The short answer
Dodda Sampige Mara: what visitors should know first
Worth a short stop if you are in the sanctuary. It takes about 30 minutes, you need a jeep to reach it, and the age figures quoted for the tree are local estimates and not measured.
History and context
The story behind Dodda Sampige Mara
The tree is described by Karnataka Tourism as a Michelia champaka believed to be over 2,000 years old and worshipped by the Soliga tribe, while a travel blog calls it well over a thousand years old. The ages are traditional estimates and not scientifically dated.
The nearby Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra displays tribal information and regional biodiversity.
Useful facts
Dodda Sampige Mara facts at a glance
- Location
- Inside BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, near K Gudi
- Experience type
- Sacred tree, short stop
- Known for
- Giant champak tree sacred to the Soligas
- Age
- Believed 1,000 to 2,000+ years; not scientifically dated
- Time or schedule
- Daylight, within sanctuary hours
Why it matters
Why Dodda Sampige Mara is worth your time
The tree is a reminder that this reserve is also a sacred landscape. The Soligas have long treated particular trees, rocks and hilltops as sacred, and the champak is the best-known example in BR Hills.
It also gives a scale to the forest. A single tree believed to be many centuries old shows how long this hill forest has stood, and it is a good reason to slow down in the middle of a wildlife-focused day.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The champak tree
A very large Michelia champaka with a broad trunk, sacred to the Soligas.
- 02
Reached by jeep
The track to the tree is a mini-safari in itself.
- 03
Tribal displays
A nearby centre exhibits tribal and biodiversity information.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Go with a driver or guide from the K Gudi side, since the tree is reachable only by jeep. The track passes through forest where elephants, gaur or deer can appear, so stay in the vehicle until your guide says it is safe to step out.
The tree itself is a Michelia champaka, a magnolia relative, with a very large trunk. It is worshipped by the Soligas as sacred, so keep quiet, do not carve, climb or pick from it, and do not leave rubbish. Its age is quoted as more than a thousand to more than two thousand years, but these are belief-based estimates.
Nearby, the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra has displays on tribal life and biodiversity, and is worth a short visit if the day allows.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Reach it by jeep, not on foot
- Stay in the vehicle until your guide says so
- Do not carve, climb or pick from the tree
- Confirm access with the forest office
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Inside the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, reached by jeep from K Gudi
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
- Best time
- Morning, with the safari
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The walk from the track to the tree is short but uneven and shaded; sitting places are scarce, and the jeep ride on forest tracks is bumpy.
- Tickets and access
- Visits are normally included with a jeep drive in the sanctuary. Fees and permits are not reliably published, so confirm with Jungle Lodges or the forest department.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Dodda Sampige Mara
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.
Travelling with parents?
The walk from the track to the tree is short but uneven and shaded; sitting places are scarce, and the jeep ride on forest tracks is bumpy.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How old is the Dodda Sampige tree?
Estimates range from over a thousand to over two thousand years; none is scientifically dated.
Can I walk there?
It is reachable only by jeep, and the forest has wildlife.
Is it sacred?
Yes, the Soligas worship it, so visit respectfully.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.