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Trip Details
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Distance From Bangalore
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100 Kms from Bangalore and 30 kms from
Tumkur
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Type
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Trekking - on a rocky hill, Cave
exploration, Medicinal plants
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Height
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Approx 1.2 km high
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Difficulty level
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Medium
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Kids?
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Yes, Kids 5+ years can climb. (My kids
did their first trek here).
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Hours needed
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3 hours. 1 to 1.5 hours to climb, 30
mins for cave exploration and rest coming down.
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Best time to visit
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April and May will be very hot,
June/July migh rain. Other months are okay.
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Local guides
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On request, Charges approx. Rs.300/=
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Stay options
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Bangalore or Tumkur
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Food
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Not available here, only Kamat or other
motels in Bangalore-Tumkur highway
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Nearby places
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Channarayana durga, Madhugiri Fort
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Other tips
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·
Monkeys are there to snatch food
from you, be careful.
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There are local sellers selling
cucumber and water bottles on the way up. You can have your snacks here and
it is safe from monkeys.
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For caves, you need the local
guides and without them it is risky. So do take help of guide. They charge approx
Rs.300/=
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Carry torchlight which may be
useful while in caves. Guides always have this.
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Carry water and snacks, but eat
near the local seller’s shops to avoid monkeys.
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Sidda means "Seer" and Betta means "hill" in Kannada language. This is a rocky hill close to 1 or 1.5 kms (approx) high near Korategere. It is believed that once upon a time, many seers lived
here. Many of the medicinal plants were also found here in this hill.
Refer "Siddha Medicine" in Wiki, reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddha_medicine
Inside the caves you can see vines and their roots going deep through the caves till they reach water. The leaves can only be found above the caves but the roots go deep inside the caves.
They say these are called "Kaatu Diraksha".
You may need to stoop inside the caves to explore and use torch lights.
Once you reach the top of the hill, near the temple entrace, you will see the natural spring which is so chill. Once you touch it, you get energized in seconds. All your tiredness goes off. Temple priest keep this natural spring water for bathing and drinking as well. The shrine of Lord Siddalingeshwara is found in this temple.
Note: Similarly Kolli Hills also have many medicinal plants. Refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolli_Hills
See below the photos.....
View from just 100 steps... lot more to go.... !!!
A shelter to take rest.....
Still lot more to go .......
View from middle point
The root pass through the rocks and finding water ...... Amazing full grown tree on a rock !!!
Almost there..... from 3/4 of the total steps..... !! few more steps and you are there....
Started exploring caves.....
You want to be bit careful and go slow !!
Sunlight passing through the little gaps between the rocks
From darkness to light !!!
Only rocks everywhere ....
Beneath the rocks, it is always cool
See the roots of vines
Roots going deep below in search of water...
Leaves above, roots below... going deep below the rocks in search of water
Big place to relax and so cool here. Remember it is very hot outside.
Roots... so big ........
Going all the way through the rocks... to find water
Local guide is helping the kids
Finally a wonderful visit to caves .....
