An Impromptu Day Trip from Bangalore to Mandaragiri

Before I go further, here's important information: There is no food or even water available here, so stock up on food but do not litter. Mandaragiri Hills does not have any hotel accommodation either. Nevertheless, there are quite a few resorts and luxury hotels within 30 to 45 minutes of Mandaragiri. Here is the full list, so take a look.

Getting there

Excited to get out of the confines of home, a friend of mine and I headed out early morning and drove to Mandaragiri Hills, locally known as Basadi Betta or Mandaragiri betta. It is a 70-kilometer ride to Mandaragiri Hills from Bangalore on Tumkur highway with a small deviation 10 kms before Tumkur. It is a two-kilometer deviation from Hirehalli. A peaceful two-hour drive landed us at this offbeat gem. This place can be reached by bike and using public transport as well. Hop onto a bus in Bangalore that goes to Tumkur and get down at the 'Basadi Betta Cross'. From there, hire an auto to take you around. Make sure you hang on to your ride to Basadi Betta otherwise getting back to the highway will be a challenge. It is a great place to visit with friends in Bangalore for one day.

A splendid view of Mandaragiri Hills from the approach road

Peacock Temple (Gurumandir) & Bahubali Statue

The alluring Mandaragiri hilltop is visible 500 meters away from the foothills, creating a sense of anticipation. On reaching the foothills the "peacock dome" and a monolithic statue of Chandraprabhu, the 8th tirthankar in Jainism welcomes you. Not far away, atop the hills is the Mandaragiri Jain Temple of Tumkur. Precisely, the reason why Basadi Betta is gaining popularity as a Jain pilgrimage site.

A quick refresher from your childhood history classes. Jainism has two sects, the Digambaras meaning "sky-clad" (i.e. naked) and Svetambaras meaning "white-clad" (i.e. clothed in white). The Digambaras' tradition warrants them to dress in the most natural form, which explains their nakedness. The monks are generally seen carrying a pinchi which is a broom made of fallen peacock feathers used to remove any insects that might cross their path to avoid harming them. The monolithic statue of Bahubali, although has no story on why it was installed, reinstates strong Jain influence.

Bahubali statue and Peacock Temple; iconic landmarks in Mandaragiri Hills

The peacock temple of Mandaragiri known as the Gurumandir is a meditation dome. It is one of the most exquisite domes ever built and the first of its kind in Jainism. This 81-feet structure with its exotic colors in hues of teal and orange and glittering gold right at the top make it insta-famous! This Gurumandir is compared to the Matrimandir in Pondicherry as both are dome shaped and built for meditation. This Peacock temple in Mandaragiri was built in memory of Sri Shanthinsagarji. The inner walls are adorned with numerous paintings depicting the life of a Jain saint.

Gurumandir is a unique meditation dome in Mandaragiri

Mandaragiri trek to the hilltop

Peeling away from the peacock temple, we started climbing up the stairs, 450 of them towards the temple atop the hills. During Mandaragiri trek, we noticed something very interesting. There was a railing that ran along the center of the stairs from the bottom to the top. On looking closer we realized that it was a pipe of sorts. Any guesses as to its function, if any? Well, we were told by the monks who live here that it was a water pipe that transports water to the top of the hill! Jains are known to make optimum use of resources and finances and here was first hand proof. This water pipe served a dual purpose; to transport water and to lend support to visitors who climbed up to the top. Innovation and optimization at its best!

This is not merely a railing; it is also a water pipe transporting water to the top of the hill

The stairs lead to the front of the Mandaragiri temple complex. Mandaragiri hills have evolved into a popular Jain heritage center with four small but ancient Digambar Jain temples built between 12th & 14th century. Before you race up the stairs or cautiously climb one step at a time (evidence of your physical fitness) to the top, be sure to collect the keys from the caretaker at the foothills.

A panoramic view of the lush paddy fields from Mandaragiri Temple in Tumkur

Atop Mandaragiri Hills

The view from the Mandaragiri trek is spectacular. But there is a view that's better....where, you ask? Walk through a narrow passage at the side of the temple to the back and Viola! You will be gobsmacked. The view of the Mydala Kere (Mydala lake) surrounded by lush green hills and unique rock formations is surreal. An interesting feature of the lake is that it is perennial, with water present throughout the year. It is also the primary source of water for the surrounding areas. I soon realized that this is an ideal one-day trip near me that I was craving for after the lockdown.

View from Mandaragiri hilltop

We snapped out of the spell of the lake view only to be captivated by the interesting rock formations. Jains are artistic and the striking paintings on these rocks validated it. The paintings seem to narrate the story of their lifestyle which is them living in the forests. We roamed around absorbing the stories on the rocks and enjoying the tranquility of the place before heading back down the hill.

The rocks are decorated with colorful paintings believed to be the artwork of Jain monks

Mydala Lake & Rock Formations

On reaching the foothills, we noticed a path that led to the Mydala Lake. We hopped into the car and drove down the rough terrain heading all the way around the back of the hills. One thing to keep in mind is that cars with good ground clearance are recommended while bikes work well in this terrain. After a short, adventurous "4x4 dirt track" experience we reached our destination and what a sight lay in front of us.

The dirt road leading to the Mydala Lake, tough terrain

The serene lake surrounded by greenery and rock formations was a picture perfect view. We strolled around the lake covering almost the entire periphery enjoying the numerous views that surrounded us. They make a nice one day outing in Bangalore for couples as we found a few of them enjoing their time. We visited during the monsoon which brought the entire landscape to life. The hills in the distance were decorated with tiny streams that trickled down adding to the mythical views.

Monsoon splendor around Mydala Lake makes up for a perfect day trip in Bangalore

We noticed that there is an approach to the hilltop from here as well. The drive to the lake was at an elevation which meant that the distance to the top was not much. There are no stairs making it an exciting place for trekking near Bangalore. Since we had already visited the top before coming to the lake, we added Mandaragiri Hills to the list of places to visit near Bangalore for one day trip. There is a definite reason to come back to Mandaragiri Hills.

Mandaragiri Hills is gaining momentum as a tourist destination for one day trip in Bangalore. With travel restrictions still cramping our wanderlust, it is the best time to explore our own backyards. We might chance upon many hidden tourist places near Bangalore within 100 kms that will satiate our hunger for the beautiful outdoors. Although off beat, Basadi Betta has great potential to be a very popular photostop in Karnataka!

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many steps are there in Mandaragiri Hills?

Mandaragiri trek comprises of 450 easy to moderate steps with metal railing to separate incoming and outgoing traffic. It is a not a difficult climb to Mandaragiri hilltop as you can hold on to the railing for support. The landscape view from Mandaragiri Jain Temple Tumkur is mesmerizing. There is a beautiful Mydala Lake on the back side of Basadi Betta.

Which is the best time to visit Mandaragri Hills?

Mandaragiri Hills is one of the best tourist places near Bangalore within 100 kms especially during the rainy season. The landscape is lushgreen, weather is pleasant and Mydala lake full of water during the monsoon. This is a perfect one trip place near Bangalore so head there as soon as it starts raining.

What is famous in Mandaragiri Hills?

Peacock temple of Tumkur and Mandaragiri Jain Temple of Tumkur make Mandaragiri Hills quite famous. Mydala lake behind the hills is also beautiful.

Does Mandaragiri Jain Temple offer staying options?

There are no open-for-public staying or eating options in Mandaragiri Hills. The jain temple trust have few rooms but they are offered only to jain pilgrims who visit Basadi Betta for the worship. Mandaragiri Jain Temple does not offer these rooms to tourists.