Savandurga & Tirumale | Your One Day Trip Guide from Bangalore!

Last Updated on 14 August 2023 by Poorna & Brinda

Savandurga is the largest monolith in Asia. This day trip will help you explore it along with two ancient temples.

First in the series of 26 One Day Trips from Bangalore, we present the lovely monolith of Savandurga along with the beautiful temples of Lord Venkatesha in Tirumale on the outskirts of Magadi and Lord Someshwara in Magadi town.

There are many places to visit near Bangalore as a one day trip. From Hills station to riverside to rocky splendours to Heritage monuments, one can comfortably do a one day trip covering them.

The Circuit

Bengaluru – Thippagondanahalli (T G Halli) reservoir – Thirumale – Magadi – Savandurga – Ramanagaram – Bengaluru

Google Map – Click this link

Distance – 151 KMs

Latest update – The Bangalore – Magadi road is being widened and there are many diversions and traffic is heavy.

The Plan

7.30 AM. – Leave home. Have breakfast on the way in any of the restaurants. Those of you are not staying close to Magadi road, hitting NICE road and exiting at Magadi Road is a good option. The drive to Magadi has some lovely vistas especially after rains.

9 AM – Arrive at Thippagondanahalli Reservoir. To enter the reservoir, you need to get pass from BWSSB Head office. Built across Arkavati river, it is one of the oldest in the state. The large expanse of water flanked by rolling hills makes it a nice place to enjoy. Depart and for next few KMs enjoy the Arkavati valley and its undulating roads.

10 AM – Arrive at Thirumale temple on the outskirts of Magadi. Legend has that Thirumale temple was consecrated by Mandavya Maharshi. Enjoy the ambience of festivity, beautiful sculpture of Lord Venkatesha/Balaji, pray to naturally formed Lord Ranganathaswamy . After visiting the temple proceed to Someshwavara temple close by. Noted for its Vijayanagar style of architecture.

11.30 AM – Drive from Thirumale to Savandurga is pleasant. An excellent road and you will soon be driving through Savandurga reserved forest. You will find a lovely lake at the foothills with beautiful lotuses blooming. Stopover for some a nice photo opportunity.

12.15 PM – Arrive at Savandurga. Park your car at foothills and walk up the hill on the trek route. Follow the electric poles and yellow marks. Be careful of steep climb. It will be slippery during rainy season.  It is 2 KM uphill trek to summit. You can also take help of locals who act as guides for a small fee. Reach the summit and exult “wow” looking at the landscape around this huge monolith. If you are the adventurous type, you can do rock climbing only if you are well-trained. Savandurga is one of the best places in South India for rock climbing. If you are not doing it, then enjoy the environs. Come down from the hill slowly. Find a nice place under a tree to refresh yourself. Don’t worry if you can not do the trek. You can still enjoy this lovely place. Visit two temples of Virabhadraswamy and Narasimha at the foot hills.

Trek to Summit and back will take 3 hours. Plan it accordingly. No risk taking here. You can read dangers of taking risk in this report in Bengaluru Mirror.

1.30 PM – Drive out of Savandurga. Drive slow and enjoy the vistas. It is stunning to see the rock formations. Take pictures, stop and enjoy clouds floating over them. This stretch of the road till Ramanagaram is the piece-de resistance.

2.30 PM – Arrive at Kamat Loka Ruchi or any other restaurant near Ramanagaram for lunch.

3.30 PM – Post lunch, walk into Janapada Loka or Folk museum next to Kamat Loka Ruchi for a walk around to explore the folk exhibits.

4.30 PM – Drive from Kamat Loka Ruchi back home.

Travel Tips

a) Nothing is available on the Savandurga hill. Carry enough water/eats.

b) There are no good restaurants at foothills of Savandurga. Locals run few eating joints but they are not great.

c) The shops at the junction of highway and road forking to foothills  is the place where you can pick up water bottles or fruit drinks.

d) You can do this circuit in reverse order if you don’t want to climb in the late morning. You can finish the climb and then proceed towards Magadi and Thirumale.

e) Savandurga is also an excellent place for bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

f) There is a nice terracotta workshop of Karnataka Handicrafts Corporation opposite Kamat Loka Ruchi. You may buy some nice terracotta items here.

g) The timings given here are indicative. The road conditions may change due to various factors. It will be good to join a road trip enthusiasts’ FB group HVK Forum managed by H V Kumar, the doyen of road trip in India. You can get the latest updates on the road conditions in this very active group.

We strongly suggest that you download customised RoutO app from H V Kumar. HVK as he is fondly called, provides you customised route maps, live support on the road trip and will also help you with hotel accommodation as well. Check out all details here.

RoutO – The Right Route & Travel Support For The Motorist Traveller

Have you been to these places? What has been your experience? Please do share with us.

If you are interested in longer road trips from Bangalore with detailed itineraries, you should look at these posts on this blog

Weeklong Road Trips from Bangalore – 12 Exciting options with detailed itineraries! – http://traveltwosome.com/exciting-road-trips-from-bangalore/ 

Weekend Trips from Bangalore (Covers Saturday & Sunday) – 8 Exciting options with detailed itineraries! – http://traveltwosome.com/weekend-getaways-from-bangalore/

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