Ambaji Durga Trek
Chikkaballapur, Karnataka
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 1,340 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 8.5 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
About 8.5 km return from Konappalli with roughly 350 m of climbing in 2-3 hours up. The lower half has no marked path through fields and tall grass; the upper kilometre is rock-cut steps and boulders that turn slippery when wet, with exposed edges near the top.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Konappalli → Konappalli (via Durga temple and Ambaji Durga summit)
990 m → 1,340 m → 990 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Konappalli
at 990 mLoading forecast…
High point · Ambaji Durga summit (fort ruins)
at 1,340 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Konappalli (nearest town: Chintamani)
- Nearest railway
- Chintamani (local trains); KSR Bengaluru for main-line trains
- Nearest airport
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
- By road
- Bengaluru (about 70-75 km on the Bengaluru-Chintamani road, NH 75 side, via Hoskote or Devanahalli); Chintamani bus stand (about 4-5 km by shared or private auto to the hill base); Kaiwara (a few km south; Kaiwara Betta is the neighbouring trek)
- Drive
- About 2 h from Bengaluru
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹400–1,000
With an operator
₹1,297–1,362
Per person, ex-Bengaluru, day trip. Guided price: BMC Adventures (Bangalore Mountaineering Club) lists ₹1,297 + GST (non-AC transport, breakfast, packed lunch, instructor) on its booking page, accessed Oct 2026; we found only this one operator's current price. Self-guided is an estimate: KSRTC bus Bengaluru-Chintamani and back, an auto to the hill base, and food. No entry fee was confirmed from an official source.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link- Ad · affiliate link
Store buttons open a search on that store, not a product we picked. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Photos show the kind of item, not a specific product. Affiliate disclosure
Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 19
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Indiahikes reports good Airtel, Jio and Vodafone signal along the whole trail.
- Last ATM
- Chintamani town, about 4 km away; none at the base
- Nearest hospital
- Chintamani (about 4 km) for first care; Bengaluru hospitals for serious cases
- Water
- No water on the trail. The Durga temple at the midpoint serves free food (annadana) and may spare water, but the area is dry: carry at least 2 litres. A few shops across the highway from the Konappalli start sell packaged water and snacks.
Highlights
- Ruined hill fort on the summit, fortified by local Palegars, later rebuilt under Tipu Sultan and taken by the British, with broken gateways, walls and water tanks
- Durga temple and annadana centre at mid-height, then rock-cut steps to a small Hanuman (Anjaneya) temple on the hill
- Wide views over Chintamani, Kaiwara and the plateau, with Kaiwara Betta, Skandagiri and Nandi Hills in sight on clear days
- Dry Deccan scrub forest and grassland on the lower trail, with butterflies, agama lizards and grassland birds
Risks
- The lower trail from Konappalli has no marked path through fields, tall grass and scrub; use a GPX track or ask villagers for the way to the fort.
- Granite boulders and steps above the Durga temple are slippery after rain; keep well away from the cliff edges on the exposed upper section.
- Little shade above the temple: March-June is hot (Indiahikes says 2-3 °C warmer than Bengaluru), so start early and carry water.
- Troops of monkeys on the boulder section snatch food; keep it packed away.
- Access has changed before: in 2013 a board at the base barred entry to the fort and temple staff turned trekkers back; the restriction was later reported lifted. Camping on the hill is not allowed (forest department).
- This hill is not listed on the Karnataka Forest Department's Aranya Vihaara booking portal (Oct 2026). On 11 May 2026 the Chief Wildlife Warden suspended trekking on forest trails in leopard, tiger, elephant and bear areas until each is certified safe; ask at the Durga temple or the Chintamani forest office whether the route is open before you go.
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need a permit for the Ambaji Durga trek?
Indiahikes (2022) says no permission is needed and that camping on the hill is not allowed. The hill is not on the Aranya Vihaara booking portal, but after the May 2026 forest-trail suspension in Karnataka, check locally at the temple or Chintamani forest office before you start.
Is Ambaji Durga good for beginners and families?
Yes. Indiahikes rates it easy and suitable for all ages. Families can drive to the Durga temple at mid-height and walk only the last kilometre of steps and boulders to the top; BMC Adventures takes children from 6 years.
How long is the trek?
About 8.5 km return from Konappalli at the foot of the hill (3.5 km to the Durga temple, then about 1 km to the top), 2-3 hours up. BMC Adventures runs a shorter 6 km round trip. From the Durga temple parking it is only about 1 km each way.
How do I reach Ambaji Durga from Bengaluru by bus?
Take any bus from Majestic towards Andhra Pradesh that stops at Chintamani. From Chintamani bus stand a shared or private auto covers the 4-5 km to the base of the hill.
Is there food and water on the trail?
The Durga temple at the midpoint serves free food (annadana). There is no reliable water on the hill, so carry at least 2 litres; small shops near the start sell packaged water.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: ChikkaballapurKarnataka
- Nearest hospital
- Chintamani (about 4 km) for first care; Bengaluru hospitals for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Chintamani town, about 4 km away; none at the base
- Phone network
- Indiahikes reports good Airtel, Jio and Vodafone signal along the whole trail.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Ambaji Durga
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Ambaji Durga look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- The Complete Guide to Ambaji Durga Trek — Indiahikes
- Ambaji Durga Day Trek | Bangalore Mountaineering Club — BMC Adventures
- Ambajidurga/Chintamani Fort — Team G Square
- Ambaji Durga (natural=peak) and Ambajidurga Fort ruins (way 534768463) — OpenStreetMap
Photos: Vinayanand94, CC BY-SA 4.0; Vinayanand94, CC BY-SA 4.0
