Skandagiri Trip

A definite great... 2 hours in pitch dark up the mountain and 1.5 hours back...3 hours on the top in a nice bonfire eating a maggi and very very sugary tea made our weekend...

This trip was awesome because it was instant.... of course the timing was not exactly great since no moon was visible (its supposed to be a moonlight trek) and no clouds that would be as pretty as some I had seen in pictures online....but that only made me feel that we need to go again. The trek itself is awesome and worth it in whichever weather....just tooo good.

Some tips which I could not find on various blogs which I went to before leaving:

1. Do not take the route from Nandi hills side...too dark and no one to direct you in the night if its your first time.
2. Route from Chikkaballapur is easier if going from Bangalore....reach inside the city and you need to take a left.... just ask anyone (usually policemen available) for way to Papagni Mutt. This is where you need to park before starting up.
3. Around 2:30 is a good time to start the trek...you will take 2-2.5 hours to reach the top giving you enough time to enjoy the cold on the top while not really making you feel depressed with the cold (in case you are not a real cold person)
4. Do explore more of the interiors (if you have the energy) while coming back...take the right turn towards Nandi hills instead of going towards Chikkaballapur since this will take you across some lovely vineyards....you could go into some and get good photo ops or possibly buy grapes cheap.
5. Take water and warm clothing, some money and a torch and an empty bag for the waste....nothing else required...really.
6. Enjoy the ride and PLEASE DONT LITTER.....really REALLY NOT GOOD.....

Pitch Dark...

Chikkaballapur from top

Nandi Hills in the night

Waiting for the sun

Cloud play...Cloud Show by nature for treckers

Skandagiri

Papagni Mutt

Jai Hind!

Falcon