There are plenty of great treks in and around the Western Ghats but this has to be one of the most unique — a 56km hike along a sparsely used railway track that runs from Sakleshpur to the Subramanya station. The high point of this trek are the 109 bridges that you have to cross, some spanning drops of over 200m. The track is in the process of being converted to a broad gauge line and occasionally a goods or a passenger train might come by, so watch out!

This stretch, which also includes more than fifty tunnels of various sizes, is referred to as the ‘green route’ and it’s easy to see why. It passes through some gorgeous wooded, hilly country interspersed with coffee and cardamom plantations. It takes two days of continuous walking to get to Subramanya, so you’ll need to bring tents for camping. The best places to do so are arguably some of the older and disused stations along the trail. You’ll also need a torch, insect repellent cream and food supplies. Don’t continue on the trail after nightfall as this area is part of an elephant corridor. Although it’s beautiful in the monsoon, attempt it in the drier months to avoid leeches.

Getting there Overnight buses from Bengaluru get you to Sakleshpur along NH-48. The trek starts from Donigal, the next station. For the return trip, take an overnight bus from Subramanya to Bengaluru.

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