Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Hills or Biligiri Rangannabetta Hills (in short B.R.Hills) is a forest range varying from 900 metres to around 1400 metres about sea level. It has a very salubrious climate right around the year. That is also one of the reasons for the large number of animals in this range.
The range is situated about 30 kms east of Chamarajanagar. If you travel from Mysore (via Chamaraja Nagar) it is about 85 kms. The road up to Chamaraja Nagar is OK. But then it deteriorates as you go into the country side. The last 12 kms of the road to B.R. Hills is thru dense forest.
Jungle Lodges and Resorts have converted a small hunting lodge of the Mysore Maharaja into a good and rustic resort by name - K Gudi Camp. The lodge (resort) has two options.
Either a tented accommodation with good and clean toilet facilities (that includes 24 hour hot water) OR a room inside the hunting lodge close by. For more rustic experience, log huts are also available.
The lodge has electricity provided by generators till 10.00 pm. The tents and log huts DO NOT have electricity at all (but for the hot water supply). Lighting in tents / log hut and the lodge is using lanterns / oil lamps at night.
The standard package starts at 12.00 noon on one day and ends at 12.00 noon the following day. It used to cost 1250 Rs /person per night, but has been increased to 1500 Rs in the past year. The all inclusive package is inclusive accommodation, buffet meals (lunch + dinner + breakfast) and two wild life safaris by jeep into the forest.
We reached the lodge at around 1.00 pm (in time for lunch). The food provided in the buffet was simple and tasty. Then we spent the afternoon under the shade of the trees in a hammock. It is a very happy and special feeling to sleep in the jungle in a hammock with nothing to disturb you except for the sound of the cuckoo or any other bird for that matter.
Around 4.30 pm we were provided with hot tea and were offered a jungle safari. Mr.Gangaswamy was our guide for the day (he was the Manager of the resort). He did not rest till he showed us as many sightings as possible. The vegetation was very dense and green. It was so dense that it was difficult to notice a deer even if it was only 10ft away from us behind a bush. We were lucky enough to sight a dozen elephants, herds of deer, a few barking deer, wild boar and a few bisons. We were told that cheetahs could be spotted here at least a few times every month. The other attraction is the various birds that are living here. This place is a heaven for ornithologists. We did hear and see quite a few varieties of birds. It was dark by the time we returned back to the lodge.
After a good dinner and a few beers, it was time to sleep in total darkness with just candles and lanterns to throw light on us. You would have to see to believe what we are missing during the night in our cities, when you look at the beautiful sky at night with thousands of stars and the moon.
The next day morning we woke up to find out that the hot water was not coming. When enquired, the resort manager informed that a tusker had come at night and had pulled out the main waterline connecting a nearby pond to the lodge (which was the source of water). The situation was rectified by the resort team by working overnight without sleep and completing the job by 6.00 am. We took one more safari in the morning. We were told that usually there is an optional elephant safari. Unfortunately for us, the local elephant was sick. So we took another jeep safari with similar results to that of the prior day.
Soon after, it was time for a refreshing breakfast. Quickly it was time to say good bye. We left the place hoping, we should be surely coming back to this place to enjoy a peaceful getaway.
If you stay for two nights or more, you could take the 15 km trip uphill further to the B.R. temple. You can also go trekking into the jungle or sit in one of the many watch towers to sight game
You can also get hand made things from cane and pure honey in this locality.
On a whole, it was a trip which is worth doing it again
This resort (K Gudi camp) has been selected as one of the top 20 wild life resorts in India by Outlook Traveller magazine in their October 2004 issue.
Please contact me if you need any more information.
Website : https://junglelodges.com