Picnic ride to Savandurga - Saturday, 16 Nov 2002

Savandurga is a small village 65 kms away from Bangalore. The place is famous among trekkers and rock climbers, for there is one big monolithic rock, almost 1000 metres high. The climb up this rock is 3 kms. The climb is sure to tire any well-built man. It is not the hard-core rock climbing thing with equipments, but you just have to very carefully walk up the steeep side of the rock. If you want to climb it with equipment, the vertical side of the rock will do. But it is risky business. You are warned. For the trekkers, there is dense scrub forest around the place, and one can trek through this forest to the dam 4 kms away. Beware, the forest is infested with bears, and leopards also live here. I saw bear foot prints during my trek. Again, you are warned.

To climb the rock, one has to know the proper path up - else you might take the wrong route, and risk falling - If you don't know the path, there are village boys available at Savandurga, who will happily accompany you up the rock and down, for around 50 Rupees. If you can, do give more, for they are poor. There is a small park maintained by the government, too. You will find spotted deer, crocodiles, hare, and some other creatures there. It is a very good picnic spot - very shady and clean.

To reach Savandurga, there are many routes, but the one I took is longer, but the best of the worst roads - if you're serious about having a smooth ride and not hurting your bike/car.

From Bangalore, hit the Mysore road - pass Bidadi - reach Ramanagaram - Ramanagaram is 45 kms from the outskirts of Bangalore - in Ramanagaram - Ghousia Engg. College on right - pass - 2kms - Bus stand of Ramanagaram - take right turn - crowdy market place - pass - road forks - keep to the right fork - pass many villages - some narrow roads - scenic view - great rocks and boulders all over the place - ~18kms - ask for directions - there is an arch on the right side of the road - announcing Savandurga - take the right turn - ~4 kms - reach temple at the bottom of the rock - lots of women selling temple items for puja - park bike at temple - take a guide - climb up - have fun.

The target of the climb is Basavanna, a god in the small temple on the very peak of the rock. Before the temple, you will come across a small shelter made of stones - where King Kempegowda used to stay/ or do whatever, in the historic days.

Precautions:

Wear a good boots or shoes for the climb, and then the trek. Equip yourself with a cap, a torch - if you get lost in the jungle and it gets dark, the torch might help you survive, a good 2 litres of pure water - there is no water on top of the rock, except dirty water, some bread or biscuits in case you get hungry. Do start off early, and be there by 7 or 8 AM. Because, as the sun comes up, the rock gets hotter, and the climb will be both hotter and tougher. Get down before it is noon, else you will be roasted alive up there. You are warned again. Staying up on the rock is possible, in the shelter. But it will be both foolish and dangerous. For the cold will surely bite you, and the bears that come there at night will not give you a good sleep. Wear some rough clothing(jeans) for the trek to the dam - since the forest is scrub jungle, and the thorns might tear your good shirt apart. While trekking, pick up some sort of a thick stick with you - in case some bears cross your path - you have some chance. ;) [ I carried a good thick stick. ]