Antaragange rocks

Volcanic caves, music of the wind, wild monkeys who snatch food from people and etc,...

                    

                  Situated just 4 km from Kolar Bus Stand and 70 km from Bengaluru, Antaragange, with its volcanic rocks and countless caves, is ideal for a one-day trip of trekking. Ganges means from the deep. To reach the place, you must walk 4 kms. The walk could be a bit tiring for those who sit in offices all day, but one can enjoy nature’s creativity - small hills and rocks all along the way placed in patterns and combination limited only by your imagination. Trekking past fields and villages allows us a quick glimpse into village life. We could see many people carrying water all the way from a hill for everyday use. After all Kolar is known as the Rajasthan of Karnataka.

CLIMBING UP

                At the entrance of Antaragange, you are welcomed enthusiastically by a gang of monkeys. You should climb about 300 - 400 steps to reach the main attraction Kashi Vishweshwara Temple. The main deity of the temple is Kashi Vishveshwara (Lord Shiva). The temple is made of rocks, with a main Shiva Lingam and a few more Lingams beside the main mantapa.
               Outside the temple there is a statue of the bull (Basava) made of stone and the water streams out of the mouth of the bull all through the year. It is believed that the source of this stream is the holy river Ganga, far up in the north. It could be the small Kalyani (temple pond) nearby, but nobody knows the source of the water for sure.
               Start your nature trail behind the temple. The route leads to the top of the hill. You will find some staircases at the beginning of the trek, but they disappear as you  go further. The path is full of stones, scattered cactus, thorns and bushes — an ideal place for adventure.  Follow the pylons (power cables), and it will be very easy to reach the hill. There are lot of trees including eucalyptus, Akeshiya, gooseberry (Amla) and Neem. There are various species of cactus found in this region. As you go to the top, you will get an excellent view of Kolar city. Scattered thorn scrub forests amidst volcanic rocks and boulders present an irresistible landscape.

VOLCANIC CAVES

                 

               The hill is full of volcanic rocks of various size. Some of the rocks are laid in such a fashion that it appears like natural caves. Start exploring inside structures. The atmosphere inside the cave will be amazing that you don't want to come out of them. The sun rays penetrate through the narrow slits between the rocks, adding a new colour to nature’s creativity. Spend some time in the caves, enjoying the birds’ humming and listening to the music as the air flowed through these rocks.
 

GETTING THERE

        There are plenty of buses connecting Kolar, district headquarters with Bengaluru. Both KSRTC and private buses ply to Kolar. Private buses, will depart from Majestic as well as from KR Market. It will take a maximum of two hours to reach Kolar. From the Kolar bus stand, you can walk or take an autorickshaw for Rs30. Remember to negotiate the fare before getting into the auto! The auto will drop you at the entrance to the hill, and you have to climb approximately 350-500 steps.

MONKEY ALERT

 
          Antaragange is overpopulated with wild monkeys. They grab anything they can. It is dangerous to keep your belongings down. Some monkeys are so clever that they even grab things from our hands!

FOOD

            It is better to carry the food with you, as there are no hotels in Antaragange. At the entrance there is a small shop, where you can find some biscuits and snacks. You can even carry food from Kolar, which has some good hotels. While eating in the forest, don’t forget the monkeys. They will be around you all the time to grab the food from you. 

Come at Weekends & enjoy the Nature......