Savandurga Trek
Ramanagara, renamed Bengaluru South (Magadi taluk), Karnataka
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- Max altitude
- 1,226 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 4 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short (about 2 km each way) but about 360 m of climb, almost all on steep, exposed granite with little shade; the Forest Department rates it 'adventurous', and the descent on smooth rock is the hardest part, dangerous when wet.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Kempegowda Tree Park, Savandurga → Kempegowda Tree Park (via Kotenetti Nandi Mantapa summit)
870 m → 1,226 m → 870 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Kempegowda Tree Park by Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple, Savandurga
at 870 mLoading forecast…
High point · Kotenetti Nandi Mantapa, Savandurga summit (Biligudda)
at 1,226 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Kempegowda Tree Park by Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple, Savandurga (nearest town: Magadi)
- Nearest railway
- Ramanagara (then a Ramanagara–Magadi bus to Savandurga Cross); Treks and Trails India also names Bidadi, about 17 km away
- Nearest airport
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (about 90 km)
- By road
- Bengaluru (about 60 km via Magadi Road to Magadi town, then left to Savandurga Cross; or via Mysuru Road, the Big Banyan Tree and Manchanabele Dam); Savandurga Cross (3 km to the trailhead on foot or by shared auto, about ₹20 per seat); Magadi (about 12 km)
- Drive
- About 1.75 h from Bengaluru
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹300–1,200
With an operator
₹1,300–1,500
Per person, ex-Bengaluru, day trip. Guided prices seen October 2026: Treks and Trails India ₹1,300 and BMC Adventures ₹1,400 (both include transport, breakfast, packed lunch and Forest Department permission). Self-guided is an estimate: bus or train to Ramanagara/Magadi and an auto from Savandurga Cross (₹100–300 return), food, and the Aranya Vihaara booking fee, which we could not confirm from a dated official notice; check the portal.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 23
Monsoon months (Sep): pack everything in plastic or a dry bag and wear shoes with good grip.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- BSNL, Airtel and Jio work at the base; coverage is patchy higher up on the rock and near the summit (Indiahikes).
- Last ATM
- Magadi town (no ATM at Savandurga village)
- Nearest hospital
- Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatha Hospital, Magadi, about 13 km
- Water
- No water on the trail. Stalls and a few tanks of untreated groundwater near the temples at the base; carry at least 2 litres per person.
Highlights
- Climb one of the largest monolith hills in Asia, a single granite mass of two domes, Karigudda (black hill) and Biligudda (white hill)
- Ruined walls, water tanks and rock-cut footholds of Savandurga Fort, the secondary capital of the Magadi rulers, taken by Lord Cornwallis from Tipu Sultan's forces in 1791
- Kotenetti Nandi Mantapa on the summit, with views over the Manchanabele and Thippagondanahalli reservoirs and the Arkavathi valley
- A surprise cave, boulder and shaded forest section just below the top
- Sri Savandi Veerabhadraswamy and Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temples at the base, dated to 1340 AD
Risks
- Steep, smooth granite on the way down; slips are likely and water runs down the rock in the rains. Go slowly and use the rock-cut footholds.
- Almost no shade on the rock: heat and dehydration in March–May; start at 6:00 AM.
- Night trekking is banned; trekking hours are 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and the portal sells only a 6:00–10:00 AM slot.
- The summit around the Nandi Mantapa is narrow and exposed; keep back from the edges, especially in cloud or rain.
- Sloth bears and leopards live in the state forest. In May 2026 Karnataka suspended trekking on routes with wildlife movement until further notice; check the portal is taking bookings before you go.
- Unauthorised trekking is an offence under the Karnataka Forest Act; the Karigudda (black hill) trail is closed to the public.
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need to book the Savandurga trek?
Yes. Online booking is mandatory on the Karnataka Forest Department's Aranya Vihaara portal (aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in, Ramanagara district, 'Savandurga Trekking'). In October 2026 the portal showed one 6:00–10:00 AM slot for 180 trekkers and up to 3 visitors per booking. Show the booking at the forest checkpoint opposite the temple wall; a Forest Department guide goes with each group. Check the portal for the current fee.
How long is the Savandurga trek and how long does it take?
About 2 km each way (4 km round trip) from Kempegowda Tree Park by the Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple to the Nandi Mantapa on top. Allow about 2–2½ hours up and 2 hours down; the portal gives 3 hours and operators 4–6 hours with breaks.
Is Savandurga good for beginners?
For fit beginners, yes. There is no rope climbing, but the trail is steep and on open granite, and the descent is harder than the climb. Wear shoes with a soft, grippy sole; if you are new to walking on slopes, try a gentler hill first.
When is the best time to trek Savandurga?
Late September to February, when the hill is green and the rock is dry and cool. March–May is very hot on the bare rock, and the portal blocked all bookings from mid-May to 31 August in 2026 for the monsoon.
Can I trek Savandurga at night or camp on top?
No. Night trekking is banned and trekking is allowed only between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. For sunrise, reach the base by about 5:00 AM and start when the gate opens.
How do I reach Savandurga by public transport?
Take a bus from Kengeri to Ramanagara (or a train to Ramanagara), then a Ramanagara–Magadi bus to Savandurga Cross. BMTC route 227-M from Kalasipalya to Magadi also stops there. From the Cross it is 3 km to the trailhead: walk or take a shared auto (about ₹20 a seat, or ₹100 for the whole auto).
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: Ramanagara, renamed Bengaluru South (Magadi taluk)Karnataka
- Nearest hospital
- Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatha Hospital, Magadi, about 13 km
- Last ATM
- Magadi town (no ATM at Savandurga village)
- Phone network
- BSNL, Airtel and Jio work at the base; coverage is patchy higher up on the rock and near the summit (Indiahikes).
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Savandurga
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Aranya Vihaara – Savandurga Trekking (Ramanagara, trek id 128) — Karnataka Forest Department (official)
- Savanadurga — Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Board (official)
- The Complete Guide to Savandurga Trek — Indiahikes
- Savandurga — Wikipedia
- Savanadurga (peak, ele 1228) — OpenStreetMap
- Savandurga Trek — Treks and Trails India
- Savandurga Trek — BMC Adventures
- Savandurga Trek Offers A Thrilling Climb In Karnataka In 2026 — TravelTriangle
Photos: Pravega, CC BY-SA 4.0; Earth-Bound Misfit, I, CC BY 2.0; Earth-Bound Misfit, I, CC BY 2.0; Kyathamomkar, CC BY-SA 4.0
