A Day's Hike to Minchikall Betta

It was a casual weekend and I was checking BMC’s( Bangalore Mountaineering Club) website to see if any new treks have opened up and Bingo here it was – Minchikall Betta trek which was scheduled on Independence day 15^th August. So I signed up for this trek and was super excited for exploring yet another offbeat trek around Bangalore.

We were around a bunch of 20 trekking enthusiasts who were picked up from various designated points in Bangalore by BMC early in the morning. After a pit stop for breakfast we then drove towards Bangalore-Tumakuru Highway.

 

Minchikall Betta is a 3 layered fortified hillock located in Tumakuru district of Karnataka state. Google maps led us to a tiny hamlet called Masanipalya. We were asked to get off from our vehicles here and walk towards the base point of the hill. 

Fondly called by locals as Minchukallu Betta but surprisingly no one knows about the history of this massive hillock. The walk through this village till the Minchikall base is soul soothing as you get to experience the typical countryside vibes as you walk through muddy roads alongside lush green plantations, some canals, a temple and finally the base- point.

 

Here we were asked to wait for a while as we were briefed about the trek difficulty and do’s/don’t’s by our enthusiastic BMC trek lead. Total trek distance is around 4 KM. Please note there is no entry fee for this trek.

 

We then started our steep hike uphill. Initial climb is a tough one for beginners but after every pit stop you take, this hillock will keep you energized with its enchanting views, fresh breeze and motivates you to climb more.

After around 500-600 meters of trek, you will reach the first milestone of the trek -  the first layer of the fortified hill. Here we were asked to wait for others to join in. Meanwhile from here we could see Hoskote Thimmappana Betta and some more tiny hillocks around. You can also spot Hoskote lake from here.

We then started walking ahead. Our trek lead took us to the eastern side of the hillock. 

From here you need to again trek uphill for another 200 meters along the rocky terrain and you will reach the second milestone of the trek.

From second milestone to the third one is little adventurous since there is no path at all literally. The trail is fully covered with 5-6 feet bushes on either sides. In few places you will find some thorny bushes too. Hence you need to watch out your step plus the person ahead of you since you might lose track of the trail. But thanks to our trek lead – we passed this stretch smoothly and finally reached the hill-top.

We then sat here absorbing the views in front of us and kudos to whoever has said "Best Views come after the hardest climb". 

We then climbed to the topmost point of Minchukallu Betta.  

We explored each and every corner of the hillock and it didn’t fail to please us with its enchanting views.

Finally it was lunch time and we were super hungry after the daunting uphill climb. We got slightly down and spotted a tiny Hanuman temple there. We prayed to the deity and had lunch inside this temple premises.

After a good relaxing break, we then started our descent which was pretty fast as always. We were back to the base at around 2:30 PM I guess. We were in dire need of water since the 1 liter bottle all of us had carried with us had exhausted by now. Luckily at the base of the hill, we found an old man who happily offered us fresh water from his well and it was heaven. He even offered us some guava fruits from his garden. We were overwhelmed with his hospitality. After thanking him, we then started walking along the tiny bylanes of Masanipalya village to reach our parking.

 

Please note : There are no hotels or shops in Masanipalya. Hence would suggest to carry food from home. Please carry re-usable cutleries, steel boxes and water bottles. Carry all waste back with you. Humble request not to litter around this area.

 

Finally we set off in our vehicles to Bangalore with the satisfaction of completing yet another offbeat trek around Bangalore. Needless to say, Minchikall Betta rewarded us with spectacular views of the surrounding hillocks, lakes, tiny hamlets and overall a soul satisfying trekking experience that also on Independence day which made it even more memorable.