Maklidurga Trek

Maklidurga Trek

One of the most economical trek I have ever been! Thanks to Indian railways for cheapest fare between any places!

Maklidurga is around 60 Kms from Bangalore and provides not so great but a decent trekking experience. The view is just normal if you have been to treks around Bangalore earlier. If you go by train(I would suggest you to go by train. In less than 150 rs you will be done with your one day outing including the expenses of chips and coca cola you buy! Yes sounds crazy but it really does.)

Its about 1.5 hrs journey from Bangalore to Maklidurga station in train. Trek includes 2 kms walk in railway track till the base of Maklidurga. Its little confusing in the beginning since there is no clear marking or path towards the peak. If you are visiting for the first time and in confusion, then better ask some localities or any other group for the route. We missed it and hence had walked extra 2 miles in hot sun.!

Overall a decent get away near Bangalore if you love trekking and most importantly if its a month end and you have an empty pocket but your heart is not letting you cover the blanket and sleep on a particular weekend, then this is the place which would solve your purpose.!

How to reach?

By Train - Train starts from Yashwanthpur station at about 8.00am. Destination is Maklidurga railway station. Walk towards Maklidurga hill for 2 Kms and you are at the base of Maklidurga.

Return train is available at 4.30. (However, the day we went train had come only at 5.45..)

If you happen to trek back to base early, I would suggest to return by road since there is no point in waiting for train for too long.

Best Time - I had been there during summer. Not much forest around so all would change with season is the weather only and not scenery. Would be better during monsoon but definitely not great even during monsoon.

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Amboli and Swapnaveil

Swapnaveil -

 A difficult to reach place, but all good things in life are not easy to obtain and so is this heaven.

No proper approach road, no proper sign boards leading to the place but an excellent show arranged for you by nature. (But only for a limited period in a year. i.e. during monsoon - from July - October)

What do you get to see in Swapnaveil?

A few small falls and an excellent view of forest/Ghat section from a cliff. We visited the place during monsoon and it was an out of the world experience here.

Most of the people here do not really know the place. Even the taxi driver did not know this place and the place was suggested to me by a friend of mine. A must visit kind of place but only if you are here during monsoon.

Amboli -

A very famous tourist attraction in Karnataka - Maharashtra border area. A nice place to take get refreshed under falls. Even if you are not a water lover, you will love to see the falls in a scenic foreground.

Mist is what adds to the beauty of both the places.

Can plan as given below -

1 - Visit Amboli and feel refreshed in the falls, have a nature watch at all nature watch spots near by.

2 - Visit Hiranyakeshi (A small cave which gives birth to a river. Nice one to visit once since its nearby)

3 - Visit Swapnaveil

4 - Visit Thillari falls if time permits (I have not visited the place since we did not have time to visit.)

How to reach?

Hiring a taxi or own vehicle are the only 2 options if you want to cover all the above places.

(While hiring taxi, please confirm with the taxi guys about the Maharastra state tax to be paid. Some arrange taxi without any extra charges so do confirm before hand. )

Public transport is available to Amboli but not so frequent. No public transport available to Thillari and Swapnaveil.

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