Trekking and Camping at Ballalarayana Durga Fort

 Ballalarayana Durga fort is famous as a trekking destination.Situated atop a hill that is 1509 metres high, the fort overlooks the town of Sunkasaale. The trek to the fort is a difficult one and presents quite a few challenges to the trekker. Fort has a mysterious aura surrounding it. Every fort has a history associated with it. Now if a fort exists in the midst of dense forest and atop a hill in the beautiful Western Ghats, it is bound to be a place full of history and mystery. Ballalarayana Durga fort in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka is one such amazing fort.This isolated fort can only be reached by trekking through the hilly forest region. It is situated in Bettabalige that stands in the midst of Chikmagalur’s Kottegehara village and the Kalasa temple-town. It is one of the few forts that can be found in the Western Ghats. The Ballalarayana Durga fort was constructed by the wife of Veera Ballala l who was the king of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is built in the Karnata Dravida style of architecture, popular in the Hoysala Empire during their rule.There is an ancient Kalabyraveshwara temple that is situated just below the fort. The fort has lost its glory and stands as a distant reminder of its beautiful past. However surrounding green luxurious forests with steep slopes has not dimmed over time. The presence of an ever-blowing gentle breeze the place is a serene spot to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.