We are covering here top 10 one day wildlife getaways (vacation or holiday or picnic spots) from Bangalore – that are at a driving distance from Bangalore where you can drive to and get back the same day. I have covered all of top 10 wildlife spots in 4 parts. The first three are covered here, the next three are covered here, the next two are covered here, and the final two are covered in this blog.

I am covering Devarayana Durga State Forest & Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary in this article.

9. Devarayana Durga State Forest – 74 Kms from Bangalore (1.30 hrs)

Devarayanadurga Located around 74 Kms from Bangalore on the Tumkur highway, is a hill station in the state of Karnataka in India. The rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and the Bhoga Narasimha temples and an altitude of 3940 feet. It is also famous for Namada Chilume, a natural spring considered sacred and is also considered the origin of the Jayamangali river. Another famous temple in the area is the Mahalakshmi Temple at Goravanahalli.

This place is quite famous for the Yellow Throated Bulbuls. A  must visit place for Birders and nature lovers. Devarayanadurga state forest was the first state forest to be declared in Karnataka (in 1907). It has been enjoying some sort of legal protection by the Government since as early as 1853.

Distance from Bangalore: 74 Kms or Approx 1.30 hrs Travel from Bangalore

How to get there:  Bangalore to Tumkur via Tumkur Road (NH-4) and as you reach Tumkur, look out for Kyathsandra and take right onto NH-94 (the road that leads to Sri Siddaganga Mutt and Sri Siddaganga Hospital; basically NH-4 to Yeshwantpur-Tumkur- after second toll gate, go under flyover 2nd exit). Stay on NH-94 for 6 kms and take a left onto Namada Chilume Road and in next 2 kms you should be at the destination.

Google Coordinates: 13.370707, 77.177236

What to do there? Just drive to the top of the hillock, amazing nature, good sightings of birds and (if lucky) animals.

Wildlife: Wild boars, chital, Sambar, Common langurs,  Long-billed and White-backed vultures, leopards. . It is home to nearly 250 species of birds and more than 50 butterfly types. It is very well known for Yellow Throated Bulbuls. There are recorded sightings of tigers here.

Best Time to Visit: Round the year

Timings: Sunrise is amazing there! try to be there before 6am (start from Bangalore by 4am), long drive on the hills and get back to Tumkur by Lunch time. There are no restaurants on top of the hillock, it’s always advisable to pack your breakfast.

Fee: No fee

To get to hilltop: Keep moving to the top of teh hill. At one point you will reach a place where road is divided into two directions. On the left you will reach to the temple and the top of the hill and on the right you will reach a different hill. Take the left one. When you hit the temple, you will see a place with large parking place. You need to park your vehicle here either walk on the narrow road or use the steps to get to the top of the hill  (100 steps, approx. 10 min). The view from the top is just amazing and heart touching. You will definitely see cloud and fog on the top. (BTW the temple opens at 10.30am). There is also a place called “Namada Chillume”. Water comes here from the surface of rock. You can also find a deer park there .On a whole a good place to visit and see the sunrise and refreshing too.

Where to Stay?: No need to stay as you can easily make it back to Bangalore same day but if you are still wanting to, KSTDC operates a hotel in Devarayanadurga called Hotel Mayura Meghadoota. There is government guest house. On the eastern hill traveler’s bungalow and other guest houses are located.

Nearby Spots: kaggaladu bird sanctuary, pavagada fort, shivagange, madhugiri hills.

10. Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh – 148 Kms from Bangalore (2.45 Hrs)

Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a good population of Asian elephants (about 200), which migrated after 200 years from neighbouring regions. The habitat of Kaundinya sanctuary is rugged with high hills and deep valleys. The sanctuary has dry deciduous forests with thorny shrubs interspersed with trees.These forests have small ponds, tanks and the Kaindinya and Kaigal tributaries of Palar River. The sanctuary is situated in region where the Deccan Plateau ends and slopes down into the plains of Tamil Nadu creating many valleys and ghats.

Distance from Bangalore: 148 Kms or Approx 2 hrs & 45 min of Travel from Bangalore

How to get there:  People near whitefield (Bangalore East) can get onto NH-4 to go until Mulbagal and take highway 234 to enter into Andhra pradesh and keep on the highway until you are around 20kms from the sanctuary and you should see a sign board (this is approx 36 kms from Mulbagal). Take that exit and you are 20kms away from the destination.

People from Bangalore south and/or closer to NICE road can take the hosur road, enter Tamil nadu, reach to Krishnagiri, take the Krishnagiri-Chennai road and after (approx 46 kms from Krishnagiri, turn left onto Avarang kuppam Road to reach to  Thekkupattu. Slight right at Thekkupattu Bus Stop onto Ambalur Rd and continue onto Vadakkupattu Rd (Ambalur Rd) and that should lead you to the sanctuary. (approx 36 kms from Thekkupattu Bus Stop).

Google Coordinates: 12.925766, 78.602457

What to do there? Take a drive inside the forest and you should see a lot of water bodies with lot of migratory birds (especially in winter months) and if you are lucky you will spot Elephants and a few other animals.

Wildlife: The vulnerable yellow-throated bulbul is present in the sanctuary. Apart from Indian elephant, some of the animals found in the sanctuary are: sloth bear, panther, chital, chausingha, sambar, porcupine, wild boar, jungle cat, jackal,jungle fowl, starred tortoise and slender loris.  In the months of winter the lake and the pools of the sanctuary remains crowded with various colorful migratory birds. Some of the birds spotted are cattle egret, Red Wattled Lapwing, Pied Kingfisher, Ashy wood swallow etc.

Best Time to Visit: Winter months, from November to February

Timings: Early mornings or early evenings are better

Fee: No fee

Where to Stay?: No need to stay as you can easily make it back to Bangalore same day but if you are still wanting to, Kolar will be the best place to look for accommodations.

Nearby Spots: Antaragange caves, Amrita Sarovar, Bytarayappana Betta, Brahmashram Cave

To get the detailed info of the place, best season & time to visit, how to get there, safari details / boating/ trekking details, list of animals/birds you can expect to see there , entry/camera fees, and of course all of the accommodations nearby, please download the app or send us an inquiry:

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PS: Please be a responsible wildlife tourist; No littering, No sounds, No feeding, no getting down from the safari jeep (when on safari), No phone calls. Remember that we are visiting their home and when we are there, let’s follow their rules.

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