An easy, practical and in-sequence itinerary planner I have travelled the length and breadth of India, and am truly proud of its rich and varied heritage. I am amazed by the tradition and values, the people, festivals, celebrations and the changing landscape. Have you wondered if it's possible to travel across India completely? Most foreigners arriving in India, land in Delhi and then travel the Golden Triangle route first- which is a good decision incase you have limited time at hand and want to make the most of it. The Golden Triangle- Delhi, Agra and Jaipur includes the much hyped Taj Mahal which invariably is part of a tourist's bucket list. This blog on the other hand- is a sequential strategy and detailed 'been there done that' itinerary plan starting from Mumbai. I am sure as we go through this Journey you will understand India better. My experiences are based from the perspective of a - digital nomad, budget backpacker and from a local standpoint. Each Itinerar...
Uttari-betta trek from Bangalore
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The story of Bengaluru's hill forts
Kempe Gowda I, an important Kannadiga icon was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara dynasty rulers. He was instrumental in setting up Bengaluru~ the city we live in today. And in fact, it was his idea and design to protect the city by 9 strategically located forts. Called as Navadurgas ('durg' is fort) these are :
After a quick cuppa coffee with eggs on toast, I was down at the pickup location waiting for the minivan. The van arrived, we took our seats and drove on the Tumkur road. At Tumkur toll naka we stopped for some refreshments, visit the restrooms before starting the trek.
Tip~ Wear loose fitting comfortable trek worthy cotton clothes. Trekking shoes with good grip is always the best bet. Light backpack with basic necessities like dry food, water and firstaid.
Uttari betta or Hutridurga trek is a 2.5 km uphill climb to the top of the fortified hill. The fort ramparts are said to be secured by eight layers, with each gate being approachable by a separate route. We drove past Huthri village that has a nice concrete road, onward to the starting point thereabouts, from where our local guide accompanied us. The fort gets its name from this village.
The trail to Uttari betta
The trail is an interesting one made of natural rocks interspersed by greenery that looks rugged with easy climbs. Our group on the other hand, was a medley of 2 families with kids and even a baby-in-arms, a 70 year old accompanied by his 15 year old granddaughter, a Dutch couple and other trekkers.
"WoW!" I thought to myself "this is all the reassurance one needs that it's a doable trek." I could see a nine year old first timer full of enthusiasm and absolutely enjoying the climb. The couple with the baby also climbed well. And although I hate to admit~ due to my thyroid condition, I lagged behind with the 70 year old and the girl~ but we all made it to the top of the hill.
a group of trekkers exploring the rocks at Uttari betta trek
What awaits at the summit of Uttari betta
By this point we had evidently crossed through 7 stone doorways until we reached the Shankeshwar temple (Shiva temple), where we took a much-needed break. People began chatting and getting to know each other, the baby was being fed, while the boys took to the boulders surrounding the temple.
The hills fort of Uttari betta or Hutridurga is 65 kms from Bangalore
After lunch, we climbed a further 10/ 15 min, to reach the summit. Just then, the rain gods showered us with a spray of drizzle to cool us off... and then it stopped~ thank God!
A sense of Uttari betta atop the hill
For a long time we soaked in the beauty of the place and views of the surrounding fields and countryside. There were some smaller temples, and a rectangular stone water tank with water as green as the moss that lined the surface.
The Descent to Uttari betta foothills
The descent was an altogether different route, but I went along with it.. Then suddenly 'Acrophobia' struck me again when I noticed the sheer rock surface with carved out steps. After a bit of encouragement from fellow trekkers, I made it. Thereafter, it was a smooth descent till the bottom.
fear of heights, Uttari betta trek highlights (blog)
Thanks for reading. Your comments will be appreciated for sure and do share my blog. Bye for now!
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