Gandikota (India's Canyon)

Finally, coming to the meat of the matter. What have you come to see here. There is an ancient fort here. Though small from all standards, the best thing is that you can drive your bike or car all through this and that makes up for a good experience. There are other remnants from history as well like an old jail, a small monument called "Charminar", "Madhavara temple" and a mosque called "Jumma Masjid" (although it is totally unoccupied and free for all as no prayers are offered here).

We came to know of Gandikota while searching online for new travel destinations close to Bengaluru. And since the distance of around 300 km cannot be classified particularly as close, we held off on the trip for a long time. Finally, as the time to leave Bengaluru arrived, we decided to take the plunge. And we're glad that we did.

We reached Gandikota from Hampi by car (that's another story) in February 2020. The drive was not that great because of road construction and widening job being carried out at many places (though this may be a good thing as future travelers may find wider and smoother roads during their trips). Though there was not too much traffic, the number of speed breakers on the road was too much. On top of that, the speed breakers were all unmarked and cropped up at all sorts of unexpected places. So keeping the speed well within limits is very important on this route. About an hour before we reached the destination, the we started entering the hills and the drive became much better then onward.

About 60 km from Gandikota is Belum Caves, the longest natural cave system in South Asia. Although we did not explore these caves for various reasons, they may be a good option for those who are interested. These caves are also maintained by Karnataka Tourism Dept which has made arrangements like a canteen for refreshments and most notably pumping of air for comfortable breathing of tourists deep inside the caves. Till date, approximately 3 km of the caves have been explored and is open for tourists. The caves are known to have been a secluded meditation ground for Buddhist Monks for centuries who also played their part in taking care of them. Since the caves have a single entry and exit point, it is expected to get hot during summers, so keep that in mind while making your plans.

When we reached Gandikota, we checked into the only resort there called the Haritha Resort. The resort is maintained by the Karnataka Tourism Dept. We must say that despite the secluded nature of the place and absence of the usual amenities that you find in cities, the resort was really well maintained in terms of cleanliness and ambience. The staff was also very courteous. The rooms were limited in number, well designed and comfortable.

A lot of tourists like to stay in tents here to make their trip more adventurous. This is also a good option and a lot of choices are available. Although one must keep in mind the time of the year, as these tents do not protect you from heat and rain. Since there is a lack of Government regulation in this area, choose your option with care especially if you are travelling with ladies and/or children. The best option would be to take your own tent.

And finally, when you cross all this, you come to a huge heap of big boulders. When you climb those, you find yourself atop the most mesmerising scene you have seen. A natural wonder. A canyon formed by centuries of carving by Penna river. A canyon that is as wide as it is deep, and extends in length till where your eyes can see. All you can do after reaching such a place is to sit, wonder and absorb the vastness of the nature that surrounds you.

Apart from the majestic view of the canyon, you can also enjoy certain adventure activities like kayaking and trekking at this place. Keep in mind though, you have to climb all the way down to the river bank for kayaking, which means you have to climb all the way up which can be a real pain. Also, since this is an unregulated activity, safety is questionable.

We left Gandikota next morning and came back straight to Bengaluru. The drive from Gandikota to Bengaluru was much better in terms of condition of the road. Though number of speed breakers was still on the higher side, we were greeted by some really nice views for a large portion of the drive, which made the finale of the journey very pleasant. Overall, the Gandikota experience was one of a kind. Though some people try to do it in one day, we would recommend going there with some of your friends (either on bikes or cars), spending the night and coming back the next day in leisure. Have a nice trip!