Channarayana Durga Trek | Unexplored 15th Century Fort | Weekend Getaway near Bangalore

Описание: The fort was constructed by a local king (Paalegaara) Chikkappa Gowda, who was ruling the Madhugiri and surrounding areas. It is a hilltop fort near Madhugiri in the Tumkur district of Karnataka. There are few temples and old structures inside the fort. This is one of the ideal trekking destinations around Bangalore. Channarayana Durga was a strategic fortress during medieval times and many battles were fought for its possession. The fort was originally built by Channapa Gouda in the 17th-century, a feudal lord from Madhugiri. Later the fort fell into the hands of the Marathas. But in subsequent year’s control of the fort changed several times between Marathas and Mysore Wodeyars. The British took over the fort during third Mysore war and then abandoned it.

Trekking at the Fort
The trekking at the fort falls in the moderate - Difficult category. In spite of having great historical importance this place is unknown to a lot of people in our country. The number of tourists visiting this place is quite low, so don’t be surprised if you are the only person climbing. With no signboards to direct the tourists the trek could be quite interesting.

The small village that’s located at the foot of the hill is where the trail begins. Once you reach the village you have the option to hire the villagers as your guides. At least half a day is required to reach the top and explore the place. Don’t forget to carry an ample supply of food and water with you as the trek could be tiring.

There are three stages of the fort. The lower portion is covered with rocks that are quite steep. A pond that’s filled with water and thick vegetation form a major portion of the upper part. In their search for treasure, the treasure hunters dug up, damaged, and destroyed various structures within the fort. So the fort’s second stage ended up being damaged severely.

Best Season to Trek
The months from September to December are considered to be the best time to visit Channarayana Durga. The smooth rock would be really slippery during the monsoons. This would make the first stage of the trek really difficult. So it’s always best to avoid the monsoon season while visiting the place.