Biligiriranga Hills Tourism in Southern India
An interesting place to see in the southern India is the Biligiriranga Hills, commonly called B R Hills, a hill range situated in south-eastern Karnataka sharing border with Tamil Nadu . The area is called Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and there is a whole lot to visit in this area. It is a protected reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Being at the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, the sanctuary is home to eco-systems that are unique to both the mountain ranges. The site was declared a Tiger Reserve in December 2010.
The sanctuary derives its name Biligiri from the white rock face that constitutes the major hill crowned with the temple of Lord Rangaswamy. The hills are famous for the temple of Lord Ranganatha or Lord Venkatesha which is situated on the highest peak of the hill range. The local form of the deity is called Biligiriranga and is depicted in a unique standing position. The Annual Car festival of the deity held during “Vaishakha “in the month of April, is famous in the region and attracts thousands of pilgrims from far and wide. The ratha festival is celebrated at Biligiriranga Hills. The temple consists of the idol of Sri Biligiri Ranganatha and Ranganayaki the Lord’s spouse.This temple is of greater significance for many Srivaishnavites. Special prayer to the deities are performed on Fridays.
There are a large number of “champaka” trees together with several covering the area with thick shadow.The 600 years old Big Michelia champaka known as “Doddasampige” is holiest of all for the Soliga tribes and other local people. The tree is compared to Lord shiva, who is having a braid. The “Doddasampige” has been the God of the Soliga tribe’s, who perform the fire dance surrounding the tree on the eve of “Maha Shivarathri” festival. This champaka tree, a sacred symbol to Soliga tribal people, symbolizes the tribal relation with nature.
The forest area is a home for many medicinal and other endemic species. The Soliga tribes are accustomed to use more than 300 herbs for the treatment of various aliments.
The BR hills links the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats allowing animals to move between them and facilitating gene flow between populations of species in these areas. Thus, this sanctuary serves as an important biological bridge for the biota of the entire Deccan plateau.
The BR hills along with the Male-Mahadeshwara (MM Hills) range forms a distinctly unusual ridge running north-south amidst the plains of Bangalore . The peaks of these lofty range rise as high as 1800 m .The highest hill is Kattari Betta, at 1800 MSL. Various observations point to a possible biogeographic link between BR hills and Nilgiri ranges.
The sanctuary has a wide variation in mean temperature (9 °C to 16 °C minimum and 20 °C to 38 °C maximum) and annual rainfall (600 mm at the base and 3000 mm at the top of the hills). The most conspicuous mammals in the BR Hills are the herds of wild elephants. A recent survey has revealed the presence of 17 tigers in this sanctuary.
The forests are well known for many gaur, the largest bovines. BR hills are a good place for viewing many other large and small animals. There are about 26 species of mammals recorded in the sanctuary.
For hundreds of years, this region has been the home for the semi-nomadic Soliga tribe. Randolph C. Morris, a Scotsman introduced Coffee into the hills in the latter half of the 19th century. Among the many reputed guests that Col. Morris had, were Dr. Salim Ali, who visited him during the Birds of Mysore survey and E P Gee, a naturalist. The estate still preserves the home of the Morrises.
This unique hill range of Souther India is a must include in the list of holiday destination.
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