5 Things You Must Do On Your Trip To Ramanagara

Ramanagara, once known as Closepet, is a small town located on the outskirts of Bangalore. The distance from Karnataka’s capital city Bangalore to Ramanagara is about 50 kms. The town’s name is derived from the nearby Ramagiri Hills and the district (of the same name) is newly carved out from the Bangalore rural district.

Ramanagara district is a beautiful place filled with flora and fauna, hilly and plain areas. A major geographical feature of this region are the large pieces of granite from the lower Proterozoic era. The district measures 3516 square kilometres, of which 699.46 square kilometres is covered in forests. The rivers Cauvery, Arkavathi and Kanva also flow through the district. There are 823 villages in the district.

What may surprise many is that Ramanagara is a movie star. It is famous for being the place where the Bollywood movie ‘Sholay’ was shot. However, this was not the only film shot here. David Lean’s film ‘A Passage to India’ was also shot here, amidst the rough-hewn boulders in the backdrop.

# Night Trekking In Ramanagara

Going on a Ramanagara trek at night is one of the most fun things to do in the district. There are many local tour establishments that offer day treks and hikes. However, at night you can enjoy the beauty of nature in detail as you are forced to look at what’s right in front of you. You can gaze at the beautiful stars above as you make your way through darkness. You can also set up camp with a bonfire to warm yourself while you relax in the great outdoors. Those who want the night to be more adventurous can head to Sri Revanna Siddeshwara Betta (SRS hills), known for rock climbing and rappelling activities. When dawn breaks, trekkers can enjoy a gorgeous view of the rising sun as its rays bathe the landscape in golden light. You can find more details and book your night trek on Insider or Adventure Nation or Events High. These activities generally cost a minimum of INR 1,200 per person.

# Rock Climbing On The Famous Sholay Hill

Once a sleepy area, the Ramadevara Betta Hills (betta means hills in Kannada) gained a lot of importance thanks to all the film shoots that took place here over the years. Located in Sugganahalli in the Ramanagara district about 48 kms from Bangalore, the hill shot to fame when it was used as Gabbar Singh’s hideout in ‘Sholay’. Since then these Ramanagara hills came to be known as the Sholay Hill. The place was called Ramanagara or Ramgarh in the film. The Ramadevara Betta Hills also serves as one of the best places to go rock climbing in Ramanagara. It’s free, and open between 9 AM and 5 PM. The hills also form part of the popular Ramanagara trek that takes visitors through some of the most beautiful parts of the district. Also known as Ramanagara Betta, they are also home to a large variety of bird species, making it an ideal spot for birdwatching. You can reach the birdwatching spot by climbing a flight of approximately 400 steps across a forest. Atop the hill is also a small temple, called the Sri Pattabhi Rama Temple.

# Stroll Through The Ramanagara Silk Cocoon Market

Located in Ijoor of the Ramanagara district, 40 kms from Bangalore, the Ramanagara Silk Cocoon Market is one of Asia’s largest cocoon markets. Everyday, this market sells about 50,000 kgs of freshly cultivated cocoons. Spread across two acres, the cocoon market is a great place to shop for traditional silk artwork. Visitors can also take a tour of the silk industries located here, or stroll through the market and check out cocoon vendors. The Ramanagara Silk Cocoon Market is open throughout the day and there is no entry fee.

# Biking, Trekking At Mekedatu

Located in Kanakapura of Ramanagara district, and about 100 kms from Bangalore, Mekedatu (which literally means ‘goat’s leap’ in Kannada) is a great destination for those looking to get away from concrete jungles. Here, the Cauvery or Kaveri river flows through a narrow (about 10 metres wide) and steep gorge after it merges with the Arkavati river. On one side of the gorge lies Karnataka and on the other lies Tamil Nadu. Apart from being a beautiful destination for nature lovers, Mekedatu has an interesting mythology behind its name. According to one version, a goat (meke), who was Shiva in disguise, leapt over the Kaveri river from one side of the gorge to the other. One can still find strange gigantic holes that resemble hooves on both sides of the gorge where the goat is believed to have leapt across the river. At Mekedatu, trekkers will find a unique haven as there is so much natural beauty to explore. Biking in the area has also grown to be a popular activity among the visitors as the roads are almost completely deserted. Visitors can also check out the Chunchi Falls which is about 17 kms from here. Swimming in the waters at Mekedatu is not advised as the currents are rough and strong.

# Birdwatching At The Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary

The Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary is located on top of the Ramadevara Betta, near the Sri Pattabhi Rama Temple. This is one of the must-visit places in Ramanagara. Here, you can watch three of India’s nine vulture species in their natural habitat. These species are, unfortunately, on the verge of extinction. Although the vulture sanctuary was built in 2012, the white-backed, long-billed, and Egyptian vultures have been roosting in the Ramanagara betta for many decades now. An area of 346.41 hectares was earmarked as a protected area for the vultures after there was a lot of hue and cry from environmentalists and bird watchers over the drop in the vulture population (an estimated 97 per cent of the long billed and 99 per cent of the Egyptian vultures). The sanctuary is open from 9 AM to 4.30 PM and the cost of entry is INR 25 per person, while parking charges are separate.