Stone Gate Trail
Kabbal Forest, Kanakapura
Overview
A short but intense climb up to a temple set under a huge natural stone arch. Over 300 m of elevation packed into about a kilometer.
Photos
🌨️ Season
Any.
🎟️ Permit
Going here can be a hit or a miss. The temple lies in a restricted area, so you might be able to go through, especially on temple days, but barefoot.
Also, read the warning about using footwear here.
Trail Description
This is a short but intense hike. You gain in elevation more than 300 m in about 1 km, and the gradient is consistently uphill. Since this is a well-trodden trail to the temple, it's also suitable as a trail run especially when coming down.
The most striking highlight of this trail is its huge natural stone arch with a temple underneath. The locals offer prayers at the temple on Mondays and Fridays. They walk the trail barefoot and would frown upon hikers with shoes on. So respect the local tradition. Hiking barefoot might also be a good challenge on this short but intense hike. This trail is easy to follow because the locals walk it very regularly. If you want to hike with your shoes on, hike on days other than Monday or Friday.
There is a lot of space in the shade under the stone arch, so you could take a break here to rehydrate and have a quick snack.
