathtaking spectacle that lay in front of us. We could see for miles in every direction and were awestruck at the creation of mother nature. Words cannot describe how we felt that day. We stayed for an hour and started to descend, which was more treacherous than the ascent. The distance from the top to the foot of the hill seemed enormous. We were faithful to the route and followed the same trail downwards, which took us an hour. The setting sun provided a grand finale to our expedition.

A word of caution:

The area is surrounded by dense vegetation, which provides good cover for wild animals. The hill is inhabited by an occasional bear or a leopard, which move freely once dusk sets in. Be careful and do not stay at the top after dark. Carry water, food, a first-aid kit and a survival kit in your backpack. Exercise caution while ascending or descending and always move in groups: you might never know when you require help.

Text and photos by Vinod Chandra B V

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