About this tour
This 2-day KSTDC forest pilgrimage from Bangalore covers Male Mahadeshwara Temple in the Satyamangalam forest and Biligiri Ranganatha (BR) Hills — one of the few tours combining a major Shiva pilgrimage with a UNESCO biosphere reserve in a single journey.
Day 1 visits Sri Male Mahadeshwara Temple — a celebrated Shiva shrine deep in the forest at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border — before ascending to BR Hills for overnight stay at KSTDC Hotel. Day 2 covers Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at the hilltop, Gaganachukki Falls, Barachukki Falls and Madhyaranga Temple on the return to Bangalore.
Departs every Monday at 6:30 AM from Yeshwanthpura, Bengaluru. Returns Day 2 at approximately 9:30 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What does the KSTDC Male Mahadeshwara BR Hills tour cover?
Day 1: Malai Mahadeshwara Temple darshan, lunch, overnight stay at KSTDC Hotel BR Hills. Day 2: Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple darshan, lunch at KSTDC Hotel, Gaganachukki Falls, Barachukki Falls, Madhyaranga Temple. Returns Bengaluru 9:30 PM on Day 2.
What is Male Mahadeshwara Temple famous for?
Male Mahadeshwara Temple (Malai Mahadeshwara Hills) in Chamarajanagar district is a deeply revered Shiva temple set atop a forested hill at about 1,000 metres, inside the MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. The presiding deity Sri Male Mahadeshwara is worshipped as a hunter deity who rode a tiger, and is believed to grant liberation to devotees.
What is Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BR Hills)?
Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at 1,800 metres in Chamarajanagar district is a sacred Vishnu temple at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. The sacred hill is inside the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, home to elephants, leopards and tigers. The name means "white rock hill" in Kannada.
What are Gaganachukki and Barachukki Falls?
Gaganachukki and Barachukki are twin waterfalls of the Cauvery River near Shivanasamudra, Mandya district. Gaganachukki is a wide, powerful plunge fall (the name means "touching the sky") while Barachukki is a series of gentler cascades on the opposite bank. Between them lies the Madhyaranga Temple on a Cauvery island.
What is the price of this tour?
₹4,910 (single), ₹3,530 (double), ₹3,260 (triple) per person. All include GST. Lunch on Day 2 at KSTDC Hotel is included.
When does this tour depart?
Every Monday at 6:30 AM from KSTDC Booking Counter, BMTC Bus Stand, Yeshwanthpura, Bengaluru. Report 15 minutes before departure.
Are meals included in this tour?
Lunch at KSTDC Hotel on Day 2 is included in the package. Breakfast on Day 1, lunch near the Mahadeshwara Temple, and all other meals are at the traveller's own cost.
What should I carry for this tour?
Modest temple dress for both Mahadeshwara and BR Hills temples, comfortable walking footwear, a light jacket for the cool BR Hills evenings, valid government photo ID, booking confirmation, and cash for meals and entry charges.
Does this KSTDC tour include Male Mahadeshwara Temple?
Yes. Sri Male Mahadeshwara Temple is visited on Day 1 afternoon — one of Karnataka's most celebrated Shiva shrines, set deep in the Satyamangalam forest at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. The presiding deity is Sri Male Mahadeshwara, worshipped as a forest guardian.
Is BR Hills (Biligiri Ranganatha Hills) on this tour?
Yes. BR Hills (Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary) is the overnight halt on Day 1 and the primary destination on Day 2 — a UNESCO biosphere reserve where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet, home to elephants, leopards and sloth bears.
Does this tour include Gaganachukki Falls?
Yes. Gaganachukki Falls is visited on Day 2 — one of the twin falls of the Cauvery River near Shivanasamudra, a spectacular cascade through rocky gorges in the Deccan plateau.
Is Barachukki Falls on this tour?
Yes. Barachukki Falls is visited on Day 2 alongside Gaganachukki — the wider of the twin Cauvery falls, spread across a 100-metre rocky expanse, accessible by a short walk through the forest.
What is special about Male Mahadeshwara Hills?
MM Hills (Male Mahadeshwara Hills) is a forested pilgrimage site spanning three districts — Chamarajanagar, Mysuru and Dharmapuri — with the temple at 3,284 feet. The surrounding sanctuary is home to tigers, elephants, leopards and gaur. It is one of the few places in South India where a major temple and significant wildlife habitat coexist.