Savanadurga (Magadi Tq) is a Tall Granite Hill (11 Km from Magadi) formed by the union of two high peaks (4,024 feet MSL) called locally as the Kari Gudda (Black hill) and Billi Gudda (White hill). This is a very popular location with walkers, hikers and climbers due to the pure natural adventure it provides. It also has a famous old temple of Narasimha Swamy. The temple is located at the bottom of the foothills. The main temple has an adjacent temple dedicated to Laxmi.
Now coming to the details of the trip, we wanted to start well and early, but got delayed a bit, and we finally reached the Kalasipalya bus stand 10 mins before 9:00 am. We immediately got into an KSRTC bus going to Magadi. The distance to Magadi is 50kms, and the ticket cost us Rs 20/- per head. Around 10:50 we got down at a place which I can recall as Hospet and took a bus to Nayakanapalya. The distance to this place is around 8 Kms and the ticket was Rs 6/- per head. We got down at a place known as the Nayakanapalya Gate and took an rickshaw to cover the last 4 Kms of the journey this cost us Rs 10/- per head. We reached the foot of the hills around 11:40 am.
The first sight of the massive hill that lay in front of me just floored all the thoughts I had in mind; that it would be an easy trip where we could climb a hill without much difficulty. The hill is just too huge, and the journey to the top is difficult but at the same time the other people around who were also climbing with us seem to have a great sense of humor and made climbing a lot more fun.
Though we wanted to go till the hill top, we aborted the climb mid way mainly due to time constraints and our ill preparedness (inappropriate foot wear for the climb/decent) for this climb. We thought it would be best to climb early in the morning and best when we are well prepared for this climb. Hence we went ahead with information gathering to have a proper climb the next time round. We found that it take 2-3 hours for the climb/decent of the hill. There is also a direct bus from Bangalore which reaches here at 8:00 am, which would be ideal for our next trip.
On the climb up always follow the arrows marked on the large stones for the know routes. And also follow the electricity line, which has the proper way to the top. And have a nice sense of humor along, helps a lot. For example, while we were just hanging around midway and considering returning down, we meet a person who was coming down. We asked him if he went to the very top, he told yes. To which we asked what is there on the top. His reply there was nothing much just the electricity poles and the Basava statue!!
Though we could not go to the very top, but still the views were absolutely superb and fantastic. The fun and excitement was much more than what we felt at Tippu’s Drop (Nandi Hills). We stayed there mid way for some time, talking to people and enjoying the view. We also had our packed lunch which we had carried and then finally descended down and visited the two temples which were at the bottom of the hills. We still had quite some time before the 3:30 direct bus, so we decided to walk the 4 Kms to Nayakanapalya from where hoped to catch some other bus or the same bus whichever came earlier. Finally at Nayakanapalya we ended up getting the direct bus. The bus went to Magadi and started from Magadi at 4:00pm and we reached Kalasipalya at 6:00pm.
All in all a very good trip, would have had been excellent if we were better prepared. But we really enjoyed every bit of it and will go again soon and complete the climb sometime soon. So if you are looking for adventure and that too in the most natural form with limited budget then this would really suit you well.
Facts/Suggestions:
- Savandurga is 60 Kms away from Bangalore.
- Kalasipalya -> Magadi (50 km) -> Nayakanapalya (8km) -> Savanadurga (4km).
- There are private as well as KSRTC buses. In these few are direct buses, but many buses are there to Magadi which run at regular intervals.
- It is best if you carry the food items/lunch from Bangalore itself, since there are no hotels as such at the foot of the hills.
- If you are not sure of how to go, then there are small boys who can be found around the Narasimha Swamy Temple who will take you till the top and back for a sum of Rs 50/-.
- The over all cost for this trip came to around Rs. 100/- including the food items which we purchased in Bangalore. Excluding the food it would come to around Rs. 65/- for the travel cost.
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June 8th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
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June 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
thanks a lot for writing your experience…i am planning to visit the place soon.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
it is nice, but i want the details of nearer places to the savanadurga to see while returning can you give the details ? mail me further details
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Savandurga is not just a Visiting place, you willl get see many historicle things around the places, for example you will find one old destroyed fort constructed by sri. Kempegowda near the back side of veerabhadreshwara temple , and also anjaneya swamy temple in the bottom of the hill, in the top of the hill
Also you will find so many historicle mantapas, destroyed temples, forts and water pits and old nandi mantapa on the top of hill and you will find many ayurvedic treese, plants for the use of ayurvedic madicines
wile climbing the hills you can see the sight seing spots around the savanadurga, and it is not easy to climb the hills, nearly 1 hour to climb and 01 hour to come back depending up on the strieght of the climbers and also there is no support to climb , some places it could be more dengerous, whlie climbing the water or food neceesary and be carefull about the water pits on the hill if you fall down to that pits, you will lost your life.
Root Destination
From bangalore kalasipalya to savanadurga ( Via Magadi Road -Kamakshipalya- Sunkadakatte-tavarekere-magadi- nayakanapalya) – 60KM
From Magadi to nayakanapalya -08 KM
From Nayakana palya to Savanadurga -4KM
In savana durga you will find Four temple and one forest garden
1) Lakshmi Narasimha teple – This temple is the main temple for this historicle place , the god is birth by stone and is very holy, if you worship the god your wishes are defenately come true
2) Laksmi temple – This tepmle just besides to Lakshmi narasimha swamy temple
3) Veera bhadreshwara temple – This temple you will find the entrance of the savanadurga -near by Governament school
4) Forest garden – This garden is before veera bhadrewara temple in the way of the savanadurga, this garden used for rest and party enjoying . and you fill find deers, crockadiles, and so many animals to see and also boting fecilities there to enjoye
And also be carefull about the docoitas and robberers, pick packeters, Murders
This place is safe for one day visiting oly , dont stay there for security purpose
Via savanadurga come back of bangalore dont forget to visit Sri. Ranganatehwar temple near magadi this is also very historicle place from magadi to ranaganatheswara temple neraly 1.5 KM
January 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am
@Krishna: Thanks for providing so much information.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Hi,
Is this place senior citizen freindly…?
Sanjay
January 21st, 2009 at 10:16 pm
@Sanjay : No not at all, if you would like you could take then to the base of the hill but climbing would be a big NO. It is too steep and there is nothing to hold onto in many places during the climb.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Thanks For the Info Man..I planned for a trip and your info was very helpful
April 27th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Can someone please tell me that, can we go by bikes ? is there some parking places for bike ? is it good to go in May (climate concern).
April 27th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
@Vishnu : Yes you could go till the bottom of the hill by bikes. May according to me would not be the best time to go, it would be either too hot or raining. If you can manage the heat then go ahead. But don’t even think of going there during the rains.
June 19th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Climbing till the top is a tough path but once you are there on the top and turn around your self you will experience the beauty of the nature so much that you wont even remember the pain of climbing, a walk through cave amidst greeneries will be a good experience. But be careful while getting down, if you start running downwards and loose your balance you yourself cant stop yourself. Beautiful place to spend your weekend need some stamina to climb tough place for tummy people
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
How about a bike ride there?? n about the roads n parking n safety ??
m planin to go by bike.. next weekend..
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Thanks for the information.We had also visited this place long back but alone but now we want to visit along with the family.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Hey guys,
I haven’t seen this place. But, I’m going to visit it soon. Have you seen Revanadishwera betta and Rama devara betta near Ramnagar? Even it’s fantastic location a rocky historical place. Go and visit it.
September 26th, 2009 at 11:24 am
“there are small boys who can be found around the Narasimha Swamy Temple who will take you till the top and back for a sum of Rs 50/-.” IS NOT SAFE AS WE HAVE RESCUED MANY FROM THE MISADVENTURES DUE TO THIS STUPID KIDS< CAUTION DON’T ASK THEM TO TAKE YOU IN ANY OTHER ROUTE THAN THE REGULAR ONE, IT MAY BE TOO LATE BEFORE YOU REALIZE YOU IN TROUBLE.
LALIT
9243068286
September 26th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Is any one going to savanadurga? Please call me on 9243068286, maybe I can arrange Lunch yor you at no cost (if you are in a small group or 3 or 4), or almost no cost, Reason being I have corporate team outing almost every weekwend at the forest camp site at Savanadurga.
October 28th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Hey Guys,
Thanks for you information, how about the road, in case we choose bikes.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
@Bala: You can go by bikes to the place, you should be face any problems.
December 4th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
[...] There is no eatery around, so carry food and water as necessary. You can also go there by bus, read Nithin Kamath’s trip for [...]
January 1st, 2010 at 12:39 pm
hi guys m planning 2 go there this sunday how dangerous is the trek is the rout properly marked or r guids aval for trekking nd r there any gud place tht i can visit around there nd is there fee there pls reply to my mail id
waiting 4 reply
January 5th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
@Kushal : Sorry for the late reply, I was not available online for most part of last week hence could not reply. The trek route is not marked, guides should be available. There is no fee for entry to Savanadurga.