Buddy pair of Vicky and Manjunath created history by becoming the first humans to explore the ancient Kangundi Durgam (Telugu word for Fort) Inselberg to introduce adventure sports of bouldering and rock climbing in Kuppam.
Wednesday, 12 March 2025 has become a watershed date in the history of Kuppam. We, volunteers of Mahavtar Babaji Tadekam Foundation (MBTF) across the Globe, were praying for a good first exploration so that the mission of Babaji and Guruji Naushir- bring culture based adventure tourism to Kuppam- could move into the next stage in top gear.
As we were praying for the buddy pair of Vicky (Instagram @kuppam_diaries) and Manjunath (Instagram @mr_manju_nath_gt650) to be safe and for them to shoot marketable photographs and videos, Vicky decided to go live on Instagram.
The breath-taking view of Kangundi from the Yali Face of Kangundi Inselberg took our breaths away. The pollution free clear blue skies with godly white clouds of Kuppam, as the weather moved from winter to summer, made an excellent view. Many of us wished we had been with Vicky and Manjunath on this ‘expedition’.
Our MBTF WhatsApp group buzzed with excited message the whole afternoon as Vicky’s photographs brought home to us the huge missed potential of Kangundi Durgam Inselberg for bouldering and rock climbing.
Typical of the ‘social media influencer’ inside them, Vicky and Manjunath recorded their exploration that day. We are thankful they did so, as that Instagram reel has already got 45,000 views (in 48 hours). This was the first three minute video Vicky was uploading after Instgram’s decision to extend length of video reels from 90 seconds to three minutes. While exchanging notes in the evening, Vicky told us that he became aware of this new Instagram three minutes magic only after uploading the video as a reel.
An explanation of the Kangundi Durgam Inselberg using a drone photograph taken by Vikcy on 12 March 2025 is given below. It very clearly brings out the excellent potential Kangundi has for bouldering and rock climbing.
For the future, there are plans being made to begin homestays, glamping, rope way from the base to the top and for a laser+light+sound show to be cast on the Yali Face of Kangundi Durgam with audience sitting at the Hanuman Site.
Link to Vicky’s three minutes reel on Instagram of 12 March 2025 exploration visit to Kangundi Durgam https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHGfZelyz0t/?igsh=MTUxODdud3U2enhmMw==
The best photographs taken by Vicky and Manjunath on 12 March 2025 at Kangundi Durgam Inselberg are…
Photograph 1: Drone photograph of Kangundi Durgam Inselberg with Lord Shiva Temple on the top,
Yali Face to the right and Irula Face to the left
