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| Minchukallu Trek |
- Place: Minchu Kallu Betta Trek.
- Difficulty: Easy with clear trails to the top (Altitude 1440m)
- Distance: 85 x 2 = 170km.
- Directions: Bangalore > Dobbaspete > A Venkatapura > Minchu Kallu Betta.
- Krew: Datta (Dattu), Karthik (Sp).
- Bikes: Pulsar.
- Previous Visit: Bhasmangi Fort Trek - Afghani venture.
- Budget: Rs 180/head (Petrol = 300/2; Breakfast = 60/2)
IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
A new place in the books! - Minchukallu. This is our first time visiting this place. And I guess the whole sky and the earth turned beautiful to welcome back a witty energy house frisbee master - Dattu. The trek is relatively easy in terms of technicality and also easy to navigate, making it a pleasant experience. And in this chapter, from start to end, we were the ONLY TWO on the entire hillock. 15 Weeks, 14 Treks Done, Gimme a Hell Yeah \m/
INTRO & PLAN:
8th Jan, 2026, morning, I called up Dattu and asked if he was ready to head out. "YES" came at an instant, no questions at all - where, how far, whom all? Haha, at that moment, knew it would be something special. I had one place, which was sitting on top of my 50 new places list for long - Minchu Kallu Betta - the lightning hillock.
TIME: 10:00 (8 Jan, 2026)
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| Blue skies and Brown grass |
ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:
Yes, I was up by 3 a.m., did a few pull-ups and stretches. Had a sip of coffee and was all set to go. Wiped my bike, gave her a gentle kiss and dove into the cold and darkness of the city at about 04:30. Rode listening to some goth metal until Mahalakshmi Layout, where Dattu was geared up and already standing on the road ready to hop on. After a formal greeting, we took off.
TIME: 05:15
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| Minchukallu view from Hosahalli Lake |
RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Dobbaspete – Minchu Kallu Betta)
This was 85km, I would say a pretty chatty ride. It had been some months since we had met, so as we left Bangalore, we rode pretty slow speaking all the way about all aspects of life. Dattu asked me if needed gloves as the air was pretty chill, he said he had got Himalayan gloves, my head slowly around haha. But as we glided on Tumkur road, my fingers turned numb and hard. Pushing on we reached our favorite breakfast spot, where the sweet couple greeted us with a warm smile and fed some Idlis and Rice bath. (Tejas Shree Laxman Hotel Gmaps- 13.3, 77.2)
TIME: 06:30
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| Tejas Shree Idly stop |
After a nice breakfast, we had some piping hot coffee and discussed with locals about a tipper which had fallen on the road and spilt red mud all over the road, warming our hands at a small campfire that was set beside the road.
TIME: 06:30
Post tea, we hopped on the bike and took off. The sky was bright, but it was still freaking cold. Picked up the pace a bit, and took a left at A. Venkatapura started heading at a slow pace, without using phones and relying on the memory of the photos of the hillock and of course, asking locals for directions.
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| First glimpse we got of the mighty Minchukallu |
We got the first glimpse of the hillock. She looked majestic and truly huge. With the first sun's rays hitting the rock face with still mist shrouding her, whew we had to stop and admire her. A true beauty.
TIME: 07:30
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| Michukallu, here we come! |
MINCHU KALLU BETTA TREK
ASCENT:
The ascent took us 30-45 minutes with a route modification. The trial to the top is very clear. But we parked the bike much before and climbed the rock face to realise there is clear mud trail. Getting lost and finding our way back is ingrained in our DNA, thanks to Deefu, our Trek master. Haha.
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| Clear trail and Ultra-clear Skies. |
The skies opened up clear blue, and there was something about it that is hard to express in words. It was like the mountains were happy to welcome Dattu back. There are four layers of fortifications, pretty much in ruins. One funny thing about the trail is, it is almost like a ghat section, it takes you to and fro across the girth of the hillock, but there are clear arrows.
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| Dattu resting at a beautiful spot |
The hillock looked beautiful. Never had I expected such beauty, and I was surprised I had missed it all these years. The trail reminded us of Skandagiri, Nidagal and Kuntibetta. A muddy trail that runs in between shrubs and grasses. Truly fascinating!
TIME: 08:15
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| The landscape surrounding the place |
TOP:
As we reached the top, we could see the winds gushing and hitting us with all their might, and it was cold. So the wind was trying to make us numb, and the sun was fighting hard to warm us. Haha, we enjoyed the show being the scapegoats of nature. We pulled out some water and sipped on it; it was chilled like a beer. Wow! felt so good. We sat on top and spoke a good while. I asked Dattu if he was ready to head back down, and an uncomfortable sigh was the response. Laughing at it, I said, there looked like another top, asked him if we should explore it, a joyous YES was the response.
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| Dattu, admiring the beautiful landscape |
After sitting at the top for about an hour, discussing school days especially and some of the crazy trips we had been together, we had one last of water and decided it was time to head back. And yeah, btw, from the start till the end, we were the ONLY TWO at the entire place. Made it so magical :)
TIME: 09:30
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| 1440m makes it one of the bigger hillocks |
DESCENT:
The descent took us 45 minutes. We, as usual, cooked up stories, laughed, tripped, got back up, and made our way. In the descent, the sun was up, shining all bright. We kept a slow, steady pace and made our way on the normal trail, and then realised something. On our way up, we had taken another route, so we had to search for the bike, haha. Without much hassle, found the bike resting peacefully below a tree. asking if she was ready to go, we had some more water and had one last look at Minchu Kallu Betta. Thanked her for welcoming us and, more importantly, LETTING US GO BACK.
TIME: 10:30
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| Sayonara, you beauty :) |
RIDE 2: (Minchu Kallu Betta – Dobbaspete – Bangalore)
The ride back was smooth. With the skies lit up, and the bike purring hard, we allowed the bike to take us rather than we putting any efforts. We pulled over at our regular "aunty" shop for some elachi tea, whew, felt great, stretched a little and zoomed into Bangalore. Dropped Dattu home in front of gate and wished him and told him "reach home safely", haha he looked confused. I rode at 45kmph on the ORR listening back to some Goth metal, to put last rites to this wonderful chapter :)
Oh yeah, abused some bad drivers on the way, - A MUST.
TIME: 12:30
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| Thank you for letting us go back |
CONCLUSION:
A new place in the books. Feels very good doing this. And a grand welcome back to the frisbee and cards master Dattu. Minchu Kallu, I must say, hit a different chord. The beauty of the place is surreal. And the trail is easy. Wondering how I had missed this all these years. Never late than never, I guess.
KREW:
Dattu: The endurance machine, all the tough treks were a walk in the park then, and it is still now for this endurance king. And the whole of Minchu Kallu lit up in welcoming back him :)
Sippy: Very happy logging a new place to the record. And moreover felt happy absuing the bad drivers on the road.
Until next time, Ta-da Cia \m/
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| Signing off, Happy Reading, Happy Riding :) |
"Young riders pick a destination, Old school pick a direction \m/."
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