Savandurga Trek

Savandurga Trek - 12th Sept 2009 (1 day)

Savandurga is a popular trekking destination near Bangalore, known for its two prominent peaks, Bilibetta (White Hill) and Karibetta (Black Hill). It offers a good mix of historical significance (fort ruins) and natural beauty.

Location: Located in Kunigal Taluk, just off Magadi Road, about 60 km west of Bangalore.
Altitude: Bilibetta is one of the largest monoliths in Asia, standing at about 1226 meters (4022 feet) above sea level.
Getting There:
- By Road from Bangalore: Take Magadi Road. Savandurga is well-marked.
- Public Transport: Buses ply regularly from Bangalore to Magadi, from where local transport can be taken to Savandurga base.
Entry & Permissions:
- Forest Department Entry Fee: Typically a nominal fee (e.g., Rs. 25 per person in the past) for entering the forest park.
- Special Permission: While general entry might be straightforward, larger groups or those aiming for specific routes might be asked for permission from the Forest Department in Ramanagaram (as experienced in the account). It's advisable to check current regulations before your visit, especially for large groups.
The Peaks:
- Bilibetta (White Hill): This is the more commonly trekked peak, identifiable by its fort walls and prominent structure.
  - Trek Start: Look for the railway track crossing and then the starting point, often identifiable by a boulder with a water tank (as per the account). Climb the steps through the 1st dwaraka/gate and through the Grassy Paddy field. There are cut outs in the rock forming steps).
  - Route: There's a known, marked route up Bilibetta. It involves navigating around fort walls, some obstacles, and dense vegetation.
  - Difficulty: Moderate. Can be challenging if rocks are wet and slippery.
  - Time: Ascent typically takes 1.5 - 2 hours.
- Karibetta (Black Hill): The "other" peak, slightly less frequented.
  - Trek Start: A short drive (approx. 5 minutes) from the base of Bilibetta.
  - Route: Can be more exploratory with less clear paths. Some sections might involve scrambling on dry slopes.
  - Difficulty: Moderate to challenging, depending on the chosen path.
  - Time: Ascent can vary, but generally shorter than Bilibetta.

Notes:

To Trek the bilibetta peak of the Savandurga, permission is required which can be acquired from Ramnagaram - Forest Dept.
Always keep to the left of the wall in case of trekking bilibetta!
For Karibetta -> Follow the arrows which will take you on the right of the electirc poles (easy route). -> Left of electric poles (difficult route). For general trekking please follow the arrows! Get back before sunset or carry a torch.
For food (lunch, breakfast) at Savandurga contact: Prasanna - 9611910328 (Prior order to be given - House behind the temple at foot of Karibetta)

Savandurga covered with mist

Our team at the summit (Bilibetta, Savandurga)

Savandurga: Conquering Two Peaks

It was time for yet another trip to Savandurga, this time with a group of friends I'd met on a previous Skandagiri trek: Amruth, Anil, Ganesh and his friends, Dhiraj, and Sagarika. My reporting time at Bangalore City Railway Station was 7:00 AM, and despite a drizzle and previous night's rain (which made me anxious about permissions and difficulty), we were lucky: it didn't rain at Savandurga!

Our pickup journey began with Ganesh and his friends boarding at Marathahalli, followed by pickups at HAL and HSR layout before the vehicle reached Majestic at 7:15 AM. I met Amruth and Anil there, and our trekking adventure officially began. After picking Dhiraj up from Prasanna Theatre, we headed to the rather posh Indraprastha Hotel in Vijaynagar for breakfast. After the standard South Indian breakfast of idly and tea, we left around 8:15 AM. We then packed our afternoon lunch (mixed pulav) from a different spot, regretting later that we hadn't known food could be arranged directly at Savandurga if pre-informed. We took Magadi Road to get there, and after a short break, we arrived at the forest park at the foothills of Savandurga's Bilibetta peak.

Getting permission was a slight hurdle. We paid the standard Rs. 25 per person entrance fee, but since we lacked a specific permit from the Forest Department in Ramanagaram, we had to pay an additional Rs. 125 for the permit here. Permission secured, we entered. After a brief and, admittedly, "sad" briefing by me (as Sagarika, Dhiraj, and I had temporarily forgotten the starting route), we began the trek. After some confusion, I finally remembered the landmark: a boulder with a water tank on top!

Our trek to Bilibetta began at 10:10 AM. We quickly realized we'd initially gone right of the fort wall, which was the wrong way, so we backtracked for about five minutes to get on the correct path. The ascent involved navigating obstacles, dead ends, small caves, thorns, and plenty of grass. We reached the summit at 11:50 AM, took a well-deserved rest, and enjoyed our packed ghee rice. After lunch and some more relaxation, we started our descent at 1:40 PM. Coming down, though usually tricky, was fine as the rocks had dried; during the ascent, the wet rocks had made it quite slippery. We reached the base camp by 2:30 PM.

After a quick debriefing, we decided to tackle the other peak, Karibetta. A short 5-minute drive took us to its base. A refreshing tender coconut break, and then it was trek time again! We started the Karibetta ascent at 3:30 PM. Early into the climb, Amruth and Anil's shoe soles tore, forcing them to return to the vehicle. Ravi also opted out. The rest of us continued on. We missed an arrow, taking a slightly steeper, sloped stretch, but the dry mountain face made climbing manageable. Dhiraj, however, was "smoked out" (exhausted), and adhering to the rule of not leaving anyone alone, I stayed back with him while the others pressed on to the summit. They returned to where Dhiraj and I waited around 5:30 PM, having successfully conquered both peaks! Cheers to them! From there, we made our way down. We met another trekker heading up, advising him to turn back as it was a long way to the top and sunset was approaching, so he joined us on the descent. We reached the foothills by 6:30 PM.

After resting and enjoying some "thatte idly" and tea at a house behind the temple, we began our return journey to Bangalore. A good debriefing (hopefully making it a "good" trek after all the adventures!) concluded our outing. I reached home by 8:45 PM. Overall, it was an awesome trip, a true twin-peak conquest!

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