Located around 50 km southwest of Bengaluru is the famous
Ramnagar town. The town is one of the favorite places for the trekkers in the
State. Many visit the place regularly for trekking expeditions.
TREKKING |
Ramnagar hills have been the earliest rock climbing
locations in South India. Climbers have been undertaking technical climbing
since the 1960s. Among the popular rock climbing destinations are
Ramadevarabetta, SRS Betta and Thenginkalbetta. The region has several tall
granitic hills which are famous for many short rock climbs, typically 1 to 2
pitches in length. Grades vary from 5.8 American to 5.11 American.
RAMNAGAR TREKKING |
There are multiple bolted routes here, put up by various
local climbers. Some of the older bolts are in precarious condition. There is
very little free climbing possibilities are the rock is compact. Additionally,
the Forest Department insists on a permit system to climb here and getting
permits is typically a painstaking process. There have to be obtained during
weekdays from a Forest Office (Aranya Bhawan) close to Ramnagar, thus
precluding the place for Bengalore based climbers in recent times.
LONG BILLED VULTURE |
It is also home of many endangered bird species like long
billed vulture, Egyptian vulture and Yello-throated Bulbul. Most of the
vultures’ habitat can be also seen around the mountain. The State Government
has declared 346.14 hectares in Ramnagar as Ramadevarabetta Vuture Sanctuary (RVS),
to protect long-billed vultures, which are on the verge of extinction.
EGYPTIAN VULTURE |
Ramnagar is also famous for some of the world’s oldest
granite outcrops. The hill Ramadevarabetta, along with Savandurga was one of
the shooting locations for David Lean’s movie, “A Passage of India”. Small door
like grottoes were made in the rock resemble caves. It was also in this region
that the famous Hindi movie “Sholay” was shot. Other well known hill in the
region include the Ravanasideshwara Hill and Handigundi.
SHOLAY |
There are several buses and trains available from Bengaluru
and Mysuru. Best would be to travel in your means of transport.