Ramanagara (Ramadevara Betta)
Ramanagara, Karnataka
- Time needed
- Half day
- Distance
- 50 km away
- Entry
- ₹50 entry; ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 for guided rappelling or rock climbing
- Best time
- Oct – Feb, weekday mornings
Ramanagara's granite outcrops were the filming location for large parts of Sholay, and the hills are instantly recognisable to anyone who's seen it. Ramadevara Betta itself is also a designated vulture sanctuary, home to long-billed vultures that nest on the cliff faces — one of the few urban-adjacent vulture breeding sites left in South India.
Several registered adventure operators run rappelling, rock climbing and via ferrata sessions on the rock faces here, with equipment and instructors provided. It's the most accessible proper adventure-sports base near Bengaluru, which is also why weekends get booked out well in advance during the cool months.
Highlights
- Sholay filming locations across the granite hills
- Ramadevara Betta vulture sanctuary
- Guided rappelling and rock climbing with certified operators
- Temple at the hill's summit
Good to know
- Book adventure-sport sessions in advance for weekends — slots fill up in peak season
- Wear grippy shoes; the rock gets polished smooth in high-traffic climbing spots
- Silk town Ramanagara itself is worth a short stop for its weekly cocoon market if timing allows
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