Landmarks in BR Hills
- 01
Dodda Sampige Mara
A giant champak tree in the forest, believed to be well over a thousand years old and worshipped by the Soliga people. It is reached by jeep.
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, with the safari
- Tickets
- 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.
- 02
Honnametti Viewpoint and Honnametti Kallu
The highest point of the BR Hills range, reached by trekking trails, with wide views and a hilltop boulder that rings like metal and is believed by the Soligas to hold gold.
- Time needed
- Half a day with approvals
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Clear mornings, October to February
- Tickets
- Treks need forest department approval and an accompanying tribal guide, per published reports. Fees and rules are not published; confirm in advance with the forest office.
Places of worship in BR Hills
- 03
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple
A Vishnu temple on a white-rock hill in the forest, the shrine that gives BR Hills its name and a place with deep Soliga links. Visitors can drive or walk up.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, with the clear air of October to February
- Tickets
- No entry fee or opening hours are reliably published; confirm timings at the temple or with the forest office. Dress modestly and remove footwear at the shrine.
Experiences in BR Hills
- 04
Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary (BRT Tiger Reserve)
A 539 sq km forest reserve in Karnataka where the Western and Eastern Ghats meet, with elephants, gaur, leopards and tigers, run by the forest department with Jungle Lodges offering jeep safaris.
- Time needed
- Half a day to 2 days
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- September to April; early morning and late afternoon for animals
- Tickets
- Entry is reported to be allowed only between about 6 am and 6 pm, and visitors not staying overnight must leave by dusk. Safari timings differ between sources, so confirm current slots, vehicle fees and permits with Jungle Lodges and Resorts or the forest department; fees are not reliably published.
Read the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary (BRT Tiger Reserve) guide →
