28th July, 2017

Bored of Bangalore? 3 lesser known epic getaways are right outside the city. And are free too!

Did you ever wonder Bangalore is a treasure of natural beauty fused with modern amenities? Not only it is known as the city of pubs and clubs, Bangalore has a lot more than that to offer. This weekend why not try something else.

In this list, I have listed the spots in and around Bangalore where you can chill with your group.

#1.Ramanagaram

It is a town in the adjoining district of Bangalore. Known for its historical importance, Ramanagaram is 50 Km away from Bangalore.  Some of the activities that you can do here are trekking, cave exploration, rappelling and other rocky adventure sport. Some of the interesting climbs are Wanakkal Wall, Rainbow Wall, Achalu Wall and Senpathi Climbs.

The natural beauty of the whole region is mind-blowing.

Fun Facts:

Ramanagaram was formerly known as Shamserabad during the reign of Tipu Sultan. The rocky terrain of this place had also earned it the sets for the famous Bollywood movie Sholay and The Passage to India.

According to the Hindu Mythology, it is also believed that Sri Rama visited this place during his vanvasa and stayed on the hills which are known as Ramadevara Betta.

#2.Savandurga

Savandurga is a hill located 60 km west of Bangalore. It is the largest monolith hills in India. This place has a great historical significance. Previously in the 14th century, it was known as Savandi by Hoysala Bhallala III. Frequented by adventure sports freaks for different adventure sports like cave exploration, rock climbing and trekking.

Consisting of two hills, Billigudda and Karigudda, Savandurga has some top class slab climbing routes in the world. You can trek and reach the top. The climb is not very long and once you reach the top, the scenic beauty is just breathtaking.  While climbing you will come across rocky caves and you can explore them as well.

Fun Facts:

If you are a history buff, you will be interested in exploring the ruins of the majestic fort built by Kempe Gowda II which was later occupied by Tipu Sultan.

The literal meaning of Savandurga is Fort of Death. During rains, the rocks become very slippery and dangerous, hence this name. It is said Tipu Sultan used this attribute of the hill to his advantage to fight off the British.

#3.Anthargange

Located 70 Km away from Bangalore, Anthargange is located in the hinterlands of Bangalore, in the district of Kolar. Kolar is famous for its gold mines. Anthargange is a trekker’s paradise with adventure sports like trekking, rock climbing and cave exploration.

Located at a height of 1712 metres from sea level, the scenic beauty of this place is sublime. Also known as the Ganges in the deep, Anthargange is also famous for its historical and mythological anecdotes associated with it. Once a stronghold of the Gangas and Chalukyas, you can see many temples of the past that talks about the glorious history of Karnataka.

Fun Facts

The Kashi Vishweshwara Temple is the source of the stream, which flows through the area. The water is said to emerge from below the ground from the mouth of Basava (bull).

It is also said that Kolar was the abode of Valmiki. Lord Ram visited him in Kolar after his exile and it was here Sita took sanctuary when Lord Ram banished her from his life. Their sons Luv and Kush were born in Valmiki's ashram at Kolar.

There are many more places that I will cover in the upcoming part of this blog. For your suggestions and ideas contact me here.

by Ragini Arora