Balagondarayana Durgam

This is my recent travel to Balagondarayana Durgam on 4th May 2019, a Saturday and a New Moon Day. This small hill, which takes barely an hour-to-90 minutes to climb and descend, has little to write about the hike. However, let me explain other details like the trip plan, temple information, the location, history and geographic beauty.

I used to see this hill and the temple on top every time I travel between Bangalore-Salem. The temple and the hill are visible soon after the Krishnagiri highway tollbooth (within 8 kms). With a MSL elevation of ~620-900m, it is not that steep, but the valley below the hills through which the highway runs makes it look majestic. This temple is situated on a hill top known to the locals by the name Melumalai, and the area is situated in an elephant corridor (indicated on the highway information board).

Every Hindu temple in India is unique in its own way, and this was no exception. Built during King Krishnadevaraya’s times, the main deity of the temple is the standing Perumal (a deity popularly recognised in a sleeping posture).

I started my journey from Bangalore at 6AM and by 730AM I was already at the foothills. There is a small town called Samalpallam on the Highway, a kilometre

from which is the arch displaying the way to Balagondarayana Swamy temple. Two more kilometres later, a right deviation board points to the temple. This last stretch was a mud road, but motor-able (although I doubt if that will be true in the monsoons); however, this isn’t too much of a deterrent.

Once I reached the foothills, there was plenty of space for parking, but absolutely nothing else. So all requisites one might need will have to be packed for the trip (food and water included). Luckily I had my water bottle, and since I was there early morning, I didn’t even need it badly. From the bottom, 1500 steps and a little pathway in between takes you to the top. Since there are no shade-giving trees and only thorny bushes, it is better to have a cap and shoes.

This temple has two pathways to the top - one from Beemandapalli, a village in the backside of the hill, and the one I preferred, from Balagondarayana Durgam village. Both pathways meet almost at the hilltop, near a Hanuman Temple that is almost at 75% of the climb.

The Hanuman Temple

The deity inside the temple.

The second pathway just by the side of the temple.

The main temple is on the solid-rock hilltop, with an arch marking the entrance again.

The last stretch of the climb is entirely on this rock, which has a proper all-season protection wall for safety.

A small pond (about 5 feet deep) under the rock crevices is the first unique feature, forming a cave-like structure in three directions. There is a beautiful pink lotus plant in the midst of the pond. This was a sight for sore eyes, following the thorny, rocky landscape. The locals believe and opine that the pond seldom dries up despite being in the middle of a rock formation. There is a small Ganapathy Temple before entering the pond.

The perennial pond

The Single Lotus

The lord Ganapthy overseeing the pond.

The cave like structures

The huge rock on which main temple is there and below this the pond is seen

Further up, in a couple of minutes, you get the glimpse of the hilltop temple. The temple, built by King Krishnadevaraya, was renovated last in 2009 by local villagers. All the statues (it is believed) were supposed to be brought down from Tirupathi during his time. The standing Perumal was a sight to behold.  The whole hill itself is like the relaxing Ranganatha according to the locals.

 The Information available in the stone edict

The standing pose of the deity, with a ceiling typical of Hoysala architecture.

Once you exit the temple, to its right, there is a wedge-shaped pond in the rock called “Gaja" Pond, since it resembles an elephant’s mouth."Gaja" means elephant in Sanskrit. Water from this pond is used for the daily rituals, with a pulley arrangement. This pond is also believed to never dry up irrespective of the season.

The view of the temple from the edge, which also shows the pulley arrangement 

 The never-drying pond at the top looks like an elephant's open mouth.

 The priest taking water for daily rituals. Beyond the edge is a dead-drop.

The view from the top: While circumambulating the narrow path of the temple, I could see the mango-shaped hill near the Krishnagiri highway toll at a distance, the bridge over the river Thenpennai, and the always-busy Krishnagiri-Bangalore Highway. The other side provides a fine glimpse of the Shoolagiri hill, and again a part of the highway amidst the forest.  

The Symbol of vaishnavites visible from below 

The mud path to the foot hill visible from the temple.

The hosur highway visible as a line

The narrow edge circling the temple.

Another seasonal stream just below the temple.

With no obstructions, the force of the wind at the top is severe. However, it is pleasant and enjoyable after an hour’s trek. Fortunately, well-paved steps and the availability of electricity on the hilltop makes things easier, and mobile reception was clearly great as everyone was on their phones. After enjoying the wind, I made my way down.

Overall, as it is close to Bangalore, the entire trip can be completed within 6 hours. It is advisable for anyone wanting a moderate trek and a small break in nature. This hilltop temple only has patrons from nearby villages visiting it regularly. So it is calm and not very busy, and open only on Saturdays and New Moon days. It may not be a strict rule, I believe the priest who resides there might probably be able to open the temple for specific purposes.

Finally, the locals say the sunrise from the hilltop is worth watching, so next time I will try to confirm that.