A First Adventure: Hiking with our 3-Year-Old
As parents, we look forward to those special “firsts” with our children, and this past weekend, my wife and I had the joy of taking our 3-year-old son on his very first trek. We set out to Kailasagiri, a spot rich with history and nature, just three hours from Bangalore. What made this experience even more memorable was our son’s excitement. He loves to travel and be outdoors.
If you're planning a visit, Google Maps will guide you to the starting point of the Kailasagiri cave temple. As we learned from the locals, this particular temple is a more recent creation, blasted and carved out of the rock—though I couldn’t find any official information to confirm this. If any readers have more details or can shed light on this, I’d love to hear from you!.
Just before reaching the parking area, you’ll notice a rough road to the left. This road leads 4 kilometers uphill to a much older temple (said to be more than 1700 years old !). The road is open from 9 AM to 5 PM and is becoming a favorite off-road trail for two-wheeler enthusiasts. Since we weren’t on bikes, we drove up, which felt like an adventure in itself!
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The off-road drive itself was an adventure! The trail winds around the hill, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. At certain points, the road narrows, allowing space for only a single vehicle, |
At the top, we were fortunate to meet the temple’s caretaker, Mr. Narayana Swami, who shared some fascinating history. According to him, the original temple dates back over a millennium, and there have been recent efforts to expand the facilities. One of the temple’s most cherished traditions is its daily "anna dana," where free meals are offered to all visitors. We took the time to enjoy this simple yet fulfilling meal before setting off on the trek to the summit.
The trek from the temple to the summit was short but rich with nature.
Our son, as energetic and curious as ever, climbed the entire distance by himself—never once asking to be carried. We did take a few frequent breaks (after all, he's only 3!),
Another interesting aspect of the trek was passing by the ruins of what appeared to be an old fort or temple along the way. Interestingly, neither the caretaker nor the locals could provide any concrete information about these ruins—only speculation. It made us wonder about the history that had long been forgotten.
At the summit, we were greeted by another ancient temple and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Standing there, taking in the vast greenery and distant hills. It was incredible to see him embrace the trek with such joy and determination.
From the temple, a short walk took us to a relatively flat rock face, offering stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding landscapes. This spot was perfect for sitting and soaking in the beauty of the area—a serene moment that let us truly appreciate the vast stretches of greenery and the distant hills in every direction.
As we explored further, we came across a small water reservoir, believed to be as ancient as the temple itself. Locals mentioned that this reservoir rarely dries up, a fascinating detail that added to the sense of mystery and awe surrounding the area.
My son’s sense of accomplishment at reaching the top was clear in his excited smile. My wife and I couldn't help but share in his pride. It was a moment of bonding, exploration, and pure happiness as a family.
It wasn’t just about reaching the summit—it was about experiencing the beauty of nature, the history around us, and the sheer joy of adventure with our son. For anyone near Bangalore, Kailasagiri offers a perfect blend of culture, nature, and history.
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