About Biligiri Rangana Hills:
Another interesting getaway from Mysore for nature enthusiasts is the Biligiri Rangana Hills popularly known as the B.R.Hills. Though these hills are famous for the ancient temple on top of the hills, it is also home to a lesser-known wildlife sanctuary. The Biligiri Rangana Hills are 120kms from Mysore. The Billigiri Rangana hills are ideally located between the Cauvery and Kapila rivers. It is at a height of about 5, 091 feet above sea level and runs north to south for about 16kms. The lower hills are covered with rich deciduous forests that are home to a large number of elephants. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of about 550sq.km. and is inhabited by a number of animals including elephants, sloth bears, bison, deer, porcupines and a number of other wild animals. It is said that the sanctuary has more than 250 species of birds like the Paradise Flycatcher, Racquet Trailed Drongo and the Crested Hawk Eagle, to name a few. The sanctuary is inhabited with such a large population of wildlife that one does not have to go looking for them. There is accommodation in the sanctuary in the form of Jungle lodges and resorts. The best time to get a good look at the wildlife is at dawn. To visit the temple on top of the hill you can either climb the 150 steps leading to the temple or drive through the lush green forests. The temple is dedicated to Biligiri Rangaswamy and the temple is built in the Dravidian style. There is a guesthouse maintained by the temple authorities that provides accommodation as well. These hills are a wonderful combination of a hill resort and a wildlife sanctuary. There are buses that ply from Mysore at regular intervals to B.R.Hills.
General Information about Biligiri Rangana Hills:
Location: 120 Km From Mysore
State: Karnataka
Capital: Bangalore
Language: Kannada, Malayalam, English
Temperature: Max 30˚C, Min 21˚C (summer), Max 21˚C, Min 11˚C (winter)
Best Season: November to April
How to Reach Biligiri Rangana Hills:
By Air:
The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). All the domestic airlines in the country operate their flights to Bangalore from all the major cities in the country. Some international airlines too have flights to Bangalore. Bangalore is to have an international airport shortly.
By Rail:
Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The super fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.
By Road:
Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects these two cities is very well maintained. Travelling from Bangalore to Mysore by road is a pleasant experience and will take about 3hrs. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has excellent bus service to Mysore. There are ordinary buses, semi-luxury buses and luxury buses operated by the Government of Karnataka. Every half an hour there is a non-stop bus to Mysore from Bangalore Bus Station. Corporations of other states and private tour operators have buses plying to Mysore as well. All these facilities have made Mysore extremely accessible by road.