SAVANDURGA: TREKKERS’ PARADISE
For an adrenaline filled day trip
From being called ‘savina durga’ or fort of death, the rock structure has transformed into a trekker’s delight.
Savandurga located 50 kilometers from Bangalore is a 2 hour drive from Bangalore towards Magadi road. Savandurga is one of the largest monolithic rock structures in world scaling 1226 m above sea level and is a delight to any trekker, seasoned or otherwise. Savandurga comprises of two hills BiliBetta (white hill) and KariBetta (Black hill).
Manchanbele reservoir. Pic: Usha Hariprasad.
Savandurga has a rich history behind it. It was an important landmark during Hoysala period. It was then under many rulers like Samantha Raya of Magadi, Immadi Kempe Gowda of Bengaluru, Mysore kings and Hyder Ali. The British then captured it in 1791.
The hill has forts built by Samantha Raya and Kempe Gowda.
Things to do in Savandurga
Trekking and rock climbing: The huge rock structure inspires you to surmount it. The BiliBetta can be easily climbed in a day. Such adventure sports are organised by organisations like Thrillophilia, Nature Admire, bmcindia.org etc. Camps, Cave exploration, Kayaking and Rappelling are also organised by these centers.
Trekking on your own: You can hire guides to take you through the mountain or you can go on your own. There are yellow and white paint marks inscribed in the rocks, which show you directions to reach the top. Keep in mind that the trek up and down the hill can take about 4-5 hours.
The usual route is to get to the fort wall of the mountain and take to west side of the hill to reach a horse track of bricks. Then climb further up to reach an old stone structure and a pond. Further up to the right you have a stone carving of Hanuman. To reach the Nandi temple you will have to cross the rocky caves and then ascend to the top. So if you are unsure of ascending till the very top it is best to climb in stages, which can be classified as the fort wall structure, pond and finally the Nandi.
View from Savandurga hilltop. Pic: Usha Hariprasad.
It is a nature's paradise with the place surrounded by dense Savandurga forest and the river Arkavathi flowing towards the Manchanabele dam. The forest is said to be the home of diverse flora and fauna. The place is also known for its medicinal plants. In fact at the base of the BiliBetta hill you can check out the medicinal herb plantation. If you don't want to be on your own then contact groups like Thrillophilia, which organise such walks.
Nature walks
It is a nature's paradise with the place surrounded by dense Savandurga forest and the river Arkavathi flowing towards the Manchanabele dam. The forest is said to be the home of diverse flora and fauna. The place is also known for its medicinal plants. In fact at the base of the BiliBetta hill you can check out the medicinal herb plantation. If you don't want to be on your own then contact groups like Thrillophilia, which organise such walks.
Cycling
If you are a cycling enthusiast then you can try cycling from Bangalore to Savandurga, Manchanabele dam and Big Banyan tree. For routes check out dailymile.com and mapmyride.com.
Pilgrimage center
At the foothills there is a famous temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. The idol is bas-relief structure that has naturally occurred from stone. The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy located nearby are popular pilgrim destinations. The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is built in Hoysala style and is from Vijayanagara period.
Manchanbele/Manchinabele/Manchinbele dam:
This is a dam constructed by the Karnataka government across Arkavathi River to fulfill the irrigation and drinking water needs of Magadi. The backwaters formed by the dam are beautiful and is idyllic for family picnics and outings. Bird watching is a major activity here. Some of the birds which can be spotted here are the King Fisher, Robin, Bulbul, Stork, Swift etc. Boating, rock climbing and hiking are the other activities that can be done here.
Big Banyan tree. Pic: Usha Hariprasad.
The distant hills, the faint ripples in water, the various birds perched near the water and the Savandurga hills behind the lake make for a splendid view.
Rafting, Kayaking, Cliff jumping and Rappelling are also conducted by some groups.
Big Banyan tree:
This tree is the second largest tree in India and is spread over 4-5 acres. The tree is said to be 400 years old and it has over 500 branches. The area beneath the tree is well maintained and there is an old Shiva temple as well. It is impossible to distinguish the main tree as the old tree has spread laterally with its aerial roots. The aerial roots have thickened and look similar to the original tree.
