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Banyan Tree Pillar

International > Asia > India > Bangalore Area… > Savandurga Area

Description

Banyan Tree Pillar is a heavily featured (by Indian granite standards) tower with a handful of high-quality two-pitch trad routes. Descent is a rappel off the top from slings.

Edit: There is now a pair of bolts with rap rings. A single 70 m rope should get you down the backside, from where you walk clockwise (climber's left) and descend the trail around the tower, back to the approach trail.

Getting There

See map for location. Park at 12.90399 N, 77.29062 E, and hike up about a quarter mile. Pillar location:12.90616 N, 77.28969 E

Routes from Left to Right

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 5
● Louvre
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
 3
● Khoday Neer
Trad 3 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 4
● To Bee or Not to Bee
Trad 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 2
● Cane Toad
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13
 3
● Bombs Away
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 1
● Sport Route -1
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Louvre
 5
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Khoday Neer
 3
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 Trad 3 pitches
● To Bee or Not to Bee
 4
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
● Cane Toad
 2
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● Bombs Away
 3
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13 Trad
● Sport Route -1
 1
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

I just posted yet another picture because it is simply so beautiful. One of the most valuable discoveries for me in Bangalore, thanks to Sohan who showed me the ropes here in Dec 2015, Louvre.
[Hide Photo] I just posted yet another picture because it is simply so beautiful. One of the most valuable discoveries for me in Bangalore, thanks to Sohan who showed me the ropes here in Dec 2015, Louvre.
Most of the finer routes are concentrated on the north side but a few exist on all sides. <br> <br> Approach trail leads to the north side routes (Bombs Away, Cane Toad, To Bee or Not to Bee, Khoday Neer and variants), last segment of yellow hashed line. <br> <br> The approach to Louvre in red, scramble along the base of the rock pillar.<br> <br> The rap exit is shown in green, to rejoin north side to walk back.
[Hide Photo] Most of the finer routes are concentrated on the north side but a few exist on all sides. Approach trail leads to the north side routes (Bombs Away, Cane Toad, To Bee or Not to Bee, Khoday Neer…
Bharath Pereira on the sport route to the right of where the rap line falls (from the block to the left of the crack here).<br> <br> 4 bolts, 5.10d?<br> <br> The rap location tends to cause rope getting stuck. Bharath climbed this route with our other rope in order to free the stuck rope; very handy!
[Hide Photo] Bharath Pereira on the sport route to the right of where the rap line falls (from the block to the left of the crack here). 4 bolts, 5.10d? The rap location tends to cause rope getting stuck.…
Banyan Tree Pillar. <br> <br> Photo: Bangalore Climbing Initiatives
[Hide Photo] Banyan Tree Pillar. Photo: Bangalore Climbing Initiatives

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

T T Niranjan
Mumbai Suburban
[Hide Comment] Louvre is indeed a classic! Like no other climb in Bangalore area, to my knowledge. The rappel is about 33m long, so you need to use doubles or a 70m single to get off. Apr 2, 2017
Sohan Pavuluri
Bangalore, IN
[Hide Comment] 70 meter rope! Not a 60 meter. Will get you down. No other form of exit, other than the rap. Feb 28, 2018
Gokul G
Madison, WI
[Hide Comment] Noted, and edited description. Thanks for the correction. Feb 28, 2018