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| Kabbaladurga - one of the Navadurgas |
Place: Kabbaladurga trek
Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms
Directions: Bangalore > Bidadi > Channapatna > Kabbaladurga > Channapatna > Bangalore
Krew: Karthik (Sp)
Bikes: Pulsar
Previous Visit: Huliyurdurga Trek - Pahadi Biryani
Budget: Rs 400/head (Total: Petrol = 400)
Check out our Navadurgas page. - a tight interlocking of 9 forts around Bangalore, which kept the baby safe!
IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
Alright, putting the last rites on 2025. 13 weeks, 12 roadtrips feels great. This chapter was more about the mountain call. And I had to be present, no questions asked, this was my 18th time to this place, so yeah it is a special place for me. Solo treks instil this healthy fear, but the call of the mountains is superior. This chapter saw some cold-blooded upward climbing and completed the trek in 25-30min. But during the trek down, spent quality time with locals, hearing their stories, giving away my entire water bottle and almost everything I had for the joyous moments they offered.
INTRO & PLAN:
Last week of 2025, had taken a week off from work. So, yeah, did some heavy lifting and got the blog into good shape. And hey, we got our own domain. I was going on a 5km walk every day and kept moving. In between the week, got jitters of the Kabblu call, but kind of pushed it on for a fort hill in Andhra. And oh yeah, got my bike serviced and rectified, guess what, we had pulled off 6-7trips on a limping bike. Haha! But late at night, Bhai texted that he wasn't feeling well and hadn't started from his native. So the direction had to be changed. And the call only got stronger!
TIME: 22:00 (27/12/2025)
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| The Calling |
ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:
After the cancellation, I got jitters, and to be very frank. Feet sweating, and a sense of anxiousness flooded my body. I wasn't able to sleep until 1:00. By 3:00, I was up doing pull-ups and some RDL's. By 4am, got ready, had a sip of coffee, had a look outside and jumped into the cold darkness, closing my eyes trusting the CALL.
TIME: 04:30
RIDE 1: (Bangalore– Ramngara – Channpatna - Kabbaldurga)
This was a 100kms ride, but the ride was very special this time. Past 17times I had covered this hillock, never had we left so early. So, Mysore Road was dark. And Mysore Road is confusing now. I cruised along at a decent pace, as the roads were pretty much completely empty. All of a sudden, post Bidadi, started getting this haunting feel, as winds gushed and the temperatures dropped.
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| The haunted cold ride to Kabbaladurga |
I slowed down, embraced both the cold and the darkness. It felt calm. I allowed the bike to glide down the ride at its own will. After a point in time, it was almost like the bike was taking me to her, rather than me pushing on.
Post Channapatna deviation, things got creepier, as it opened up to country roads and darkness and cold made their presence felt 10times more than usual. I blinked in cold -bloodedness and allowed the bike to do her thing, come what may! After a few minutes, as I approached the hillock, the sky began to light up, and the faint outline of the mountain could be seen. No matter how many times I've seen this hillock, the first glimpse sends a shiver down my spine. With a sense of healthy fear, I parked my bike at the usual spot, keeping the helmet on the bike unlocked, I awakened the lizard's spirit within and was ready to answer the call I had missed all week.
TIME: 06:45
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| The first glimpse of the hillock |
KABBALADURGA TREK:
With 12 treks in 13 weeks, I felt great. It took me 30minutes to complete the ascent. It was a non-stop, slow, steady type of trek. But yeah, felt good nobody was there at the hillock. And I wanted to complete it before the Sunday crowds arrived. As before, I have divided the trek into the following sections:
- Initial stretch
- Old Traverse and Grinder stretch (New updated! - from all other chapters)
- Viper stretch
- Final Stretch
Ready? So, yeah, on solo treks, you can hear your own breath, you can hear birds calling you (or maybe abusing you for waking them up), you can feel the winds engulfing you. The first time I soloed here, for every 1 step, I felt like taking 1 step back. But not this time.
Initial stretch:
This is the funniest and toughest for me, I can say. The tough vertical face seems easy. Every time I go on this trek, I get lost haha. I always find the path, but damn. Something about this stretch. This is supposed to be the easiest in terms of technicality and can be done easily. Spot the railings on the vertical face and keep heading in that direction.
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| The starting point |
The Old Traverse + Grind stretch
The 3-Point stretch is no more fun, so we found another fun route a few months back. It is the old path, but we directly climb the vertical face, not taking steps. This is fun, check our technicalities and also, wait.. yes, less taxing. The steps drain you out and pull our hamstrings and calves. When you take the vertical faces head-on, at least you feel it is worth it.
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| Breaking rules on the old traverse route |
By the end of the old you find nice bushes. you will realise, there is the grinder left. This is the true test. After traversing what feels like the hardest stretch, now you gotta grind out another 2x distance on a relatively safer stretch. But the endurance required is high as the face of the rock is steep but with good grip. I could feel my lungs burn, but didn't stop, took slow, steady steps, but never stopped.
Viper stretch:
The third fort wall, represents the beginning the Viper stretch. I call this as it feels like a titan boa had crawled through the grass eons back. This is easy and feels safe. So pushed it at a good pace to get out of this one.
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| The sun had begun to rise |
Final stretch:
Well, in the final stretch, we are back on the rock face again. Now the mountain really tests you to push it through. Every ounce of grit in the last corner of your body needs to be summoned and step by step, we pull this one off. Well, in my case, I was getting excited as I was about to reach the top, so I started hopping. It was chaotic, no doubt, but it had a grace in it. Pushing through, I reached the top.
TIME: 07:12
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| At the Kabbalu - Original |
TOP:
The cool winds greeted me at the top. As the legend goes at this place, the mountain is made of 5 sub-hillocks and tests the hiker up. The vertical face (2nd stretch) is the true test. Many of them give up at this point. And once you reach the top, a sense of rejuvenation can be felt. And I can personally vouch for this, as you enter the top, there is a sense of calmness (provided there are no monkeys around - monkeys i'm referring to are not the actual ones, but humans shouting, putting loud music etc.,)
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| Boots on ground |
I first went the to original temple and waved a big "HELLO". Saying, i had heard the call and have responded. Thanking the mountain for making 2025 a good year. I winked and requested permission to kick some more ass in 2026, I made my way to the Shiva temple where I met a couple of old friends.
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| The dogs who had accompanied me on earlier treks |
As soon as they saw, one of them recognised me. The other well, simply plain, didn't care. I opened a pack of Parle-G I had carried, now both recognised me. Haha. Feeding the whole packets to both of them, I took a power nap at the top.
Woke up and asked if they wanted some water. When both were okay, I decided to head back.
TIME: 07:45
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| A beautiful sun rose atop the summit |
CLIMB DOWN:
The climb down was a smooth one. It took me about 20-25min to get down. But with some interesting encounters.
Two Boys: Both of them had not carried water, wearing Crocs, they looked defeated on the Viper stretch. Passed by them and gave my water bottle to them.
Aunty stories: A family were making their way to the top, sat with them and heard some funny Shivagange stories from her.
Aunty confidence: As I was almost out of the hillock, one aunty asked me how much further and she could make it. I told her to take it one step at a time and never quit. Continued to tell her, climbing back half way takes the same mental energy as pushing through and climbing down. We both looked at each other for a few seconds, she smiled. I wasn't sure if a tight slap was going follow. I said good luck and bye and ran away haha!
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| Promise I will return to you :) |
TIME: 08:15
RIDE 2: (Kabbaldurga – Channapatna - Bangalore)
As I made it to my bike, saw a lazy Ox yawning, and I yelled at it, saying the sun is already up. It stared at me nonchalantly, continuing to munch some dried hay. Hopped onto the bike and took off via Mysore Road. Right before entering Singarajpura, stopped and had one last look at the her and promised her a return and thanked her for the call.
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| Get up lazy bum. |
The ride back was smooth, I was on auto-mode following a KSRTC bus, where a small pingu like baby head popped and it was just staring at me. Not knowing what to do, I squinted - no reaction. I made a monkey face - no reaction, I waved at it - It waved back with the purest laughter :). Haha, a perfect end to the chapter, see you on the other side, fellas. 2026, we are not stopping the flow, buckle up! \m/
TIME: 10:30
Until next time, Cia \m/
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| Two companions |
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| 25k views in Dec 2025 alone. Cheers to every loaper out there :) |
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