Channarayanadurga Trek - Climbing A strategic Fortress

About Place
 
The fort was constructed by a local king (Paalegaara) Chikkappa Gowda, who was ruling the Madhugiri and surrounding areas. It is a hilltop fort near Madhugiri in Tumkur district of Karnataka. There are few temples and old structures inside the fort. This is one of the ideal trekking destinations around Bangalore. Channarayana Durga was strategic fortress during medieval times and many battles were fought for its possession. The fort was originally built by Channapa Gouda in the 17th-century, a feudal lord from Madhugiri. Later the fort fell into the hands of the Marathas. But in subsequent year’s control of the fort changed several times between Marathas and Mysore Wodeyars. The British took over the fort during third Mysore war and then abandoned it. 

GPS Location (Parking Place): This is where the steps to the hills starts > https://goo.gl/maps/WKUs7CrJ8k3GKY8o6

Watch the Video Treklogue to get the feel of the trek -> 
https://youtu.be/WBjZubvCvWQ

What to do?

You can also see the ruins of fort walls & watch towers built by the Palegars on the trek trail. The trek trail starts from the village and come back to same place on return.

Grade : Easy - Moderate

Trail Type: Rocky terrain with moderately steep incline & muddy stretch

Trek Time: 1 hr 30 min for starters, 1 hr for Moderate climbers, and 40 min for expert trekkers.

Journey:

A usual we started rom Bangalore at 4 Am and reached the base of the trek start point, parked the car at the Village katte The climb is pretty decent inclined with monolithic rock initially, however there are missing patches on way gets steep at some places, otherwise a decent climb. For a regular trekkers it should not take more than 1 hr to reach the summit.

There are two climbs you can do, one is follow the entry doors and reach the 3rd door where there is ruins or armory, view point and come back.

Another one is take right from the pond after the first entry door, follow the bund or the fort wall and circle around and go up towards the top of the fort.

Village sign board in Channarayaurga

Sperial view of the pond inside fort

Panoramic view of the pond and watch tower inside Gate1

Temple ruins opposite the pond

View of road leading to village from top

View of other mountains of Madugiri

Fort front with watch tower

View from fort

Armoury at gate3

Village Hamlet view from fort

View of Forthill from top

The Team..!

Thank you

Feedback to skmanju@gmail.com

Note: All the information is for the knowledge purpose only, use necessary precautions and due diligence before using it and attempting to climb. The Blogger is not responsible for uneven events arising from the article.