Koongal Betta, situated in a rocky terrain, is an ideal place for those who want to experience a bit of adventure. This rugged hillock, situated at Koongal village, is crowned by a temple dedicated to
Lord Hanuman and surrounded by massive rock formations. This hillock comprises a main fortified hillock with green cover, Koonammana Kallu and a small valley.
The massive rock, Koonammana Kallu, closely resembling the beak of a bird, is the characteristic feature of this hillock. There is an interesting tale associated with it. Long ago, a chieftain ruled this area and he had built a fort at the top of this hill. Once he had a friendly quarrel with his elder sister and left home. The sister, full of remorse, sat in penance waiting for his return. When he didn't return, she turned into a rock. The women from the nearby villages offer prayers to this rock to remove their grievances.
There are many interesting places in the hillock dating back to the 15th century such as Angadi Mala, Sherudarana Kaval, Arishna-Kumkuma Batlu, and the 1100 year old Varadarajaswamy temple. A steep flight of steps leads to these places. To the right side of this hillock is a small valley, which is sacred to Muslims. Muslims of surrounding towns and villages come here once a year in thousands to perform Urs.
A cave like passage amidst the rock leads to the top of the hill. The view of the surroundings from here is breathtaking. To reach this holiday destination, one has to travel from
Bangalore to Ramanagaram and then take another bus to Koongal. Ramanagaram, 48 km from Bangalore, is on the Bangalore-
Mysore Highway.
