Makalidurga, Karnataka
Makalidurga Sunrise Trek from Bangalore
- Duration
- 1D / 0N1 day · 0 nights
- Starts from
- Bangalore
- Trip type
- Trekking
An overnight sunrise trek to the old fort ruins on Makalidurga, a granite hill 60 km from Bangalore. Do Enquiry Before booking-Limited Gov Slots .
- Trekking
- Heights
- Nature
- Culture
- Adventure
Dates
- 31 Oct 20261 day₹1,599
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- 7 Nov 20261 day₹1,599
- 14 Nov 20261 day₹1,599
- 21 Nov 20261 day₹1,599
- 28 Nov 20261 day₹1,599
- 5 Dec 20261 day₹1,599
- 12 Dec 20261 day₹1,599
- 19 Dec 20261 day₹1,599
- 26 Dec 20261 day₹1,599
- 2 Jan 20271 day₹1,599
- 9 Jan 20271 day₹1,599
- 16 Jan 20271 day₹1,599
- 23 Jan 20271 day₹1,599
- 30 Jan 20271 day₹1,599
- 6 Feb 20271 day₹1,599
Prices are per person.
The trip
Makalidurga is a granite hill about 60 km from Bangalore, and its trail begins somewhere few treks do: right beside a railway line. Local legend says the sage Markandeya meditated here and that King Makaliraya kept his fort and granary on the summit. Weathered fort walls still ring the top, and a small temple to Makali Malleshwara sits among the ruins.
We leave Bangalore late on Saturday night in a non-AC push-back vehicle, reach the base in the early hours and rest before starting the climb at 5:30 AM. The 5 km round trip mixes easy dirt paths with rocky, boulder-studded stretches through dry scrub and open meadow, and tops out at about 4,429 ft as the light comes up. From the summit the hills roll away in every direction, with a lake below whose outline is often compared to the map of South America.
After time on top to explore the ruins and take photos, we descend to the base by about 8:30 AM, stop in the local town for a South Indian breakfast, and are back in Bangalore by around noon on Sunday.
The trek is rated easy to moderate. Anyone with basic fitness can do it, but a few steep, rocky sections reward some preparation. A trained trek leader and a local guide stay with the group throughout, and the whole outing is alcohol- and smoke-free.
Highlights
Day 1 · 6:30 AMSunrise & fort ruins at the summit
Day by day
Overnight Departure & Makalidurga Sunrise Trek
Pickups start at 11:00 PM on Saturday at HSR Layout and run through Domlur, Cubbon Park, Mekhri Circle and Hebbal (Esteem Mall) until about 12:45 AM, so please have dinner before boarding. We drive about 60 km overnight to the base, rest, and start climbing at 5:30 AM to reach the fort ruins around sunrise. After descending by 8:30 AM we stop for breakfast in the local town and are back in Bangalore by about 12 noon on Sunday.
- 11:00 PMPickup & overnight drive from BangaloreFirst pickup at New Udupi Grand, HSR Layout at 11:00 PM, then Domlur, Cubbon Park, Mekhri Circle and Esteem Mall by 12:45 AM. Non-AC push-back vehicle, about 60 km.
- 3:00 AMReach the base & restReach the Makalidurga base in the early hours and rest in the vehicle before the climb. No overnight stay is included.
- 5:30 AMStart the Makalidurga trekClimb with the trek leader and a local guide on a 5 km round-trip trail of dirt paths and rocky, boulder-studded stretches through dry scrub and meadow.
- 6:30 AMSunrise & fort ruins at the summit (a highlight)Watch the sun come up from about 4,429 ft, explore the old fort walls and the small Makali Malleshwara temple, and look out over the lake below.
- 7:30 AMDescend to the baseRetrace the trail down the hill and regroup at the base by about 8:30 AM.
- 9:00 AMBreakfast in the local townA South Indian breakfast at a local eatery near the base. Included in the package.
- 10:00 AMDrive back to BangaloreReturn in the same vehicle, reaching Bangalore by about 12 noon.
What’s included
4 items · extras
Gear & extras, 4 items
- Trained outdoor trek leader and a local guide
- Breakfast after the trek
- Forest Department trek permits
- Round-trip non-AC transport from Bangalore with push-back seats
Not included, 4 items
- GST @ 5%
- Any meals beyond the breakfast listed
- Insurance of any kind (health, medical, life and accidental)
- Personal expenses of any kind
Questions about this trip
What should I carry?
A soft copy of your Aadhaar or Voter ID (mandatory for the forest permits), a warm layer or fleece for the pre-dawn summit, a cap and sunscreen, a small backpack, a compact raincoat or bag cover, trekking shoes with good grip, energy bars and two 1-litre water bottles. Please have dinner before you board.
How hard is the trek?
It is rated easy to moderate: a 5 km round trip to about 4,429 ft, mostly on easy dirt paths with a few steep, rocky stretches. Anyone with basic fitness can do it, and the trek leader sets a steady pace with breaks along the way.
Is there a stay? Where do we rest before the trek?
No stay is included. We travel overnight, reach the base in the early hours and rest in the vehicle before the 5:30 AM start. Groups of 12 or fewer travel in a tempo traveller and larger groups in a mini-bus, both non-AC with push-back seats.
Is it safe to travel with strangers?
Yes. Every batch has a trained trek leader and a local guide, pickups are at busy public points, and most groups are a mix of solo travellers, friends and first-timers. Women travelling solo join these treks regularly.
Are there any rules on the trek?
No alcohol, intoxicants or smoking at any point during the journey or the trek. Carry back all your litter, as we leave no trace on the trail. Breakfast is vegetarian. Timings are estimates and can shift with traffic or weather.
Read before you go
- Bandaje Falls Trek 2026: Route, Rules, Cost from BangaloreTravel Guide · 13 min read
- Karnataka Trek Online Booking 2026: Permits and RulesTravel Guide · 10 min read
- Travel Buddies in Bangalore: Find Your Weekend Crew (2026)City Guide · 13 min read
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