achalu betta

achalu-betta.md

area	difficulty	highlights	gps	rating
ramanagara	easy-moderate	hilltop, scramble, cave	12.694036949845378, 77.28696446880019	4

I have graded this trail as easy-moderate. It has a few sections of steep rock sections, so carry footwear with a good grip. You might have to come down on all four limbs in some short sections.

📸 Photos

🗺️ GaiaGPS Trail Map

🚙 Car parking: Next to Avriti Farm House. You can also park under the shade of one of the mango trees in the orchard next to the farm house. I prefer the orchard because Avriti Farm House parking doesn't have much shade.

Avoid confusion. There's another hill called Achalu near Kanakapura town. The one I am talking about here is near Achalu village very close to Ramanagara town.

🚞 Transport: Taking an early morning train from SBC to RMGM could save you time and avoid traffic. You can hire an autorickshaw from the station. Ask for "Achalu Doddi" (Achalu village), but follow the pin for "Avriti Farm House" and take a right after the mound touching Kanakapura-Ramanagara Rd. (The distance from Ramanagaram Railway Station to Avriti Farm House is about 4 km) To return wave down a shared rickshaw heading to the bus station and request to be dropped off at the railway station. Or keep an auto driver's number handy.

⚠️ Bear country 🐻. A friend has spotted a bear in the area not very far from the cave, and locals reiterate that there are bears in this area. So avoid avoid dark hours. Be wary on cloudy days and avoid camping here overnight. There have been mentions of it being converted into a bear sanctuary, hasn't happened yet.

The trail leading to the hill goes through local farms, so avoid trampling the crop. Stay on the periphery of the farms.

🎟️ No permissions are needed to hike in the area.

Trail Description

Hilltop

While walking through the farms, looking ahead, the most prominent rocky hill slightly east of south is Achalu Betta. Follow the trail map. The trail goes through mango orchards and ragi fields. Once you get close to the right (west) end of the hill, the trail goes right, through a bushy, thorny patch, and then turns left towards slightly steep rocky section. Carefully ascend here and continue towards the top. There are multiple flights of stairs cut into the rock leading to the top. A yellow-red flag (Karnataka's state flag) marks the top.

Shrine and hidden cave

As you descend down the hill, you will spot a few trident-like symbols to your right on a flat section of rock. Such a symbol is called a "Nama" (ನಾಮ / नामा). Get down to one of these symbols and look right. There's a small shrine and a water body next to it. The locals pray here. I have even eaten prasad which was like a fruit salad mixed with flattened rice, curd, and jaggery. Very satiating after a hike!

The cave is about 100 meters from the shrine. Follow the trail map through a slightly bushy, thorny trail leading to the cave. The cave has a ton of space and a few thick trees suitable for a hammock or slackline.

The hike down

To make this hike more interesting follow the trail on the map that goes right (east) as you descend from the cave. Once you reach the ground, the trail map will point you left to join the trail going through farms.