Bala Kondarayana Swamy Temple (Balagondarayanadurgam)

We used to catch a glimpse of this hill whenever we travelled on the Hosur-Krishnagiri highway. Recently, I added it onto my bucket list. With a renewed focus on the hill forts of Hosur and Krishnagiri, a trip was planned to this place.

Travel to the temple

Our journey to the hill was uneventful, with a straightforward drive. At Melumalai village on the Hosur-Krishnagiri highway, we took a deviation. After a couple of kilometers, we took a deviation to the mud road. Although narrow, it was still navigable by car. After a kilometer, we reached the base of the hill, where there was ample parking space and a few vendors selling food and drinks.

Hike to the top

This particular hill was one of the forts that constituted the Baramahal area. Even though there were only a few remains left, we could see the gateway and wall from the base. The steps to the temple began at the base, and we found it easy to navigate the climb as steps were laid throughout the ascent. The climb was steep at certain points, but we took our time and trekked leisurely. At one point, the priest of the temple overtook us!

After a climb of about 40 minutes, we reached an arch. Here, we noticed a deviation that led to a small temple. Later, we continued our journey and arrived at an open area, where we noticed a deviation that led to the temple pond. It was surprising to see water in the pond even during the summer.

A few minutes later, we finally made it to the top. The temple was simple yet beautiful. The priest asked us to wait for a while to perform a pooja, during which we explored the area and watched the priests perform their rituals. We were amazed to see them fetching water from the nearby pond. Though the monkeys on the hill were notorious, they weren’t as troublesome as some of the rowdy apes we’ve seen in other places.

After the pooja was complete, we received Prasada, and it was time to climb down. On our way down, we noticed many people making their way up the hill.

Information and tips

• The temple is open only on Saturdays. Hence, plan accordingly.
• It takes about 45-60 minutes to climb to the temple. A good level of fitness is needed.
• It is better to climb early in the morning as it gets hot during day time.