Winter is sunrise season around Bengaluru. From November to February the mornings are clear and cool, and on the right day the hills north of the city sit above a sea of cloud. Getting up at 3 am is much easier when someone is waiting for you — here is what the popular spots are like right now, and what has changed this year.
First, the 2026 rules for Karnataka treks
Karnataka changed how forest treks work in April 2026. Treks on Forest Department routes now need an advance online booking on the state's Aranya Vihaara portal, and every group goes with a certified nature guide (about one guide for every ten trekkers). Walk-in treks are no longer the norm, and batch sizes are capped. Book before you plan the rest of the day, keep your ID with you, and check the portal for the current fee and slot times — they change.
Nandi Hills — sunrise without a hard climb
Nandi Hills is about 60 km north of the city, and most people drive or ride up to the top. The gates usually open at 6 am, and winter sunrise is roughly between 6:15 and 6:45, so arrive early: the queue at the base checkpoint builds quickly on weekends. It is the easiest of the three — more of a sunrise outing than a trek — which makes it a good first plan with someone new.
- Effort: easy — the walking is around the top.
- Go on a weekday if you can; weekends are crowded.
- Small entry and parking charges apply; carry cash and UPI.
- Cyclists ride the climb at dawn — a good plan if you want a workout too.
Skandagiri — the classic sunrise trek
Skandagiri, near Chikkaballapur, is the one people mean when they say sunrise trek. The climb is short but steep in places, usually under two hours in the dark, and the reward is the view of the clouds settling in the valley as the sun comes up. Under the new rules it must be booked online in advance, slots sell out on weekends, and you climb with a certified guide.
- Effort: moderate — a steady climb on rock and dirt, in the dark.
- Book first on the Aranya Vihaara portal; no booking, no entry.
- Carry a head torch, a warm layer and water.
- Weekday slots are easier to get than weekend ones.
Savandurga — closed for now
Savandurga, one of the largest monoliths in Asia, is a favourite steep climb west of the city — but it has been closed to trekkers by Forest Department order, and it has not said when it will reopen. Check the Aranya Vihaara portal before you plan it; when it reopens, it will need the same advance booking and guide.
What to carry for a sunrise trek
- A head torch or a phone with a full battery — the climb starts in the dark.
- A warm layer; hilltops in December are properly cold before sunrise.
- Water and a small breakfast for the top.
- Shoes with grip for rock that is damp with dew.
- Your ID and your booking confirmation.
Going with someone
The hard part of a sunrise trek is the alarm. A partner who is already on the way is the best alarm there is, and the drive out is easier shared. Note that a trekking partner is not the same as your guide: on Karnataka forest routes the certified guide is still required, whoever you go with.
On Alongo you post a plan — Nandi Hills, Saturday, meet at 5 am — and a verified partner nearby who wants the same sunrise can accept it. Every partner is ID-verified, matching is same-gender by default, chat stays in the app, and you meet in a public place with your plan shared. Book your slot, post your plan, and set the alarm.
Strictly platonic, 18+. Alongo is an activities marketplace — meet in public, keep chat in-app, and look after each other.