Mandaragiri Hill – An offbeat day trip from Bangalore

Mandaragiri Hill or Basadi Betta is just a 2 hours drive from Bangalore in the Tumkur district. Though not yet popular among mainstream tourists, it has a lot to offer – a relatively easy hike, a lake surrounded by the hills, and a few Jain temples (including the famous peacock feather-shaped temple) with a dash of history attached. This place is perfect if you want to spend a few hours or a day away from the hustle-bustle of city life. 

We are stuck at home due to the pandemic and my leg injury for almost 8 months. Long working hours and the stay-at-home routine are enough to drove us mad. One fine day at 3 AM, we realized we need to breathe the fresh air to keep our sanity intact. Traveling at this time might not be the wisest thing to do. But the show must go on. By 1 PM we were on the roads taking all necessary safety measures. Yes, you read the timings right. Our biological clock is all messed up.

In this article, I have put together everything you need to know for a day trip to Mandaragiri Hill from Bangalore based on our experience. It includes information on how to reach, what to see, and all other relevant details. It also includes a list of safety precautions to follow during travel to help you curate a smooth and safe trip to Mandaragiri Hills for you. If you are yet not comfortable going out, don’t worry. Travel with me through images and stories.

Where is Mandaragiri Hill

Though we were haste to decide to travel, we did a fair amount of research before choosing the right place. We were looking for an offbeat and less crowded location, within a few hours of drive from Bangalore and spend a few hours sightseeing and relax a bit. Mandaragiri Hills fits the bill perfectly. The distance from Bangalore to Mandaragiri Hill is roughly 75 KM. The location is on the Bangalore Tumkur Highway in a village named Pandithanahalli. It is located 10 KM before Tumkur if traveling to Mandaragiri Hill from Bangalore. The travel time from Mandaragiri Hill to Bangalore is less than 2 hours each way. If you leave early in the morning, it will take much lesser time as we faced traffic congestion in Bangalore in the afternoon.

Location: here

How to reach Mandaragiri Hill from Bangalore

Things to see in Mandaragiri Hill:

All attractions in this area are clustered near the Mandaragiri Hill.

The famous Pinchi Temple

As you approach the hill base, the first thing you will notice is the bright blue, green, and orange hues of a peacock feather-shaped temple. The Jain temple or the Gurumandir is 80 feet tall. The temple is open to all to cherish the wall paintings and meditate. If you find it closed early morning, you will find the number of the priest at the entrance. He lives nearby and will give you the key. 

A bit of background

The temple is built in the name of Acharya Shri Shanti Sagar Ji who revived the rituals of Digambar sects in its original form. The monks in the Digambara sect which is one of the major schools of Jainism live on the principle of non-attachment towards any worldly possession. In the path of the utmost nonviolence, they carry a ‘Pinchi’ or a community-owned broom made from the fallen feathers of peacocks to remove even the tiniest living creatures on their path, hence saving their lives.

Opening Hours: 6:30 am – 10 am and 3:30 pm – 6 pm from Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 6 pm on weekends
Admission: Free

The Statue of Chandranatha Tirthankara

In the same temple complex, you will find a huge statue of Digambara Chandranatha Thirthankara in his natural form on an elevated pedestrian. The priests, sometimes pilgrims from the Digambara Jain community offer their prayers early morning in their natural attire.

Hiking Mandaragiri Hill or Basadi Betta:

Mandaragiri Hill or Basadi Betta in the local tongue is a huge monolith rock. You need to brave 430+ steps to reach the top. The stair is well maintained with railings. Hike to the top will take around 20-30 minutes depending on your fitness level. I took a lot of breaks in between to take some rest (8 months at home made me super unfit) and enjoy the view. 

Difficulty Level for Mandaragiri Hill Trekking: Easy. It is more like a hike than a trek.

Jain Temples at the top and the View:

There are four Jain temples or basadis are grouped at the top of the hill. Probably this is why it is called Basadi Betta (Betta means hill in the local tongue Kannada). According to the old scriptures found in this region, two of them were built in the 12th century and the rest two were built in the 14th century. These temples are made in the honor of Parshwanath Tirthankar, Suparshwanath Tirthankar one each, and two for Tirthankar Chandranath (whose statue you have seen at the base) during the reigns of the Hoysala dynasty. After you visit the temples, walk towards the back to see the views of Mydala lake and nearby hills from the top. The rock pond in the back is beautiful. The ascend down is fairly easy.

We spend an hour sitting at the top and enjoyed the view of the village and Mydala lake from the top. Unfortunately, there was construction work going on when we visited in Oct 2020. The construction materials were being loaded and unloaded by the rock pond. So we had to just see the rock pond from a distance.

Opening Hours: 6:30 am – 10 am and 3:30 pm – 6 pm from Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 6 pm on weekends
Admission: Free

Mydala Lake or Mydalakere:

Mydala Lake and Reservoir is situated behind Mandaragiri Hill. Once you get down from the top, you have to walk 1 km through a mud road to reach the back of the hill. You will find the huge pristine lake surrounded by hills. You can take your own bike/car through the mud road. It is a difficult drive but doable if it is not raining. There is ample place to park your vehicle besides the lake. There is no boating facility in the lake. It is a perfect place to sit, soak your leg in the water, and relax. Or you can have a picnic meal by the river as we did. Do not forget to bring back your waste.

Best time to visit Mandaragiri Hill:

The weather in Mandaragiri Hill is usually hot and humid during the summer. So November to January will be the ideal time to visit here. During summer, you can visit early morning to beat the summer heat. Monsoon is also a good option but the road to mydala lake will be too muddy to drive or even walk. We visited at the end of October. It was a cloudy day though there was no rain. The weather was ideal for the Mandaragiri Hill trek even in the afternoon.

Time required to visit Mandaragiri Hill/ Basadi Betta

You will need at least 4-5 hours to cover all the places I have mentioned. We spent only 3.5 hours and could not stay longer as we reached late afternoon. We spent less time in some locations than we would like to. If you enjoy a bit of sightseeing and a relaxing day by nature, you can easily spend a whole day here.

Day trip or weekend trip

It is ideal for a day trip from Bangalore. I would not recommend staying here. If you would want to spend a day surrounded by nature, go somewhere close to the western ghats.

Have one more day to explore further but looking for a relaxed and calming experience at the same time? Why don’t you head out to see the famous Bekal Fort by the sea and have an amazing vacation at Taj Bekal Resort?

Where to eat in Mandaragiri Hill

There are no eating joints or restaurants near Mandaragiri Hill. In the evening, I saw a few carts selling Bhelpuri (a mixture of puffed rice and a lot of spices) and lemon soda. But you will not get anything in the morning hours. There is a water dispenser inside the Pinchi temple complex. But it is best to avoid street food during pandemics. So bring your food and plenty of water.

Travel during Pandemic:

Life has started to become normal again. But the pandemic is still lurking large at us. It is time for you to hit the road again. All you need to do is follow a few safety measures. Then you are good to go.

Let me help you by listing down things to keep in mind while traveling.

• Avoid public transport as much as possible.
• If you are booking a rental car, do not switch on the AC. Keep all windows open. 
• Spray sanitizer on the seats and the doors before getting into the car.
• Wear a mask. Ensure the driver is also wearing a mask.
• Never wear a mask during a hike. The exhaustion produces more CO2 than your body can cope up.
• Maintain the appropriate social distancing. The place is huge and less crowded. Wait for others to leave a particular spot.
• Carry your food and water. Most importantly, carry a waste bag. Bring back all your waste and dispose of it in a dedicated disposal area. I cannot emphasize more on leaving a place as it was before your visit.

Few more tips for visiting Mandaragiri Hill

• You need to remove shoes while entering the temples. Please carry a pair of extra socks in case of rain.
• Though the hike up is quite easy, a sturdy and well-gripped pair of shoes is a must.
• Restrooms are available only near the entrance of the Pinchi temple.

Let me know if you need any additional information the comment. I will be happy to help!

If you like off beat places like this, read my Ipoh blog.