212) Medigeshi fort trek: (25/10/2025)

 

Place: Medigeshi Fort Trek

Distance: 150kms x 2 = 300kms

Directions: Bangalore > Dobbaspete > Madhugiri > Medigeshi

Krew: Anwar (Bhai)  > Karthik (Sippy)

Bikes: Pulsar                                                                                  

Previous Visit: Channarayana Durga trek.

Budget: Rs 500/head (Total = 500 (Petrol) + 90 (breakfast) + 400 (lunch))

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:                                                  

Alright, this was, I must say, a perfect old school chapter. We had no clue where we were heading until about 100km from Bangalore. And after finalizing on Medigeshi, the trek proved to be something else. All out past treks, it was usually dry weather. But this time, with vegetation fresh, it proved doubly hard to find the trails. And the vegetation was filled with thorny shrubs and those small sticky thorny bomb like seeds, damn, but yeah, it was fun :)

INTRO & PLAN:

We had 3 chapters in the bag for Oct 2025. And what a great feel it was. But we were not done yet. It was time to hit one last chapter. Anwar was ready as well. Considering the budget and body condition, we decided to hit another one. Place? - Not decided. Direction? - either Koratagere side / hassan roadside.  

TIME: 17:00 (24/10/2025)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Yeah, I was up at 02:00, as usual, did a few push-ups and sit-ups, and was all set to go. Had a sip of coffee and went down and sat on the footpath waiting for Anwar. Once Anwar arrived, I asked him where we were headed to??  Both us exchanged blank stares, and then we hopped onto the bike and left Bangalore.

TIME: 05:15

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Dobbaspete – Madhugiri – ??)

Okay is this was about a 135-150 km ride. To start things off, it always feels good if you can get 50-100km before sunrise. The sun rising in your rear-view mirror is a treat to watch and also makes you feel really good. So, as we left Bangalore, we cruised past Nelamangala, and I asked Anwar again, "bro, which place?" All that came was a hearty laughter. So I rephrased "Bob, you want to eat that idly again?" The answer I got was yes. Hence, the direction was frozen; it was towards Kortagere. Haha! We cruised along at solid speed and reached Uncle's breakfast stop for some piping hot idlis and rice bath.

TIME: 06:45

After breakfast, we took off towards Madhugiri. We spotted Channarayana Durga afar, reminding us of the trip we took 3 days back. She was not shrouded in mist, so yeah, we had struck gold the other day. We rode along pretty solidly; the traffic seemed to be lean as well. We spotted Madhugiri afar. After our standard stop prior to it, we cruised along. I narrowed the options to Ratnagiri / Medigeshi. Anwar again laughed and said, "Anything is fine". After some thought, I decided to head to Medigeshi.  Parking our bikes at the temple and awakening the mountain goat's spirit, we were set for the trek.

TIME: 08:30

MEDIGESHI FORT TREK:

It took us about 60 minutes to reach the top. The sun was up and the skies were clear. Seemed pleasant at first. But the ascension proved to be tougher than past ascents. Nature always has a way to keep you humble. When things are out of control, one thing we always do is keep landmarks like trees, rocks, bushes, etc, and add a dirty thought to it, which helps you remember on your way back :P (not sure how good it sounds, but hey, they work!)

Like always, I have divided the trek into the following segments:

i) Gateways 

ii) Rock Face 

iii) Steep face 

Sooo, these were the stretches. Let me run you through each one. Keep up with me here!    

                                            

i) Gate-ways:

To start things off, we started following the trails. And within the first 5min we were lost haha. The thick vegetation was really misleading. So we started mentally marking stuff. We managed to get to the 1st gateway and then the 2nd way amidst the thick vegetation. Our shoes, jackets were filled with the thorn balls. Taking a break we cleared up and were set to ascend the rock face. 

ii) Rock face:

Once out of the gateways, we found ourselves in the open, with the sun's mighty rays crashing on our heads. We were sweating pretty hard. Even the rock face proved to be merciless. There was water flowing, and algae settled all over it, making it extremely slippery. We managed to get past the initial phase cautiously.      

                                       

iii) Steep face:

The last phase of the trek consists of the ascent of a really steep rock phase. Steps had been carved, but it is well hidden fin plain sight. Even I didnt mention it to Anwar and we began climbing the rock free styling. The water streams in between started to prove to be too risky. Then we took the most rational decision to head back down, then climb on the steps. Yeah, sometimes you gotta know when to step back.  Making post the steps, we were surprised by the vegetation at the top as well. No paths, nothing, looks like we were the first to open the Medigeshi account post monsoon. Carving out paths we made it to the top and glad to see the huge structure on the top.

TIME: 09:30

TOP:

The top of Medigeshi fort consists of lot of buildings and granaries. As we were approaching the huge structure, we were blown away by the purple carpet welcoming. Yeah the entire front portion of the structure was flooded with some kind of strange purple flowers, which made the whole place look so beautiful. We were past the structure a we have a habit of finishing it last. We went to our usual spot behind the structure and crashed for 20-30 minutes. The silence of the place is mind-bending. And the whole place actually looks damn spooky. We hydrated ourselves as we had lost a lot of water climbing up. After a good nap at the top, we explored the main structure and decided to head back down, as we knew it wouldn't be an easy one. 

TIME: 10:00

DESCENT:

The descent was nothing but straightforward. The landmarks mentally marked came in very handy. As we descended, it was through rough bushes. Then as we made through the steep face very carefully and slowly descending amidst flowing water streams. We got LOST :P. Oh yeah, one wrong turn and we were stranded in the forest. And it was not any forest, it was forest filled with thorns and bushes. Whilst climbing a rock, got atleast 4-5 big thorns into my palm, and my right hand started bleeding. Washing away the blood, we decided to carry on. Finally, on we found the gateways and damn, we just allowed our bodies to carry in auto mode, slowly cautiously traversing each rock with care, we made it back to the temple dehydrated and parched. 

Reaching the temple premises, we hopped on our bike and saying sayonara to the beautiful town we took off.

TIME: 11:00     

                                           

RIDE 2: (Medigeshi – Madhugiri – Dobbaspete - Bangalore)

This was about a 150kms ride back to Bangalore. We decided this would be a 2-stop ride back, first at Madhugiri and next at Dabbaspete. As we left Medigeshi, we turned back, looked back, passed a quirky smile at the mountain; it was a damn good test, and we thanked her for that. Promising her a return, we zoomed towards Madhugiri for some sting. Post which we cruised along until Dobaspet and pulled over for a 2nd break. Then we zoomed into Whity Dhaba for the final finisher. 

We spent around 2 hours at WHITY and then decided to take the NICE road to reach back home.  

TIME: 16:30

CONCLUSION:

“Well, the fourth trip for Oct-2025, damn felt good. Also not knowing the destination until the last moment, kind opened up a pandora box of experience. The trek proved to be very different, the challenge of the mountains always humbles you down, but yeah, we are up for it \m/. And thanks to Anwar bhai, for remaining calm amidst all the chaos, a true old school!”

Until next time Cia \m/

211) Channarayana Durga: (21/10/2025)

Place: Channarayana Durga trek

Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200 kms

Directions: Bangalore > Nelamangala > Dabaspet > Kortagere > Channarayana Durga

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

Bikes: Pulsar                                                                                  

Previous Visit: Kabbala Durga trek

Budget: Rs 250/head (Total = 400 petrol + 100 breakfast & tea)

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

Well, this was a crazy chapter, the second run during the Diwali holidays. People often ask me why I go to these hillocks repeatedly; this chapter answers it perfectly. Firstly, I don't go for myself. It's the others I help reach places. Secondly, the mountain always presents a different face every time we go, so its a new experience every time. (Thirdly - none of their business)  In this chapter, the fog descended wildly onto Channarayana Durga as we ascended and presented a beautiful yet scary side of her. The trek, as such, was beautiful, but with water running down on the white stones, proved to be quite risky. Thankfully, we had a guardian angel along with us! Read on.

INTRO & PLAN:

Well, it had been 2 days since our trip to Kabbaladurga. 1 day to recover and 1 day to plan. Madhu said he would be busy, and Anwar said he could be staying at Nelamangala. So yeah, the trip was planned, pick from Nelamangala. Headed where? Nobody knew. Oh yeah, btw, it was Anwar's b'day as well. SO, thought of gifting him a good experiential gift rather than materialistic ones.

TIME: 22:00 (20/10/2025)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Oh yeah, woke up at 00:30, wait what. Yes, you read that right. Woke up, did a few push-ups and sit-ups, and by 2am was ready. I got bored and listened to some music. Woke up Anwar by 3:30am and told him we'd head out early. Had a sip of coffee and left home.

TIME: 04:30

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Nelamangala-Dobbaspete - Channarayana Durga)

The ride to Channarayana Durga is a smooth one. But the construction on the highway is slightly draining. As I left home, I cruised along at a decent pace in the early hours with still darkness all around me, felt homely. Reached Nelamangala and picked up B'day boy and cruised to reach Dobbaspet. Once onto the Kortagere road, it was smooth sailing in the darkness to reach our regular breakfast spot for a double round superb breakfast. 

TIME: 06:00

We had a great breakfast, and the sunlight had begun to rise. The zone just before sunrise feels the coldest. Hopping onto the bike, we zoomed ahead until the town "Tumbadi", Oh yeah, that's right, we discussed the awesome movie as we cruised along, parked our bikes at the town's centre. Requested a random bakery to hold on to our helmets until we reach back :P

TIME: 10:45

ASCENSION:

Channarayana Durga is one such hillock, which is easy to ascend, but is also tricky. Let me explain. The rocks here are slippery, and with water running down, it becomes actually risky. As we reached the foot of the mountain, the sun was up and we felt good. The waters running down the mountain send slight chills. We took about an hour to ascend the mountain.

Anyway, I have divided the ascension into the following stages, So keep up with here! :

i) Initial Stretch

ii) Lost Paradise

iii) Layouts

iv) Last Stretch

TIME: 07:15

i) Initial stretch:

This stretch is the hardest part of the trek. Not surprising at all, right, if you want your enemies to die, let them die at the foot of the mountain, not at the top. This stretch is tricky, I mean real tricky. With waters running down, we could only feel what the invading armies felt whilst trying to conquer this fort. And guess what, out of nowhere, I mean seriously out of nowhere, a dog joined us in the middle of this stretch. 

ii) Lost Paradise:

Once we reached the first fort wall. We began navigating our way into the lost paradise. And as we entered it, we were taken aback by the sight that was in front of us. Thick dense fog is descending on the hillock. Damn! It looked so beautiful and scary at the same time. The whole of the lake and ruins of the temples were shrouded in fog and felt damn nice. With the winds blowing with the fog, felt like an angry banshee's cold hug!    

iii) Layouts:

The layouts, I mean, what layouts huh? Nothing was hardly visible haha! Crazy scenes, it was. And we were the only two on top of the hillock (oh yeah, the dog as well, so three). So, we kept pushing further and reached the "end of the word" spot. And we weren't surprised to spot nothing. We couldn't spot Madhugiri or any of the hillocks. It seemed as though the fog and wind had made peace and were howling and encircling the entire hill. Felt surreal. 

iii) Last Stretch:

Told Anwar and the dog (yes, I really did tell him) that we would summit the top and wait for the sunrise, and then come back here. We pushed through the last stretch and reached the summit. 

TIME: 08:15

TOP:

As we reached the top, we settled down below a tree and began to relax. The fog was really howling by now. The sun was trying to put up a good fight but it was of no use. We had some biscuits in our bag. We fed the dog, and after having biscuits, he sat down and began napping. Haha, such peaceful creatures. We also had some water and relaxed for a while. But the winds blowing along with the fog were actually spooky. After resting for about 20-30mins we decided to head back the spot we discussed earlier.

TIME: 09:00

As we came back to the "end of the world" spot.  We could spot the bottom of the ground, and the fog seemed to be lifting. We felt happy and decided to crash at the spot until the fog lifted. The spot is a tricky one with dead ends all around. And the brave dog followed us onto this spot. Peeping cautiously below, took step by step and sat with us. And it was truly the "end of the word" feeling!! We waited and waited, then finally took a nap at the spot and decided to head back haha!

TIME: 09:15

TREK BACK:

It took us hardly 45 minutes to reach the base. The dog was waiting for us to get back. As I sat down beside him, I tried to seriously have a conversation, looking into his eyes. All he did was stare at the next gateway that lay afar. He had a mission, and that is all that mattered to him, I guess. We cruised back the top two stretches in a jiffy. And we entered the "initial stretch", we could see that the water flowing down the mountain had increased, and to make matters worse, it started raining. 

Being doubly cautious, we made our way down very slowly. The dog stuck with it throughout until this stretch. And as we were navigating the final steep descent. We couldn't spot the dog anymore. thanking him for the company, we headed towards the bakery for some refreshments. After some Sting, we decided to head back to Bangalore.

TIME: 10:15

   

RIDE 2: (Channarayana Durga – Dabaspet - Nelamangala – Bangalore)

Okay, this was the 100kms ride back to Bangalore. As we left Channarayanadurga, the cool breeze felt good on our face. We stopped and had a final look back at the hillock, who was still fighting the fog with the help of the sun. We promised her a return and zoomed ahead towards Bangalore. Dropped Anwar at Nelamangala, and headed back to reach hime. 

TIME: 12:30

CONCLUSION:

“Has to be one of the most awesome faces of this mountain I have ever seen since 2012. But nevertheless, it was risky. And a superb experience to the b'day boy. Let's keep GOING!!  And last but most importantly, thanks to the dog for sticking by us throughout this adventurous trek. Cheers boi :)“

Until next time Ta-ta Cia \m/

210) Kabbaladurga trek: (18/10/2025)

Place: Kabbaladurga trek

Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms

Directions: Bangalore > Bidadi > Channpatna > Kabbaladurga > Kanakpura > Bangalore

Krew: Madhu (Bande) > Anwar (Sharief bhai) > Karthik (Sp)

Bikes: Enfield >Pulsar                                                                                  

Previous Visit: Rayakottai fort trek

Budget: Rs 290/head

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

Alright, this trip was more than just a trek. Kabbaldurga tests your internal being and your will to survive. Going alone is one thing; going as a group is something else. And yeah, with all the steps being carved out, etc., for public safety, we took the old school route up and pulled off a banger!!

INTRO & PLAN:

It had been a week since the Rayakottai chapter. Hands were itchy already. And with the Diwali holidays on the horizon, I had planned to execute 1 or 2 more trips to catch up on 2025. Usually Kabblu is the place I visit alone on my birthdays for resetting my being. But this time had the best 2 (wait 3) companions.  It was Anwar and Madhu on the confirmed list. And we were set to GO.

TIME: 22:00 (17/10/2025)

   

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Yeah, I was up at 02:45am.  Called Anwar, who had to come from  Attibele and come over to my place and leave his bike. Madhu, on the previous day, had confirmed that he would be at Kanakpura and join us at the base of the hillock directly. So it was Anwar and me from Bangalore.  As I waited for Anwar sitting outside the home, I was shocked to see the flock of cars and bikes heading out of Bangalore. Insane it was. Anyway, once Anwar arrived, we said tata to Bangalore.

TIME: 06:00

RIDE 1: (Bangalore– Ramngara – Channpatna - Kabbaldurga)

This was a 100km one-way ride on Mysore Road. As we left Bangalore, it started drizzling. I had second thoughts about Kabblu being a good option on a rainy day. But kept riding. The darkness still prevailed, and with the rains, it was tough, so we moved out at a slow pace. But then again, "if you don't ride in rain, you don't ride", right?  We pulled over at our regular breakfast at Bidadi for some nice breakfast.

TIME: 06:00

After a great breakfast, the slight light had made its way. The air was still cold, we hopped onto the bike again and made our way to Ramnagar. Upon hitting Ramnagar, the old Mysore presented itself, and a different side of me awoke. The bike more or less took over the riding part, and we chatted our way to reach Channapatna. From Channapatna, we took a left turn, and the country roads were bliss. It was a complete canopy ride, with the trees welcoming us on both sides and sheltering us from the sun.  We made it to Kabblu where Madhu was already waiting for us. It was time to CLIMB.

TIME: 07:00

KABBALDURGA TREK:

Well, it took us about an hour to reach the top. I knew it would be more difficult compared to their previous treks for both Madhu and Anwar. The idea was to maintain a slow speed and keep going. As before, I have divided the trek into the following sections:

i) Initial stretch

ii) 3 point stretch

iii) Viper stretch

iv) Final Stretch

So ready? Yeah this was a calm yet crazy trek, keep up with me here!

i) Initial stretch:

Trust me, this is never straightforward as it navigates through a forest. This is the easiest stretch, but the stretch where I always goof-up. I mean it is fun, but not always. Even after visiting this hillock many times, i made a micro-mistake where i strayed off a clearly visible pathway, talking and narrating stories haha :P

ii) 3 point stretch:

This was shaking you up from within and really tests your stamina. Well, there were the steps that had been carved out. But even that kinda pulls u out of your body. But like always, we took the old school route, climbing it free style. But something special awaited us on this one. The dog that had accompanied me last year showed up and immediately recognised me. We hugged, and it was such a special moment. (Kabbaladurga 2024 chapter) Oh yea, as far as the stretch goes, cautiously but continuously we're grinding our way to the top with a break in between.

iii) Viper stretch:

After the grueling 3-point stretch, there was the viper stretch. Call this cause, it resembles a mega boa that had passed through the grass. This is not difficult, but the inclination is steep. We made it through this pass without any hassles.

iv) Final stretch:

The final stretch consists of tricky spots and a lot of steps. We consciously avoided the steps as they are more draining. Climbing free style, avoiding stepping on flowing water from the top. We ground our way to the top. 

TIME: 08:00

TOP:

As we reached the top, I told Anwar and Madhu to keep aware of the recovery rate of their breath and body. Trust me, it is surreal at this place. As soon as we reach the top, the bodies magically calm down. As though the entire stretch was a test of some sort.  First we paid respect to the Kabblu temple and then we crashed behind the Shiva temple. Where the dog, came and rest amidst us.

We slept at the top, without speaking much, imbibing the natural sounds. Whoo! it was such a refresher, trust me. As we could sense the clouds slowly hovering around and the air getting heavier, we decided to head back as we didn't want to get stranded on this hillock with the rains slashing down. 

TIME: 09:00

TREK DOWN:

Trek down was a fun one. It always tests the knees a lot. As we began the trek down, we cruised through the final stretch and viper stretch in a matter of 10 minutes. After which, during the 3-pointer, we looked for an alternative route and then descended in the steepest phase. Being calm and cautious, we pulled it off to get our feet back on solid muddy ground. What-a rush it was! But very satisfying.

TIME: 10:00

RIDE 2: (Kabbaldurga – Kanakpura -Bangalore)

This was a 100 km ride back, but took the Kanakpura road this time, completing a small good circuit. As we got down from Kabblu had a Sting to shoot up energies. And then we took off via Sathnur towards Kanakpura. It had been a while since riding on this baby, and it felt good. We pulled over at Kanakpura and thanked Madhu for making it. Post which Anwar and I zoomed towards Bangalore and more specifically Blue Wings haha. Had a light drink and finished our lunch, and made it to our respective homes.

TIME: 12:00 (reaching Bangalore)

CONCLUSION:

" this was a excellent and to be frank tough ones considering the route we took. Kabblu never dissapoints to shake us up. But Madhu and Anwar pushed beyond their boundaries, overcame their fears while getting down and pulled off this BANGER of a trip"

Until next time, Cia \m/ (oh yeah, the third being was the Kabblu dog!, here we go)

209) Rayakottai fort trek: (12/10/2025)

Place: Rayakottai Fort Trek

Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms

Directions: Bangalore > Hosur > Shoolagiri > Rayakottai  > Bangalore

Krew: Anwar (Sharief bhai) > Karthik (Sippy)

Bikes:  Pulsar                                                                          

Budget: Rs 250/head

Previous Visit: Naraynagiri trek.

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

The Fort of Rayakottai is the southernmost fort hill of Mr.Tippu Sultan. After a year of break, the trip felt really good. We got to see a totally different face of the hillock, completely shrouded in mist. We also happened to meet a 71-year-old explorer who wanted someone to accompany him to the top :)

INTRO & PLAN:

After a year of break and a lot of waiting, I had my bike serviced during the dussera holidays. It was time to head out. Sat for about a week and glanced through all the previous trips to get back the mojo! As far as the crew went, Anwar was on the confirmed list. And we wanted to head out somewhere small but effective. We had initially planned it for 11th Oct 2025, but a great thing it got shifted by a day, as we heard over 1000 people on Saturday, and also it had rained pretty good on 11th early morning.

TIME: 22:00 (10/10/2025)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Yeah, woke up by 3am, did a few pushups and situps ( by few I mean 100 of each), and had a sip of coffee and was all set to go. Woke up Anwar, and left my home at 4:30. It always feels good covering some distance in the dark before the sun rises. In about 30-40 minutes, we reached attibele to pick up Anwar and we left Bangalore. 

TIME: 05:45

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

So, this was a 50km + 50km ride. From Attibele, Rayakottai is only about 50km. As we left Bangalore, the fog set in heavily post Hosur. It was a fun, smooth, and calm ride. However, we had agreed upon one rule: no maps. Either we ask locals and go to the place or head back home. Reaching Shoolagiri, scratched the deepest parts of my brain, and with the help of some locals, took the turn into the country roads. 

The country roads, trust me, are a bliss to ride on. We allowed the bike to just glide us through. As we drifted along the roads at lower speeds, we witnessed some fantastic, peaceful scenes of the countryside. And as we approached Rayakkottai, we were surprised to see it shrouded in mist. It looked mighty and scary, but was amidst the mist and fog, we struck and conquered :D

RAYAKOTTAI FORT TREK:

The trek is a pretty easy one, as it has a pathway to the top. But this trek was different. As we reached the base and parked our bikes. An elderly man was waiting for us to unsaddle. He asked us if we were heading to the top, and he would love to accompany us. He was 71 years old and old school explorer. We were taken aback, but also respected the person for having the flame within.  So with the goat's spirit wide awake, we were set for the invasion. 

TIME: 7:15

Even though the guy was 71 years old, he was comfortably keeping up with us. The trek is filled with wild turns, dead silence and spookiness. To get shoo away all the scariness I had a habit of telling all cooked-up funny stories. 

The initial pathway consists of a lot of stone steps, and then this opens up to a narrow mud path which runs to the 2nd gate and onto the final stretch. The trek can be done by anyone. And the view from the top is worth it.

TIME: 07:45

TOP:

Even though it was a Sunday, the gamble had paid off. There were no people on top of the fort. We had the entire place for ourselves, and she looked different. We couldn't see the town below. The mist had shrouded the top of the mountain. And it was pretty cold. The view it offered was amazing. We enjoyed all the views and decided to crash on top of the mountain for some rest. The man kept telling his stories and expeditions, how he collects magazines and does good research before getting lost in the wilderness, well, if there was one instance you meet your future self, this was it! :D

TIME: 8:45

DESCENSION:

The decision was a quick one. We were surprised the man could keep up with us. Even though we offered to slow down. We went ahead and explored other areas of the fort. This is one forthill where in reaching fast, ain't the key. It's about how much fun you have! There are a lot of parallel avenues one can explore on this fort and its all fun ! :)

TIME: 09:15

                                                   

RIDE 2: (Rayakottai – Attibele - Bangalore )

As we descended Rayakottai, we also visited a temple en route where water flows 24/7 through the caves. That was a peaceful refresher. Once we reached the bottom of the hillocks. We thanked the man was his valuable experience and stories. We asked him where he was headed, and he said he would go to the bus stop and further explore temples. His energy was off the charts. We decided to head back to Bangalore.  We took the same route back as it was simple and clean. We stopped on our way back for a single dosa.  After which i dropped Anwar back to his place and headed back further to reach my home.

TIME: 12:00

CONCLUSION:

“Felt really great to hit back the road after more than a year, still got the mojo. And had a great companion who adjusted all the way, despite an early start, no breakfast trek, no maps, and no phones (at least no calls) during the trip, keeping it old school! ”

Until next time, Cia \m/