Weekend getaway from Mysuru · #8 of 10
BR Hills (Biligiriranga)
Hill-and-jungle escape 90 km southeast: the white-cliff Biligiri Ranganathaswamy temple crowns a tiger reserve bridging the Western and Eastern Ghats, with K Gudi safaris, Soliga tribal culture and cool ridgetop air.
Ditch the crowded parks for this wild, mist-draped secret: climb the Yelandur ghat to a cliffside temple, bed down at K Gudi forest camp, and track tigers across twin safaris in a reserve most tourists overlook.
Getting there
That last 20 km is a gorgeous, twisty forest ghat where elephants occasionally cross - keep your speed low and eyes peeled.
Takes just a bit longer, but it is your best bet if you plan to make a quick stop in Chamarajanagar.
Day 1 - Saturday
Cliffside blessings and tracking big game- 17:00 AMDrive
Drive Mysuru to BR Hills
Cruise past Santhemarahalli and Yelandur before tackling the lush, winding ghat climb straight into the Biligiriranga hills.
- 210:00 AMSight
Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Perched on the white cliff that names the range ('biligiri' = white hill), this Vishnu shrine features a living Soliga tribal tradition of offering giant slippers.
📍 Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple, BR Hills
Tip · Doors close midday, so head up early for uninterrupted darshan and the crispest views across the valley.
- 312:30 PMFood
Lunch at the forest camp
Tuck into a hearty, unpretentious buffet spread at K Gudi wilderness camp, or grab a quick bite at a canteen near the temple village.
📍 K Gudi, BR Hills
- 42:00 PMStay
Check in at K Gudi
Settle into rustic tented cottages or log huts right inside the sanctuary - do not be surprised to spot spotted deer casually grazing outside your door.
📍 K Gudi, BR Hills
- 53:30 PMActivity
Evening safari, BRT Tiger Reserve
Hop into an open jeep through the eco-bridge linking the Western and Eastern Ghats. A 2017 survey counted 62 tigers here alongside elephants, gaur, and dhole.
📍 BRT Tiger Reserve, BR Hills
- 67:30 PMFood
Campfire dinner
Gather around the campfire for a warm camp dinner. The ridge gets genuinely chilly after dark, even in peak summer, so bundle up.
📍 K Gudi, BR Hills
Day 2 - Sunday
Misty morning tracks and epic valley panoramas- 76:30 AMActivity
Morning safari
Head back into the jungle right at first light - this chilly dawn window is your prime shot at spotting prowling predators and hornbills in the canopy.
📍 BRT Tiger Reserve, BR Hills
- 89:00 AMFood
Breakfast at camp
Warm up over hot coffee and a satisfying post-safari breakfast spread back at camp before packing up to check out.
📍 K Gudi, BR Hills
- 910:30 AMActivity
Soliga-guided nature walk
Step into the woods with indigenous Soliga naturalists, whose ancestors have lived here for generations and know every fold and call in this forest.
📍 K Gudi, BR Hills
- 1012:00 PMSight
Ridge viewpoints
Pull over along the temple road for stunning vistas of peaks soaring past 1,800 m, with endless ridges rolling out toward the distant MM Hills.
📍 BR Hills, Karnataka
- 111:00 PMFood
Lunch
Refuel with lunch back at the camp, or save your appetite for a traditional meal down in Yelandur.
📍 Yelandur, Karnataka
- 122:30 PMDrive
Drive back to Mysuru
Wind back down the scenic ghat road and cruise back to Mysuru in an easy 2.5 hours.
Where to eat
K Gudi dishes out hearty, fixed-menu buffet meals - plan ahead, as there are zero restaurants once you enter the reserve.
Your go-to roadside joints for piping hot idlis and crispy vadas before you start the ghat climb.
When to go
Crisp, misty ridge mornings and perfect weather for both safaris and temple climbs - just bring your woolens.
A refreshing escape from the sweltering plains below; note that the vibrant April temple festival brings huge pilgrim crowds.
Dripping green, moody, and blissfully crowd-free. Safaris still operate, though high elephant grass makes spotting wildlife trickier.
Good to know
- Top off your tank in Yelandur or Chamarajanagar before driving up - there are no petrol pumps anywhere on the hill.
- Pack a warm fleece or jacket; perched above 1,400 m, the ridge gets surprisingly chilly after sundown all year round.
