- Place: Ratnagiri Fort Trek
- Distance: 150kms x 2 = 300kms
- Directions: Bangalore > Dobbaspete > Madhugiri > Ratnagiri Fort
- Krew: Madhu, Karthik (Sp)
- Bikes: Pulsar
- Previous Visit: Bhairavadurga
- Budget: Rs 500/head
IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
Another simple trek to the mystery fort of Ratnagiri. The route and gateways can be confusing but fun. This was Madhu's first time joining, so we kept it simple and stuck to our proven process.
INTRO & PLAN:
Two weeks after the rattling Bhairavadurga trek, Madhu expressed interest in joining the next one. I was more excited than him! With the destination unknown but the plan clear, we decided to head out over the weekend.
TIME: 11:00 (22/5/2024)
ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:
Woke up by 3:30 am, did a few stretches, and called Madhu. He arrived at my home by 5:15 am—a happy surprise! We took off immediately; every minute before sunrise is precious.
TIME: 05:15
RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Dobbaspete – Madhugiri – Ratnagiri Fort)
The ride began smoothly in the dark chill. As the sky opened up, the temperature took a sharp dip. We pulled over at Dobbaspete at 6:15 am for a hot tea stop after covering 50km.
After tea, we found the old couple we discovered last time. They serve the best roadside idly, vada, and pulao—a super heavy and worth-it breakfast. We continued for 40km until Ratnagiri appeared afar. The ride through town felt like stepping into history.
TIME: 08:30
RATNAGIRI FORT TREK:
The ascent took about an hour. An eerie silence hit us—with no one else around, the silence felt dense. The trek consists of three distinct stages:
- Way to the Door
- Amazing Mid-Riff
- The Last Stairs
i) Way to the Door:
The initial stretch is tricky. You have to scan the hillock for a small door in the wall and figure out your own path to it. Every hiker chooses a different route, but the goal remains the same.
TIME: 08:45
ii) Amazing Mid-Riff:
After entering, a clear stony path appears. The fort walls, shrouded in creepers, gave us chills. We kept our senses on high alert, relishing the eerie atmosphere.
TIME: 09:00
iii) Last Stairs:
We explored several granaries—Madhu noted they looked like fruit-ripening stores. From there, it was a simple climb up the last stairs to the summit.
TIME: 09:15
TOP:
The wind speed picked up at the top. We played with helicopter seeds under calm skies. After enjoying the 360-degree views and finding a crumbling wall where the wind gushed through, we crashed in our usual cave spot.
TIME: 09:30
TREK DOWN:
After a 20-minute nap, we headed down. The descent took 30 minutes. We had fun descending rock faces instead of stairs as a practice for future treks. We reached the bikes and bid farewell to beautiful Ratnagiri.
TIME: 10:45
RIDE 2: (Ratnagiri Fort – Medigeshi – Madhugiri - Dobbaspete – Bangalore)
The ride back was hot. We reached Madhugiri in 45 minutes for a stretch. After witnessing a sobering accident on the road, we kept our composure and glided into Whity Dhaba for a heavy lunch.
After lunch, we hit the NICE road. A final coffee at my place before Madhu headed home across the city.
TIME: 16:00
Great and smooth trip. Until next time, Cia \m/
"Young riders pick a destination, Old school pick a direction \m/."
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