Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Hills, called Biligiriranga Betta in
Kannada, and BR Hills for short, is picturesquely situated between the Cauvery and
Kapila rivers, about 120 km from
Mysore and 247 km from
Bangalore. Three to five thousand feet above sea-level, these densely forested hills bridge the Eastern and
Western Ghats and have been nationally protected as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
The BR Hills is home to a large variety of fauna that can be best seen during June-October when the animals come out for water. The most important of the wildlife here are gaurs-the largest of the Asiatic cattle now classified as endangered, and chitals-the Indian spotted deer. One can also see sambhar deer, bears, elephants, panthers and tigers. Over 200 species of birds inhabit the BR Hills. Chief among these are the racket-tailed drongo and the crested eagle.
The BR Hills take their name from the famous Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Kanchikote, the ruins of an old fort believed to have been built by the ancient king, Gangaraja, is a nearby place of interest. Professional angling, amateur fishing, coracle boat rides, bird watching, river rafting, trekking and outdoor camping arethe popular tourist activities here.
The visiting season is September-May. The nearest airport and railway station are at Bangalore.
