Thattakal Fort Trek – A Tough Climb

Thattakal Fort is one of the historic “Baramahal” forts in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. Built on a steep, forest-covered hill, it is often considered one of the toughest forts to explore in this region. What makes it even more interesting is that, despite years of neglect, a large part of the fortification is still intact.

The Baramahal region — literally meaning “twelve palaces” or “twelve forts” — was once an important strategic zone that changed hands between the Vijayanagara rulers, local Nayaks, the Marathas, Mysore rulers like Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, and later the British. Many hill forts here, including Thattakal, were mainly built for surveillance and defence.

Planning the Trek

Even though I have been exploring the Krishnagiri area quite actively in recent years, I had not seriously considered Thattakal Fort. The difficulty level kept pushing it down my list. Meanwhile, I covered most of the easier hill forts in the region. Eventually, curiosity won.

My regular trekking partner Subbu was ready, and we planned the trek for the first week of March. Summer had already set in, so we decided to start a bit early. We reached the base around 8:45 AM — not exactly an early start, but decent by our standards.

Choosing the Right Trail

The most important decision comes right at the start of the trek. Three trails diverge from the base.

• The rightmost trail is said to be very challenging.
• I am not sure where the left trail leads.
• The centre trail is the one most trekkers usually take — and that is what we chose.

The first 30 minutes were straightforward. The path was clear and we steadily gained altitude. From one point, we could clearly see Periyamalai, a peak we had climbed the previous year.

Losing the Way

Somewhere midway, things became confusing. A small “deviation” was not clearly visible and we ended up entering a dense bushy patch. We continued for some time but soon realised we were off route when we reached an impossible rocky slope.

We tried another direction. It felt promising when we spotted a plastic bottle and even an orange peel — signs that someone had walked this way before. But that too ended in a dead end. Clearly, we were not the first to get lost here.

Finally, we retraced our steps to the point where we suspected the mistake had happened. After some searching, we found a faint trail that climbed upwards.

Reaching the Fort

As we continued, we began crossing a few important landmarks:

• A clear rocky opening that offers the first good view of the fort
• A massive rock overhang that you need to walk under
• And finally, the fort wall itself

Soon, we reached the first gate of Thattakal Fort.

 

This is the only point where a short rock scramble is required. It was slightly tricky but manageable. Once inside, we started exploring — and we were genuinely surprised.

Though in ruins, many sections of the fort walls, gateways, and pathways are still intact. The location itself explains its purpose. From the top, you get commanding views of the surrounding forests and plains — perfect for watching enemy movements in the past.

 

Walking along the edges of the fort, we could not help but admire the builders. Constructing defensive structures on such a steep and remote hill nearly 400 years ago must have been an incredible engineering challenge.

The Second Gate and Anjaneya Carving

We also came across another gateway. If we had taken the right-side trail at the beginning, we would have reached this gate first.

Here, we noticed a rock carving of Anjaneya (Hanuman) — a feature commonly seen in several forts around the Hosur–Krishnagiri belt. Such carvings were often meant for protection and as symbols of strength.

A Peaceful Break

It was a hot day, but we soon found a shady spot under a large rock, overlooking parts of the fort.

We sat there quietly, enjoying the breeze and the vast green landscape. The place felt incredibly peaceful. Moments like this make tough treks truly worthwhile.

The Return

Reluctantly, we began our descent. This time, we did not lose our way. Without any stops, we reached the base in about 45 minutes.

It had been a challenging but very rewarding experience for both of us.

Information and Tips

• Do not attempt this trek alone. Chances of getting lost are high. Trek in a group.
• Carry at least 2 litres of water, as the area becomes very hot, especially after February.
• The forest has thorny bushes and shrubs. Wear full-sleeve clothing and proper trekking pants.
• A hat or cap is strongly recommended.
• Except for the short scramble near the main gate, there is no technical rock climbing. If you encounter a steep rock climb elsewhere, you have probably lost the correct trail.