Being at Skandagiri
Bangalore never seems to be in a dearth of weekend travel destinations. After all when it takes approximately 1.5 hours to commute from anywhere to anywhere, it is no wonder than people leave for an excursion at the first chance they get. Skandagiri is one such destination which doesn't even need a full or an extended weekend, just a day's holiday is perfect. The uniqueness of this destination lies in the fact that it is a nighttime destination so here is how one can plan a perfect night out.
What to visit/do in Skandagiri
Trek. That's what you came here for after all and this is not going to be your run-of-the mill trek but something to be undertaken the shadow of the stars. Park your vehicle at the base of the hills, hire a local guide and run(RUN!!!) through the fields to reach your starting point. There are two ways to reach the summit, the hard one is one to be totally preferred over the 'oldie' trek as it offers spectacular views and you are always free to use the other route while descending.
Post climb, there is a discernible chill in the atmosphere, A jacket or two definitely helps and if you are planning to stay till sunrise, which by all means you definitely should, then it becomes a necessity. To help yourself there are also bonfires available on demand, but be aware the supplies are limited and the sellers frequently run out of them so make sure you capture your share early. The climb is at a time exhilarating and exhausting so a few hours of loitering around while waiting for the sunrise, seems the best thing to do.
The first reddish ray of sunlight seems to justify why the locals say that Skandagiri is the best place to witness it and they seem entirely justified. Stay still, look at the golden rays wash over you tenderly, feel their embrace and kickstart your descent, After all sleep is important too.
Where to eat
Once you are at the top, you are invariably hungry, so don't worry there is a small Maggi shop serving mouthwatering maggi and maggi soup. Oh wait, there might be times when the shop-owner runs out of supplies, so now you may panic.
So...
Ask any one, what is the nearest hill-station to Bangalore and you will receive Nandi Hills as the answer. Post that if you are the asker, you will start receiving the deer in the headlights look. Skandagiri is so easily missed while it is the answer to your queries such as "Kya kare yaar, bore ho raha hai?"
!Skandagiri Tip!
Try scheduling your trek doing the full-moon period as the nightly views are near perfect and you have abundant moonlight during your climb. The parking fee are a tad high but do not fret, it won't be worth mulling over
Reaching Skandagiri
Skandagiri is a measly 60 kms away from Bangalore, towards Nandi Hills easily reachable by road.The road is little tricky after it meanders from the main track so make sure you have Google Maps ready, Nokia maps are upto no good here. Thankfully there would be enough hustle-bustle on the road to ask for directions.
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