HUTRIDURGA TREK-2022

Hutridurga TREK-2022

On Sunday, the 24th July 2022, we friends of Secretariat [SplCABGANG] drove towards Kunigal at around 8:00AM. and it is place of our colleague Sri Gangadhar, who is the resident of Doddapalya, near Kammanahalli, visited his house and his farm and a nice breakfast and we proceeded towards Hutridurga [ Uttari Betta ]

Hutridurga is situated 65km from Bangalore and 15km from Kunigal. It is located off Kunigal-Magadi state highway (SH94). Google maps and helpful locals will be able to guide you to the base. There is a designated parking area at the base, near the village temple. Villagers especially the priest of the temple  will collect a nominal fee. 

Most people trek this hill fort in the night or at dawn to view the sunrise. By the time we reached, many were heading back after having watched the sunrise. The place is safe for night treks.

Hutridurga trek is an easy trek and can be completed within an hour. Most of the trail has rock-cut steps. The first stop, is at Shankeshwara temple. There is a small pond by the temple. We relaxed there for a while. The route leading to summit was marked. Some places were steep but nicely built stairs carved on the hills helped, some places without any stairs and you will have to negotiate thorny bushes along the way. With each elevation we could see wall fortification.

More about Hutridurga

Hutridurga, also known as Uttari Betta is a fortified hill in the south-east of Kunigal taluk, rising to 3708 feet above the sea level that is located 15km south-easterly to Kunigal, the Taluk centre. Hutridurga is situated about 65 km west of Bengaluru in the state of Karnataka, in Kunigal taluk, Tumakuru district. It is situated off the Kunigal-Magadi state highway (SH94), at a distance of about 7 km from it and 10 km from the Anchepalya industrial area on the Bengaluru-Mangalore National Highway (India) - NH48 near Kunigal.

Hutridurga was built by Kempegowda in the 16th century. Ruined fortifications are still visible on the two hillocks surrounding the village. Historically, Huthridurga Fort was the military bastion of Tipu Sultan against British, which was conquered by the latter in 1791. It is believed to have been a seven tiered fort and is considered one among the nine "Durgas" (fortified hills) around Bengaluru ("Nava Durgas"). It has a small temple dedicated to Shiva known as the Shankareshwara temple, a Nandi idol on the top of the hill and an Anjaneya temple, midway. Aadi Narayanaswamy and Veerabhadra temples are situated in the village. The Pooja to the deity is done only on Mondays and Fridays. It saw use as a center of administration during summer and there are structures that housed the war commander, soldiers and a stone umbrella that is said to have been used by Kempegowda himself.

The hill fort has eight gateways from the foot to the summit in addition to several outer gates. On the summit known as Sankarakumbhi is situated a small Shankareshwara temple with a spring called Dodda done or big spring in front of it. From the summit, we get an extensive view of the surrounding landscape dotted by a large number of tanks and hills. Hutridurga derives its name from Hutri, a village situated about 3 km from the foot of the hill. The village immediately at the foot of the hill is known as Santhepet and that situated on the first elevation as Hutridurga. The Hutridurga village has several temples of Adinarayana, Veerabhadra and Anjaneya etc.

It is a day hike for enthusiasts showcasing the nature at its best and is located close to the state capital of Karnataka, Bengaluru. Wildlife includes a diversity of insects, birds and mammals, including bear, leopard and wild boar. As available infrastructure is basic, there have been discussions about initiating work to build a museum to showcase Kempegowda particularly as it is the only place that has monuments connected personally to the founder of Bengaluru There have also been demands to improve public transport services to this hobli cum village. the whole hike is 5 km in distance and can be completed by beginners

Egyptian vulture

The Egyptian vulture, also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is a small Old World vulture and the only member of the genus Neophron. It is widely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to India

Egyptian vultures feed mainly on carrion but are opportunistic and will prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles

Endangered (IUCN 3.1)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:         Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Near Hutridurga is the village of Sondalagere, home to the Kambada Narasimha Swamy (Pillar Narasimha Swamy) temple. The village is situated on Kunigal - Magadi road via Kempanahalli at a distance of 12 km from Kunigal town and connected by bus service. The village has views of Hutidurga hill.

After descending had a nice Lunch at Doddapalya, left towards Bangalore by 5 pm, I thank Sri Gangadhar, for the Nice Breakfast and Lunch at his place

PANORAMA VIEWS

-- Yeshwanthpur [Bangalore]  to  to Johnson Tile Factory via Nelamangala on Kunigal Road- 60 Kms

-- Johnson Tiles Factory to Hutridurga - 15 Kms approx

-- Bangalore to Hutridurga around 75 kms 1 1/2 hrs drive 

Even when time and distance get in the way, we always pick up right where we left off. That’s true friendship. Thank you so much for taking the time to reconnect with us - Shashi Bhai

Thank you for making our trip absolute perfection! This trip was amazing because of Shashi Bro.”

Thank you for the fun times and incredible memories. We will cherish them forever.”

“It was wonderful visiting with all of SplGang Guys.  Each moment was such a joy, and I’m looking forward to the next time we see each other. Thank you so much! Shashi Bhai and Gangadharji”

Thank you, thank you, thank you for going out of your way to meet up with us of all  bad guys ,

Seeing you brightened our day and Our Spl trip. I hope to see you again soon.”

With Regards and lot of Love to all Group Members

Sateesh