BR Hills

After an enchanting Yelagiri trip, we had nothing much to do for a week or two, it was hectic at work with client visits, fast approaching project deadlines and last moment targets to meet. We were just waiting for a long weekend to unwind and relax. Luck By Chance!! As we can put it, we were off on Saturday, Sunday and Monday during the last week of May!! All we wanted to do was to stay away from the mechanical Bangalore lifestyle and enjoy the peace and tranquility of any place close to Bangalore. Thanks to one of our friends who introduced us to BR Hills.

Saturday morning, around 0530 hrs, our bags, all packed were loaded to the boot of our car, we drove straight to Maddur and took a pit stop at Maddur Tiffanys  to gobble hot idlis and steaming coffee/tea. With the job well accomplished, back into the car, we drove further, and took a left onto the road which leads to Malavalli and following the directions promptly we headed towards Kollegal. Kollegal can be reached through the Kanakapura route as well, however, we preferred the Mysore Road route for two reasons – better road conditions and good restaurants! On reaching Kollegal we got to know from the natives that a 30km drive from there would take us to BR Hills without touching Yelandur. Till then we were under the impression that we had to reach BR Hills via Yelandur (as per the map). It was a welcoming suggestion indeed, we saved on fuel, distance (close to 15km) and most importantly time!



Route Map to MM Hills and BR Hills

Stepping our feet on BR Hills, we realized, we had made the best choice. With a couple of showers, the entire place looked a “Green Heaven”. Biligiri Rangana Betta, popularly known as BR Hills is located on the Eastern side of Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka, 30km from Kollegal Taluk of Chamarajanagar District. B R Hills attracts people from far and wide to the temple of Lord Ranganatha (another name for Lord Venkateshwara) which stands on top of a white cliff (Bili – White and Betta – Cliff in Kannada) and hence the name.

 

We were asked to reach BR Hills before 6pm, as the check post gates would close and the entry to BR Hills is restricted between 6pm to 6am by the forest department. Stay here is a hassle, however, we were lucky to get accommodated at one of our friend’s ancestral home. The road to BR Hills was fantastic , with dense lush green forests on either side. BR Hills aka Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary(BRT Wildlife Sanctuary)is a reserve forest , formed by the confluence of the Eastern and Western Ghats. This region serves as a home for the Soliga tribes and Dr Sudarshan(Padmashree award Winner) is a well known personality here, who has contributed immensely towards tribal welfare and development.

 

We were told that there were two options to reach the temple – one was to take a flight of 250 steps (still under construction) and the other was to drive for a certain distance on road and then take a flight of 35-40 steps. As expected, we preferred the latter. A pathway through the temple lead us to the view point where we saw endless ranges of hills, covered with dense forests in shades of green, it was an awesome sight. We enjoyed the cool breeze which soothed our senses, however, missed a glimpse of the sunset as it was cloudy that evening.

We were exhausted by the time we reached BR Hills and wanted to feast on a good meal. The one and only hotel/mess we came across in BR Hills is Hotel Giridarshini. Every single person here suggests Giridarshini. We were told that this hotel has survived the test of time and has been catering to the taste buds of the tourists since ages. With limited menu options, nominal cost and excellent hospitality, we feasted on a good spread and felt at home.

 It was a long day for us as we had left Bangalore early that morning and on our way to BR Hills, we had managed to cover MM Hills and Gundal dam. We were very tired and just wanted to sleep to set out all fresh to K Gudi (Wildlife Sanctuary) the next day. K Gudi is 30km drive from BR Hills and is a wildlife reserve. The forest department here has made arrangements for a wildlife safari, costing Rs. 400 per person per trip. Our drive to K Gudi was an unforgettable one. We spotted a few spotted deer, a barking deer and thousands of varieties of birds in different hues. We could also hear the calls of the peacock and various other birds, which filled the surroundings in a musical bliss! Our excitement reached its zenith when we spotted a Leopard! By the time we could capture him in our camera, he had camouflaged with the wild.

 

 

Wow!! What a weekend spent amidst the lush green foliage, the chirping of the birds which sounds like a sonnet, the endless ranges of hills, the fresh air, the cool breeze, the dynamic wildlife, the humble cuisine and hospitality, truly an experience we love to cherish. Given an option we would like to spend a lifetime in this Paradise Personified!!