Kabbaladurga Trek
Bengaluru South, formerly Ramanagara (Kanakapura taluk), Karnataka
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- Max altitude
- 1,067 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 2.8 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short, about 1.1 km each way, but most of the climb is on steep bare granite (45 to nearly 80 degrees in places) using shallow carved footholds, fixed rebar handholds and chains; the descent is the hardest part and the rock turns slippery when wet.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Kabbalu village → Kabbalu village (via Kabbaladurga fort summit)
730 m → 1,067 m → 730 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 · Kabbalu (Kabbal) village
at 730 mLoading forecast…
High point · Kabbaladurga fort summit (Kabbalamma temple)
at 1,067 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
- Kabbalu (Kabbal) village (nearest town: Kanakapura)
- Nearest railway
- Channapatna (about 28-30 km via Sathanur)
- Nearest airport
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
- By road
- Bengaluru (about 80-90 km via Kanakapura Road to Kanakapura, then towards Sathanur and right onto Kabbalu Road); Bengaluru via Mysore Road (Bidadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna, then left to Sathanur and Kabbalu, about 28 km from Channapatna); Sathanur (6 km by auto-rickshaw; KSRTC buses from Bengaluru towards Malavalli or Kollegala stop at Sathanur)
- 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
₹400–1,200
With an operator
₹1,250–1,300
Per person, ex-Bengaluru, day trip. Guided prices seen October 2026: Muddie Trails sunrise trek from ₹1,250 (listed down from ₹1,700); Treks and Trails India (treksandtrails.org, not related to this site) ₹1,300 with non-AC transport, breakfast and packed lunch. BMC Adventures runs sunrise and camping trips with price on request plus GST. Self-guided is an estimate: KSRTC bus Bengaluru-Sathanur and back, an auto-rickshaw to Kabbalu (6 km) and food, or a shared car's fuel.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 18
Hot days in Mar: start at first light and carry extra water and ORS.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Not confirmed recently; a 2003 trip report found mobile signal only at the summit temple. Expect patchy coverage on the climb.
- Last ATM
- Kanakapura town (carry cash; Kabbalu is a small village)
- Nearest hospital
- Community Health Centre, Sathanur (6 km) for first care; Government General Hospital, Kanakapura for serious cases
- Water
- None on the trail. The rain-fed rock pond on the summit is not for drinking. Carry at least 2 litres per person.
Highlights
- Hands-on climb up a granite monolith on rock-cut footholds, steel-railed stairs and fixed chains
- Ruins of Kabbaladurga, one of the hill forts around Bengaluru, used under Mysore rulers and Haidar Ali as a prison; Murari Rao Ghorpade of Gooty was held here
- Darshan at the small Kabbalamma Devi temple on the summit, a living place of pilgrimage where devotees still climb, many of them barefoot
- Rain-fed rock pond on the flat summit and a 360° view over Kanakapura's rocky hills and farmland, with sunrise from the top
Risks
- Steep, exposed granite with long drops and nothing to break a fall in places; good-grip shoes are essential and the descent needs the most care. Avoid the climb in rain or right after it, when the rock is slippery.
- No shade or water on most of the climb and the rock heats up fast; start before sunrise and avoid summer afternoons.
- Forest status: Indiahikes (updated September 2026) says no permit or booking is needed, but one operator lists 'permission from Forest Dept.' in its package. After a fatal leopard attack, a Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden circular of 11 May 2026 suspended trekking on forest routes in leopard, tiger, elephant and bear areas until each is certified safe; check locally at Kabbalu or the Kanakapura forest range before a self-guided climb.
- The trail is narrow and shared with pilgrims, many climbing barefoot; step aside and stay on the marked route. The parking near the base is unmonitored.
Know before you go
Questions
Is a permit needed for the Kabbaladurga trek?
Indiahikes (updated September 2026) says no forest permit or advance booking is needed for a day trek and you can start directly from Kabbalu village, carrying a photo ID. Kabbaladurga is not on the Karnataka Forest Department's Aranya Vihaara booking list. Because a statewide circular in May 2026 suspended some forest treks, check locally for any temporary restriction before you go.
How long and how hard is the Kabbaladurga trek?
Indiahikes documents about 1.1 km each way (2.5 km both ways) and Muddie Trails says 3 km; some operators quote 5-6 km including the village approach. The ascent takes 60-90 minutes and the whole trek 3-4 hours. It is rated moderate because of steep granite slabs with carved footholds, handholds and chains, not because of distance.
Can beginners do Kabbaladurga?
Fit beginners can, according to Indiahikes and Muddie Trails, but it is a step up from a forest walk: several sections need hands on smooth inclined rock, and the descent needs extra care, especially when the rock is wet.
What is the best time for Kabbaladurga, and can it be done at night?
October to March is best (10-25 °C). Indiahikes says it can be done throughout the year and Muddie Trails says it can be trekked in all seasons except peak summer afternoons; monsoon rain makes the rock slippery and summer afternoons are very hot. Sunrise treks are popular: operators reach the base around 3-4 am and climb in the dark with headlamps.
How do I reach Kabbaladurga from Bengaluru?
Drive about 80-90 km (around 2 hours) via Kanakapura Road and Sathanur to Kabbalu village. By bus, take a KSRTC bus towards Malavalli or Kollegala, get off at Sathanur, and take an auto-rickshaw 6 km to Kabbalu.
Is there water or food on the trail?
No. There are no food stalls or drinking-water sources on the trail and no washroom at the base. Carry at least 2 litres of water and snacks; the summit pond is not drinkable.
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: Bengaluru South, formerly Ramanagara (Kanakapura taluk)Karnataka
- Nearest hospital
- Community Health Centre, Sathanur (6 km) for first care; Government General Hospital, Kanakapura for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Kanakapura town (carry cash; Kabbalu is a small village)
- Phone network
- Not confirmed recently; a 2003 trip report found mobile signal only at the summit temple. Expect patchy coverage on the climb.
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 Kabbaladurga
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Kabbaladurga Trek: Complete DIY Guide from Bengaluru — Indiahikes
- 10 Best treks around Bangalore — Muddie Trails
- Kabbaladurga Sunrise Trek — Muddie Trails
- KabbalaDurga Trek from Bangalore — Treks and Trails India (treksandtrails.org)
- Camping & Trekking in Kabbaladurga — BMC Adventures (Bangalore Mountaineering Club)
- Trip to Kabbal Durga and Bandalli - Hemant Murthy — Dreamroutes (trip report)
- Kabbaldurga — Wikipedia
Photos: solarisgirl / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0; solarisgirl / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0; solarisgirl / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
