During my tenure as a freelance outdoor leader, the organization that I was working for had arranged an adventure outing for all the leaders to catch up for one weekend. The itinerary seemed interesting but I could not join the team due to personal reasons. When the pictures from the tour were shared in the common group, I had myself filled with regret and envy for not joining them. One photo was of a participant hanging down from a massive rocky hill which triggered me to plan my own trip to finish the undone.

When I did a bit of research on other destinations to learn rock-climbing, several options appeared from locations nearby to Bangalore. But nothing could match the one at Badami in Karnataka. Apart from Badami being a UNESCO site of heritage, its rocky mountainous terrain is popular among climbing enthusiasts. Technical courses in various difficult levels of climbing, from entry to professional are offered by a couple of well-known trainers in Badami. Well, I combined my trip to Badani with a visit to Hampi, but that is for another story. I contacted one of these trainers, booked myself a weekend slot for a beginners’ course and arrived at Badami one morning.

As told, I arrived at Ranganathana Gudda, on the hillocks where my course was supposed to be conducted. Since the weather can get very hot by mid-day in this region, all climbing activities are usually conducted during early morning and late afternoon hours. The surrounding rocky hills cast a shadow at these hours, and this shade provides a cool environment for climbers in an otherwise arid climate of Badami. With safety harness around my waist, climbing shoes, helmets, and chalk powder on my hands, I felt like a warrior ready to enter a war field. I attended four sessions spanning 2 days and completely loved it. Under good guidance, I was able to quickly leam the knack of rock climbing with ease even as a beginner. The overall experience was utterly amazing and worth all the hype and urge I had created within myself to try my hands at it.

For first timers in Badami, the gap hours between climbing sessions can be utilized to explore Badami’s historical and cultural heritage. It is amazing and impressive. However, I decided to skip all of it this time because I had been to Badami before exclusively for cultural exploration. This time I decided to just relax in the comfort of our hotel (Mayura, Badami) rather than drain our in the scorching heat of the March Sun after the morning climbing session and just soak up the tranquility of the setting sun from the Ranganathana Gudda post the evening sessions.

Along with all the above wonders to be experienced again, what will bring me again to Badami is to experience the full moon night’s camping and hiking over these rocky hills. This was a discovery I made only during this visit and hence could not prepare for it. A full moon night’s view with bonfire to keep us warm with our tents pitched up above there is only a vacation I manifest to happen soon.