I have been going on several day trips to the Hosur–Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu. The main attraction is the countless hills and forts scattered across the area. Friendly locals and fewer hassles from officials are another reason I enjoy visiting. Recently, Subbu and I explored Jegadevi Fort, one of the twelve forts that make up the Baramahal region.
Information about the fort
The Archaeology Department of Tamil Nadu has put up a board that says:
“This is one among the twelve forts collectively called Bara Mahal. Jegadevaraya, the ruler of Penukonda, triumphed over the Bijapur army during the time of King Rangaraya II. As a reward, Rangaraya gave his daughter in marriage to Jegadevaraya, along with sixty-four families settled at Jegadevi. The fort was then built by Jegadevaraya. This fort dates to the 17th century AD.”
Reaching Jegadevi Fort
The journey to Jegadevi is simple. After crossing Krishnagiri, we drove towards Tiruvannamalai and reached Jegadevi village after about 15 km. The village lies surrounded by many hills. The trek begins from a graveyard right next to the highway. We parked our car at the entrance and started walking.
Very soon, we spotted the board put up by the Archaeology Department. I feel that this is the only work they have done in the area. Still, it marks the start of the trail.
The Trek
The trek can be divided into four phases:
Phase 1: Base to Sri Netrikan Selva Vinayakar Temple
This stretch is the easiest as a well-defined trail exists. We started climbing and soon gained altitude. At one point, steps carved into rocks.
On the way, there is also a Ganesha statue carved into a rock face. It requires a short detour, and it is easy to miss. We overlooked it while climbing up and visited it on the way back. The unique part is that this Ganesha has three eyes!
The trail ended at Sri Netrikan Selva Vinayakar Temple, where we paused to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Phase 2: Climb through the forest
Most people stop at the temple since no trail exists beyond. We continued into the forest, where the climb became steep and tough. The rocks, thick undergrowth, and thorns slowed us down. Since it had rained heavily the night before, the mud was soft and slippery. It looked like no one had taken this path for weeks.
We crossed the first tier of fort walls hidden among the trees, which served as a landmark. Soon after, we found an opening on the left side and stepped onto rocky ground.
Phase 3: Open area to the plateau
This rocky stretch was tricky. The surface was smooth and slippery, forcing me to crawl on all fours for a short part. After that, the rock became rougher and easier to walk on. Here, we came across the first set of Kannada inscriptions.
Climbing further brought us to the second tier of fort walls. Beyond it stretched a small plateau with hills on both sides.
Phase 4: Plateau to the fort top
Both hills had fortifications, but the one on the left looked stronger and climbable. There was no clear route, so we scrambled over the steep rock face. From the plateau, we couldn’t see the fort entrance, only parts of the wall. Still, we trusted our instincts and headed up.
The climb was tough, but we finally reached the wall—and to our surprise, found the gateway into the fort. Our sense of direction had rewarded us well!
At the Top
Two ruined mantapas stood on either side of the entrance. The cannon point lay on a higher section. Since we couldn’t climb directly, we took a roundabout path. On the way, we found a spot to climb the fort wall. It was a perfect resting point with sweeping views of forests and hills.
From here, the fortification of the right hill was clearly visible. Behind it, another strong wall rose on a different hill. We weren’t sure if that belonged to Jegadevi Fort or another fort. Far away, Periamalalai dominated the skyline—a hill we had climbed earlier in this region.
We eventually climbed up to the cannon area. Though there was no cannon, the vantage point was impressive. To our surprise, we realized this wasn’t the highest point! We retraced our steps and climbed higher.
Here, we found another Kannada inscription that mentioned “Jegadevaraya” and “durga.” It was fascinating to see inscriptions still intact after centuries of weather.
At the top, we discovered remains of old foundations. Further down was a large ruined structure, likely a royal residence, now swallowed by the forest. A few scattered ruins were also around, including a water-filled tank that may have been used for storage.
We spent a long time here, soaking in the views and the history. This exploration was absolutely worth it.
Information and Tips
- Attempt this trek only if you are an experienced trekker. Beyond the temple, there is no defined trail and the climb is steep. Do not try it solo.
- Avoid climbing in the rain as the rocks get dangerously slippery.
- Expect about 1 to 1.5 hours of climbing up, and 1 hour coming down.
- Please do not litter. The fort itself is clean only because very few trekkers make it up. Sadly, the temple area is filthy with discarded agarbatti packets and other trash. It is a shame, and I’m sure the deity wouldn’t be pleased with such disrespect.
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