If you’re a sucker for the hills and the great outdoors, then Savandurga should definitely be on your travel bucket list. A part of the Deccan Plateau, this picturesque hill has the Arkavathi river passing nearby through the Thippagondanahalli reservoir, which makes the Herculean task of climbing it so worth it. If you plan to take on this challenge, we suggest getting an early start and hitting it up in the wee hours of the morning, so you make it to the top when it’s nice and bright and you can take in stunning views of deciduous forests and the Manchinbele Dam that surround the monolith. Plus, you make even get to spot some endangered wildlife while you’re there, like the yellow-throated bulbuls, sloth bears and leopards. Yeah, all this lies just 60 kms away from the city.
A great camping and picnic spot, come in a group for a fun time. We would advise against bringing the kiddos along to this one as they might find the climb quite difficult. Suit up for the climb and wear comfortable trekking shoes and clothing, and don’t forget sunscreen and a bottle of water. So go on, hit the hills! Should you be the more adventurous kids, we suggest you head to Camp Xtremezone at the Manchinbele Dam for a dose of water sports, and even stay the night for the whole experience. Read more about what you can do at camp, here.
