Skandagiri

thumb|View of Skandagiri Betta From Below the mountain Skandagiri, also known as Kalavara Durga, is a mountain fortress located approximately from Bangalore city, and from Chikballapur in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is off Bellary Road (National Highway 7 Hyderabad-Bangalore Highway), and overlooks Nandi Hills and Muddenahalli. The peak is at an altitude of about . It is accessed from Kalavara village, which has a population of, 1093 according to 2011 census. The hill features the ruins of a fort believed to have been built by Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. It was used as a military stronghold and lookout point.

== Trek == The Karnataka State Forest and Tourism Department has facilitated the trek and is a favorite destination for many trekkers due to its proximity to Bangalore. Before climbing Skandagiri, you have to pay online fees and make a reservation. Treks starting at 4 am and 8 am are limited to 150 people each. Guides from the Department of Tourism are also available. It takes approximately 5 hours to trek in all seasons. {| class="wikitable" |+ !Start !End !Distance |- |Papagni Mata |Forest Department Check Post |800 mts |- |Check Post |Resting place |1100 mts |- |Rest |Peak |900 mts |} The trek starts from behind the Papagni Mutt of Kalwar village is 3 km. m. The trek starts from the Kalwar village behind Papagni matt.  Total distance is m.  The hill is surrounded by a fort and is at, above sea level. In the peak there is a temple and a pond.  You can view a few sides of the fort.