Rangaswamy Peak and Pillar
Rangaswamy Peak and Pillar
Rangaswamy Peak and Pillar
4.5
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4.5
22 reviews
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Ravichandran S
Coimbatore, India53 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
From Kotagiri on the way to Kodanaadu view point, deviate at Kaikatti proceed to kilkotagiri-Devarshola estates to reach Rangaswamy Peak base spot. Trek for about an hour to reach the peak.through Tea estates and excellent valley views . Wow !! After reaching the peak..you will see the 360 degrees of mountain view and the full view of Bhavani Sagar Reservoir and Dam.There is a small temple on top too,which is open only during a particular auspicious month.. You require Forest Department's special permission during other months for this trek..
Written 3 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DrValliappan
Coimbatore, India10,703 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Rangasamy Peak and Toda Temple and on the way to Kodanad View Point and many miss these without a local guide. Entry is not permitted into Toda Temple (even though a model, it is considered a sacred place by locals).
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen T
Manchester, UK88 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
The key thing to say about this is that the Peak and the Pillar are two SEPARATE things, but they've been lumped together here, and with very little useful information available online about either (in English, at least), that's confusing for visitors like ourselves, to say the least! We had to do lots of research before we finally worked out which was which, and that they were two different places... The problem is that Rangaswamy Pillar is on a peak itself, but there's also Rangaswamy Peak, the pilgrimage site, with the temple on top, and it's quite a way away!
We had a great view of the Pillar from Kodanad View Point, but we didn't actually go it because we were only on a short trip.
However, we DID go to Rangaswamy Peak, which is in the same kind of area of the Kotagiri hills, but I wouldn't say nearby, and it was really spectacular. If you want to do some walking in the Kotagiri area and really get away from it all (outside of pilgrimage season, this is), then definitely go to the Peak.
You can get to within about 3km of the peak by car or bike, to the start of a forest trail that ends at the entrance to a tea estate, with stone cut steps leading off to the left. That's the path to take. Be prepared for a really steep slog uphill, especially the last bit. Apparently elephants can be seen in the woods on the way, but we didn't see any.
The views from the top, where the Rangawamy Temple is, are stunning. A 360 degree panorama. And we had the whole place to ourselves for about an hour. The temple itself is really interesting to see, too. There were no facilities there, but there is a shelter on top, if it starts to rain.
We did a longer walk than would be necessary - we got dropped off in an auto at the village of Sholar Mattam and walked from there, which makes about a 12 mile round trip. People seemed very surprised we were walking so far - it's clearly not the done thing. A couple of locals passed us a while after we set off, in jeeps, offering to drive us instead.
All along the way there were beautiful views, and really friendly people. We followed the road all the way - just one big wiggly line, through tea plantations and little tribal cottages and hamlets. Take plenty of water with you, and snacks, if you're doing the long walk. We got a cup of weak, milky chai at the only tea stall along the way, and the people there were very chatty and happy to tell us all about the local area and the tea and coffee growing.
We had a great view of the Pillar from Kodanad View Point, but we didn't actually go it because we were only on a short trip.
However, we DID go to Rangaswamy Peak, which is in the same kind of area of the Kotagiri hills, but I wouldn't say nearby, and it was really spectacular. If you want to do some walking in the Kotagiri area and really get away from it all (outside of pilgrimage season, this is), then definitely go to the Peak.
You can get to within about 3km of the peak by car or bike, to the start of a forest trail that ends at the entrance to a tea estate, with stone cut steps leading off to the left. That's the path to take. Be prepared for a really steep slog uphill, especially the last bit. Apparently elephants can be seen in the woods on the way, but we didn't see any.
The views from the top, where the Rangawamy Temple is, are stunning. A 360 degree panorama. And we had the whole place to ourselves for about an hour. The temple itself is really interesting to see, too. There were no facilities there, but there is a shelter on top, if it starts to rain.
We did a longer walk than would be necessary - we got dropped off in an auto at the village of Sholar Mattam and walked from there, which makes about a 12 mile round trip. People seemed very surprised we were walking so far - it's clearly not the done thing. A couple of locals passed us a while after we set off, in jeeps, offering to drive us instead.
All along the way there were beautiful views, and really friendly people. We followed the road all the way - just one big wiggly line, through tea plantations and little tribal cottages and hamlets. Take plenty of water with you, and snacks, if you're doing the long walk. We got a cup of weak, milky chai at the only tea stall along the way, and the people there were very chatty and happy to tell us all about the local area and the tea and coffee growing.
Written 9 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saketh M
Bengaluru, India31 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
A two-hour long drive from Bengaluru, and then a left turn off of the Kanakapura road, takes you to Rangaswamy betta a.k.a. Bilikal betta (meaning, The White Hill in Kannada). Belonging to the forest reserve, the Hill is covered in shrub forest (short trees, bamboo and bush) that are characteristic to high hills. Every once a year, pilgrims from the surrounding area climb this hill to celebrate a festival at the Ranganathaswamy temple at the top. The path they have been tracing over the years has become a regular trekking trail.
The entrance of the trail is reached by vehicle, starting from where you will enter the forest on foot. The trail begins with a half kilometre walk on a relatively level path, after which the forest becomes denser and the gradient of slope increases drastically. The trail constantly winds uphill at an incline, and includes slightly steep stretches where one is forced to climb on all fours, as well as short sections that level out to give a brief relief. These act as viewpoints that give you a great vista of the landscape and also opportunity to monitor your progress.
The trail finally opens out onto the summit (at 1552 m) which is basically a large flat field with the Ranganathaswamy temple to the left. The temple is built under a massive granite boulder which also doubles up as its roof. From here, you get a 360 degree view of the geography in that area. Different hills in the the Kanakapura range, including Kabbaladurga, Savandurga can all be seen from here. If on an overnight trek, catching the sunrise on the east makes for a highly photogenic moment.
Reasons for this being a great trek for the casual trekker* are twofold,
1. The Hill, makes a very good transitional trek for a beginner hoping to do more challenging treks (2-day events) in the future.
2. Its close proximity to Bengaluru (63 kilometers) makes it very accessible for said trekker.
The entrance of the trail is reached by vehicle, starting from where you will enter the forest on foot. The trail begins with a half kilometre walk on a relatively level path, after which the forest becomes denser and the gradient of slope increases drastically. The trail constantly winds uphill at an incline, and includes slightly steep stretches where one is forced to climb on all fours, as well as short sections that level out to give a brief relief. These act as viewpoints that give you a great vista of the landscape and also opportunity to monitor your progress.
The trail finally opens out onto the summit (at 1552 m) which is basically a large flat field with the Ranganathaswamy temple to the left. The temple is built under a massive granite boulder which also doubles up as its roof. From here, you get a 360 degree view of the geography in that area. Different hills in the the Kanakapura range, including Kabbaladurga, Savandurga can all be seen from here. If on an overnight trek, catching the sunrise on the east makes for a highly photogenic moment.
Reasons for this being a great trek for the casual trekker* are twofold,
1. The Hill, makes a very good transitional trek for a beginner hoping to do more challenging treks (2-day events) in the future.
2. Its close proximity to Bengaluru (63 kilometers) makes it very accessible for said trekker.
Written 26 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheTravElite
Bengaluru, India119 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
The peak is actually visible from the Kodanad view point in Kotagiri. The peak looks great as you are almost at the same level and a small waterfall is visible below it which makes it even more scenic.
Written 30 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Schemmale
Chennai (Madras), India5 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
A beautiful stone monolith - thanks to nature. Great view from the Kodanad view point. From the lower reaches of Kotagiri, one can take a short trek to this place. Good views from this place.
Written 26 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
muralitharan62
Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India155 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
To have the glimpse of super straight Rangasamy peak and straight pillar it is better to go from kothagiri. The route is kothagiri to kodanadu view point, from kodanadu view point we can have the chance of seeing Rangasamy peak and pillar. It stands amist valley in a sky raising mountain. Beautiful view
Written 17 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jithu M
Mumbai, India4 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Destination to escape from the routine lifestyle and experience 1788 meters above sea level. Breathtaking and wonderful spot.
Written 28 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Muthukumaran_13
Chennai (Madras), India589 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
anyone visiting Kotagiri should visit especially nature lovers!
You need spend some time here in a relaxed mood as the scene keeping changing every minute and each one is spectacular ones. keep the camera ready to capture the beauty of the nature in different shades and colours!
You need spend some time here in a relaxed mood as the scene keeping changing every minute and each one is spectacular ones. keep the camera ready to capture the beauty of the nature in different shades and colours!
Written 23 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arun K
Chennai (Madras), India108 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
Excellent place for a drive and to spend some time watching the brilliance of nature at it's majestic peak. Agenda is to do absolutely nothing here but bask in the glory of nature. Wonderful place to just stare and infact actually get lost in a swirl of mist which engulfes in a matter of seconds before you actually know it
Written 27 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rameswar G
Visakhapatnam, India
Nice review Sir, I need a clarification. Can we go to Rangaswamy peak foot hill, down to the moutain?
If so how to aproach it, and do I have to take permission from forest department?
Please respond.
Written 23 May 2016
Can we stay at night in the peak?one of my friend said the forest depertment is not allowing people to enter the jungle now.
Written 8 June 2015
Trekkers,Please note that Rangaswamy PEAK is different from Rangaswamy Pillar. The water falls which you are seeing from Kodanaadu view point is below the Rangaswamy Pillar and not below the Rangaswamy PEAK.Both are in different directions.
Written 5 February 2015
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