Gummanayaka Fort Trek

Gummanayaka Fort is located 135 kms from Bengaluru in chintamani. Gummanayaka Fort is believed to have been founded around 1350 by a feudal chieftain of the Vijayanagara kingdom, Byregowda or palyagara. As many as 26 palegars  (chieftains) ruled from this fort. They built temples dedicated to Sita, Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman.It's layered fort with many stages of entrance. Intially stage is 1st entry towards the fort hill where we find Maruthi(Hanuman Temple) and Ganapathi temple. Still all rituals are performed to both temples by priest. Next stage is ruined fortess where villagers are cultivating few daily need vegetables inside fort. Later part there are steps (covered with bushes) to hill and temple.Right side of Steps leads to Temple and left to the Granary and Straight leads to the hill top. There are few ruins and vast un even open space. Since it was a long weekend and we had time to spend we stayed in bagepalli overnight and started our trek in the morning. This time we had planned not to take our own vehicles, we took bus journey from bengaluru to bagepalli. GummanayakanaPalya village very small with countable huts. There are rain harvesting ponds which existed way back in centuries.There are lot of many ruins around the village as well. Look for pushkarni which is 100mts before the village starts. In around look for few newly constructed temples of 21st century and Nisargadhama which has been maintained by forest department. There is a choultry in the newly constructed temple and a forest guest house where you need permission to stay.At last Wonderful fort with ruins of palace, Lesser known to people as its far way from bengaluru. Day well spent !Peace,Greenery!!.  Look for Natural Elephant Formation on the hill

How to Reach : Bangalore-- Bagepalli-- Pathapalya-- Nagarllu -- GummanayakanaPalya

Near by places: GudiBanda Fort Trek, Lepakshi,Avalabetta

Permission : As of now Not required

Steps : There are steps in the middle of trek

Climbing time : 1.5 hrs Max

Parking: Inside village & outside fort Entrance

Level: Easy

Things to Carry: Water, Food and all necessary things(From Bagepalli or Pathapalya).

Stay: Manjunatha Deluxe lodge near to bustand, Decent and clean, Rs 800. Please Bargain if necessary.

Public Transport: Direct bus from bengaluru to Bagepalli. There is a civil bus/local bus/private which goes to chelur,Get down in pathapalya. Take a auto to gummanayakana palya which costs Rs.150 one way. Get down in village.. Start the trek. While coming back there will a be shared auto or any auto which takes back to pathapalya. There is a KSRTC bus which goes to gummanayaka fort but only once or twice.

Elephant Head Formation

          
           DON'T THROW PLASTIC OR SPOIL THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE !!!!!