Sumesh Always (Public domain), via Wikimedia CommonsThe Bandaje Falls trek — also called the Ballalarayana Durga trek, after the ruined hilltop fort roughly midway along the route — climbs through the Kudremukh forest range on the Chikmagalur/Dakshina Kannada border, in the Charmadi Ghat section of the Western Ghats. The fort is said to have been built in the 12th century under the Hoysala Empire, in the Karnata-Dravida architectural style typical of that period. "Arbi" means waterfall in the local language, which is why "Bandaje," "Bandaje Arbi" and "Bandaje Falls" are all used for the same place — a waterfall formed by a tributary of the Nethravati river, dropping from around 700 m above sea level.
It is a longer day than Nethravati — roughly 18 km there and back, most groups budgeting 7–8 hours on the trail — and mixes shola forest, grassland and a genuinely steep pull up to the fort ruins before the descent to the falls. Sources differ on how it should be rated: several operators pitch it as beginner-friendly with some preparation, but the distance and duration put it a notch harder than a first trek. Go in reasonably fit, not as your introduction to trekking.
Distance
~18 km round trip
Duration
7–8 hours
Landmark
15th-century Ballalarayana Durga Fort ruins
Difficulty
Moderate
Day 1
Day 2
18 km7–8 hours
The fee is set and revised by the Karnataka Forest Department — check the portal for the current amount before you book.
Forest permit required
Start by around 6:00 AM from the base village. Plan to be back off the trail before dusk — the fort-to-base descent after dark is not safe.
Required documents
Local trekking guide for the fort-to-waterfall stretch
Contact number not confirmed yet — verify locally before travelling.
Moderate, but longer than most first treks — roughly 18 km and 7–8 hours, with a steep climb to the fort. Go in with some prior trekking fitness rather than as your first hike.
Yes, book through the official Aranya Vihaara portal in advance. The trek can also be closed by the Forest Department at short notice in heavy monsoon, so confirm it is open before you travel.
Monsoon and post-monsoon, roughly July to December — the trail is wetter and the fort climb more slippery, so grip matters more on this trek than most.
Confirm current Forest Department rules when you book, but a local guide is strongly recommended regardless — the stretch between the fort and the waterfall is unmarked and easy to lose in cloud cover.
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2 guests1 bedrooms1 bathsHomestay
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