Tourism
Tourism
Magadi is about 50 kms from Bangalore and makes for a nice weekend drive. There are quite a few sights on the way, including the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir, an old fort in the town and also the Ranganathaswamy temple just outside the town.
T.G. Halli supplies drinking water to 20 percent of the city and entry from the main gate is restricted. But the backwaters can be approached from outside Magadi Town. You might need to be a resourceful to find the entrance, but it's worth it!
The Ranganathaswamy temple:
The Ranganathaswamy temple at Magadi
TG Halli Reservoir
A view of the TG Halli Reservoir
Savandurga
Savandurga is formed by two hills known locally as Karigudda (black bill) and Billigudda (white bill). The earliest record of the name of the hill is from 1340 AD by Hoysala Ballala III from Madabalu where it is called Savandi. Another view is that the name is originated from Samantadurga attributed to a Samantharaya, a governor under Ahchutaraya at Magadi, although there is no inscription confirming this. This was the secondary capital of the Magadi rulers such as Kempegowda. from 1638 to 1728, mysore took over this place and Dalavayi Devaraja occupied this place with the palace at Nelapattana. In 1792 Lord Cornwallis captured it from Tippu Sultan and this was described by Colonel Wilks.
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Robert Home is his Select views in Mysore (1794) shows distant views of the hill from Bangalore.
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He called it Savinadurga or the fort of death. There were no steps to reach the hill top and it was covered by Bamboos and other trees forming a barricade.
The Savandurga hills are frequented by pilgrims who come to visit the Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy and Narasimha Swamy temple sited at the foothills. Picnickers come to spend time among the screne environs of the hill. Rock, climbers, cave explorers and adventurers are among others who frequent the locale.
This page is maintained by Jyothi S Girish Environmental Engineer: 9964330033
Last updated date: 29.11.2011
