Kalwarbetta trek

Best Time for trekking: Night Trek. Sunrise there is supposed to be really a great spectacle. That's for my next time.

No permission required and one can use own vehicle to get there.

Activity : Trekking and Bouldering

Trek Length & Duration: This is a relatively short day trek. The ascent generally takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the descent a similar amount, depending on breaks and exploration. The entire outing from Bangalore can be completed within a day.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. The climb is manageable for beginners, with opportunities for minor bouldering or scrambling for those interested.

Route from Bangalore: Drive Bangalore > Chikkaballapur (approximately 60-70 km). The hill is about 5 km from Chikkaballapur. Local transport (auto/taxi) would be needed from Chikkaballapur to the base if traveling by bus to Chikkaballapur.

Kalwarbetta from the base of the mountain

My First BMC Trek: A Chaotic Yet Charming Day at Kalwarbetta

This was my very first trek with the Bangalore Mountaineering Club (BMC), an experience that turned out to be delightfully chaotic! The pick-up was slated for 7:00 AM at Symphony Theater on M.G. Road. I arrived at 6:50 AM, cutting it close but making it just in time, finding many trekkers already waiting. I quickly introduced myself to Mr. Sandeep and his group. There were a total of 34 of us heading to Kalwarbetta, a hill about 5 km from Chikkaballapur. We eventually boarded and departed, only to endure another 30-minute wait for someone near Hebbal. Our first stop was for breakfast at "Shanti Sagar" in Chikkaballapur at 10:00 AM. After breakfast, we reached Kalwarbetta by 11:00 AM – a rather leisurely start to a trek!

With lunch packets collected, we began our ascent around 12:10 PM, surprisingly, without any formal introductions, briefing, or trek rules. Our coordinator soon "absconded," leaving us to largely find our own way, with a local leading for a short distance. Initially, the mountain looked small and uninspiring, but the climb itself proved to be a pleasant experience. Without a designated "front man" or "last man," we all ascended at our own pace. Sagarika, Mr. Ganesh, and I seized the opportunity to explore and take photos. I even got to do some bouldering and found a "half chimney"—a narrow gap between two boulders that allowed for a fun, challenging climb.

The final stretch was tiring. I almost completed the trek without water but succumbed to a single sip near the summit. We reached the top by 1:30 PM, taking about 1 hour and 40 minutes for the ascent. The satisfaction of reaching the peak, as always, was immense. We settled into a windy spot at the summit, enjoying our lunch around 2:00 PM. Ironically, there was a shortage of lunch packets, but we all shared, and ended up with leftovers – a testament to our collective generosity! It was only at the top that our disparate group truly came together as a team.

After a nice photo session, we began our descent at 3:15 PM. On the way down, we indulged in more small bouldering and exploratory detours, keeping the fun going. We reached the base at 5:10 PM. After a quick "freshen up" with just water, we left Kalwarbetta around 5:45 PM. We stopped again for snacks and tea at the same place on the way back, reaching Bangalore by 8:10 PM.

The most memorable moment of the trip was witnessing Ananya, a three-year-old, make it to the top with her parents and their group. Her determination was truly inspiring!

Overall, it was a very nice trip and my first visit to Kalwarbetta. It's a good place for trekking, offering new experiences and a strong sense of camaraderie, even if it began with a touch of charming disorganization.

At the top of the mountaion. Whole group on a small house like structure.

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