To go: When? How? If you go...

(LAST UPDATED: 21 Jan 2009)

WHEN TO GO: 

Best time: The weather is pleasant throughout the day in the winters and monsoons. Summers are very dry with day temperatures hovering around 40 degrees centigrade. Try being at the place early in the morning or late in the evening. Best months are from early-June to early February. 

 
HOW TO GO:

Getting there: The best way to get there is to drive down from Bangalore city (about 3 hrs drive). Jayamangali Reserve is about 23 km away from Madhugiri Town and about 138 km from Bangalore (via Tumkur).

 

CLICK AND ENLARGE MAP BELOW. 

It may be a good idea to take a printout to avoid getting lost in the area. 

 

Driving directions to Maidenahalli Grasslands from Bangalore City via Dobbespete - Tumkur - Koratagere - Madhugiri: (Day trips can be made from Bangalore)

NOTE: There is a direct road from Dobbespete town on NH4 (22 km before Tumkur) to Koratgere town by skipping Tumkur. This road is in a bad shape and under repair for the past few years. Don't travel on this road unless you really hate your vehicle!)

NOTE: THERE ARE QUITE A FEW APPROACHES TO THIS AREA BOTH FROM MADHUGIRI AND HINDUPUR TOWNS.

 1) Drive on the National Highway 4 towards Tumkur City.
2) 3.5 kilometres after the Kyathasandra toll gate and about 3 kilometres before Tumkur City, at Batawadi, the highway splits into BH (Bangalore-Honnavar) Road (which enters Tumkur City) and Sira Road (which bypasses Tumkur City).
3) Travel on the Tumkur by-pass / Sira Road for about 4 km and you should reach an under-construction overpass. Go north (turn right) towards Madhugiri Town.
4) Travel on the Madhugiri road through Koratagere town, for 41 kilometres, till you reach Madhugiri Town (Tumkur-Madhugiri Road update as of Dec 2009:  Road was tarred a couple of years ago and is NOT in the best of conditions. Don't drive fast in small/ compact cars (Maruti 800, Alto, Santro etc). This although, many of the speed-breakers, of which there were at every village, having been recently removed. Be careful though, as speed breakers are known to spring overnight, to force stop public buses at each village.
5) As you enter Madhugiri town ask some one for Hindupura road. Travel inside the town for a km.
6) When the the road splits into east and west, drive east/ right turn (ask some one again for road to Hindupur town if you are confused). At this location, you might probably see a board by the forest department depicting blackbuck.
7) About 1.5 km from Madhugiri town the road again splits into Hindupur Road on the left (north-east) and Chikballapur/Gowridbidanur road that goes straight (east). It's easy to be confused here. Remember: You have to make a left turn (north-east) towards Hindupur. (Madhugiri - Hindupur Road update as of Jan 21, 2008:  Road was tarred a couple of years ago and is NOT in the best of conditions thorough most of it. Don't drive fast in small/ compact cars (Maruti 800, Alto, Santro etc).
8) 11 km from Madhugiri town (and before the bridge over Jayamangali River / Kodegenahalli village), you will reach Puruvara village.

NOTE: From Puruvara village, Maidenahalli area can be reached from both west (via Badakanahalli and Giregoudana halli villages) or from east (via Kodigenahalli and Maidenahalli village cross). Described below is the approach from west, which allows better views of the area's landscape.

9) Make a left turn (North) and travel on the ID Halli village road for 8 km. Just after the twin villages of Badakanahalli and Giregoudana halli, the habitat abruptly changes into open plains. (Puruvara-ID Halli Road update as of Dec. 2009: Road was tarred a couple of years ago and is NOT in the best of conditions thorough most of it. Don't drive fast in small/ compact cars (Maruti 800, Alto, Santro etc). 

10) Half a km after Gireoudana halli village, an unmetalled track turns north-east. Take this track. (It's easy to be confused here too). Please enquire with the local villagers if you are not sure.
11) The grasslands and blackbuck habitat begins on this track. You can stop your car and bird along the track (Road update as of Dec. 2009: This is just a metalled track and is basically soil and stones. Drive very carefully and avoid driving small cars on this road). 4 km down this track you will reach the gates of Maidenahalli or Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve. Pass through the gates and park your vehicle at the watch tower. Speak to the local forest watchers. You can walk around the area or drive along the many paths that exist here.

IF YOU GO:

Worth seeing: Apart from the wildlife, views of the vast plains of Deccan Plateau and the Closepete granite hill chain that runs from Bellary to Ramanagaram.

What to eat: Food is not available here. Carry your own food or eat at hotels in nearby towns of Madhugiri or Hindupur.

Where to stay: There are no lodges in the area. Visitors can request forest department to give them permission to camp in the area.

To camp at Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, contact :

1) Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)
   Tumkur Territorial Division,
   Kunigal Road,
   Tumkur - 5721 01
   Telephone: + 91 (816) 2201196

2) Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF)
   Madhugiri Territorial Sub-Division,
   Forest Office,
   Madhugiri Town
   Tumkur District
   Telephone: Not working (Updated Jan 2009)

3) Range Forest Officer (RFO)
   Madhugiri Territorial Range,
   Forest Office,
   Madhugiri Town
   Tumkur District
   Telephone: Not working (Updated Jan 2009)

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To know more about the wildlife of Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, contact:

WILDLIFE AWARE NATURE CLUB (WANC)
Nisarga, Nisarga Layout
Near Hotel Vaishali,
Tumkur 5721 03
Karnataka, INDIA

wildlifeaware (at) gmail.com

Murthy TVN: tvnmurthy (at) vsnl.com (CELL: 94480 73129)
Ameen Ahmed: tumkurameen (at) gmail.com  (CELL: 99808 32814)
Prasanna D.R: prasanna_tumkur (at) hotmail.com or appichikki (at) yahoo.com
Guru Prasad T.V: guru_tumkur (at) yahoo.com