167) Rayakottai Fort Trek & Bettamugililam: (16/3/2019)

Place: Rayakottai Fort Trek

Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms

Directions: Bangalore > Hosur > Shoolagiri > Rayakottai > Betamugililam Forest > Denkankotai > Bangalore

Krew: Tonse > Vinay > Ramakrishna > Karthik (Sippy)

Bikes: FZ > Pulsar                                                                          

Previous Visit: Medigeshi Fort Trek.

Budget: Rs 475/head

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

The Fort of Rayakottai is the southernmost fort hill of Mr.Tippu Sultan. It served a fantastic watch tower for a very good reason. The 360deg view you get from the top of this place runs for kilometres at a stretch. Our trek to this place, wait, actually we never planned to Rayakottai but was a fortunate thing that we planned, as Bettamugililam was pretty much burnt to ashes. And ride from Rayakottai to Bettamugililam was something extra-ordinary.

INTRO & PLAN:

After the trek to Medigeshi, we were in full flow. So planned a small trip with office colleagues. Since it was their first trip with us, I didn’t want it to be a trek hence had planned Bettamugililam – a peaceful ride.  Tonse, Vinay and my chess buddy Ramakrishna were on the confirmed list.

TIME: 22:00 (15/3/2019)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

After a late night chess marathon, yeah woke up at 05:00, did a few push-ups & sit-ups, had a sip of coffee & was all set to go! The meet up was scheduled at Attibele as most of them were staying there. Hence I took the city route early morning and left my home at 6AM. Jibing past vehicles in the traffic reaching silk board I took the normal route as I felt the traffic was a little at ease. Cruising at a decent pace, swearing at few drivers as usual reached Attibele.

Anyway sat on the footpath and awaited others arrival. Once the 3 of them arrived, I asked where we were going. Once a smile appeared on their faces, it was time to introduce some oblivion. I asked if they were up for Rayakottai, once they said we had the entire day for ourselves, with high spirits we took off from Bangalore.

TIME: 06:30

  

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Hosur – Shoolagiri - Rayakottai)

So, this was a straightforward 100kms. I had a vague idea of the deviation that we had to take near Shoolagiri as we had goofed up last time. We cruised at a decent pace to reach Shoolagiri, browsing for a hotel, we pulled over one, for some classic TN breakfast. Been a while since I had, had one of them.

TIME: 07:45

From here Rayakottai was just 30mins. After some nice Pongal (even though I hate this dish, Pongal & Omlets are something irresistible in TN, simply love them here!!) we left towards Rayakottai. We could spot the hillock afar. Parking our bikes at the bakery, we requested the bakery people to hold on to our helmets and with the goats spirit awake, we were all set to climb.

TIME: 09:00

RAYAKOTTAI FORT TREK:

The trek as such was pretty easy. It is one of the best short treks around Bangalore. But the view it offers from the top is simply brilliant. Even though we fooled around a lot during our climb it took us 1hour to reach the top.

   

As we began the climb, we began exploring every cross road we faced. We started cooking up our own stories about Tippu to make the climb entertaining. Every building, fortification, garrison we encountered we would extend the story. We did find some deeper routes this time and overall it was damn fun walk to the top.

TIME: 10:00

TOP:

Even though it was a Saturday, we had the entire place to ourselves and the gamble had paid off. The beautiful town of Rayakottai could be seen completely from the top. And I crashed down for short 15min nap. Eating some chocolates and having some water, we decided to head back as we had another place to cover for the day.

TIME: 10:30

DESCENSION:

We took about 30mins to descend this fort hill as we stopped only once in between. With the sun up and shining bright, we could feel our energies being sapped out. But we descended at a decent pace to reach the base. We had some water and then hopping onto our bikes we took off from Rayakottai.

TIME: 11:00

RIDE 2: (Rayakottai – Bettamugililam - Denkankottai – Attibele - Bangalore )

Okay as we left Rayakottai, it was peaceful scenes. Greenery all around, mountains afar, good empty roads, we were like, okay nice cruise to Bettamugililam then. The roads leading us turned into steep ascent and we enjoyed riding the mountain cautiously. Asking the locals for directions regularly we were zooming ahead until we found the road ahead and didn’t know how to proceed. We waited for locals to arrive and when we asked them for directions he pointed towards the mountain (to which by the way, no road was there) and said we had to head in that direction. We looked at each other and from here on it was some kick-ass off road riding.

    

I mean it started off on decent muddy terrain, before you know were riding on loose gravels and fingers began to pain holding onto the clutch. Riding at not more than 20kmph we reached somewhat patchy terrain where atleast we could pull our bikes over for some rest. 

Continuing further we reached Bettamugililam.

TIME: 12:30

BETTAMUGILILAM FOREST:

Well, the dip in temperature was quite welcoming. We could feel the cold breeze gushing around us and riding was becoming pleasant by the minute. But once we entered the forest zone we were shocked. Almost all trees had turned into ashes and returned to ground. The sight was quite shocking, the living bamboo trees had died and I learnt from others that it would take atleast 3years for it re-grow. But yet the place had its vibes and the roads were not disappointing at all. Cruising at a decent pace we made it out of Bettamugilliam and continued to Denkankottai. After crossing Dennaikotai we pulled over at a hotel for some yummy lunch – yes omlets!

TIME: 14:00

After a beautiful lunch we got onto our bikes quite drowsily and pushed further. We took the attibele route and directly reached Vinay & Tonse’s place. After which Rama & me proceeded and reached our respective places in one piece.
This ride reminded me of all the other trips pulled on this route - Panchapalli dam, Hogenekkal Waterfalls, Yercaud. So you can easily combine either one of these with Rayakottai if you wish to, Cheers!!

TIME: 16:30

CONCLUSION:

“This I must say was the perfect gamble. Had we just rode to bettamugililam it would have been disappointing. Last minute change in plan worked to perfection. And the ride from Rayakottai to Bettamugililam is something I will never forget, crazy piece!”

Until next time, Cia \m/

ALL PHOTOS:

MAPS: