Rangaswamy Betta- Near Kanakapura


Bilikallu Rangaswamy Betta is a hill around 50 Kms from Bangalore close to Kanakapura. Ravi, Nandish, Srinivas and I had gone for a trek to this place on 12-Dec-09 Saturday. Ravi who had picked Nandish came to Banashankari at 7.30 AM and I was waiting for them near Banashankari temple. We then waited around 30 minutes for Ravi’s friend Srinivas to join us. We had breakfast on the way and reached KonnalDoddi at around 9.30 AM. We parked the car in front of a villager’s house and started our trek after asking for directions. We could see Rangaswamy Betta from there and we proceeded along the mud-rock road where you can also find small water streams on the way. We could see a wide variety of birds and it was not at all possible to capture them in our cameras. After walking for about 15 minutes, you will find a small temple towards left side and that is the place where we need to take right turn and walk along the path which takes you to the top of the hill. We were not aware of this and went straight and after walking for more than one hour; my friends were sure that we had lost the track. I was adamant to go further along the path we came and we had entered deep inside the forest where we could find lot of elephant activity. After walking for some time we found few woodcutters inside the forest and they told that we had come a long way on the wrong path. My friends teased me for taking the wrong path and we walked back to small temple; we were wandering on the wrong path for more than 3 hours and time was 1 PM when we reached the temple. Ravi and Nandish were too tired and they did not accompany Srinivas and Me for uphill climb to RangaswamyBetta. I had almost emptied my water bottle when I started for uphill steep climb and I was exhausted after walking for some time. I was dehydrated and Srinivas was way behind me; I was not sure how much more I had walk to reach the top. I proceeded further and I could see lot butterflies, birds, some other insects along the way. It took me around one hour to reach the top and I could see some temple activity going on for upcoming festival. At the top of the hill there is a small temple and a house where Pujari stays during special puja days. I explored the place and I could see very good landscape from the top of the hill. I was anxious as Srinivas took more time to reach the top of the hill and at times our mobiles were working and I could contact him to know his whereabouts. We visited the temple which is abode of Lord RangaSwamy and started our descent at around 3.30 PM. We reached motorable road in Konnaldoddi at around 4.30 PM and Ravi and Nandish were waiting for us with some snacks. We had late lunch in some dhabba on Kanakapura road and we reached Banashankari at 7 PM.

Directions to RangaswamyBetta:

• Take Kanakapura road from Bangalore - Take a left next to bus stand at Harohalli (Around 35 Kms from Bangalore) - Reach DoddaMaralawadi - Ask directions to KonnalDoddi. Ask for directions to RangaswamyBetta.
• There is also a jeep road to the top of RangaswamyBetta from Kanakapura