Place: Huliyurdurga trek
Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms
Directions: Bangalore > Nelamangala > Kunigal > Huliyur > Ramnagar > Bangalore
Krew: Dileep (Koof) > Karthik (Sippy)
Bikes: Pulsar
Previous Visit: Ratnagiri Trek
Budget: Rs 350/head
Latest 2025 Visit: Huliyurdurga trek 2025
IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
Alright, this was one chapter that shook up our core beliefs. This trek saw a lot of funny and intense moments. It was a thrilling trip from getting lost in the thick forest to riding back in slashing heavy rains. Loved every minute of it, so here goes.
INTRO & PLAN:
Friday was lazing around at Blue Wings, Koof called me and asked if any trek was planned for the weekend. Since I had nothing to do, we decided to head out. Oh yeah, the camera was non-functional. It had been my loyal companion since um, 2016 I think. I was down, but were more about the experience, and photos next.
TIME: 20:00 (1/6/2024)
ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:
Yeah, I was awake by 3:30 am, stretched
out, and got ready. I left my home at about 5 am and picked up Koof from his
home. As we were riding, we saw what stood once as Laxmi bar. Years of memories
at this place hit us hard.
TIME: 05:30
RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Bidadi – Ramnagar – Maddur - Huliyurdurga)
This was a 100 km simple ride to the Huliyurdurga. As we hit Tumkur Road,
speeds picked up. The skies were filled with dark heavy clouds and the forecast
for the day was a downpour. Once we took the deviation from the Nelamanagala
toll, we continued on the Mangalore highway for about 20 kilometres and pulled
over for a nice breakfast.
TIME:06:30
After the breakfast we a kick-ass coffee which shot up energies and we
hit back the roads. Once we reached Kunigal we took a left deviation, and the roads
just became superb. We enjoyed cruising on this road to reach Huliyurdurga. Asking
the locals for directions, we reached the old temple and parked our bikes and with
the Astral goat’s spirit wide awake, we were ready to climb.
TIME: 08:00
HULIYURDURGA TREK:
The proper trek is only 15-20 minutes of intense creepy climbing. But ours
took about 60 minutes. Let me explain.
Lost in the Forest:
Ok, once we parked our bikes. I was in high spirits and barged into the
thick forest explaining to Koof how we had to find a temple from which the trek
started and all. But we had entered at the wrong point, and it was a pretty
thick forest. The silence of the forest was quite spooky. We could see signs of
wild animals all over. A skull of probably a dog was left on a rock, a wild rabbit
hopped past us, and then a chemboth was walking peacefully. All these signs
suggested that we were seriously off track. So, we decided to head back to the
place where we started.;
We had spent about 45 minutes, and we were drenched in
sweat, and I was down and out. Once we made it back, we tried to step back and
try to read the mountain, there seemed no climbable spots. So, I decided to go
back and ask for directions from the locals. As I was heading back, head held
low in dejection, kicking stones out of the path, I saw nicely laid steps, my
eyes followed the steps and behold I spotted the starting point of the
trek, an old temple.
Actual trek:
I called Koof, and explained how the neat steps had misled us. We
laughed about it, but we were both pretty beaten up by the forest adventure. So,
we climbed the steps and sat and rested at the temple. Then the actual trek
began.
The trek started by ascending steep rock faces. It was challenging and
nice. Then a narrow path runs through boulders, one must squeeze through these
narrow spaces to make it to an opening. Here the trickiest part lies, seasoned
climbers can climb without any support. Otherwise, it is better to allow somebody
to climb and pull. Once we both were out of the tricky spot, then it was a straightforward
climb. Slow and steady we took steps, keeping an eye on the skies. Dark clouds were
heading our way from afar, we knew it would pour by evening.
TIME: 09:00
TOP:
We spent about 30 mins at the top. We wanted to spend more time, but because
it could rain, we decided to head back early. At the top, we just had one piece
of chocolate and drank water and slept. The winds caressed us and almost put is
into deep sleep in a matter of minutes. Once we were up, we discussed the route
to take back. We decided to explore a new route via Ramanagar.
TIME: 09:30
CLIMB DOWN:
The climb down took us 15 mins. At the tricky spot, I decided to head
down first and then Koof could just jump down I would catch him haha! Even
though the climb is short one, it is pretty tricky and gives you a super feel.
Once we made it back down, we visited the temple at the foot of the hillock. Picking
our bike, we left, as we left we saw a group of young buffalos grazing, it got
scared by the bike and started running, and from afar its mom started chasing
us. We got out of town with a buffalo chasing us away! :D
TIME: 10:00
RIDE-2: (Huliyurdurga – Ramanagar – Bangalore)
This was an 85 km ride back. We decided to pull over at a bakery for
some Stings. After gulping down, we felt energetic and took the Magadi route. This
route went through Huliyur forest, and the ride trust me was fantastic. From that
point, we took a right and entered into the country roads. The atmosphere was
so peaceful and greenery all around, we just cruised enjoying every bit of
fresh air we could take in.
As we entered the town, we were in such high spirits enjoying the ride,
we failed to notice fresh cement that had been laid on the roads and we rode
off directly into it hehe. Somehow calming down the construction workers we
made it out.After reaching Ramnagara, we
picked up speed once again, discussing chameleons, monitor lizards, and Komodo dragons
we entered back into Bangalore. We could see a few juice shops open, so the ban
of sales was not taken seriously after all, eh? So, we decided to hit 7Hills Dhaba
for a quick drink and munch.
TIME: 12:00
We spent about 3hrs at the dhaba, speaking about work and other stuff.
Once we left, there was a slight drizzle, we loved it and as we rode towards
Koof home. But once we reached Uttrahalli it started pouring cats, it was the
heaviest downpour for 2024. Monsoons in Bangalore were surely underway.
I asked Koof if he was okay to continue, and he was A-okay. And riding
slowly at about 30kmph we glided our way through gushing waters and onslaught from
the skies, but what a beautiful ride it was. I dropped Koof at this place and
rode back and it was a joy, at traffic signal was looking up at the skies, and after
much-awaited months, the rains had finally returned.
TIME: 15:45
CONCLUSION:
“There is an old saying, - there
are only two types of people, those who love riding in the rain and the irrelevant.
“
Until next time, Cia \m/
"Young riders pick a destination, Old school pick a direction \m/."
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