Ramanagara

Nestled in Karnataka, the city of Ramanagara is a popular hub of culture in the South. Home to rolling green hills, Ramanagara is surrounded by the peaks of Shiva Ramagiri, Somagiri, Krishnagiri, and Yeti Rajagiri, Revanna Siddeshwara, Sidilakallu, and Jala Siddeshwara. Mysore silk saris that are famous across the world for its superior texture and quality, are made from the silk harvested in these regions. Because of its rich silk harvest, Ramanagara is also known as the Silk City.

The most popular attraction in Ramanagara is the Janapada Loka, also known as the “Folk World”, which is a museum that exhibits exclusive village folk art and artifacts. The open-air museum also organizes several folk-based programs throughout the year and is a must-visit for tourists who desire to experience the culture of Karnataka first hand.

The city also has the country’s only vulture sanctuary, the Ramanagara Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary. The rocky area, peppered with outcrops, is a popular spot for bird watching and hiking. The sanctuary houses to different species of vultures like the long-billed vulture and the Egyptian vulture. Inside the sanctuary is also a temple dedicated to Lord Ram, with a unique idol of Rama sitting poised with Sita on his lap.

Mekedatu in Ramanagara, which is the blending spot of the two rivers Arkavathi and Kaveri, is a popular picnic area for those who want to enjoy the green opens with the sound of the roaring waters.

The city of Ramanagara rose into prominence after it was used as a setting in the Bollywood cult classic, Sholay. It is located approximately 50kms away from Bangalore and is connected to the metropolitan by buses that take around 90 minutes to travel between the two places. Ramanagara does not have airports or railway junctions of its own, and the nearest city that connects it to flight or rail services is Bangalore.

The Best time to visit this city would be in the winter months when the climate is not too hot to enjoy the outdoors.