Routes as sport in India

The crux immediately after standing on a ledge to jug over another ledge, and then a large flake with a crack to the right.

Located between the pile of flakes (to its right) and the tree (about 10-15 feet to the left).

The first bolt is after the crux of the entire route. Either stick clip it or own the grade. The bolts are optimally placed, a heady line for the grade.

FA: Amith BV, August 4th, 2022. Route by Shyam Krishnakumar, Akhil Menon, Sohan

Route starts left of the tree with an undercut at the base.

Take-off crux, and then plenty of route reading along the way.

Two variations. Going right to the juggy pocket is about 5.10aish (Uli or the chisel). Going straight up over the crimps and over the steeper slab is a grade or two stiffer (Sutti or the hammer).

One more minor crux half-way up. The rock quality here reminds of Varlakonda.

FA: Akhil Menon, August 7th, 2022. Route by Shyam Krishnakumar, Vinay Kumar, & Sohan

Route starts immediately to the right of the tree.

The crux is about 15 feet up, before the right facing flake. Two variations possible here. Going slightly left of the first three bolts puts you directly below the aforementioned flake. Couple of technical moves.

Right of the bolts is sustained slab until the flake, possibly one grade up.

After the flake, the route drops in grade significantly.

Route finding and delicate moves for the half the distance.

FA: Sohan, August 7th, 2022. Route by Shyam Krishnakumar, Charan H, & Sohan

Top Rope Anchor bolts

Over a series solid crimps, through the crystalline section, and the mild bulge. The cruxy section is in the first 15 feet, and thereafter eases up.

FA: Amith B.V. Route by Shyam Krishnakumar, Vinay Kumar, Charan H, & th Sohan. August 10 , 2022

Right of the Rabba Rabba & the short water spring / seepage / runnel. The water runnel is about 10-12 feet tall, just a dark patch of rock during the non- monsoon months.

The route begins to the right of the seepage / runnel, and the first bolt is about 10-12 feet above the ground. Slightly heady.

The crux though is after the second bolt, leading up to the large dish to the right. Alternate line from the left.

Slightly ‘reachy’ third bolt from the stable stance in the dish.

FA: Sohan. Route by Shyam Krishnakumar, Sohan, & Amith B.V. August 10th, 2022

Currently, the first of the routes as you hike south from the NW trail. Steep line for the grade!

Runs diagonally left from the trees, along the ledges, initially to the left and then straight up. Very mildly traversing.

Take-off crux, and then ledges along the way.

FA: Akhil Menon. Route by Sohan. August 10th, 2022.

Beginner-friendly route with a gully being the main feature between the second and third bolt.

Route by Anand Bhat and Amrit Appaden

First route from the left edge of the crag.

Route 1 and 2 are perfect routes to get in your first lead climb, anchor set up & rappel.

*Shares top anchor with Gethna Workshop Route #2

Second route from the left edge of the crag.

Route 1 and 2 are perfect routes to get in your first lead climb, anchor set up & rappel.

*Shares top anchor with Gethna Workshop Route #1

Route by Sohan and Tanvi. FA - Vikram Murthy

Route by Sunny, FA Tanvi Badami

Route by Sohan and Zaman. FA Tanvi Badami

About 50 feet to the right of the first set of climbs.

Looks like most of the original holds have peeled off, and yet is a quality route.

Route credit, Gethna/Keerthi/Prani and folks.

About eight-10 feet right of route #3. Excellent four-bolt problem. The crux is before the first bolt. A rock at the base, before you can clip the first bolt.

Stick clip would help here for those pushing their limits. Route under Gethna aegis by Keerthi/Prani and folks.

Placeholder names

Placeholder names

Placeholder names

Immediate left of the five top rope routes that start below the cave. Two-part climb; starts on the slab (3 bolts) which is no harder than 5.10a, then from the ledge, proceeds on the inside face, right of the corner crack (3 bolts).

Brilliant small ledges with interesting movement on the second half.

Route credit: Sohan Pavuluri, Satish Venkatachaliah, & Amit Manikoth. FFA, Sohan. Added Nov 2015.

This and the next four top ropes range sequentially from stiff to easy slab climbs on crimpy flakes at times, from left to right.

Route credit: Gethna/Keerthi Pais, Pranesh Manchaiah & Team

Route credit: Gethna/Keerthi Pais, Pranesh Manchaiah & Team

Route credit: Gethna/Keerthi Pais, Pranesh Manchaiah & Team

Shares the bolts with NTR ; the route goes left of the roof. For this line, you could use six of the bolts, avoiding the bolt under the roof that is meant for NTR.

Route credit: Satish Venkatachaliah, Rahul Thomas & Sohan Pavuluri.

FFA, Satish Venkatachaliah. Added Oct 2015.

Shares the bolts with Sunday Brunch, the route goes under the roof. Seven bolts plus double bolted anchor station with maillons.

Route credit: Satish Venkatachaliah, Rahul Thomas & Sohan Pavuluri. FFA, Wojtek Traczyk. Added Oct 2015.

Starts on the slab, goes over the roof, and traverses left. Crux move requires balance moves using thin finger pinches.

Route credit: Sohan & Satish Venkatachaliah. FFA, Aby Iyer. (Dec 2015).

Starts on the slab, goes over the roof and goes straight up left of the tree.

There’s a knee bar which will allow you to rest, and not everyone seems to appreciate this little resting place!

Route credit: Sohan & Venkatachaliah. FFA, Sohan Pavuluri. (Dec 2015)

Head to the top of the north crag, from the west facing path.

Short powerful route on a boulder sitting at the top of the hill.

Route by Madhu Raj, Gujju Razzak, Nagaraj and TT Niranjan. Mar 2017

FFA: Madhu Raj

Bolted by Prani. This route is located on the neighbouring rock in Gethna area and about 30 m to the right of Knee man's land route.

Extremely flaky.

Heady route with spaced out bolts.

First bolt is 12 meters from the base.

Bolts have been removed after being extremely corroded. This route is no longer bolted as of July 2023

Route by Balaji S. Rajagopal

Shares the anchor bolts with Life Begins at 40.

First bolt is at a shorter distance than all other routes here.

Bolted in Feb 2016.

FA, Seema Pai

An old classic. Older 7mm bolts.

Watch out for the flake after the second or third bolt that has withstood the test of time and many climbs but threatens to come off at some time.

FA, Nagi.

Shared anchor with You Kan.

Older 7 mm bolts. First bolt, 20-25 feet from base.

FA, Dini

Older 7 mm bolts.

Named in memory of Kanhai Dutta, Delhi based rock climber who was one of the first ascensionist of Deepawali route on Savandurga. FFA: Dini.

First bolt is shared with Ironman.

Starts at the first bolt of the right-side route, Ironman, and after six more bolts, shares the anchors of the Iron Man .

Goes left of the big bucket.

Feb 2016. FA, Seema Pai.

Goes right of the big bucket

Jan 2016. FA, Seema Pai.

18-20 meters, if done from the ledge or 30 meters from the ground.

Shared anchor with Black Black Gully, Starts after the big bucket.

First bolt 40 feet from base. Feels harder than a 5.9, especially the transition from the first to second bolt, probably that the route character has changed since first climbed, or this is an old-school grade.

Feels harder than the Black Gulley. FA, Joshua.

15 meters if done starting from the ledge, else, 30 meters from the base.

A short classic line, that runs in the gulley, requires some technical moves, including stemming and mantling, and side pulls, and one that stands apart from all the slab moves on rest of the climbs here at Senapathy.

Anchor shared with Snakeskin. FA, Shyam aka Krishnan Narayanan

15 meters if starting from the ledge, else 30 meters from the base.

Reaching the first bolt can be slightly heady.

If rapping all the way down, a 60-meter rope might fall short by a meter or two on the easy slab.

Shares the anchor with C'est La Vie.

FA, Seema

15 meters if standing from the ledge. Else, 30 meters.

Four bolts including the first bolt of Hurting Toes, Family Woes.

Reaching the first bolt maybe slightly heady.

Watch for the big flake after the first bolt. The flake will come off one of these days.

If rapping all the way down, a 60-meter rope might fall short by a meter or two on the easy slab.

FA, Nandini K. Mehta.

The route ends left of a large bucket/grass patch.

If rapping all the way down, a 60-meter rope might fall short by a meter or two on the easy slab.

FA, Latha BN

Starts on a cleared patch on the left of the rightmost chimney. Bolted in 2023 with new fixe bolts.

Single anchor station has 2 maillons for bailing in rain.

Route is very flaky as it has not seen much traffic. Generously bolted, but weaves around some ledges and formations, giving the route a lot of variation compared to the other routes in the area. The anchor station is above a diagonal ledge.

The 2nd pitch is unbolted and is a 5.4/5.5 scramble.

A tree can be used to stabilize the belayer to bring up the follower.

To exit, top out among the boulders on top, which will lead to gentle slabs.

Starts on the boulder wedged at the base.There are 3 lead bolts + 2 anchor station bolts.

The crux is between bolt 2 and 3. An interesting route that requires a short technical traverse using a right oriented hold.

Top rope route by Pranesh Manchiah & Keerthi Pais, bolted for lead by Sohan Pavuluri & Satish Venkatachaliah. FFA, Chethan BM

Short, fun, single crux route and optimally bolted.

Requires transition to a deep side-pull, using crimps and very little for the feet.

Top rope route by Pranesh Manchiah & Keerthi Pais, bolted for lead by Satish Venkatchaliah. FFA, Sohan Pavuluri

This is the 3rd route from the left side. Bolted by Pranesh Manchaiah in August 2020. Clip into the first bolt from the ground and the first crux move is the dyno start. There are other crux moves at bolt 3 and 4.

Starts from the boulder and is a sustained 5.10c climb that requires intense route finding on thin but solid holds.

Top rope route by Pranesh Manchiah & Keerthi Pais, bolted for lead by Sohan Pavuluri & Satish Venkatachaliah. FFA, Sohan Pavuluri

The horizontal cracks on this climb are deceiving. They are shallow and flaring.

The Dyno move to the first holds sets the pace for the high 5.10ish intensity and doesn’t let up until the fifth bolt.

Top rope route by Pranesh Manchiah & Keerthi Pais, bolted for lead by Sohan Pavuluri, Alok Tater & Dhiraj Deka. FFA, Sohan Pavuluri

P1: 5.9+. 30 meters. 9 + 2 bolts.

Feels harder than a 5.9, especially after the third or the fourth bolt. The crux ends quickly, but a sustained 5.7/8 moves to the anchor station.

P2: 5.7. 30 meters. 8 + 2 bolts.

Steep, exposed and extremely enjoyable pitch for the first half. Maillons on each station to rap off.

Exit: Rap off with a 60-meter rope.

Route by Prani, Seema and Dini.

P1: 5.9. 25 meters. 6 + 2 bolts.

Starts in the corner, switches back and forth between the slab and the corner crack. The short pitch ends below the overhang. The climb is fairly new, so still shedding rock, but very enjoyable.

P2: 5.11a. 50 meters. 11 bolts + 2.

Reaching the first bolt is a bit heady considering the ledge fall, but an easy lower 5.10 or lower grade move.

The route kicks up in grade after the first bolt, and the crux is between bolt one and bolt three. Requires you to use a corner crack, stem, side pull, slab climb, edge, crimp, and a repertoire of skills, in a very short section. As of 2017, the holds are flaky, and corner a bit chossy. Once this settles down, the moves will be much more enjoyable.

The route remains a stiff slab climb till the sixth bolt of the pitch. Thereafter it eases up. If you may not see the bolts, as they are bit hidden, so climb the most natural line, and you will find them.

Exit: Traverse to High on Grass**.

Route by Prani.

P1: 5.8. 28 meters. 5 + 2 bolts.

The first bolt is about 30 odd feet from the ground, on 5.5-5.6 terrain. Bolt 4 to 5 can be a potential ledge fall.

P2: 5.11a. 50 meters. 13 + 2 bolts.

Sometimes placement of the bolts in relationship to the line is critical to get the most out of a Sport line. And the brilliant bolting here makes this route sublime for someone pushing into the 5.11s. Allows for the rush with seemingly out of reach bolts at times, and then keeps the climb largely safe. You shouldn’t come out of this climb with more than bruised and bashed, knees and ego, at its worst. So, if you want to push your limits, absolutely throw yourself at this climb.

The crux is in getting from bolt 1 to bolt 2, and the section is ever so slightly bulging out. The crux requires a degree of commitment than the actual technical difficulty of the moves. The route is sustained higher 5.10 slab, thereafter. It doesn’t let up until the last 30-40 feet of the pitch. Extremely well protected.

Exit: Traverse to High on Grass**

Route credit: Pranesh Manchaiah

P1: 5.10a. 45 meters. 11 + 2 bolts.

First pitches of the Routes Inspiration and Chai, Comfortably Numb, and Pranic Drilling share the bolts till the ledge about 25 odd meters from the base. After the ledge, the route starts on the face, about 3 meters to the left of the gulley, and is a sustained 5.10a for about 15-20 meters until the anchor station. Falling from above the 1st bolt after the ledge (3rd bolt on the pitch) could potentially deck you on the ledge.

P2: 5.9+. 35 meters. 8 + 2 bolts.

The previous pitch’s stiff slab continues for a short distance (first three -four bolts) after the anchor station. Thereafter, it eases up, progressively, until it becomes scrambling terrain.

Exit, traverse to High on Grass anchor station about 30 meters to the left of the top anchors. Top anchors shared for Inspiration and Chai, Comfortably Numb, and Pranic Drilling.

Route by Prani and Dini.

Routes Inspiration and Chai, Comfortably Numb, and Pranic Drilling share bolts till the ledge that starts about 25 odd meters from the base.

Starts immediately left of the gulley and ends back at the P1 -anchors of route Inspiration and Chai.

The route after the ledge feels stiffer than the given grade.

Second pitch merges with route Inspiration and Chai, Inspiration and Chai.

P1: 5.7. 35 meters.

See above for P1 shared bolts until the end of the ledge. The route after the ledge is in the gulley, with the bolts placed to the right. This second half of the P1 gets into a steep gully for about 10 odd meters, has some nice moves and is well protected.

P2: 5.10a. 40 meters.

Pitch two is a bit flaky in places, with some really nice side pull moves on slab. Bolt two to three on P2 is a bit runout with flaky holds, and accumulated loose mud, and a fall here will get you all the way to the anchors. But relatively easy terrain. Two crux moves on the P2.

P.S. Looks like I didn’t count the bolts here!

Exit: Traverse to High on Grass**, and rap off on 60-meter rope.

Route by Prani and Seema

** There is an Owl nest, in the cave behind the grass patch you see on the ledge. Avoid climbs Rum and Rasam & Beku Beku, during Owl’s nesting season. Alternatively, these climbs deserve an alternate start.

P1: 5.7. 35 meters from the ledge, or 50 meters from the ground level. 5 + 2 bolts.

This is a really good 5.7 (possibly mixed Sport) climb for the beginners. A short crack of about 5 meters can be protected with BD size #2 or -#3 cams. Or can be runout.

P2: 5.5. 30 meters. 1 + 2 bolts.

The route angles left from here. There is a good line directly below the bolts for a future route.

Exit: Rap off using a 70-meter ropes. Or a 60-meter rope, if you are comfortable with downclimbing on easy terrain.

Route credit: Dinesh Kaigonhalli and Pranesh Manchaiah, Ground up bolted.

** There is an Owl nest, in the cave behind the grass patch you see on the ledge. Avoid climbs Rum and Rasam & Beku Beku, during Owl’s nesting season.

The first bolt is a bit of a runout. After you scramble about 15-20 meters to the ledge that forms the start of this climb, the first bolt is another five odd meters higher up in the corner. A fall before you clip the bolt in the corner, will certainly cause much damage. Hence the rating of R/X.

The moves in this corner climb, that transitions to a slab are quite interesting, and would have been more fun, if not for the flakiness of the holds. Despite the rating of 5.10b, I think the moves here are no harder than 5.9, but the ‘choss’ factor drive up the grade, I suppose. I found the route to be simpler than High on Grass**

After six bolts, the climb eases up, and then after the eighth bolt, you won’t see any bolts further.

There are two options here. One, you either continue climbing and angle left to join the second pitch of ‘Rum and Rasam’ and finish the route in one entire rope length, with an additional bolt protecting the rest of the 5.5 rated pitch, or, two, do the mildly exposed sharp left traverse from the eighth bolt to the P1 anchor station of ‘Rum and Rasam’ to break this up into two pitch climb.

Route credit, Pranesh Manchaiah.

Named for the flake at the crux that seems as if it may come off at some point (not to worry, it has withstood the test of time and climbers for over a decade).

This two-cruces problem with the second and the main crux requiring one to traverse right from the flake to a thin ledge.

Route Credit, Balaji SR.

The first bolt is a bit exposed but optimally situated. Takeoff on a mildly overhanging boulder, make the first clip and then face the first crux of the route, which requires dynamic moves for folks of average or shorter height.

Then after a mildly runout 3-odd meter traverse, another out of reach bolt on the headwall that requires a technical move to make the clip. The short, but intense headwall is well protected.

Old school grade. Feels harder by a grade or two than the given grade. Is the hardest route amongst all the routes here.

Route credit, Dinesh Kaigonhalli. Rebolted with Rawl bolts in 2016 by BCI, including the addition of top bolts.

The route starts on the boulder at the base of the crag, protected by a bolt, and continues up, directly under the roof. If you traverse right along the crack, you would have taken an easy variation of the original route.

The initial slab moves on the boulder take off and the roof transition are the hardest moves in this entire climb. Otherwise, will go at 5.10a or b for a small section and considerably lower for rest of the route.

Route credit: Gerhard Schaar & Pranesh Manchaiah

An old classic line that used to have two bolts leading up to the crack, and the climb used to follow the crack.

In early 2000s, Gerhard Schaar in consultation with couple of local climbers but not the wider community had bolted the route slightly to its right and changed the nature of the original line. This had caused some anguish in the local community, but the decision at this point is to leave the bolts alone.

Follow the arête, right of the boulder at the base, and follow the crack. The crux is right before the roof crack, and there after the route eases up considerably.

The route is on the right side of Prema's Chapathi and traverses from the start to right and then back to left. The route is bow shaped.

Follow the arête, right of the boulder at the base, clip right and traverse right. The start is on thin holds on the slab and doesn't letup for next four-five bolts. Thereafter, the next crux is a long-reach slab move, before the route traverse left and straight up.

The first bolt is a bit exposed with serious consequences. Stick clip, or clip while exiting the route to its left (Prema’s Chapati)

Route credit, Gerhard Schaar & Pranesh Manchaiah

Well protected slab characterised by delicate moves, high steps and side pulls

The stiff slab start gets you on to a ledge under the tree and the crux involves getting over the roof, with no good feet to assist.

Route credit: Gerhard Schaar & Pranesh Manchaiah.

Another stiff slab start. Stiffer than the start of the route #6. After the initial hard slabby moves for about 12 feet, the route becomes a 5.8 climb.

There is a particular beta to make this easier than it seems. Figure it!

Route credit: Gerhard Schaar & Pranesh Manchaiah

Another four-pitch route added in Dec 2023.

P1: 5.7, 6 + 2 bolts, 20-meters Slab. Hanging belay

P2: 5.10a/b, 5 + 2 bolts, 20-meters Crux between the 3rd to the 4th bolt. Steeper slab. Hanging belay

P3: 5.10b/c, 6 + 2bolts, 30-meters Crux between 2nd and the 4th bolts. The seeming bulge in the rock provides for opportunity to solve the crux. The second half eases off significantly.

P4: 5.7, 6 + 2 bolts, 30-meters From the airy belay station, a relaxing and satisfying finisht to the route.

Route by Sohan & Zaman Ishtiaq

Four-pitch route, similar length as Namaste to its left.

P1: 5.6, 3 bolts + 2, 30 meters Comfortable anchor station.

P2: 5.8, 4 bolts + 2, 30 meters The slab begins to get slightly vertical between the 2nd and the 4th bolts. Crux of the pitch at the 4th bolt. Comfortable anchor station.

P3: 5.10b/c, 8 bolts + 2, 20 meters The money-pitch, along the corner and the slab. Sustained grade and well-bolted, the crux between the 4th and the 8th bolts. Hanging belay.

P4: 5.10a, 7 bolts + 2, 25 meters Steeper slab. Watch for a potential fall onto the belayer before clipping the second bolt. From the anchor station, head over the easy slab to a large boulder hidden amidst the grass to top out, or abseil from here. If topping out, hike right to exit out. Or find the top bolts of another route below the large boulder sitting at the edge to the left, to rap off.

Roof after the first bolt is NOT the crux. Easy, and well protected minor roof.

The crux is sustained 5.8 nature of the slab route. The route has shed rock significantly since first bolted, and the grade has followed in the opposite direction.

Route by Sohan Pavuluri & Narayan Pai, FFA: Gowri Varanashi

The crux is between bolt 1 & 2. Spoiler alert; move left below the first bolt, and traverse right over it. If it feels harder than 5.9. then you have the beta wrong.

Alternate move that continues right of the bolt is 5.10ish and may cause significant swing to the left.

If you plan to top out, there is another set of anchors, after about 5 meters from the current top bolts. The route used to be 35-meter long, before we lowered the anchor, a year later.

Route by Sohan Pavuluri, Narayan Pai, Gujju Razzak, & Arjun Menon, FFA: Narayan Pai

5.10c. 45 meters. Multi-pitch

P1: 5.10c. 20 meters. 5 + 2 bolts.

The route traverses significantly from left to right. And with sharp ledges. Not a great route for top roping.

The crux is the first half of the first pitch. Over the mildly overhanging ledge, a sloper crux! Traverse right on the ledge with feet close to the edge and continue the suffer fest on sharp rock that threatens your rope constantly.

P2: 5.6. 25 meters. 3 + 2 bolts.

Left to right diagonal route, with spaced out bolts on easy terrain. Allows you to top out.

Exit: 35-meter rappel, or walk left, over to the top bolts of Kurma, and rappel in two lengths (5 meters & 30 meters)

Route by Sohan Pavuluri & Narayan Pai, FFA: Nipha Venkatesh

No bolted anchors. There is a tree at the top so have to rapell down using the tree.

Moves on arete and slab. Immediately to the right of Vasuki.

Route credit: Sohan & Balram Warrier. FFA: Vikram Murthy

P1: 5.11d, 25 meters. 10 + 2 bolts. Sustained powerful moves on crimps and transition to chossy upper section.

P2: 5.10a. 25 feet. 6-7 + 2 bolts.

Chossy slab pitch. With more traffic, it may settle in.

Route credit and FFA: Pranesh Manchiah & Seema Pai.

This is the 1st route from the left side on the upper wall.

Bolted for lead in 2019.

Route credit: Satish Venkatachaliah and Pranesh Manchiah

FFA – Currently known clean FFA is attributed to Praveen CM, belayed by T.T.Niranjan.

This is the 2nd route from the left side on the upper wall.

Top anchors bolted in 2019. Bolted for lead on 14th Feb 2021.

This is the 3rd route from the left side on the upper wall.

Top anchors bolted in 2019.

Bolted for lead on 14th Feb 2021

This is the 4th lead route from the left side on the upper wall.

Shares the last 4 bolts and the top anchors with Nagarahaavu route.

Top anchors bolted in 2019. Bolted for lead on 14th Feb 2021.

This is the 5th lead route from the left side on the upper wall.

Top anchors bolted in 2019.

Bolted for lead on 14th Feb 2021. Awaiting FFA

This is the 6th route from the left side on the upper wall.

Top anchors bolted in 2019.

Multi-pitch

P1: 5.9. 30 meters. 7 + 2 bolts.

P2: has two bolts with a massive runout (will add one more bolt in the run out) - so incomplete multi-pitch technically”

Route starts right of the corner.

Route by Suma Rao, Bhaskar Bhat and Satish Venkatachaliah.

FFA - Suma Rao

P1 : 5.7

P2 :5.5

Route by Satish Venkatachaliah and Pranesh Manchiah.

P1 : 5.6

P2 : 5.5

FFA, Sohan. Route by Sohan & Satish. Jan 2016

Bolted in 2014 and currently the only route in the crag which can be safely climbed.It's the first route starting from the left side. It's a 2 pitch route.

P1: 5.10a. 30 meters. 12 + 2 bolts.

Crux is from second to third bolt. Reachy slopers, with smear for feet. Another 20-30 feet of 5.9ish section. Can rap-off with 60-meter rope from pitch one.

P2: 5.7. 50 meters. 3 + 2 bolts.

Extremely flaky, and an easy scramble towards the end.

Exit requires you to cross over to the valley before the next crag and walk off to the right, and after a distance get on to the adjacent crag’s sloping ridge.

Route credit: Achim Noller, 2014.

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb.

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb.

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb.

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb.

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb.

Old bolts with a fence at the base. Hence currently not safe to climb.

About 40 feet to the right of the corner cave.

Start has some crimps and smear moves, and then the entire route eases up to 5.6/5.7.

Two ledges define the three sections. Four, two and three bolts on each section.

There is one more anchor station on the roof above the route.

Reaching that will be another 10 additional feet of climbing.

At the top of the route, you could exit right to top out on Varlakonda. A 70-meter rope will allow you to climb the initial lower 5th class and then upper 4th class walk to the ledge and beyond to safety.

Right of the crack. Follow the patina sized ledges all the way to the top.

The soft squishy ‘soil’ on the ledges is monkey shit. You are welcome.

Route credit: Sohan Pavuluri & Gadappa. FFA: Siddhartha Chaudhuri

2 pitch route with an optional 3rd pitch.

Connects to the second pitch of the Meghaduta Traverse. And also allows you to get to the top of the hillock.

P1: 5.9, 25 meters. 8 + 2 bolts

Crux is between bolt 1 & 2, thereafter, 5.7-5.8ish climbing. New route, so the grade is still being evaluated.

P2: 5.10b, 30 meters. 9 + 2 bolts.

Money pitch, with good protection, traverses right, and then goes up straight. The crux is between 4-5 bolts, technical slab move, and then thin feet and a crimp to the jug in a pocket. There after narrow ledges & slab moves to the anchors.

P3: 5.7 A0/5.11d, 12 meters. 1 + 2 bolts.

Traverse right for 20-25 feet along the roof crack, and then where the roof narrows, reach for it, clip to the single bolt, and make the bouldering move at 200 feet off the ground. Once over the roof, the anchor station to the left, in ten feet.

The crack takes, BD cams .3, .5, 2, 3 & 4 cams, upto the point before the bolt. A slim rack should do just fine.

IMPORTANT: If getting on the third pitch, best to top out and hike out from the left. For rappel from the P3, one, would require a 70-meter rope, and two, the rope abrades heavily over the roof. So hike out.

Route credit: Sohan Pavuluri, Kamalesh Thigulla, Ferdin Sylvester & Hari Gopinathan. FFA of the first two pitches: Satnam Singh & Latha BM (Mar 2019)

Slab start left of the side cut.

Crux #1 requires moving left under the bolt #2, on thin foot holds.

Crux 2 is at the 4th bolt, to the slightly out of reach incut ledge, on thin foot holds.

At the third or fourth bolt, if you go left, the grade is 5.9, but if you move right and make the technical move to reach the incut, the move is a rewarding 5.10a.

A bit ‘reachy’ start, requiring a dyno off the slab to a ledge. Rest of the route is defined by ‘slabby’ high steps.

Dyno start to the ledge. Most of the climb is an easy 5.7-5.8.

The crux is at the last bolt to the anchor station where it kicks up by a grade or two.

Bolts added for lead climbing by BCI; Bhaskar Bhat & Jackie Stenson. FFA: Jackie Stenson

The crux is from 2nd to the 3rd bolt, thereafter straightforward climb. Located in a water patch or runnel. Tends to remain wet with previous night’s rain.

The bolting for a rap bolted route is interesting, with potential ledge falls not well protected, especially from the 2nd to the 3rd bolt.

The crux is the takeoff, and the rest of the climb is a lower 5.10 grade.

*Watch out for Z-clip possibility at a spot between two close bolts, somewhere in the middle of the route. Probably the first z-clip case in Bangalore reported from this climb.

Bolts added for lead climbing by BCI; Aron Zingerman, & Satish Venkatchaliah.

FFA: Sohan Pavuluri