Tumakuru, formerly written Tumkur, is the headquarters of its district and sits roughly 70 km northwest of Bengaluru. It was made a city corporation in 2010 and officially renamed in 2014. Visitors rarely come for the town itself. They come for what lies around it: great granite hills topped by forts, old Hoysala temples in quiet villages and one of Karnataka's most respected religious institutions.
The landscape is dry, rocky and open. Madhugiri's huge monolith, Channarayanadurga and the wooded hill of Devarayanadurga make a satisfying trio for walkers and fort lovers, while the sanctuaries of Bukkapatna and Thimlapura protect scrub and boulder country where chinkara and sloth bears live. Access to the sanctuaries is limited, and the forts are real treks, so plan according to your fitness.
For families and older travellers Tumakuru works best as a series of short day outings from a comfortable base, rather than a single long trip. Siddaganga Matha, Kote Anjaneya and the temples at Kaidala and Aralaguppe are gentle, mostly level stops. Start early, keep afternoons for rest and treat the hill forts as optional extras for the energetic.
Before you plan
Tumakuru at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable; March is workable with early starts. April and May are hot, and September to October are the wettest, making hill paths slippery.
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 days as an add-on to Bengaluru1 to 2 days as an add-on to Bengaluru; 3 days if you want the forts and the Hoysala temples at an easy pace
- Airport
- Kempegowda International Airport,…Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), about 90 km away; allow roughly 2 to 3 hours by road, traffic dependent
- Railway station
- Tumakuru stationTumakuru station (TK), in the city centre on the Bengaluru-Hubballi main line
- Getting around
- A hired car with driver is the…A hired car with driver is the practical way to reach the forts and villages; autos and local buses cover the town. Bengaluru is reached by frequent buses and trains.
- Daily budget
- Modest compared with BengaluruModest compared with Bengaluru; costs depend mostly on car hire and where you stay. Prices are not fixed, so check current rates.
- Senior comfort
- Good for the templesGood for the temples, matha and drives; poor for Madhugiri and Channarayanadurga, which are steep rock treks. Facilities at the forts and sanctuaries are minimal.
- Language
- Kannada is the main languageKannada is the main language, with Urdu, Telugu and Tamil also spoken; Hindi and some English are understood in hotels and shops
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Tumakuru: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Tumakuru itinerary
One good day
1 day in Tumakuru
Leave early for Devarayanadurga and visit the Bhoga Narasimha temple and the Yoga Narasimha temple at the top, driving the winding road rather than walking if energy is limited. Stop at Namada Chilume if time allows, then return to Tumakuru for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon visit Siddaganga Matha and the Kote Anjaneya temple in the town.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Tumakuru
Begin with Devarayanadurga in the morning, then lunch and a rest in Tumakuru. In the afternoon go to Siddaganga Matha, and finish with the Kote Anjaneya temple at dusk.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Tumakuru
Morning at Devarayanadurga's temples and the spring at Namada Chilume. Rest after lunch, then visit Siddaganga Matha in the afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →
