Male Mahadeshwara Hills (M M Hills)

Date: 1-Oct-16

Thilak’s friends had planned a bike ride to Male Mahadeshwara Betta on 1-October. Since I had gradually become part of their riding group, I was invited as well. Male Mahadeshwara Betta, popularly known as M M Hills, is a famous pilgrimage destination in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka that attracts large numbers of devotees from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, what interested us most was the opportunity to ride through the dense forests and winding roads that lead to the hills.

Setting out from Bangalore

We were a group of ten riders for this trip. As planned, eight of us gathered in Banashankari at 9:30 AM and started our journey at 10:00 AM. Traffic on the Bangalore–Kanakapura Road was moderate, as expected, and the weather was not particularly pleasant. Two more friends joined us near the Art of Living Ashram, and from there we continued together towards Kanakapura.

Since M M Hills is around 215 km from Bangalore, we had a long ride ahead. We deliberately avoided the Maddur route to reach Kollegala because we knew that the stretch between Maddur and Malavalli was not in good condition. Our first break was at Kanakapura, where both the riders and the motorcycles got some much-needed rest. We packed cakes and buns from a small bakery to serve as our lunch later in the day and resumed our journey at around 11:30 AM.

A break at Kollegala

Our next halt was Kollegala, located about 81 km from Kanakapura. The road leading to Kollegala was fairly well maintained and offered a comfortable riding experience. If time permits, travelers can also include a visit to Shivanasamudra falls along this route.

We reached Kollegala at around 1:00 PM, refreshed ourselves with tender coconut water, and continued towards M M Hills.

Into the forests of M M Hills

M M Hills is approximately 74 km from Kollegala. Unfortunately, nearly 20 km of the stretch after Kollegala was filled with potholes. The rough roads, combined with the intense afternoon heat, made this section particularly tiring. Fortunately, conditions improved significantly once we entered the forest range. The roads became smoother, and the shade provided by the dense tree cover made the weather feel much more pleasant.

The M M Hills forest range is exceptionally beautiful and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, with elephants being among the most prominent inhabitants. Sadly, we did not encounter any animals during our ride. Nevertheless, the journey through the forest remained memorable. The route features around 27 hairpin bends. With every bend, the views became increasingly spectacular. Dense green forests, winding roads, and distant hill ranges combined to create an ideal setting for a motorcycle ride.

A surprising approach to the temple

Both Thilak and I had assumed that the temple would be located at the highest point of the hill. However, after navigating several hairpin bends, we suddenly found ourselves descending instead of climbing further. The unexpected route surprised us and made us even more curious about what lay ahead. After a few kilometres, we caught our first glimpse of the temple tower and the small town surrounding it.

Unlike many hill temples, the Male Mahadeshwara Temple is not situated on the summit. Instead, it is nestled among towering hills, giving the entire setting a unique charm. We stopped at a viewpoint from where both the temple and the town were clearly visible. There, we enjoyed the cakes and buns we had packed earlier, spent some time taking photographs, and then continued towards the temple.

Male Mahadeshwara Temple

We entered the temple premises at around 3:30 PM. The town itself is relatively small and consists mainly of the temple, several lodges for pilgrims, a few hotels, a market selling pooja materials, and a KSRTC bus stand.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Mahadeshwara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and is an important pilgrimage centre for the Shaiva community. Although the temple was moderately crowded, there was fortunately no queue for darshan when we visited. As a result, we were able to complete our darshan within just a few minutes.

The temple is surrounded by majestic hills, which add significantly to its beauty. After spending some time exploring the temple premises, we decided to have some food at a hotel near the bus stand. Unfortunately, the food turned out to be quite disappointing. Further down from the bus stand, near an Indian Oil petrol station, there is a viewpoint that offers beautiful views of the surrounding forest range. After spending some time there taking photographs, we began our return journey at around 5:45 PM.

The ride back home

As we rode back through the winding roads, the setting sun painted the sky in shades of red and orange. The changing colours of the evening sky added a magical touch to the ride through the hills. At the base of the hill, we stopped for tea before continuing towards Kollegala.

Thilak and I had plans to continue onwards to Mysore, while the rest of the group would return to Bengaluru. We all gathered once more in Kollegala, said our goodbyes, and then took our respective routes.

Caution: Since elephant sightings are possible within the forest range, it is advisable to avoid visiting the temple during late evening hours.

Travel snapshot

This ride was less about the destination and more about the journey through the forests and hills of southern Karnataka. Despite the scorching weather, the winding roads, forest landscapes, and camaraderie of riding with friends made the trip memorable. The beautiful sunset ride back added their own charm to the day.

• Route Travelled: Onward: BTM Layout > Kanakapura > Malavalli > Kollegala > MM Hills
  Return: MM Hills > Kollegala > T Narsipura > Mysore
• Total Distance (To & Fro): 360 km
• Mileage (Bike): 37 km/l
• Fuel expense: 678 Rs
• Total expense: 1072 Rs

Route Map