Trekking Shivagange

-

Trekking Shivagange hills had been on my mind for a few years. I had trekked this hill during my school days, and i remember in bits. After visiting Nandi Hills a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to head back to the hills to watch the sunrise above the clouds. The night before, I was debating between Shivagange and Thimmappana Betta, but since I woke up early, I decided to head to Shivagange.

We started from home at around 5:00 AM and reached the base of the hills by 6:30 AM, after a 60-kilometer drive. As we reached we spotted only 3-4 other people; it was still dark and peaceful , however there is sufficient lighting along the path. 

The trail is well defined,  though the hill is steep, the railings along the path help with balance. The 4-kilometer trek one way is moderately challenging, so it's important to carry water since the shops and temples aren’t open early.

About 20 minutes into the ascent, we saw the sunrise with the moon still visible on the other side—it was beautiful. I took breaks for pictures and, at times, felt like turning back. But by resting and going at my own pace, I made it to the top in over two hours. Thanks to Guru for patiently waiting through the slow climb. The first sign of nearing the top is the sight of a bell on a rock. It’s mysterious how it was hung there, and history says this is the point from where Queen Shantala accidentally fell off.

The 360-degree view from the top was scenic, the sun was above the clouds, and it was windy. Last year, I had not focused much on physical fitness, so the climb took me longer than usual. We spent about half an hour at the top and started descending as it was a working day. The descend was tricky, with some steep spots where holding onto the railings was essential.

There are many monkeys along the trail, and they can be a nuisance, especially if you’re carrying food or drinks.

On the way back, we stopped by the Veerabhadreshwara Cave Temple and Olakallu Teertha. The cave was calm and peaceful, made it perfect for quiet reflection. It is believed that touching the water at Olakallu Teertha brings good fortune, which added a special significance to the visit. We were the first to enter the temple and offer prayers, it felt like a special blessing.

All in all, I am grateful that I completed the trek despite moments of doubt. It also served as a reminder to prioritize my fitness this year.


























Comments

  1. Nandini20 January 2025 at 10:03

    Blogs like this, where people can imagine the scenes so vividly, stay in their memory as if they’ve actually experienced it.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A step back

-
Image
A year ago, I never would have imagined pausing, reflecting, or even writing a blog. I was  constantly moving from one thing to the next. Whether it was work, planning the next travel, or looking forward to explore new food joints with specific person , I thrived on the rush of it all. This  was what kept me going   , and I rarely stopped to think about slowing down  . Then, out of nowhere, everything came to a halt. For months, it felt like a major setback, as if I was being forced into a pause I didn’t want or need. But despite all my resistance, this unexpected pause turned into one of the most significant moments. Breaking that pattern was not easy. The quiet was overwhelming. When I first faced it, I had no idea what to do with myself.  With time, space, and guidance, things became clearer—not just in terms of relationships and work, but within myself. I realized I had been leaning on those close to me to avoid dealing with my own issues.  This year ga...
Read more

A trip to Assam & Meghalaya

-
Image
This was my first vacation to the Northeast and also first solo trip, a personal experiment to see how I could navigate on my own. Visiting Maa Kamakhya Temple was high on my bucket list. I also knew about Kaziranga National Park from few of my friends who had been there.  I looked for operators offering itineraries for solo women travelers between November 15th and 24th. I chose TripNaari as their plan fit my requirements. I also planned to explore Guwahati on my own for a day before joining fellow travelers.  The trip started on a positive note  with an early morning flight, giving me the chance to get a glimpse of the Himalayan ranges, including Everest. About an hour before landing, the majestic mountains came into view, a sight that made the premium left-side window seat totally worth it! For getting around Guwahati, I had pre-booked a hourly cab through MakeMyTrip at a reasonable price. Thanks to the TripNaari team, our humble and careful trip driver Monik ( Google...
Read more

A 5-Day road trip : Nainital , Jim Corbett & Kainchi Dham

-
Image
It had been five months since my last break, and I felt the need to take a few days off to reset. I had a few options in mind like Nainital, Jim Corbett, Kainchi Dham, or Kasol. Also, was considering the possibility of a family trip to Kashmir. After checking flight prices, weather conditions, and other arrangements, I finally decided on Nainital and Jim Corbett. But Kainchi Dham had been on my mind for over six months, it felt like something I was meant to do.  My 13-year-old nephews joined me on the trip, thanks to them to make it even more enjoyable. I used MakeMyTrip for most of the bookings for flights, hotels, and cabs, and Cleartrip for a one-way flight ticket. There’s a certain joy in planning a trip, especially when everything starts coming together. We took an early morning flight from Bangalore to Ghaziabad and began our five-day road trip from there. Here's the itinerary, along with a few highlights:
Read more