There was a time where travel meant “by road”, and then maybe if required – trek or cycle to the destinations which weren’t accessible by road. But the times have changed, and with the dawn of adventure bikes and off-roading four wheelers, the roads which were once deemed dangerous are now more of a challenge to test your skills. And yes 2024 is perhaps the year of adventure motorcycles, with literally every brand trying its best to get an ADV out in the market, which is expected to bloom completely by 2025. Which was just started by Hero Motocorp with its revolutionary bike – Xpulse, is now being transformed by many national and international brands.
Enough on the whole ADV scenario, and now let us focus on which are the best places for budding adventure bikers in Bengaluru to explore, in this blog which is titled – Best Off-Road Trails near Bangalore.
Before we begin, I am Rock n Roll Rider back again with another blog, and FYI, all the photos you will see in this blog are of the adventure riding group which I started called the Off-Road Hunters. Started off with just 3 of us, now The Off-Road Hunters have grown into a full-fledged group with 50 odd members, and the numbers are growing as you read this blog.
You can be a part of our group too, and the information regarding this will be put up at the end of the blog.
Ok, let’s finally get started:
As an important advisory, I would always suggest to travel in at least groups of 3 and beyond, and please I request you to not litter, and carry your garbage back with you.
So here are the Best Off-Road Trails near Bangalore, according to the difficulty level, from 1 being the easiest to 7 being the toughest.
1. Kailasagiri Hills/Ambaji Durga Fort
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/suYzrkYeooZpWrQr5
Situated just near the Chintamani town, this lovely range of hills is located around 75 kms from Bengaluru.
As the off-road terrain here is simple with a few rocks here and there, as a growing adventure rider this place is a saddling haven, which lets you cruise through the terrain with your ADVs in full josh. But, if you are hungry for some tough trails there are plenty of them in this location, which you can easily scout and visit if your ski ll level lets you do it.
2. Shri Muneshwara Betta
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HSHHzG3qBfPG4qsP6
About 100 kms away from Bengaluru, Shri Muneshwara Betta is one among the several hilly gems of the Kanakapura area of the Ramnagara District.
Just like Kailasagiri Betta, Shri Muneshwara Betta can be conquered without much of a problem, as the road is mainly loose soil, and offers bare minimum obstruction. But I can assure you that the view from the top is other worldly, with views of the cauvery basin forest welcoming you wholeheartedly.
As you’ve already come so far, and want to experience something unique and creepy at the same time, you can surely visit Barekall Betta, as it is just about 20 mins from Shri Muneshwara Betta. Even though this place doesn’t offer much of an off-roading opportunity, surely this place will tickle the inner goosebumps in you.
Also known as Barekall Doddi, this was once thriving with prosperous farmers, it has now been deserted for reasons unknown. Over time, the village gained a reputation as a haunted place, attracting YouTubers and instagram celebs seeking eerie experiences. However, local residents in the area do not believe in ghost stories.
3. Shri Gangadhareshwara Gudi Betta
Location: https://g.co/kgs/y6fvEMW
Once again nestled in the beautiful hilly region of Kanakapura, Shri Gangadhareshwara Gudi Betta is one of the most renowned areas for off-roading near Bengaluru. The difficulty level even though it is on an intermediate level, the last stretch of 100 meters will surely make you scream out for help if you are not used to some proper rut filled terrain.
But what we’ve heard off-late is that the whole road and even the last bit has been flattened to its max, and now this terrain is more of an easy-go, easy-come ride. And not to forget the mesmerizing view from the top, overseeing a beautiful lake and the lush green surrounding it.
4. Nettigere
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eFuYQpHpsyxooxQA6
Just 50 kms away from the Bengaluru town, this off-road destination is not a mainstream one, but perhaps something over the years was scouted by fellow adventure bikers.
As we’ve reached number 4 and now it’s high time we up the game. All the locations which will be listed from this one, can be clear entrants for the title – Best Off-Road Trails near Bangalore.
As this place is not an easy one to conquer, this trail is a broken down quarry, with work in progress. You can ride till the tippy top and if that’s not enough, there are a lot of lefts and rights to take, in order to quench your thirst for more.
Please be mindful of the workers in the quarry, and try not to create a ruckus, as we are not technically authorized to ride into an on-going quarry.
5. Kethanahalli Falls
Location: https://g.co/kgs/JuqsLka
The first entrant to the list of Best Off-Road Trails near Bangalore, situated towards the Bengaluru International Airport, Kethanahalli Falls is an untouched paradise, offering one of the most difficult off-road inclines.
This is a reserved forest, so please respect nature for what it is, and I’m repeating it once again – please do not litter, anywhere you go.
As Off-Road Hunters we’ve attempted this climb multiple times, and I must say, it is a clear clutch burner. And being true to this title, one of our riders even managed to burn his clutch in the incline, and we had to tow his bike for 15 kms till the nearest service station.
Also, there is a lot of chance of falling and damaging your bike, which is repairable, but sadly anything happens to our body, which can prove dangerous. So, before venturing out onto the road, please invest in quality riding gear.
6. Dibbagiri Betta
Location: https://g.co/kgs/W3JvVNo
A neighbouring hillock to the famous Nandi Hills, Dibbagiri Betta comes under the CRPF jurisdiction, and is used as a training ground. But fortunately for us, there is a temple on top, and we can ride our hearts out 😀
Easily one of the most difficult trail destinations around Bengaluru, you can’t even call this road anymore, as the monsoons have wrecked chaos and created ruts and craters everywhere.
When the Off-Road Hunters did a ride to this crazy destination recently, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and when we made it to the top, we felt like we actually accomplished something great.
Every view from the hill-top is out of this world, and worth all the effort we put in towards conquering this dangerous terrain.
7. Acchalu Betta
Location: https://g.co/kgs/RgmLRu2
The King of off-road trails near Bengaluru, Acchalu Betta has been here since ages and will continue to do so even in the near future. Despite the local politicians trying their best to level up the whole rocky terrain to the hill top, the monsoons came and took back all the road work back to its original form. And now, the terrain is scary and extremely fun to do at the same time.
Also, if you are a newb to adventure biking, please get done with all other destinations first and then do this, as the chances of falling hard are very high.
Talking about the location, this is in peak elephant territory of Kanakapura, and when you enter the tiny hamlet before attempting this peak, you get a proper jungle vibe. And when you manage to reach the top, the view from there is breathtaking.
Conclusion:
So here we are folks with Best off-road trails near Bangalore, for all you budding adventure enthusiasts. These trails are not necessarily meant for bikers, but few of them can be conquered using your 4x4s and other off-roading capable four wheelers.
Also, if you want an in-depth view of all these trails you can watch the detailed video I made a while back.
Lastly, please be a responsible traveler, and set an example for others to follow.
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