Ramadevara Betta Rama Temple
✓
📍 Ramanagara, Karnataka
State SignificanceIndia's only Vulture Sanctuary also shelters a thousand-year-old hilltop Rama temple on the same Sholay boulders where Sugriva is said to have installed the Lord's idol during the Ramayana — the climb involves 400 steps, a natural lake that never dries, and panoramic views over Ramanagara's orange granite hills.
🕒 Practical Information
🕉️ Spiritual Details
Lord Kodanda Rama
Hilltop Forest Shrine and Vulture Sanctuary
Kodanda Rama
🕉️ Divine Snapshot
Lord Kodanda Rama
Hilltop Forest Shrine and Vulture Sanctuary
Ramadevara Betta, Ramanagara, Karnataka 562159
Spiritual Highlights
The Rama Tirtha lake at the summit is said to have mild medicinal properties and never goes dry.
Vultures nesting on this hill are considered sacred — they are believed to be the descendants of Jatayu who witnessed Rama's grief over Sita's abduction.
Climbing the 400 steps barefoot; drinking from the Rama Tirtha spring.
Victory over obstacles, peace of mind, and the particular energy that comes from pilgrimage in a natural, uncrowded site.
About Ramadevara Betta Rama Temple
The Ramdevara Temple atop Ramadevara Betta is the kind of place that rewards effort. The 30-minute barefoot climb up the granite slope, past natural caves and wind-bent trees, is itself a form of preparation for the shrine at the summit. The Rama Tirtha, a natural lake tucked into the hillside, has a stillness about it that the valley below doesn't. On weekday mornings, the hilltop is largely yours.
Architecture & Heritage
Simple Dravidian / Ganga Style (Ancient — over 1,000 years; Vijayanagara period renovations)
The Rama Tirtha natural lake and the panoramic Sholay boulder landscape.
The ancient Rama, Sita, Lakshmana idols and the Rama Tirtha spring.
Festivals & Celebrations
Forest department's vulture monitoring sessions on select weekends.
Best Time to Visit: October–February for cool mornings and clear views of the Sholay hills. Monsoon (July–August) makes the boulders moss-green and dramatic but the steps slippery.
Rituals & Traditions
Simple Vaishnava morning puja; Rama Nama chanting by resident priest.
The vultures nesting on this hill are protected by both forest law and local religious tradition — harming them is considered deeply inauspicious.
Tirtha (spring water).
Visitor Guidelines
Comfortable walking shoes or trekking sandals. No formal dress code but modest attire at the shrine.
Moderate — 400 steps with railings; open hillside terrain.
Nearby Temples (22)
Within about 200 km driving distance from Ramadevara Betta Rama Temple. Plan a yatra and cover as many of these as you can.
Bheemeshwara Temple
Bheemeshwari, Mandya District, Karnataka
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple
Gavipuram, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi)
Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Kote Venkataramana Temple
KR Market Area, Bengaluru, Karnataka
ISKCON Temple Bangalore
Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple
JP Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Shivagange Cave Temple
Shivagange, Tumkur District, Karnataka
Shivoham Shiva Temple
HAL Old Airport Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Nimishambha Temple
Ganjam, Srirangapatna, Mandya District, Karnataka
Srirangapatna Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangapatna, Karnataka
🕉️ Divine Snapshot
Lord Kodanda Rama
Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, Sugriva (tradition)
Hilltop Forest Shrine and Vulture Sanctuary
Ramadevara Betta, Ramanagara, Karnataka 562159
How to Reach
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (85 km, ~80 min by road)
Ramanagara Railway Station (3 km, ~10 min by auto)
Ramanagara Bus Stand (2.5 km by auto)
Early weekday mornings (9–10 AM) to see the vultures active before mid-day thermals. Avoid carrying open food — monkeys on the upper steps are aggressive and numerous. Keep plastic bags closed.