What to expect
Highlights
- The railway-line trek route.
- The summit hill fort and Shiva temple.
- The sunrise and plateau views.
Makalidurga
Makalidurga is a hill fort of about 1,100 m in Doddaballapura taluk with a summit Shiva temple.
Practical guide
Plan Makalidurga
Who's going?Tailor Makalidurga to your trip
Typefort
Nearest baseDevanahalli
DistrictBengaluru Rural
Best timeOctober to February
Time neededHalf a day with the trek
EntryTrek/entry fee may apply
Places to visit5→Listed businesses6→It is reached by a popular trek along the railway line — one of the best-known day-trek hills near Bengaluru.
Getting there
How to visit
- Near Makalidurga railway station in Doddaballapura taluk, about 60 km from Bengaluru; by train or road, then a climb.
- A steep unguarded hill fort — wear good shoes, carry water, start early, keep off the railway tracks and avoid the smooth rock in rain.
Distance by road
- Bengaluru35 km
- Devanahalli5 km
- Doddaballapura30 km
- Tumakuru50 km
- Kolar55 km
Road km to Bengaluru Rural; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; early morning for the sunrise.
Weather in MakalidurgaSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Makalidurga
Sunrise6:09 am
Sunset6:18 pm
Golden hour best light5:18 pm–6:18 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:18 pm–6:43 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 271°
Moon tonight🌔 Waxing gibbous · 66%
South-west monsoon. June to September is the south-west monsoon in Karnataka. Expect heavy showers, mostly in bursts rather than all day — carry rain cover, allow extra time for getting around, and note that ferries and open-air sites are the first things affected.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- An unguarded trek fort by a live railway line — stay off the tracks and take care on the climb.
Photos
Makalidurga in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Makalidurga
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Makalidurga — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
2 places to stay near Makalidurga
2 places to eat near Makalidurga
2 sights to see near Makalidurga
2 places to shop near Makalidurga
A
Alta Vita
Where to eat
Top pick
N
Nandi Upachara
Where to eat
Top pick
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Ranked
More ways to explore Devanahalli
Find food, accommodation and activities across Devanahalli. Browse the guides for places to eat, stay and explore along your route.
Across the whole of Devanahalli
Ranked guides
Top experiences around Devanahalli
4 more places around Devanahalli. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.
fortDevanahalli Fort
22.1 km · ~37 min by cab
A 16th-century oval stone fort at Devanahalli near the Bengaluru airport, the birthplace of Tipu Sultan — with bastioned ramparts, gateways and old temples inside the walls, the district’s flagship heritage site.
templeKote Venugopalaswamy Temple
22.0 km · ~37 min by cab
An ornate Vijayanagara-style Venugopala (Krishna) temple inside the Devanahalli fort walls, with finely carved pillars and a gopura — the principal temple of the old fort town.
templeAvathi Betta
20.2 km · ~34 min by cab
A rocky hill at Avathi north of Devanahalli, climbed to the Sri Lakshmi Thimmarayaswamy (Narasimha) hill temple, with old fort traces and wide views over the northern plains.
templeGhati Subramanya Temple
5.7 km · ~14 min by auto
A major pilgrimage temple in Doddaballapura taluk, unusual for its single idol showing Subramanya (Kartikeya) and Narasimha back to back — a serpent-and-Narasimha shrine that draws large crowds, especially at the Naga festivals.
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Makalidurga — at a glance
TimingsDaylight hours only
Best timeOctober to February; early morning for the sunrise
Entry: Trek/entry fee may apply
Getting here
How to reach Makalidurga
Near Makalidurga railway station in Doddaballapura taluk, ~60 km from Bengaluru; by train or road, then a climb
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Makalidurga
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Makalidurga
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Makalidurga
templeGhati Subramanya Temple
A major pilgrimage temple in Doddaballapura taluk, unusual for its single idol showing Subramanya (Kartikeya) and Narasimha back to back — a serpent-and-Narasimha shrine that draws large crowds, especially at the Naga festivals.
5.7 km · ~14 min by auto · straight line
lakeGundamagere Lake
A scenic tank near Doddaballapura, a quiet birding and picnic waterbody in the northern countryside.
9.4 km · ~16 min by cab · straight line
viewpointHullukudi Betta
A scenic hill near Sakkaregollahalli in Doddaballapura taluk, climbed for its rock outcrops and wide views — a lesser-known trek in the northern belt.
13.3 km · ~22 min by cab · straight linetempleAvathi Betta
A rocky hill at Avathi north of Devanahalli, climbed to the Sri Lakshmi Thimmarayaswamy (Narasimha) hill temple, with old fort traces and wide views over the northern plains.
20.2 km · ~34 min by cab · straight linetempleKote Venugopalaswamy Temple
An ornate Vijayanagara-style Venugopala (Krishna) temple inside the Devanahalli fort walls, with finely carved pillars and a gopura — the principal temple of the old fort town.
22.0 km · ~37 min by cab · straight linefortDevanahalli Fort
A 16th-century oval stone fort at Devanahalli near the Bengaluru airport, the birthplace of Tipu Sultan — with bastioned ramparts, gateways and old temples inside the walls, the district’s flagship heritage site.
22.1 km · ~37 min by cab · straight line
templeShanimahathma Temple, Chikka Madhure
A regional Shani (Saturn) temple at Chikka Madhure in Doddaballapura taluk, drawing devotees on Saturdays for Shani pooja.
23.7 km · ~40 min by cab · straight line
heritageManne (Manyapura)
The village of Manne, the ancient Manyapura, a capital of the Western Ganga dynasty around the 8th century — with the old Kapileshwara Shiva temple and a Chola-period Someshwara temple, a little-known heritage site west of Bengaluru.
37.3 km · ~62 min by cab · straight line
trekShivagange Betta
A cone-shaped granite hill near Dabaspet, revered as "Dakshina Kashi" — a pilgrimage-and-trek climb to the Gangadhareshwara and Honnadevi cliff temples, past a Nandi statue, the Patalaganga spring and the ghee-that-turns-to-butter miracle.
39.4 km · ~66 min by cab · straight line
lakeHoskote Lake
A large tank on the edge of Hoskote east of Bengaluru, a birding spot that draws migratory waterbirds in winter.
41.1 km · ~69 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Makalidurga is
Good to know
Makalidurga — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Makalidurga?
October to February; early morning for the sunrise.
What are the entry fee and timings at Makalidurga?
Entry: Trek/entry fee may apply. Timings: Daylight hours only.
How do I reach Makalidurga?
Near Makalidurga railway station in Doddaballapura taluk, about 60 km from Bengaluru; by train or road, then a climb. A steep unguarded hill fort — wear good shoes, carry water, start early, keep off the railway tracks and avoid the smooth rock in rain.
How much time do I need for Makalidurga?
Half a day with the trek.
What else is near Makalidurga?
Nearby you can pair Ghati Subramanya Temple (5.7 km), Gundamagere Lake (9.4 km), Hullukudi Betta (13.3 km), Avathi Betta (20.2 km).
Image credits
Photographs: Sanjeevengineer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Adityamadhav83 (CC BY-SA 3.0), Shyamal (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.