Ranganathaswamy Betta Trek

The trail begins at Koonala Doddi with a Maruti temple. Walk towards the temple from the village. Climb the hill by turning right at the temple. The narrow path is bordered by bushes and trees. After 500 metres of level path, the path gets steeper and the trees denser. Wildlife – elephants, bears, and other species – can be seen along the way.

After about 30 minutes, look for a large boulder. The track gets steeper from here on out. There are a few difficult sections that you may need to crawl on all fours. However, the trail does level out in some areas, offering some relaxation.

How to reach Koonala Doddi There are two routes to get to the top of the slope. One option is to take the Bangalore-Kanakapura Road. Take a left in the village of Harohalli if you're driving. This turn will take you to Dodda Maralawadi village and then to Koonala Doddi village, where the trek starts. If you're coming from the Bangalore-Mysore Road, turn left at Channapatna. This turn will lead you to Kanakapura.

There are also several buses that go from Bangalore to Kanakapura. After getting off at Harohalli, take a local bus to Dodda Maralawadi. You can then take another local bus or an auto to Koonala Doddi.

Descent To descend, take the same path you came up. You'll be at the bottom of the hill in 45-60 minutes. Alternatively, you should use the jeep track to get down. However, this will take you to the Kanakapura side and the villages of Sunghatta and Chakanahalli. It is more complicated, and you may have to walk for about 3 kilometres to reach the village of Sunghatta. The frequency at which buses depart from Kanakapura is also less.

Camping . You can camp on the hilltop overnight and watch the sunrise the next day. A moonlight trek to this location is also an option. But keep an eye out for wild animals. It is also essential to bring food with you because the last shop selling snacks is in Dodda Maralawadi. The best time to visit this spot is just after the monsoon, ideally between August and January, when the whole area is lush with greenery.