Day hike checklist: gear and clothing for Bengaluru trails

You're at the trailhead, the sun is already up, and somewhere in the car is the water bottle you meant to refill. Everyone who goes out around Bengaluru has done this at least once. Most of us have done it three times.

This checklist splits into three parts: the non-negotiables every time, what to wear, and extras that depend on where you're going.

What to always carry

Run through these the night before, not at the trailhead.

Water and food

• Water: 2 litres per person minimum. 3 for routes over 10 km or on a clear sunny day. Most trails around Bengaluru have no water source on the route.
• Snacks: something fast (banana, dates, jaggery) for the top, something slow (nuts, a sandwich) for the descent.
• ORS sachets: one or two per person. Mix into your second bottle on hot days or any route over 10 km.

Safety and navigation

• First aid kit: bandages, antiseptic wipes, blister pads, paracetamol, and a tick remover for the Ghats. A pre-packed kit from any local pharmacy costs under ₹200.
• Charged phone and power bank: download offline maps before you leave. Signal is flaky on most hills around Bengaluru.
• Emergency contacts: tell someone your return time. Garmin LiveTrack lets a contact track you in real time. Strava and other fitness apps have similar features.

Documents and cash

• ID proof: Aadhaar or driving licence. Several forest reserves around Bengaluru will ask at the gate.
• Cash: UPI works at most trailheads, but some spots have no coverage. Carry some as backup for entry fees and the chai stall on the way back.

Comfort and leave-no-trace

• Sunscreen: SPF 30 minimum. Apply before you leave, reapply after two hours.
• Hat: a wide-brimmed hat over a cap. It covers your face, ears, and neck. A cap covers your forehead.
• Extra t-shirt: one dry shirt for the drive home. You will want it.
• Trash bag: pack out what you pack in.

Looking for a trail to use this checklist on? Browse trails near Bengaluru and check the difficulty and distance before you pack.

What to wear

Trousers

Full length, quick-dry, with enough stretch to high-step over rocks. Jeans are wrong: no stretch, heavy when wet, and they chafe on anything over an hour. Anyone who has worn jeans on a long day out knows exactly what this feels like on the drive home.

On forested Ghats trails between June and September, full length also protects from leeches.

Top

Full sleeves. Trails around Bengaluru have dense growth and your forearms collect scratches in a t-shirt. Quick-dry fabric. Dull, earthy colours near wildlife corridors.

What changes

Early morning and night

• Headlamp and spare batteries: one per person. Many summits around Bengaluru start well before dawn.
• Warm layer: a light fleece. It gets cold before dawn at altitude, even if Bengaluru was warm when you left at 3 AM.
• Hot flask: tea or coffee. Nobody argues at the summit.
• Red blinkers: helps a group keep track of each other on a dark trail.

Monsoon trails

June to October, Western Ghat trails

• Rain jacket: a fitted hood keeps your hands free in wind. A poncho works but flaps.
• Leech socks or salt: non-negotiable for any trail in the Ghats between June and September.
• Waterproof bag cover: your phone and documents need to stay dry.
• Dry change in a zip-lock: for the drive home.

Longer or technical trails

• Trekking poles: long routes with exposed granite are steep. Worth it for descent and knee stress. If you have had knee issues, do not skip these.
• More food: three hours on the trail means a proper meal, not just snacks.
• Knee support: a compression sleeve if you have had previous trouble.

Wildlife corridors

• No strong perfume or deodorant: scent travels in forest.
• Dull clothing: you are already wearing earth tones. Double-check for wildlife corridor areas.
• Binoculars: wildlife corridor trails have excellent birdlife. If you are quiet and patient, you may see sloth bears, gaur, and leopards at distance.

Permit-required trails

• Permit saved offline: download the PDF or screenshot it. No signal at most gates.
• ID for every group member: the guard can ask each person, not just the lead.
• Entry fee in exact change: many gates do not carry change.

Common questions

How much water should I carry?

2 litres per person. 3 for routes over 10 km or between March and May.

What shoes should I wear?

A trail shoe with ankle support and a grippy sole. Sandals are for the chai stall after.

What do I need for a monsoon trail?

Rain jacket, full-sleeve quick-dry top, full-length quick-dry trousers, shoes that drain. Leech socks for anything in the Western Ghats. Dry change in a zip-lock.

Do I need trekking poles?

Not for easy trails. Worth it for exposed rock or a long descent. If you have had knee trouble before, bring them earlier than you think.

Can I wear jeans?

You can. You won't enjoy it. Any full-length stretch trouser is better.

Pack this, pick a trail, and go.