Gudibande Fort Trek, Weekend Trip from Bangalore
Forts are such great reminders of our past, our kings and chieftains, basically all who ruled the public then. Usually built in elevated areas, hills they provided a good view of the invading enemies. Many of them had palaces and temples. The thick walls of the forts amaze me; wonder how they could build them so perfectly in ancient and medieval times.
Gudibande Fort Trek Weekend Destination from Bangalore
Karnataka has good number of forts and some are perfect weekend destinations from Bangalore. Devenahalli Fort and Bangalore Fort are popular but doesn’t require trek. Chitradurga Fort, another weekend destination from Bangalore, requires a bit of trekking.
Gudibande Fort is an exciting weekend destination from Bangalore for all who love conquering fort with their lens! This is an ideal place for all traffic haters of Bangalore, adventure lovers, beginners in hiking and history lovers. Even for the spiritually inclined travelers there is a Shiva Temple at the top of the fort believed to be one of the 108 Jyotirlinga.
Here is more about my self guided trek to Gudibande Fort.
Gudibande Fort Trek Weekend Destination from Bangalore
Distance from Bangalore to Gudibande
Gudibande is north of Bangalore. Total distance to Gudibande from Bangalore is 91kms that can be completed in 1hr 45min without stopping en route Bellary Road – NH44. There is one toll gate as you exit Bangalore. Several restaurants dot the national highway. Brief halts for refueling yourself and for washroom facilities are possible.
Self Guided Trek Up Gudibande Fort
It is a climb uphill right from the start. Initial stretch is laid with concrete steps but as you cross the gates it is a rocky climb. But no part of the trek is strenuous. If you love to explore the forgotten paths here are many! There are caves, ruins of temples, some rooms which seemed like remains of rest places for soldiers. Some seemed like escape routes, or to hide and attack the unsuspecting enemies rushing in. One can recreate scenes of history here!
The ponds at different levels of the fort indicated good planning to cater for water shortages. They also suggest good rain harvesting methods were in practice then. As per records there are 19 of them! Just couldn’t stop admiring the wisdom of our ancestors!
There are 7 gateways. One of them has a collapsible gate; beyond this point the path is mostly rocky, at some points granite slabs are placed as steps to climb. The fresh flowers in the small temples along the way strongly indicated some purohit offered prayers here in the morning.
Guided by a Dog
It would be wrong on my part to say this was a self guided trek. A little white dog kept leading us and showing the way. In fact he led us to 2 wonderful viewpoints and to a hidden pond. After the second gateway he led us all the way to the temple at the top and accompanied us for some distance way back.
The temple at the top was closed after the daily morning prayers. I attempted to peep in through the slit of the closed door when all of a sudden a group of monkeys started making scary sounds, as if trying to shoo me away. The dog looked away. I quickly retraced my path.
Later the dog led us to 2 view points from where we got mesmerizing views of the town below. The skyline was devoid of high rise buildings and the polluted layer of atmosphere which is common in Bangalore. It looked so soothing and pleasing!
History of Gudibande Fort
Not much is known about the complete history of this fort but it has interesting origins. Gudibande Fort was built 400 years ago by a local chieftain Byre Gowda. He looted the rich to help the poor, a Robin Hood of his times.
Tips for Gudibande Fort Trek
- This is a mild trek, ideal for beginners.
- It is a lengthy stretch but not steep.
- Carry your water, sunscreen and cap.
- Total time to complete the trek 3 hours, unless you want to linger on.
- No restaurants around, you can carry eatables with you.
- Please carry back your garbage.
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Save this for an exciting weekend trekking destination from Bangalore. This is a good one day activity with children.
There’s so much history in such places…with loads of energy in the air. Loved your dog-guide too. 🙂
Forts are such great reminders of our past, our kings and chieftains, basically all who ruled the public then.Very true.
I love your hiking guide.
An interesting fort and a fun looking climb.
Enjoy the weekend…
Wow, I must try this place ! Very interesting to hear about the white dog showing you the way…small things like this is what makes our travel memorable!
Hello, it is cool that the dog was a guide for you. I enjoyed the scenery and views of the fort. The temple with flowers is pretty.
Wonderful post. Enjoy your day, have a happy weekend!
Been reading a lot about this fort. Hope to visit sometime soon. Nice post, Indrani.
This is the first time I have read about Gudibande Fort and the trek to it look really adventurous. Truly it will be a perfect weekend getaway from Bangalore. That trails under rocks , secret rooms and ponds on the way will be fun to click.
Did not know this one! A great Sunday activity from Bangalore it seems. I wonder if there are buses to this area too, which will be useful for budget travellers.
I also love exploring forts and imagining how they used to be long ago. Your guide certainly seemed to know where he was going too! And I love the fact that the fort was built by a Robin Hood type.
What a beautiful trek to go on. Exploring the Gudibande fort would be a wonderful adventure there is so much to learn from the remaining ruins! xo – Kam
I love how the dog ended up being your guide to some of the best views. That’s really amazing. A fort built by the Robin Hood of the time…that makes it even more special. Sounds like an accessible hike and a fun day trip. Will keep it mind if we ever visit Bangalore 🙂
How fun that a dog ended up being your guide through the fort! My daughter had a similar experience visiting a castle in Scotland — a dog stayed with her the entire time. Anyway, it looks like a manageable hike to see the Gudibande fort, with some wonderful views as a reward. Plus, it’s historic. Always my kind of day trip!
It was good to read that the Gudibande Fort Trek was a great weekend break from Bangalore. Thanks for sharing that no part of the trek was strenuous. It will mean there is no impediment to exploring all fo the sights. How fun that you had a guide dog.
Sounds like a nice getaway. It’s not that far from Bangalore, only 91 km away, with a lot to see. Another advantage would be not being crowded, as you mentioned.
Being a history buff, I always enjoy sights like Gudibande. Nice walk among the walls full of history, right! And how about that white dog that kept you company, such a cute story. 🙂
Wonderful shots!
I’m a beginner at hiking, but my husband is much better at it. It sounds like Gudibande Fort would have something for both of us. Plus, we love exploring caves and ruins and learning more about history. Sounds like a pretty great weekend trek to me. 🙂
You had me at a fort built by the Robin Hood of the area! Plus if I can find that “tour guide” that showed you around, then exploring the Gudibande Fort sounds even more fun. Love all the natural art and the idea of it being built in the rock! Sometimes the most simple of sites can be some of the coolest adventures!
Great trek to do for a few hours by the looks of it and good to see the fort is still in tact. Think I would do this at sunrise before the temperatures go crazy at lunchtime. 😀 Would love to give this a go if I get to Bangalore. 🙂