The tallest peak in Kanakapura

Trekking and Weekend Getaways

This is one hill that even an amateur would love to climb. The forests surrounding this hill are known to harbour elephants.

There is only one temple atop the hill and only one house which belonged to the priest of the temple.

The huge overhanging boulder is the ceiling of the temple and the vast uneven expanse of the hill is the temple’s flooring. Count on elephants and pother animals wandering around the temple and you have the perfect place to “shoot” with your camera and enjoy the beauty of the rolling hills and distant lakes which you can see for miles around from the breathtaking summit.

Welcome to Bilikal Rangaswamy betta. This is in Kanakapura taluk near Bangalore and it makes for a wonderful trekking and picnic place. This is one place you will never forget-the steep climb to the top, the elephant trails, the temple standing in the shade of the mammoth boulder and the view from the top.

The Betta is part of the forest land belonging to the forest reserve which is full of shrub forest and ground level vegetation.

Elephants can be frequently spotted during summer. The vegetation  becomes green and the foliage thick when the monsoon season starts. The hill is forested and the green cover doubles after rains.  

The climb to the top will give you a bird’s view of Kanakapura. You can easily make out the outlines of BM Kaval,  Kabbala Durga and other hills surrounding Kanakapura.

The Betta is generally deserted. The only time the summit seems to fill up with people is on Saturdays and Sundays and on the occasion of the annual jatre of the Bilikal Rangaswamy.  The word Bilikal is due to the white colour of the rocks.

This is one of the highest hills in the area. Its height is 3,000 feet. Since the hill is very close to the Tamil Nadu border, your cell phone can catch signals from Tamil Nadu. Want to test. Then climb the hill.

The huge boulder at the summit forms the roof for the Rangaswamy Temple. The earth of the hill is its ceiling.

Kanakapura is just 70 kms from Bangalore. You can reach Rangaswamy Betta through Harohalli on Kanakapura road. Travel upto Harohalli  and then take the road to the left which touches Dodda Maralavadi.

Another route is from Kanakapura itself. Take the road from Kanakapura to Sudgunta via Arkavati theatre. A tar road will lead you till Sudgunta. Here, a dirt road leads to the top of the hill. You can drive a bike or even a four-wheeler right up to the top.

The Betta is just three kilometers from Dodda Maralavadi and it is on the way to Koonadoddi village.  

The Safari story

Bangalore shares a unique distinction with Nairobi in Kenya and Mumbai. All the three cities have a national park adjoining them. If Bangalore has the Bannerghatta Park, Mumbi has the Borivili National Park and Nairobi, the Nairobi National Park.

However, the difference between the Bangalore and Mumbai parks are in their area. While Borivili National Park is surrounded on  three sides by human habitation, Bannerghatta is comparitively far away. Nairobi national park is just separated by a fence from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
Moreover, Bannerghatta encompasses 25,000 acres or 104.27 square kilometres, while Borivili or Sanjay Gandhi Nationa Park as it is now known has an area of 43 sq kms.

The Nairobi National Park is just seven kms from the City, Only a fence separates the park from the City. If Borivili is known for leopards, Bannerghatta for elephants, Nairobi is known for rhinoes.

Bannerghatta has not only a national park but also a big zoo. It is located on the southern side of the city and the Bannerghatta Road which starts from the Jayadeva Hospital junction takes you tp the park.

It was initially set up in 1971 and since then it has developed rapidly into one of the best preserved zoological parks in India. In 2006, India’s first ever butterfly park was started within the park.

It is about 20 kms from the City and the journey can take an hour or more. The lion and Tiger reserves or safari is worth seeing.

The park has an amazing variety of  wildlife including spotted lions, tigers, leopards, deer, sloth bears, elephants, fox, common langur, barking deer, sambar, chittal, wild pig, porcupine, bonner, chital, Ahre. Pangolin, slender loris, boars and Monitor Lizards.

The snake park has a large number of species including King cobras, cobras, Russsel vipers, Pytyhons and Kraits.

The park has made a name for itself as a relocation and rescue centre for animals which have been rescued from circuses and private zoos.

While on the safari, be careful not to alight from the vehicle. In 1992, a tiger pulled out a small girl while she was standing on the footboard of  a vehicle. The girl was killed and her grandfather was mauled.The snake park and reptile park in the park is worth a visit. The mini zoo is sure to attract children. Take the safari option to explore the interiors of the park and sight tigers and lions,

Bannerghatta is part of the Nilgiris Eastern Ghats Reserve which has the largest elephant population in the country. Therefore, elephants sightings in and around the park and in villages around Bannerghatta has become common.

The Bannerghatta forests and of course the park comes in an area which has ten reserve forests under the management of the Anekal range of  the Forest Department, Bangalore. The Bannerghatta hills are dotted with many ancient temples such as the Champaka Dhama Temple which is at the base of the Bannerghatta Hill.

The Suvarnamukhi stream runs through the national park. The stream has its origin in Suvarnamukhi Hills and it is a seasonal water body. It almost dries up in summer.

The Suvarnamukhi pond near the hill has a hoary history. It is believed to have medicinal properties.

A few months ago, a software professional, Satwick Shastry, was killed by a herd of elephants near Ragihalli Gudda while trekking in the Bannerghatta forest. So please avoid hiking on your own and take the help of the Forest Department. Check out the Nature camp where you can spent quality time with your family and friends.

If you are interested in hiking and trekking, take the Uddigebande, Mirza Hill and a natural rock formation called  Hajamana Kallu.

Check out http://bannerghattabiologicalpark.org for more details. The Park as well as the Butterfly park is closed on Tuesdays, It is open from 9 a.m., to 5 p.m., the rest of the week. There are buses to the park from Majestic, Shivajinagar, Wilson Garden or Shantinagar Terminus and City Market. 
The entrance fee for the zoo is  Adults Rs. 25:  Children Rs. 10: Senior Citizens Rs. 15.

Tiger & Lion Safari Entrance Fees: Adults Rs. 30: Children Rs. 15: Senior Citizens Rs. 25.

Grand Safari Entrance Fees (Tiger Safari, Lion Safari, Bear Safari & Herbivore Safari): Adults Rs. 60: Children Rs. 30:
Senior Citizens Rs. 40.

Elephant Safari Entrance Fees to sight the animals (1hr): Adults Rs. 75: Children Rs. 40: Senior Citizens Rs. 60.

Elephant Joy ride Fees: Adults Rs. 30: Children  Rs. 15:
Senior Citizens Rs. 20.

Long trek and  Nature walk in forest- Fees to view chital, black buck, crocodile and other animals (1 ½ to 2 hrs): Adults Rs. 50:
Children Rs. 20: Senior Citizens Rs. 40.

Short trek and  Nature walk in forest Fees to view chital, black buck, crocodile (1 hr): Adults Rs. 30: Children Rs. 10:
Senior Citizens Rs. 20.

The photography charges at the Bannerghatta Biological Park:
Still camera - Rs. 15: Video camera Rs. 100.

If you are going in your own vehicle, you can add the Cave Temple of Hulimavu which is opposite the Meenakshi Temple on Bannerghatta Road. The cave temple is one of the oldest of its kind and even the Meenakshi Temple is worth a visit. There is a small but beautiful temple of Raghavendra Swamy at Hulimavu. There are several malls and shopping complexes on Bannerghatta Road.

There are a few temples worth visiting in Bannerghatta village, Many international and residential schools and educational institutions have sprung up all along the Bannerghatta Road.

If you like adventure, go to Doddi betta which can give you a beautiful and breathtaking view of the rolling forests of Bannerghatta