Shivaganga Hill Trekking

Hi Readers,

I am Chetan T.R from Bangalore. This is my first blog and i felt a need to write this blog because many of my friends and colleagues do not have information on the places in and around Bangalore for a day trip. Yes, I know recently there are lots of websites, travel guides and tours and travels providing facilities and yet i feel many don't provide full information. However, in this blog i am sharing my experience to you all, hope it is useful to some. 

I am not much of a writer, so please bear with the mistakes.

I have developed an interest in One-Day trips since my Graduation days. Since my dad was strict and never allowed me going to trips, i got accustomed to One-Day trips and Yes, it is the best alternative and later it has been a stress buster during my Career days. 

Now coming back to my trek:

Shivagange is a mountain peak with a height of 1368 meters and Hindu pilgrimage center located near Dobbaspet, in Bangalore Rural district India. It is situated 8 km from the town of Tumkur and 54 km from Bangalore. The sacred mountain is shaped as a Shivalingam and a spring flows near locally called "Ganga", thereby by giving the place its name. It is also known as Dakshina Kashi (Kashi of the South) and place is having various temples such as Gangadhareshwara temple, Olakal Teertha, Nandi Statue, Patalagange. 

Location

My suggestion for you all, after my trekking experience is: Please start your trip early morning.

By 6 am if you start from central Bangalore and ride even at 60-70 Kms/hr, you can reach within 60mins. Shivagange Hill is located off the National Highway 4 (NH4),Take left turn from Dabaspete and you have ride for 13 Kms on the country roads.

On the way, you can grab a bite of idly in any of the Roadside small hotels, (try Begur). 

Once you reach Shivagange, base of the hill, you can find some places which you can wander about after trekking. There are two Kalyani's (Pond) diagonally opposite to the hill entrance.  One diagonally left to the left and other to the right of the entrance. The right one also has temple with different Shiva lIngas surrounding the Pond.

The First place you can see after you start climbing is a left turn and leads you to Pathala Gange and Veerabhadreshwara temple. The view is magnificiant. You have to go down by 20 steep steps in darkness and surrounded by rock boulders to see the river flowing from the top.

P.S: Please beware of monkeys.
 

After Pathalaganage, you will be visiting the Shiva Temple. 

There is one interesting fact of this temple: the priest applies Ghee on Shivling and it turns to butter again. I was fascinated to see for the first time. I had goosebumps allover. Inside you can also see a small entrance to the Tunnel which leads to Bangalore and built during the reign of the King Kempegowda, Yes the King who built Bangalore also. The exit can be found in Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Bangalore.

I know you are already tired of the Trek but beware you have not climbed 25% of the hill. You can find pit stops in between with snacks, cool-drinks and lemon juices etc which will refresh you.

The next stop is after 30 - 45 mins of climbing, ie., Olakallu theertha. (Olakallu was an tool used to grind) Here u can find a temple inside the huge cave and when you start pradakshina, you will find a small hole called Olakallu theertha and there is a belief that once you put your hand inside the hole you will get water if one has done good karmas. But it is actually a river rising from top of the hill flows all the way down and continues ahead. So one gets water based on the river flow.

Now the actual trek begins and you should be happy there are steps and railings for support. But the trek is 45 - 55 degree steep and very stressful. If you go in a group then you can climb easily chatting with friends. One has to climb for another hour or so to reach the Top. In between you can see statues of Shiva and Parvathi. 

In between you can see Nandi Statue where you have to climb some steps n will b standing in a very  place. 

After Nandi statue you have reach the top of the mountain and you find one more Shiva temple. The view is awesome.

There is an ancient story attached Shivaganga Hills, Once queen shanatala of Ganga Dynasty had a quarrel with King and committed suicide and that point is called as Shantala Drop.

Hope you all enjoy the Trek. Happy Trekking and Cheers ;)