213) Ratnagiri Fort trek: (2/11/2025)

Place: Ratnagiri Fort Trek

Distance: 150kms x 2 = 300kms

Directions: Bangalore > Dobbaspete > Madhugiri > Ratnagiri Fort

Krew: Anwar (Sharief Bhai) > Karthik (Sp)

Bikes:  Pulsar                                                            

Previous Visit: Medigeshi Fort trek.

Budget: Rs 500/head (Total: 500 - Petrol, 100 - breakfast, 400 - lunch)

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

This was the first run of Nov'25 and the 5th trip in 22 days. Damn, yeah, this is how it should be. Ratnagiri trek as such is light, but finding the routes is tricky. Also, since it's an unheard place, usually locals venture. SO, this was chosen, as it was a SUNDAY. But the ride to the place in this chapter was something else. About 100feet of visibility and chilling cold. 

INTRO & PLAN:

It was about a week since our gruelling trek at Medigeshi. Oh boy, did she show a totally different face of herself, leaving us in bruises, trashed, and strung out. But yeah, cannot stagnate, have to keep moving. So, with Anwar and my official travel plans for the next 2 weeks, we decided to pull one off before he head out. Since it was a Sunday and we wanted a light one, we picked Ratnagiri for this run.

TIME: 20:00 (1/11/2025)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Oh yeah, woke up at 03:00, and did a few pushups and situps. After which, I had a sip of coffee and went down and sat on the footpath awaiting Bhai's arrival at 5am. The usual beat cops came and stared down at me again :P, the senior cop explained to the junior cop that I was a regular haha! Anyway, after Anwar arrived, without wasting any time, we took off. And, that's when all hell broke loose!

TIME: 05:15

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Dobbaspete – Madhugiri – Ratnagiri Fort)

This was 135kms ride. Started of slow but steady, we cruised at a decent pace to reach Nelamangala. And from nowhere, a heavy, I mean real heavy, fog set in. The visibility was reduced to about 100 feet. And the temperatures dropped. Literally, we were shivering in spite of having a rainproof jacket. This stretch between Nelamangala and Dabaspete, is under construction and it was the most hated stretch of ours, but this time it turned out to be something special. Post Dabaspet, it didnt end, it actually got more even intense due to open lands on both sides, but since the traffic reduced, it was soothing, but only trouble was it was a 2-laner. So the opposite side vehicles would blind us. Cruising at a slower speed, we reached our regular spot for some piping hot breakfast, and boy did it taste good considering all the shivering. 

TIME: 06:45   

                                                 

As we had our breakfast, our hands were still shivering. Sinking our fingers into the hot idlis was actually comforting. We are having breakfast amidst hills, still covered by a fog blanket. It was a beautiful sight. After a good breakfast, we cruised along spotting a lot of peacocks enjoying the fog and the light rains. As we spotted Madhugiri, it took us aback. Without any fog, it looks scary, with the fog, it looked doubly scary. Haha!After Madhugiri, we continued at a decent pace to reach the base of Ratnagiri.

TIME: 08:15

RATNAGIRI FORT TREK:

It took us about an hour to ascend. First things first, we were very happy that we were the only ones at the place. The mighty mountain looked slightly draped in a fog, which was quite haunting, also, yeah, welcoming too. About this trek, it is actually pretty hard to differentiate/segregate the climb into segments, as one would lead to another without any significant change. Even then, I have divided it into 3 segments:

i)   Way to the Door.

ii)  Amazing Mid-Riff.

iii)  Last Stairs.

So, try keeping up with me on this one. Here goes:   

i)  Way to the Door:

As we left the bikes we had to pass through ancient doorways and abandoned wells. The initial walk is through fields. And it truly is beautiful. Balancing on the bunds in fields filled with peanuts and other grains. And then the actual task begins, if you are new to this place, 9/10times you will get lost in this stretch haha. Infact, after this hillock 3-4times, even we got lost, well that is the fun about these trips. Finally knowing roughly where the door lay, we made it to the main door of the hillock.   

ii) Amazing Mid-Riff:

This part of the climb is the core and its amazing. As we enter through the door this stretch begins and its keep getting spookier. Hidden path that runs along fallen ruins of an ancient fort with trees that keep hanging down the fort walls, send chills down the spine. But one thing about this stretch is that, you gotta keep alert. There are lot of misleading pathways and its fun. Yeah i mean it, you need to lose your way and that is the only way you explore more. After passing through 3-4gateways you get a few barracks. And from there you can spot the last stairs.

iii) Last Stairs:

This was the last stretch of this awesome trek. As we saw the stairs, kinda turned us off. Climbed it for a while and then got off onto the free boulder and started free soloing. It was fun, and by the end of the stairs we had reached the top :)

TIME: 09:30

TOP:

There were lots of buildings on top. Buildings that seem like resting places. Water storage spots were also there. We crossed the pond to get the best view of the town below. We could spot our bike (and some kids trying to climb it, mentally made a note, to get back at them.) 

At the top, we crossed on a narrow brick wall, on either side of it was water storage places, it was tricky and nice. Then we made it to nice open space and crashed. Had some hesaritu-unde from home, so just ate it on top and slept for a while. Feeling refreshed, we decided to head back slow and explore further of the hillock. 

TIME: 10:00

TREK DOWN:

Well, the trek down was a smooth one. The pace was faster, but we kept the exploratory mode on. Grazing past the top tiers and made it into the narrower paths with lots of shrubs. There was pin drop silence and occasional sounds of only animals here and there. IT was beautiful and slightly scary at the same time. But yeah, that is the cocktail we enjoy. After we crossed the lower gates, now it was time to get past all the fields to the bikes haha. This is not as tough as finding the door. All you gotta do is get to flat ground and keep heading towards to water tank. We spotted a few 4-5 people, we thought they were locals, then when they asked directions, we helped them out. THey had been searching for the entrance for over an hour - goes to show the importance of first stretch.

TIME: 11:00  

RIDE 2: (Ratnagiri Fort – Madhugiri - Dabaspet - Bangalore)

This was a 150kms ride back. The ride back was done very professionally. With some abuses here and there - a must haha! As we took off from Ratnagiri, we rode slow as it was in interior country roads of Andhra. Then we cruised along the SH-3 to reach Madhugiri for some sting. We could spot a lot of people climbing it. Promising her a weekday trip in further months we continued to reach Dabaspet. From here the roads are too bad, too many deviations. We kind of grinded though this strech to pull over at Whity for some lunch. After the lunch it was smooth sailing to home.

TIME: 16:00

CONCLUSION:

“One chapter, which will always have surprises. Enjoying home made ladu ontop of mountain, with complete silence and wind blowing, on a Sunday is some feeling i tell you. And we had the mountain to ourselves. Felt really good. Anwar bhai as usual, with his "anything is fine" attitude, makes any trip seamless.”

Until next time, Cia \m/