Set amidst the tall granite hills and lush green surroundings, Ramnagaram is a popular weekend getaway for the people in Bengaluru. The landscape surrounding Ramnagaram will seem familiar to anyone who is into Bollywood movies because it appears so frequently in the iconic movie Sholay. The old granite formation and boulders are where most of this movie was shot thus immortalising these hills forever.
Ramanagaram is also known as the Silk Town and Silk City as it is a very important place for the production of silk. The silk produced here forms the input for the famous Mysore Silk. Ramanagaram is also famous for its Ramdevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary where one can spot critically endangered vultures in their natural habitat. Janapada Loka is an organisation here which has been very influential in promoting various art and cultural forms including dance and music.
The Ramadevarabetta and Savandurga hills are also favourite spots for rock climbers and trekkers since many trek routes start from here. These hills are also some of the unique bird habitats in India since many birds that live in dry rocky habitats like vultures can be spotted here very often. There are also many temples and caves peppered along these hill ranges that you can explore on foot or by car.
Also known as Sholay Shooting Spot, Ramadevara Betta Hills is a popular tourist spot just a little on the outskirts of Bangalore in Karnataka. The place rose to fame after the world-famed Hindi film � (Read More)��Sholay�۪ was shot here. Ever since it also started to be known as Ramgad. Other than offering beautiful views of the township below, the hills are a popular getaway from the city. There are also several activities available at the spot that you can indulge in like trekking, rock climbing and more.
Cited to be one of the earliest rock climbing sites in India, Ramnagaram is an almost essential destination for rock climbers. With popular hills like Ramadevarabetta, SRS betta and Thenginkalbetta, R (Read More)amnagaram has an average altitude of 747 meters and it has several tall gigantic hills which are famous for many short rock climbs, typically 1 to 2 pitches in length.
Atop a hill and a 30-minute climb away, is a significant religious centre of the area, said to be more than a 1000 years old. There is also a natural lake, called Rama Tirtha and another temple known (Read More)as the Rameshwar temple here. The temple becomes a landmark point for those who trek across the Ramadevara Betta.
Janapada Loka translates to 'Folk World', and as the name suggests, is dedicated to promoting, preserving and propagating the very vibrant folk art and culture. It is located in the Ramanagara Distric (Read More)t, just off 53 km from the Bengaluru - Mysore Highway. The Karnataka Janapada Parishath took up the initiative of establishing Janapada Loka, not only to conserve the slowly diminishing ar but to educate and inspire the generations with its poise, power and sheer beauty.
One of the largest monolith hills in the entire world, Savandurga has a height of 1225m and features basic dykes, granites, gneiss and laterites. Two minor hills named Karigudda ( Black Hill ) and Bil (Read More)igudda ( White Hill ) are also situated here.
This area is also home to various endangered species of birds like Long-billed vulture, Egyptian vulture and Yellow-throated bulbul. It is part of Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary now to protect the (Read More)birds as they are on the verge of extinction. The Ramanagara Hills make a perfect short trek for birdwatching.
Though shopping in Ramnagaram does not exactly stand out with a speciality of its own, a lot of shops here sell Channapatna toys, from the nearby town. One can also visit Channapatna itself as it is a (Read More) mere 20 minutes away from Ramanagaram to get their hands on these unique hand made wooden toys.
A dry, rocky landscape devoid of greenery is not what you would imagine a bird habitat to be but the hills around Ramnagar are home to some of the unique birds in India. Many species of vultures that are not commonly seen anywhere else in the country are abundant in this region making Ramnagaram a favourite spot for birders who want to cross vultures off their list. Long-Billed Vulture (Source)
The rare long-billed vulture is found in and near Ramnagaram and the hilly region has been declared as the Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary (RVS), one of the very few vulture sanctuaries in the world. Walking and trekking is the best way to navigate quietly within the sanctuary so as to not disturb the birds.
Restaurants and Local Food in Ramanagara
There aren't too many options for food and cuisine here and your choices can get a bit limited. It might be advisable to carry food from home or make personal arrangements. One can also travel to nearby cities which offer more choices for food. You might chance upon local cuisine here, consisting of Dosa, Bisi Bele Bath, Jolada Roti, Idli, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Kesari Bath, Mysore pak etc . View Top Restaurants in Ramanagara
Suggested Itinerary for Ramanagara
Day 1: Reach Ramnagaram by road or rail and settle into your hotel. After breakfast, walk around the markets and streets of the city famous for its silks to explore the flavours and sights. After lunch, leave for the Purushotthama Thirtha Gavi Temple located near the Kanva reservoir. This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, and the setting makes it a majestic site. Next, proceed to the Kanva Lake that is a favourite weekend getaway for the locals as well as outstation tourists. In the lake, you can enjoy boating facilities at just INR 25. Depending on the season, the lake is surrounded by either lush vegetation or by scrub forests and has different bird life. The water and surrounding trees are home to some of the richest bird life in the region.
Day 2: In the morning, leave for Ramadevara Betta hills located a few kilometres away from the city. Here, there are temples dedicated to many gods and the hills are also a chance to relax in the calm environment. Return to the city for lunch and in the evening, proceed to the vulture sanctuary located in the mountainous terrain. This sanctuary is one of its kind in India and protects the highly endangered Long billed vultures and yellow throated bulbuls.
Day 3: Shop in the market for the famous silk fabrics of this city and visit some of the workshops located near the market. Depart to your respective cities.
Ramnagaram is located in the state of Karnataka and is well connected to nearby cities in South India by road and rail. This city does not have an airport and Bangalore is the closest airport. Ramnagaram is accessible all year round, and the Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments run buses to and from this city. Since it is an important temple town, the local transport within the city is also well developed.
How to reach Ramanagara by flight
Ramnagaram does not have an airport but is well connected to Bangalore, which is about 50 kilometres away by road. There are daily buses and trains to and from Bangalore, and some buses reach up to the airport.
How to reach Ramanagara by road
The road network connecting Ramnagaram to other nearby cities is well developed, but it is convenient only for intra-state transport since longer distances take over 10 hours in which case railways are a better option. Bangalore is the closest metro city, and there are regular buses that operate between the two cities. Taxi service is less frequent, but if you have your own car, driving is also a good option.
How to reach Ramanagara by train
Rail transport is very well developed, and this city is connected to most major cities in India by rail. The southern cities are located at a distance of 12 to 14 hours by train, all of which pass through Bangalore since that is the closest junction.
Local transport in Ramanagara
You can hire cabs in Ramnagaram. There are various car rentals and cab bookings available.
Get a glimpse of quiet small town life in this less known but beautiful tourist destination. Very convenient to reach.
What is not so good about Ramnagaram?
Many tourist facilities like luxury hotels, a wide range of restaurants, etc are absent since it is not a very well developed tourist destination.
Who should visit Ramnagaram?
If you would like to take a step back from your daily busy schedule and relax for a few days, Ramnagaram is the place for you. It is the ideal family vacation spot for both locals and travellers from India and abroad. A must visit for Bollywood buffs.
What is the best time to visit Ramnagaram?
The weather in Ramnagaram is more or less constant throughout the year though the summer can be hot and dry, and is not very suitable for tourism. Winter is the best season to visit Ramnagaram since the temperature is pleasant and the natural landscapes are lush green. However, since this is the most popular tourist season, you should book all your arrangements in advance. Read More
What is the local food in Ramnagaram?
There aren't too many options for food and cuisine here and your choices can get a bit limited. It might be advisable to carry food from home or make personal arrangements. One can also travel to nearby cities which offer more choices for food. You might chance upon local cuisine here, consisting of Dosa, Bisi Bele Bath, Jolada Roti, Idli, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Kesari Bath, Mysore pak etc . Read More
What is the best way to reach Ramnagaram?
Ramnagaram is located in the state of Karnataka and is well connected to nearby cities in South India by road and rail. This city does not have an airport and Bangalore is the closest airport. Ramnagaram is accessible all year round, and the Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments run buses to and from this city. Since it is an important temple town, the local transport within the city is also well developed. Read More
What are the things to do in Ramnagaram?
The top things to do in Ramnagaram are Ramnagara Hills, Ramdevara Temple, Ramadevarabetta hills, Janapada Loka, Savandurga, Bird watching in Ramnagara. You can see all the places to visit in Ramnagaram here
What are the places near Ramnagaram?
The top places near to Ramnagaram are Bangalore which is 43 km from Ramnagaram, Ooty which is located 158 km from Ramnagaram, Savandurga which is located 22 km from Ramnagaram, Shivagange which is located 19 km from Ramnagaram, Bheemeshwari which is located 45 km from Ramnagaram
Have a Question on Ramanagara?
Ask a question from the travellers who have experience.
November to February are the best months to visit Ramnagaram. It is a little hot in summers (March onwards) and even though the temperature cools down in monsoons, trekking would be slightly difficul (Read More)t and terrain would be slippery and hence monsoons should also be avoided.
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Ramanagara Reviews
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harshitha k p
on Janapada Loka 5 years ago
Janapada Loka - also known as "Folk-World" or "Folk Museum" has an extraordinary collection of over 5,000 artefacts. Taken care by Karnataka Janapada Parishat. Ideal and a must visit place for cultur (Read More)e-lovers. Events such as Lokasiri is conducted to awaken and promote the traditional and cultural values. Moreover, it has a minimal entry fee of INR 10 for adults and INR 05 for children (excluding the cost for taking pictures and videos)
Kovid Kapoor
on Ramnagara Hills 6 years ago
This is a great place to visit over a weekend from Bangalore.
