[addyhemmige]

It all started with a plan for a Team Bhp meet by KarthikK on the quick meets thread. Then it started a flurry of activity with members suggesting places from Hessaraghatta to Doddaballapur to Skandagiri. After some debates it was finally decided to meet and drive to Madhugiri.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-b...ml#post2967084

Madhugiri is a small town in Tumkur District and approx 100 kms from Bangalore. There is an ancient fort belonging to the Hyder Ali era on huge hillock. This particular hillock is a huge monolithic rock and is supposed to be the 2nd biggest monolithic hill in Asia. Not sure which the biggest one is though. The link below should have some more information regarding Madhugiri.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhugiri

The Trip

After the destination was decided, we were all supposed to meet up at the NICE Road exit point on Tumkur road. I did not have my car with me, so I had asked if anyone could pick me up. KiloAlpha offered to pick me up and we were all set.

Sunday morning, KiloAlpha picks me up in Figo and we head out to the meeting point. As we pass through the NBTPL toll booth, we realise that the meeting point was not feasible. The NICE road exit on Tumkur road was on the service road and none of us had thought about the people taking the NBTPL Toll road. There was no place to park the cars on the highway. So we decided to stop after the toll road just before the Nelamangala toll booth. As we passed the NICE exit point, we saw guyfrmblr waiting in his black i20. We then stopped before the toll booth and then started to call others. KiloAlpha had the phone nos of guyfrmblr and KarthikK and somehow got through to most people who were supposed to come and let them know that we were waiting at the Nelamangala toll booth. Unfortunately, hemanth.anand missed out even after coming to the original meeting point.

Finally, one by one turned up and we were a total of 7 people at the meeting point. Few of them had dropped out

The 7 people were

1.addyhemmige (riding with KiloAlpha)
2.KiloAlpha (Figo)
3.shishir_bn (Xylo)
4.vinu_h + his friend (SX4)
5.guyfrmblr (i20)
6.tckanth (Beat)

This was my 1st Team Bhp and I was meeting all of these guys for the first time. It was really nice getting to know each other and putting faces to the forum ids. We chatted for a bit and started the drive to Madhugiri. tckanth had to go back as he had some work and his was just a guest appearance.

The road to Madhugiri is through Dobbaspet-Koratagere. Madhugiri is about 50 kms from the NH4 junction at Dobbaspet. The road is decent with occasional potholed stretches till Koratagere. But after Koratagere, it is pathetic all the way to Madhugiri, a distance of approx 20 kms.

We parked our cars at the base of the fort and started our trek to the top. I'm sure you are getting bored with all the text, so I'll let the pictures do the talking. I only have pictures taken from my mobile, so please forgive the quality. I will leave the field open for others to upload their pictures.

Entry to the fort


A view from below


View of Madhugiri on the way up


Someone's really been cheated (read the red text)


guyfrmblr (left) and shishir_bn


A huge water tank inside the fort


shishir_bn and vinu_h with vinu's friend in front of a huge watchtower


Still a long way to go. The red bricked wall looked like Parle G biscuits stacked up together!!!


View from the watch tower


Another view of Madhugiri town


That really isn't the top


The fort wall at the top in the above picture....is the wall you see at the bottom in the below picture

That's how steep it was


There was another section just before the above picture, where it was very very steep and we had to move sideways. Luckily, there were railings in place. Otherwise, we would have to scramble and crawl on the way up. I don't have a pic of that place though. Others might have taken it.

guyfrmblr leading the sunday crowd up the hill


vinu_h leading all of us. He was the first one to reach


If you see the picture, there is still a long way to go

View of the western side


View of the eastern side


First view of the Citadel


Building inside the citadel. Notice the 2 storage rooms (domes)


Building behind the Citadel


Back view of the citadel


That's it from my side. The other guys will post better pictures shortly. Thanks

[benbsb29]

Thread moved to Travelogues section. Thanks for sharing.

This looks like a nice place for a quick one day trip.

[mooza]

Thanks addyhemmige, for the nice pics ! Looks like a nice place to visit.

Can the trek to the top be done with family and 7 year old kids ? Hope there are some eating options too in the town. If not, we may have to carry food and make it like a true picnic which will be more fun, I guess

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

This looks like a nice place for a quick one day trip.

Yes it is. But it is going to be hot as you will be climbing on solid rock.

Originally Posted by mooza

Thanks addyhemmige, for the nice pics ! Looks like a nice place to visit.

Can the trek to the top be done with family and 7 year old kids ? Hope there are some eating options too in the town. If not, we may have to carry food and make it like a true picnic which will be more fun, I guess

There a couple of treacherous sections where you have to be very careful. There were a couple of kids along with their families when we climbed, but we didn't see them go all the way to the top.

There are no decent eateries there. You might have to come back to Dobbaspet for better options. We had lunch at a small place opposite the fort entrance.

[_chikku]

Aah nice views from top. Although I had heard about the place before never seen in the pictures. Will have to make a visit soon. Upload more pics guys

[IronH4WK]

nice one addy!

btw, where are the photo shoot stuff? you know, 'em cars lined up against the hills and stuff

[vinu_h]

Thank you Addy. Very nice travelogue.

Originally Posted by IronH4WK

nice one addy!

btw, where are the photo shoot stuff? you know, 'em cars lined up against the hills and stuff

Shishir's camera was the only one capable of doing that. He took a photo of our cars from almost 500m horizontal and 200m vertical distance from them. You'll believe me when you see the pic.

Will put up my pics in a bit.

[vinu_h]

Madhugiri was really a very enjoyable trip for me. I'd do it again.

We ran into a group of 60-65 year old's who put us to shame by zooming past us. Despite the railings and the carved out steps, we were on our own for the rest of the trek. Fortunate for us, the surface was dry and we could grip the rocks and climb with ease. I would prefer Madhugiri to Kalavarahalli any day.

We were famished by the time we climbed back and treated ourselves to a very tasty meal; deservedly so. There's ample parking and shops to purchase water or short eats from.

The view of the mountain from the base


That's what we were up against


These tiny trees made the mountain seem a lot prettier


You can't tell from the pic, but that's not easy to climb


Tell about that right there


Those steps have been carved out to make the climb easy; but it does the exact opposite to those who're on their way back.


Clear skies and a lot of chilly wind; just the way we wanted it


The railing that Addy was talking about


His Majesty's watering hole


The 'I was here' signs left by people


The Buzzing town


Entrance to the Citadel


Inside the Citadel




Dungeon's ?



Shivalinga's ? We couldn't really tell.


Other mountains close by

[shishir_bn]

I guess no one took the photo of the roads that lead to this place

Anyways here is my version of Madhugiri drive and Trekking

[vinu_h]

Originally Posted by shishir_bn

I guess no one took the photo of the roads that lead to this place

Eagerly waiting to see the photo of the cars from the mountain. You were the one with the most capable camera in the group. We want to see more photos from you.

[brraj]

As somebody said we need to do this early morning to get a good view of sunrise,fog as we did it here.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...kandagiri.html

I had done madhugiri trek when i was 10, now its time to do it again.

[shishir_bn]

After those stunning road travel, we came to the bottom of the hill

The starting was smooth and the real pain started we crossed some 100mts

Some pics at the starting of the ascent.

[addyhemmige]

Lovely pictures Shishir and Vinu. Your pictures have come a lot better than mine.

@shishir, It's funny, I was thinking of clicking pics on the way(given that I was a passenger), but the bad roads on the way made me forget it I guess. Btw, the shot with the SX4 in the front and the monolith in the background is great.

[shishir_bn]

As we were climbing the steps err wait, Were there any steps?

Initially there were some. But later on it was not there.

So as we started the climb I could get hold of some pics of the surrounding city

[shishir_bn]

So in the mid way we thought why only surrounding snaps.

So we took some group snaps also aong with one Single snap for Vinu(Shaaadi.com pose)

Here is the team which did this drive meet and Trekking