Savandurga trek trail is an adventure buffs paradise. The hill of Savandurga (Savanadurga) lies off Magadi Road, 60 kilometres west of Bangalore, Karnataka. Being 1226 metres above sea level, it is believed to be one of the biggest monolith hills of Asia. It is formed by two hills, the black hill or Karigudda and white hill or Biligudda. The place is ideal for trekking.
Savandurga. Image courtesy: Shyamal
The Sanskrit word Saavana means three times ritual. The hill lies in the lap of nature. Covered with scrubs and deciduous trees, one can easily spot yellow throat bulbuls, while sloth bear and leopards can be found in some parts. Earlier, there were no steps that led to the top of the hills. It used to be covered extensively by bamboo trees. Spend some time picnicking at the foothills of Savandurga. You can also indulge in rock climbing or cave exploration. Let’s know more about Savanadurga trek.
Savandurga Trek Trails
Savandurga trek is not very difficult. The hill has gentle slopes that can be trekked by a novice as well. Most of the trekking routes lie on the southern side of the monolith, ranging from 700-950 feet of technical climbs. The trek is composed of hard-core trekking coupled with sports. Owing to its location, the rock gets quite hot when the sun is right on top. Nevertheless, it is meant for adventure enthusiasts and thrill seekers.
When on Savandurga trek, trekking uphill leads to a fortress built by Kempe Gowda II. The fortress was later occupied by Tipu Sultan. Yellow lines mark the trail of Niligudda; however, they are missing and can get quite confusing at Karigudda. It is 2 kilometres trek one way and can be done over a day. During the rainy season, however, it could get quite challenging and must be avoided. Be sure to take all the precautions when setting out on Savanadurga trek.
Savandurga. Image courtesy: Shyamal
Things to Do at Savandurga
Besides Savanadurga trek, here’s what you can do to spend some quality time at the hills.
The River Arkavathy: Spend some time admiring the beauty of this river as it can be seen from Savanadurg. It passes through Thippagondanahalli reservoir onto Manchanabele Dam.
Manchanabele Dam: This dam is situated close to Savanadurga and offers a variety of water sports.
Temples: There are two main places of worship on these hills. The one on the foothills is that of Sri Savandi Veerabhadraswamy and the other is of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy with an idol of Lord Narasimha.
How to Reach Savanadurga
By Air
The closest airport to Savanadurga is Kempegowda International Airport which is just 90 kilometres.
By Train
The best option is to reach Magadi by train. The railway station is barely 12 kilometres away from the hill.
By Road
Regular buses ply to Magadi Road. From there, follow the signboard pointing to Savanadurga. A longer route, but a good alternative is Mysore Road.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your gear and explore the awesome Savandurga trek.
