Maharajakadai is a huge fort hill near Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu. Unlike other forts in the region, it’s not very famous, and most visitors are locals. Recently, Subbu and I explored this place.
Our drive to the base of the hill was smooth. We stopped for breakfast at Murugan Idli Shop, which is quite popular. Even though it was just a regular weekend, we had to wait 15 minutes for a seat. But the food was worth it!
Just before the Krishnagiri toll, we took a turn towards the collector’s office. That area looked quite different from its surroundings. If all parts of India had those standards, our country would look amazing!
At Maharajakadai village
We reached Maharajakadai village and drove through its narrow streets to Muniyappa Swamy Temple, on the edge of the village. From there, we could see the giant hill across the fields. It was clear we had a long trek ahead.
A villager warned us about elephants in the area and told us to be careful. We didn’t expect to hear about elephants here! When a village dog decided to join us, we felt safer, hoping it would alert us to any wild animals. I remembered a similar encounter near Bandipur.
The Trek: Four Sections
1) Climb to the First Fort Wall
We started by walking through fields, then climbed a short flight of steps. Soon, we entered a narrow forest path. We saw some old elephant droppings, but they were dry. That was a relief. If it was fresh, we would have considered going back.
Reaching the first tier of the fort walls, we took a break to enjoy the view and click some photos.
2) Walking in the Forest
This part of the trek was easy, through the forest with little change in height. Soon, we stood at the base of a steep rock face. We could see handrails higher up.
3) Climbing the Steep Rock Face
This was the toughest part. We crossed some big boulders to reach the handrails, with some steps along the way. Without the handrails, this section would have been risky. It was a long, slow climb, but the cloudy, windy weather helped. Even then, it felt endless.
4) Final Stretch to the Top
After the handrails, we could finally see the temple at the fort’s peak, but it was still some distance away. The path was not too steep, except for one rocky stretch with carved steps. We crossed the second tier of fort walls, then had to walk around to find the trail to the top.
At the Top
We reached the temple, a peaceful spot to rest. From there, we could see the ruins of the old fort—our next stop.
Trees had grown through most of the ruins, and nature seemed to be taking over. We found a carving of Lord Anjaneya on the wall. We spent some time wandering around, amazed by how big the fort was.
Going Down
The way back down was much faster but tough on our knees, especially on the rocky stretches. We lost our way a couple of times in the open area at the top, but arrow marks on the rocks helped us find our way.
Tips and Information
- Maharajakadai is about 120 km from Bengaluru.
- There is enough parking space near the temple.
- The trek to the top takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. We took 1 hour 45 minutes up and 1 hour down.
- Carry enough water. We took one litre each but ran short on the way back, even though it was cloudy.
- Watch out for elephants! Avoid trekking if they have been spotted in the area.
rupadhye
Fascinating and friendly narration…. loved it
aravindgj
Thank you.