Karnataka Area: 

Season: The best season to rock climb would be September to Mid-February. 

Crag Name: Hampi

Rock Type: Granite. 

Getting There: Direct buses and trains available from Bangalore to Hospet. You can either hop into an auto rickshaw or take a local bus to get from Hospet to Hampi 

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: Hampi has been an international bouldering destination for decades now. It is definitely the most popular bouldering destination in India. There are a bunch of climbing guides and guesthouses who rent out crash pads. Tom and Jerry shop and Thimmas climbing shop are the popular ones. 

There's an extensive bouldering guidebook called the ‘Golden Boulders’  and thousands of problems have been documented. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/dE5UqA3N8GV7bXej9

Crag Name: Badami

Rock Type: Sandstone.

Getting There: Direct buses and trains are available from Bangalore. 

Type of Climbing: Sport climbing.

Notes: India’s most popular sport climbing destination and home to Ganesha, currently the hardest sport climbing route in India. Multiple stay options are available, the most popular one being Rajsangam. There are a couple of local guides available with rental gear as well. Best to get here with partners or else Hampi would be the best bet to find rock climbing partners.

The place is notorious for stolen hangers. Carry around 5 nuts and hangers that can be placed and removed after the climb.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/PvzBMcxWpvdMtmTB6

Bangalore and Vicinity

Bangalore has an active rock climbing community and partners are easy to find for any discipline of rock climbing. Follow the various Instagram profiles (Avathi outdoors, Climbing Bangalore, Bangalore climbing initiatives) and request to be added to the Whatsapp groups. The popular climbing gyms are Lets Play Climbing, Equilibrium and Kanteerava Wall. 

Crag Name: Ramnagara (town’s name)

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 2 hours drive from Bangalore. Local buses and trains available to Ramanagara from Bangalore. Auto rickshaws can be taken from the bus stand/ train station to get to the crags.

Type of Climbing: Sport/ Multi-pitch /Trad Climbing

Notes: Ramanagara is blessed with massive granite domes sprouting up in every direction and has a rich history of climbing. There are multiple crags in Ramanagara with each hosting a handful of roped climbs. The most popular stay option is Ramgad Hotel. It is better to stay closer to Bangalore and ride in to Ramanagara. 

Crag Name: Gethnaa Area (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: Named after the Gethnaa govt institute for climbing, this crag has a bunch of short single pitch sport lines and a trad line. Well bolted lines, with a good variety of moves.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iMWnQUd3WVBkboXv6

Crag Name: SD Betta (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: A crag with a super easy 2 min access from the road. It hosts a bunch of sport lines and a few top ropes. The crag gets in the shade during the early afternoon.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MTzNiqcCcUzj5WJd6

Crag Name: Achalu (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Multi-pitch trad climbing.

Notes: Huge dome with a bunch of three pitch bolted lines. Some routes have slightly longer runouts. Upper Achalu has two trad lines and elba rock, on the Achalu farms has two sport and a trad line.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/FWC25ZL9LfBxznbk8

Crag Name: Gowda’s farm (Ramnagara). 

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: A very peaceful crag with a beautiful setting. Old school routes with a lot of character to them. Most routes are well bolted with a safe runout or two.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/YFxvRx3QRd9MULhm9

Crag Name: Karekallu (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite. 

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: A very beginner friendly crag hosting a lot of easy 5.5 and 5.6. A couple of trad lines including a multi-pitch, have been developed. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/e2aPqePSdX7wriccA

Crag Name: Madapura Betta (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Multi-pitch trad climbing.

Notes: 2 small clusters of routes in the north and west face of the hillock. The routes are developed fairly recently and the routes on the north wall are in the shade throughout the day.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/zE2qLPVkdqLL6Uda9

Crag Name: CS Betta (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: Split into two clusters of routes, one developed back in the day and the other one more recent. The style of climbing is very varied with sandstone like features on granite.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/b46oNLpxMjaiiW3r7

Crag Name: Motherwall (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Multi-pitch sport climbing.

Notes: A bunch of bolted 2 pitch lines. Exit might be a bit tricky rap offs. See route topos for exit beta before you attempt these.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iRKez3ptvQcX6yyU8

Crag Name: Senapathy (Ramnagara).

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: This crag is one of the most beginner friendly ones, with around 10 lines right next to each other under 5.10a. The style is mostly the same being friction slabs with an odd feature or two. There are a couple of old school trad routes here as well.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/YrPbTQ3gSve4BE5Q9

Crag Name: Rasta Cafe (Ramnagara)

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport climbing.

Notes: Named after the Rasta cafe behind which the crag is present. Extremely varied set of climbs from the rest in the area. Short power packed lines and are well bolted. The rock is also pretty different with plenty of small nubbins sticking out which are extremely stable. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VAt31Fkbtf3Yo5NH8

Crag Name: Prana.

Rock Type: Granite.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad climbing.

Notes: Has a handful of sport lines and a massive trad off width that is yet to be freed. Well protected, good, balancey, exposed routes on crimps.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VoZghYqzFDm4tgoS9

Crag Name: Savandurga

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 2 hours’ drive from Bangalore. Local buses are available to Savandurga from Bangalore.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Multi-pitch /Trad climbing.

Notes: Savandurga is Asia's second biggest monolith and the size of the dome is unreal! It hosts 10-15 lines, 5-7 pitch routes and most of them are pretty run out and committing. Check with the local climbers about the bolt conditions and access issues before climbing here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/8oEWi38SmuGgmJe4A

Crag Name: Banyan Tree Pillar.

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 2 hours’ drive from Bangalore. Local buses are available to Savandurga from Bangalore. 

Type of Climbing: Single pitch and Multi-pitch trad.

Notes: The Banyan Tree Pillar tower is just a couple of kilometers before Savandurga. The approach is usually overgrown after the monsoons and might need some clearing. Totally worth the effort as it has a bunch of 5 star trad lines!

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/XWNj3Zo5tqCKY3ek9

Crag Name: Ravugodlu

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There:  1-2 hours’ drive from Bangalore. Local buses are available from Bangalore to Yedamadu.

Type of Climbing:  Bouldering and single pitch trad climbing.

Notes: The area sees a lot of traffic during the season and it should be fairly easy to find a group to climb with and carpool. The crag also hosts around 20 short trad lines with a potential for a lot more. There are 2 separate hillocks in the Ravugodlu area, separated by about a 10 minute ride that people usually climb in.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/mRQXoA3tqWJ5Yd4d9

Crag Name: Avathi

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 1-2 hours’ drive from Bangalore. Can take the bus to Nandi hills and get down on the way.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering

Notes: Pretty active community and should be fairly easy to find people to climb with and carpool. One of the more recently developed crags and now hosts more than a hundred established problems. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/QEXiX28ND5kB3TZ59

Crag Name: Varlakonda

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 1-2 hours’ drive from Bangalore.

Type of Climbing: Sport/ Multi-pitch /Trad climbing.

Notes: Another crag which has seen a lot of development in the last few years. It now hosts about 50 pitches worth of climbing. Well bolted lines and good variety of climbs.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/qBMX444qNRTgiLqm7

Crag Name: Turahalli

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 20 minutes to an hour drive depending on where you are in Bangalore.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: A bouldering area with rich climbing history within the city! Quality lines and a guidebook was in the making. Access issues, contact the local climbers before you climb here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/hzA2LcYr3X8HWALE9

Crag Name: Hosur Area.

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: The place is inside Tamil Nadu and is 1-2 hours from Bangalore and local buses are available from Bangalore.

Type of Climbing: Sport/ Multi-pitch climbing.

Notes: 2 Crags, Gollathani Konda and Udanapallibetta have been developed and have a handful of routes each. The area is similar to Ramnagara with endless domes and huge untapped potential for development! Golathani Konda has a couple of trad lines and a bunch of sport multi-pitches while Udanapalli Betta has a two pitch sport line and a bunch of single pitches.

Location: Gollathani Konda- https://goo.gl/maps/UjY4dVep5EM7hwaJ6

Udanapalli Betta- https://goo.gl/maps/YchFjyVairH7cuxV6

Maharashtra Area:

Season: The best season to climb here would be late October to February. The basalt rock is usually a bit brittle right after the rains.

Bombay area: For topos and partners look up Bombay Climbers FB group or visit Podar or Boulder 21 climbing gyms.

Crag Name: Belapur

Rock Type: Basalt. 

Getting There: An hour’s ride from Bombay.  Local trains or local buses are available from Bombay. 

Type of Climbing: Sport climbing.

Notes: Belapur is split into two major crags, left side and right side. In total the area holds about 50 well bolted sport routes. Definitely the most convenient cragging option around Bombay. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/g4GUFmnLU9HwBrkY9

Crag Name: Thane.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 45 minutes ride from Bombay. Local buses and local trains are available from Bombay. Get down at Kalwa station if you are taking the train.

Type of Climbing: Sport/ Multi-pitch. 

Notes: Holds about 10 well bolted sport lines. There might be chances of loose rock if you are climbing early in the season given the nature of basalt. Crag is usually in the shade until noon.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ZgFUrNcSnYU5Ji6B7

Crag Name: Khopoli.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 2-2.5 hours from either Bombay or Pune. Trains are available to Khopoli Station.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Bouldering.

Notes: Has a handful of well bolted short sport lines. Best to find partners either from Bombay or Pune and carpool if you were to climb here. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Na1LZtKPcKzWfdAV7

Crag Name: Manori.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 1.5-2 hours drive from Bombay to the Marve beach and then a ferry ride to Kolivada. You can alternatively take the local train from Bombay to the Malad station and take a ferry from there. From Kolivada, the crag is a 15 minute auto ride.

Type of Climbing:  Single pitch sport.

Notes: Climbing on this secluded beach side crag is definitely an experience. Diverse variety of holds and texture. The crag has about 10 short sport lines.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ARCk2FnmRfUkfDSDA

Crag Name: Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 45 min drive from Bombay. Local buses and trains areavailable from Bombay  to Borivali Station.

Type of Climbing: Sport climbing and Bouldering.

Notes: SNGP has two major areas; Gandhi Tekdi and and Kanheri Caves. Gandhi Tedki hosts about 5-6 sport routes and Kanheri caves has a few top ropes and established boulders. The area has some access issues from the national park guys. Get in touch with the local climbers before climbing here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/wtqzMsANVqFZoZ9VA

Crag Name: Sasunavgarh.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 1.5 hours’ drive from Bombay. Local buses are available from Bombay.

Type of Climbing: Sport climbs.

Notes: This area has about 5-6 bolted sport climbs. There are also some  access issues in the area. Best to get in touch with the local climbers before climbing here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/mpXibE3doPyvj4UL7

Goa: 

Crag Name: Agonda

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 1.5 hours’ drive from Goa to Agonda beach.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering/Single pitch sport.

Notes: The area has a handful of established boulders and a couple of short bolted sport lines. Get in touch with folks at Kim’s climbing wall in Socorro to get beta and topos.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/mYghLzpFTvBFYLZF9

Pune Area:

Beta here is slightly harder to access. Easiest would be to find partners in Rock Aliens bouldering gym or at the Raje Shivaji climbing wall for beta and topos. There are a bunch of towers which have been climbed around Pune and aren't mentioned here. You can check them out here: http://www.bhramanti.com/artrc.html

Crag Name: Sinhagad Fort.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: Around 45 minutes from the city. Local buses are available.

Type of Climbing: Single pitch, sport and trad.

Notes: About 10 short sport lines with a couple of trad lines with potential for more. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ddKW5yAEPgNZkygf6

Crag Name: Fergusson College. 

Rock Type: Quarried rock (Basalt?).

Getting There: Bang at the center of the city. Local buses are available.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: Connect with local climbers for topos and beta about the area.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/M5NUCx8GAF5LLKX5A

Crag Name: Plus Valley.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 1.5-2 hours’ drive from Pune.

Type of Climbing: Single/ Multi-pitch Sport.

Notes: About 10-15 sport routes and a couple of multi-pitches. Rock can be quite brittle especially early in the season. Check with the local climbers here for camping options.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/zUNKAVsHcEFMtAEB6

Crag Name: Hadsar Fort. 

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: Around 3 hours from Pune. Local buses are available.

Type of Climbing: Sport/Trad Single and Multi-pitch.

Notes: Has a handful of mixed single pitch lines and a trad multi-pitch. Rock can be brittle especially earlier in the season. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/TUzuZ8YrJCRHv8JL7

Crag Name: Lonavala.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 1.5 hours’ drive from Pune. 2 hours’ drive from Bombay.

Type of Climbing: Multi-pitch Sport/rTad

Notes: Lonavala hosts the famous Dukes Nose Tower. There are a couple of other mixed multi-pitches here. Rock is brittle especially early in the season. Watch out for beehives!

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Co18fkfKvTMSj6Rr5

Crag Name: Pandavgad.

Rock Type: Basalt.

Getting There: 2 hours’ drive from Pune.

Type of Climbing: Single pitch/Sport.

Notes: Has around 15 sport pitches. Best to find partners in Pune and drive down for a day trip.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/9kW5kr9abx63yviw

Telangana Area:

Season: The best season to climb would be September to Mid-February.

Crag Name: Khajaguda.

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 30 minutes’ drive from the center of the city.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: Get in touch with ‘Hyderabad Climbers’ FB group or the local gym Crag studio for beta and partners. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/DpKw3udAp43KKSe9A

Tamil Nadu Area:

Season: The best season to climb here would be from Mid-August- Mid-November and Late December- February.

Crag Name: Mahabalipuram aka Mahabs

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 1 hour drive from Chennai. Buses are available from Chennai.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: The Chennai climbing community is fairly young and Mahabs hosts around 100 boulder problems with potential for more development. Pads and partners can be found at the local climbing gyms, Fitrock or through the FB Chennai rock climbers group. Access issues, check with local climbers before climbing here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/zkB5kB7arm1bW9Ea9

Crag Name: Kattur

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 1 hour drive from Chennai.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: Small hillocks, each with a small cluster of granite boulders. The area was discovered in the 2019 season and a few problems have been put up since. Access issues, check with the local climbers before climbing here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ngWkhqFPJtacAbvh9

Crag Name: Malaipattu

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 1 hour ride from Chennai. 

Type of Climbing: Top rope single pitch.

Notes: The area is an old abandoned quarry with 3-4 existing top rope lines. Access issues, check with the local climbers before climbing here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/3rQAw5p5r5bBgg1u5

Crag Name: EKK aka Ekkambarakuppam

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: The place is in Andhra Pradesh and is a 2 hours’ drive from Chennai. Local buses and trains are available from Chennai.

Type of Climbing: Single/Multi-pitch Trad and Bouldering.

Notes: Massive valley with huge potential for development in every discipline. Has 10 existing trad lines and a few existing boulder problems. Topos can be obtained from the Chennai Climbers. Stay can be sorted with the locals in their houses. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Dnw4aeTQ6YtYw5RH9

Himalayan Belt:

Season: The best season to climb here would be April to June and October through November.

Crag Name: Chattru and Chotadhara

Rock Type: Granite and quartz mix.

Getting There: It is a 5 hour drive from Manali and it should be fairly easy to get a share taxi or hitch a ride.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: Lallu’s Dhaba is the only stay and food option. You can pitch a tent as well behind the dhaba. Hand drawn topos are available at the dhaba as well. Need to get your own pads. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/1TVqsFJTtmcMcero9

Crag Name: Manali Nehru Park Area

Rock Type: Granite and quartz mix

Getting There: A few minutes walk from the town center.

Type of Climbing: Bouldering.

Notes: A small cluster of boulders with around 20 established problems. It usually is quite peaceful in the park with no access issues. Get in touch with the 4Play guys to get topos or pads.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/eiSLc13NzDtEWQ8u6

Crag Name: Aleo

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 15-20 minute auto ride from Manali.

Type of Climbing: Sport and Trad 

Notes: The students from ABVIMAS climb here so it might get a bit crowded on some days. If you are climbing the trad lines, it should mostly be okay. Check with the 4Play Guys about the condition of the bolts. Some of the bolts are quite old. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/fAAikgbWtnKYbRjn7

Crag Name: Chichoga

Rock Type: Granite.

Getting There: 15-20 minutes from Manali.

Type of Climbing: Sport climbing.

Notes: The most convenient cragging option around Manali. Around 10 well bolted sport routes one next to the other. Routes might be covered in moss and might need some cleaning early in the season. Contact the 4Play guys for topos and other beta.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/pTSnvK6dz5FA4r8i6