TravelingBeats

Location: 3 km from Ramnagaram (Ram Nagar) Town in Ramnagaram district.

Distance: Around 52 km from Bangalore and Ramnagaram is around 48 km from Bangalore.

Journey Time: 1 and 1/2 hour

How to reach there: Best to take your own vehicle. However, you can board a KSRTC bus for Mysore and get down at Ramnagaram. From here you hire a auto to Ramadevara Betta.

Route: Bangalore – Mysore road – Kengeri – Bidadi – Ramnagaram – Take left after KSTDC yellow signboard – Ramadevara Betta

Where to eat: There is no proper place to eat at Ramadevara Betta. So if you want to eat, bring eatables. Do take water along with you. You can also have something at Ramnagaram town or at the highway dhabas.

Where to stay: There is no place to stay at Ramadevara Betta.

Ramadevara Betta (Hill) is a Hindu shrine rising more than 3000 feet. Lord Ram is said to have visited here during his 14 years exile. There is a Ram temple at the top of the hill. Once to you take left from Bangalore – Mysore highway at Ramanagaram for Ramadevara Betta, you will be riding on a narrow winding road. It will give you an awesome feeling as you approach the hill. It is here the 1975 super hit movie Sholay was shot. At the base of the hill, there are security and watchman employed by Karnataka government. Here, you can park your vehicle for a fee. For two wheelers parking fee is Rs 5.

Ramadevara Betta is a very nicely maintained. At the entrance there is a big colorful gate followed by stone carved steps leading to the top of the hill amidst greenery. There are around 300 steps. After climbing around 250 steps you will see a Anjaneya (Hanuman) temple. If you are tired you can take rest here in shade. Climb little further to reach the top. Here, it is like a little valley with trees and shades made by the rock nearby. On the left you can climb little further to reach the view point. From here one can get a awesome view of the surrounding. One can see the small hills around, rugged terrain, moving vehicles on Bangalore – Mysore highway, country side etc. Also, a great place for photography. From here you can see Saptarishi betta which resembles 7 idols from different angles.

Besides this place is a natural pond between two hills called Ram tirtha. I assume rain water get accumulated here and one can take bath here. Hereon, we went to Ram temple. Here, you can see deity of Ram, Lakshman and Sita. I was told by the temple priest that the temple is over 1000 years old and it was built my Magadi chieftain Kempegowda. Besides, Ram temple there is a way to trek to the top of the rock cliff behind Ram temple. From the top one can get good view, no doubt. But may be wise to do so if you reach there early morning. I enjoyed thoroughly. Remadevara Betta offers much more than I expected.

Note: The security there and the temple priests advises to just see the temples and not to venture anywhere else. I assume some incidents might have happened in the past.

There are some other hills in Ramnagaram which may be explored like Yatirajagiri, Somagiri, Krishnagiri, Shivaramagiri, Revanna Siddeshwara Betta, Sidilakallu Betta and Jala Siddeshwara Betta.

Filed under : Adventure, Bangalore, Religious Place, Weekend Getaways

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This was my 7th visit to Mysore. With every visit I started to like Mysore more. It was a very short visit lasting just over 24 hours. As a city Mysore is quite calm and can as a rejuvenation trip.

First we quickly saw St Philomena’s church which around half a kilometer from Sadar bus stand (KSRTC). Then we head on to Karanji lake. It is located around 6 km from Sadar bus stand. Auto charge should not be more than Rs 45 and city bus is also available.

Ticket cost: Rs 10 per head
Still camera fee: Rs 10

Karanji kere (kere means lake in Kannada) is a natural lake with a total area of 90 hectares. Water area is 55 hectares. Karanji lake is administered by Mysore Zoo authority. With huge green cover and the shady water front is a great place to spend time. Boating is available in the lake. I read that the park has been restored sometime back and looks like it is well maintained. The ideal way to see Karanji lake is to stroll through the shore line and see whatever comes on the way. It is a great heaven for migratory birds like herons, Painted storks etc. There were also a large number of Neer Kagi (bird name in Kannada, not sure what it is called in English).

Bird enclosure: This is probably one of the best place to watch bird. Inside the enclosure the birds are free. Peacocks, white peacocks, hen, duck and lots more variety to be seen.

Watch tower: You can get the best view of the lake from the watch tower.

Butterfly park: The butterfly park here is created on an artificial island in the lake on the lines of Butterfly park at Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore.

There is also an aviary and a museum. Karanji lake is located just besides Mysore zoo.

To view more pictures visit, TravelingBeats Photo gallery.

Note: This days the hotels have become little conservative in renting out rooms. Many of them like Gupta Hotel, Hotel Sangeetha etc do not wish to give rooms to unmarried couples. However, you can check in to other hotels like SK residency in Devaraj Mohalla (single room Rs 350 and double room Rs 800 plus).

Guys can stay at Jaya chandra lodge (2428509) at Kothwal Ramaiah road, Devaraja Mohalla for Rs 300 – 350. Do bargain with them. But the hotel did not look like to have a healthy environment. Not advisable for families and couples.

Dinner at Sreedevi Restaurant (Devaraja Mohalla)
Launch at Kairali Restaurant opp Sadar bus stand (Maharaja complex). Had mussels for the first time there.

For more info visit my earlier articles.

1. Mysore

Filed under : Karnataka, Weekend Getaways

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