Elevation Gain – 1525m
Riding Time – 4 – 8 hours
Route Profile – Rolling Terrain with breath-taking views
Road Quality – Mostly smooth tarmac. However there are a few patches of damaged roads
Traffic Level – There will be a lot of traffic in Bangalore. Once we are in the villages, there is almost no traffic except for the occasional movement of heavy transport vehicles
Difficulty Level – Advanced
Strava Route – https://www.strava.com/routes/16139263
Savanadurga, which is considered to be one of the largest monolith hills in Asia, is a must ride toroute. What’s in store for you on this route? Well, you will be riding past a couple of lakes, a gigantic Banyan Tree, a dam, and one of the largest monolith hills in Asia. Apart from this, you will be riding on beautiful country roads and through a forest.
The best way to prepare for and complete this ride is to consume enough fluids (electrolytes and water) at regular intervals. Also, do eat some solid food before and during the ride in order to finish strong.
Start off early in the morning from Bums On The Saddle (BOTS), Jayanagar and continue towards Nagarbhavi. Get onto the Gandhi Marg road to reach Bangalore University. Continue on the Kengeri main road to reach Komaghatta Lake. By now, you would have gotten out of the city to ride on some beautiful country roads. Ride towards DoddaAalada Mara (Big Banyan Tree) and continue riding towards Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN). The Manchanabele Dam is not very far from here. There will be some movement of heavy transport vehicles on these roads as there is a cement factory in the locality. Once you evade all the heavy transport vehicles, you will start climbing towards Manchanabele Dam. Be prepared for a treat! Stop by the side of the road, click a few pictures, soak in the view, and then continue towards the next checkpoint. By the way, there is also a trail which will take you closer to the dam. Bikes can be taken there, but there’s a lot of broken glass on the trail. Note:You will find very few shops for food and water after DoddaAalada Mara (Big Banyan Tree)
Now, continue towards Savanadurga. The road becomes narrow and traffic is almost negligible. Once you reach the end of the Savanadurga – Manchanabele Road, you will join the Magadi – Ramanagara Road where you will find some shops for refreshments.
Enter the Savanadurga State Forest to reach the base of Savanadurga Hill. Once you reach the base, find a safe spot for your bicycles and climb the hill. But, leave your bike there at your own risk. The hike up and down the hill will take close to 3 hours.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT CYCLING
I started Cycling in June 2017 primarily to improve my level of fitness and have since then enjoyed every second spent on the saddle. The excitement of participating in races, the freedom to explore the countryside and confidence to make new friends have only encouraged me to ride my bike often, if not every single day. I would like to someday travel the whole of Europe on my bike and also build a bike for myself.
DISCIPLINE: Road Biking
CURRENT BIKE(S): Merida Speeder 100
DREAM BIKE: Specialized Allez Sprint
