BR Hills, short for Biligiriranga Hills, rises in Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka, close to the Tamil Nadu border. The name comes from the white rock on which the Ranganatha temple stands, and the whole range is protected as the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, declared a tiger reserve in 2011. The hills are about 90 km from Mysuru and 160 km from Bengaluru by road.
The appeal is a combination that few places offer: a working hill temple, a forest of scrub, deciduous woods, shola and grassland, and the Soliga people whose traditions tie the two together. Elephants, gaur, sambar and chital are the animals most visitors meet; tigers and leopards live here, but sightings are never guaranteed. Jungle Lodges and Resorts runs the best-known camp and safaris from K Gudi, on the Chamarajanagar side.
For families and older travellers, BR Hills is best treated as an overnight stay from Mysuru or Bengaluru, not a rushed day trip. Visits are largely by vehicle, so physical demands are low, but facilities are limited and rules about entry hours and overnight stays are strict. Check safari slots, fees and permits before you travel, and treat the forest with respect.
Before you plan
BR Hills at a glance
- Best months
- September to AprilSeptember to April; the sanctuary is open through the year, but check closures with the forest office
- Ideal trip length
- 1 night is a good minimum1 night is a good minimum; 2 nights allow safaris and the temple without hurry
- Airport
- Kempegowda International Airport,…Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), about 235 km away; Mysuru has a smaller airport (MYQ)
- Railway station
- Chamarajanagar is the nearest rail pointChamarajanagar is the nearest rail point; Mysuru Junction (MYS) is about 104 km away
- Getting around
- Hire a car or jeep from…Hire a car or jeep from Chamarajanagar or Yelandur; there is no local public transport inside the sanctuary
- Daily budget
- Varies widely: forest rest houses…Varies widely: forest rest houses are cheap, Jungle Lodges camp is full-board and higher; confirm current rates
- Senior comfort
- Good for vehicle-based visitsGood for vehicle-based visits, with limited facilities, winding roads and few medical services nearby
- Language
- Kannada locallyKannada locally; Tamil and Soliga also spoken, and English is understood at the camp
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit BR Hills: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
BR Hills itinerary
One good day
1 day in BR Hills
Leave early from Mysuru or Chamarajanagar, enter the sanctuary at opening time and visit the Biligiri Ranganatha temple first. Take a jeep to the Dodda Sampige Mara and, if booked, a short safari. Leave before the evening closing time.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in BR Hills
Reach K Gudi in the afternoon, settle in and take the late-afternoon safari. Watch the elephant pond near the camp at dusk.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in BR Hills
Arrive at K Gudi in the afternoon, take the late safari and rest.
Day-by-day plan →
