Puligundu Rock Mountain is one of the least explored places near Chittoor, AP. It is a double-rock mountain very adjacent to each other, connected by a metal bridge. On top of the mountain, there is a small Shiva temple. The temple is visited by the nearby villagers in large numbers during Makar Sankranthi festival.
As per Google Maps, Puligundu Rock Mountain is 205 Kms from my home. So we started early by 4:30am from home & picked up my friend at Hosakote Toll Plaza. After a tea break on the highway, we stopped for breakfast in a village, before 5 kms from our destination. We reached Puligunteeswara Swamy temple near the mountain around 7:45am where we saw 2 cars parked.
On enquiry, we were told that a road goes to the foothill, but that road was under construction. We decided to park our car there & walked straight to the base of the hill that was 300-400 m behind the temple. We followed the electricity poles to reach the base of the mountain. Just 15 mins of trek into the stones & bushes, we were feeling the heat and at 8 am, sweat was pouring from our faces.
We climbed the steps to start with and in no time we entered a huge cave-like structure. There were few idols of Hindu Gods over there. It was really a cool place to relax, with great views. An (open) iron gate welcomed us to take a stroll on the perimeter of the mountain that had a few railings for safety.
A few meters of walk on the edge of the mountain took us to a dead end. At the end we can see no path in horizontal, but in vertical. There was a spiral staircase that took us to the next level followed by a steep metal steps.
We climbed some more concrete steps and reached the next (dark) level. We were at a place where no light could enter. It was pitch dark and we could hear the bats screaming to welcome the visitors.
As we switched ON the torch, we could see some more steps to the top and
also the bats sticking on to the rocks. Leaving my friend at front,
holding the torch for my daughter from behind, we climbed up slowly as
the steps were inclined to one side.
After some climbing we could see some light coming from top. Finally we came to a point where torch was not needed, but still we were in between the rocks. The space between the 2 rocks was so less that only 1 person can fit in/climb. Another steep climb on the metal steps took us almost to the top of the mountain.
We were almost at the back end of the mountain from where we started. A small climb up on the rocks took us to the top most point of the mountain where there is a colourful Shiva temple. One can get a great panoramic view of the surrounding villages & hills from the top.
We were on top of the taller of the 2 mountains. The adjacent mountain is accessible from the top via a metal bridge. After spending some time near the temple, we took the dangerous looking bridge that was also supported through some metal ropes.
While crossing you need to stop in the middle of the bridge to see where you stand from ground. It is an awesome view/experience from the middle. Just below the bridge, we can find an old bridge/steps that are not used anymore.
We all crossed the bridge successfully. The next challenge is to reach the top of the second mountain as there was no easy path. We took one path to reach the top that went in between the rocks & climbing/crossing a tree branch. This path would be difficult for a heavily built person. Finally we reached the top to see our national flag flying high. After some time there, we took another path down to reach the bridge. Even this one was not easy as we had to slide through a tree branch or jump from some 10ft high rock.
Finally we managed to reach & cross the adventurous bridge back to take our vertical route/path. Again repeating the path in reverse, we climbed down the metal steps first, followed by concrete steps, then the steps in the dark area revisiting the bats. Still they were screaming, probably this time saying bye to us. The concrete steps were taken followed by the steep metal steps and finally got down the spiral staircase to end our vertical path.
We walked through the perimeter of the mountain to exit the metal gate & entered the huge cave. In no time we took the normal steps down and into the rocks & bushes to reach the base temple to reach our parked car. We finished our trek by 11:15 am and headed back to Bangalore after a lunch break in between.
Summary:
Puligundu Rock Mountain trek can be termed as an adventurous one and definitely not a difficult one. You can reach the top within 30 mins non-stop from the foot-hill. The path between the rocks & climbing in dark area is one of its kinds that we have experienced so far. The major portion of the trek is climbing the narrow steps in between rocks. Crossing the metal bridge at that height will be an unforgettable experience. One needs to be careful while walking along the edge of the mountain as one wrong step will be a free-fall to the ground. And it’s better to start as early as possible to avoid the heat.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/uGQyxuoy693pZStN8
