🌿 Introduction to K.Gudi

Kyathadevara Gudi, commonly known as K.Gudi, is a serene forest destination located within the Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. Situated at the confluence of the Eastern and Western Ghats, this region boasts a unique blend of biodiversity, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. The name "K.Gudi" translates to "Temple of Kyathadevara," referencing the ancient temple nestled amidst the dense forests.​

Kyathadevaraya Gudi, popularly known as K Gudi, is a remote forest settlement located deep within the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, India. The name “Kyathadevaraya Gudi” is derived from a local chieftain or noble named Kyathadevaraya, who is believed to have played an important role in the administration of this forested region during pre-colonial times, possibly under the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire or local palegars (chieftains). Though direct historical documentation about Kyathadevaraya is sparse, oral traditions and local knowledge suggest that this area had strategic as well as spiritual significance, which led to the establishment of a shrine (gudi) in his honor. The forested hills surrounding K Gudi have served as a sanctuary for humans and wildlife alike for centuries, offering shelter to tribal communities, particularly the Soligas, and serving as a natural stronghold during periods of political upheaval in southern India. The region lies at the ecological crossroads of the Eastern and Western Ghats, and this convergence has made it a hotspot for biodiversity for millennia — a fact that has influenced human settlement and worship practices since ancient times.

The cultural and religious heart of this region is the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu. The temple, believed to be over 500 years old, was established by a devotee and local ruler who envisioned this mountaintop shrine as both a spiritual center and a lookout post. Its construction atop the white mist-covered hills (from which the name “Biligiri” or “white hills” is derived) symbolized divine protection over the surrounding forests and settlements. Over time, the temple drew pilgrims, many of whom traveled from Mysore, Tamil Nadu, and even further afield, marking the hill as a center of regional devotion. The annual Rathotsava (chariot festival) held in April remains a major cultural event, during which the deity is paraded around the temple in a grand procession attended by thousands. Importantly, the Soliga tribe, indigenous to the forests of BRT, play a vital role in the temple’s traditions. Every alternate year, they offer handcrafted slippers made of forest produce to the deity—a deeply symbolic act underscoring the reciprocal relationship between the forest, the divine, and the tribal communities.

Historically, the region underwent a major shift during the colonial era. Under British rule, vast forest tracts across South India were brought under the purview of the Indian Forest Act, with Biligiri Hills being no exception. Colonial authorities viewed these forests as sources of timber and game rather than as living landscapes inhabited by communities. Forest access became restricted, and traditional practices like shifting cultivation (known locally as "podu" or "kumri") were curbed. The Soligas, who had relied on these methods for centuries, were gradually pushed into the periphery, though many continued their traditions covertly or adapted to newer forms of livelihood. At the same time, the British introduced shikar (trophy hunting) expeditions into BRT’s forests, and it is recorded that many maharajas and British officers visited the hills for hunting tigers, leopards, and elephants—then considered symbols of valor and sport. In fact, the dense forests of K Gudi served as favored hunting grounds for the Maharaja of Mysore, whose hunting lodges and forest rest houses later became the foundation for what is today known as the K Gudi Wilderness Camp.

Post-independence, the Indian government gradually began recognizing the ecological importance of BRT. By the 1970s, the Forest Department launched efforts to protect the area as a wildlife sanctuary. In 1974, the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary was officially established, encompassing approximately 540 square kilometers, including the K Gudi range. This transformation marked a pivotal moment in the region’s history: it shifted from being a space of resource extraction and sporadic religious pilgrimage to one of conservation and controlled access. However, this change also brought renewed challenges for the Soliga community. With sanctuary status came stricter controls on forest usage, which further restricted their ability to gather forest produce and practice their traditions. Conflicts between conservation authorities and tribal residents became increasingly common during the 1980s and 1990s. Nonetheless, the resilient Soligas organized and advocated for their rights, forming cooperatives and working with non-governmental organizations like the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) to establish a model of participatory conservation.

In 2011, the sanctuary was elevated to the status of a Tiger Reserve under India’s Project Tiger program. This new designation added greater protection to its forests but also intensified conservation enforcement. Interestingly, in the same year, a landmark judgment under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 allowed the Soligas to claim community forest rights within the core areas of the Tiger Reserve—making them the first indigenous group in India to legally live within a protected area. This historic decision not only acknowledged their traditional stewardship of the land but also helped shift conservation paradigms nationwide. Rather than evicting tribes in the name of forest protection, the BRT Tiger Reserve became a pioneering example of inclusive, community-based conservation where indigenous knowledge and biodiversity protection could co-exist.

K Gudi’s role in this broader history is both symbolic and practical. The small forest outpost and its surrounding areas became central to the evolution of eco-tourism in Karnataka. In the early 2000s, Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a government-run enterprise, transformed the former hunting lodge into the K Gudi Wilderness Camp. The camp was envisioned as a sustainable tourism model that would fund conservation while also employing locals. Tourists from across the country and abroad now visit K Gudi to experience jeep safaris, birdwatching, and treks through the pristine forest. The presence of apex predators like tigers and leopards, along with elephants, gaurs, and the endemic Malabar giant squirrel, adds to its allure. However, beyond wildlife, K Gudi tells a deeper story—of a forest that has shaped and been shaped by generations of humans, where temples were built not merely as places of worship but as markers of stewardship and gratitude toward nature.

Today, K Gudi remains a microcosm of India’s complex forest heritage. It is a place where centuries-old tribal traditions intersect with modern conservation policy; where ancient shrines are nestled amidst tiger territory; and where ecology, culture, and governance continue to interact dynamically. Its history is not confined to dates or decrees, but lives in the oral songs of the Soligas, in the ancient trees that shade the temple, and in the careful tracks made by wildlife wardens and tribal honey collectors alike. Though small in size, the historical significance of K Gudi looms large in India's ongoing journey toward reconciling development, indigenous rights, and ecological preservation. As such, K Gudi is not just a forest retreat or a temple destination—it is a living, evolving landscape that embodies resilience, reverence, and renewal.

Kyathadevara Gudi (K. Gudi) is a forest settlement and eco-tourism site situated inside the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans the southeastern edge of Karnataka, in the Chamarajanagar district. Geographically, K. Gudi is perched in a transition zone where the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats, creating one of India’s richest ecological corridors. The area is part of the BRT Tiger Reserve, a notified protected area under the Project Tiger initiative and governed by the Karnataka Forest Department. It lies at a height of approximately 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, resulting in a cool, salubrious climate year-round. The terrain around K. Gudi is rugged, hilly, and densely forested with deciduous and semi-evergreen vegetation, which supports a high diversity of wildlife and plant species.

K. Gudi is located roughly 225 kilometers from Bangalore, the state capital, making it accessible for weekend travelers and nature enthusiasts. It is around 90 kilometers from the heritage city of Mysore and just 20 kilometers downhill from the hilltop temple town of BR Hills (Biligiri Rangana Betta). The closest urban settlement is the town of Chamarajanagar, located about 40 kilometers away, which serves as the main transport and logistics hub for the region. From Chamarajanagar, the road to K. Gudi winds through narrow forest tracks and hilly terrain, and travelers often pass through Yelandur or Kollegal en route, depending on their starting point. The road conditions can vary seasonally due to forest regulations and monsoonal impacts, and visitors should be aware that access is usually restricted after dusk for wildlife conservation purposes.

The coordinates of K. Gudi roughly fall around Latitude 11.916° N and Longitude 77.131° E, and it is marked on maps as part of the BRT Hills or BR Hills range. Entry to this area is highly regulated due to its status as a tiger reserve, and tourists typically visit through pre-booked stays at eco-resorts like the K. Gudi Wilderness Camp, which is one of the few accommodations permitted to operate within the core forest zone.

Kyathadevaraya Gudi (K Gudi) is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, and its distance from major nearby city centers is approximately as follows:

From Bengaluru (Bangalore) city center: ~225 km (via Kanakapura – Kollegal – Yelandur route)

From Mysuru (Mysore) city center: ~90 km (via Nanjangud – Chamarajanagar – BRT Hills route)

From Chamarajanagar town: ~38 km

From Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): ~175 km

From Ooty (Udhagamandalam): ~140 km

K Gudi is nestled within the BRT (Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple) Tiger Reserve, and access is usually via forest roads that may require permission from the Forest Department or are controlled at certain hours for wildlife protection.

Route 1: From Bengaluru (Bangalore) to K Gudi

Starting Point: Bengaluru (Bangalore) City Center

Start from Majestic (Bangalore City Center).

First Stop: Kanakapura (~50 km) - A town along the Kanakapura Road (SH 35). A common pitstop to refresh, located by the Arkavathi River.

Second Stop: Channarayapatna (~15 km from Kanakapura) – A small town where you can take a short break or refresh.

Third Stop: Kollegal (~60 km from Channarayapatna) – A rural town well known for its agriculture and proximity to the forest areas.

Fourth Stop: Yelandur (~40 km from Kollegal) – This is a small but important town and a significant stop before entering the wildlife sanctuary.

Fifth Stop: Satyamangala (~20 km from Yelandur) – A village before you head into the forested areas of the sanctuary.

Final Destination: K Gudi Wilderness Camp (~35 km from Satyamangala) – Once you reach this point, the road gets narrower and enters the BRT Tiger Reserve.

Route 2: From Mysuru (Mysore) to K Gudi

Starting Point: Mysuru City Center (e.g., Mysuru Palace)

First Stop: Nanjangud (~23 km) – A famous town with the Nanjangud Temple, an important pilgrimage site. This is a good first rest stop.

Second Stop: Chamarajanagar (~30 km from Nanjangud) – A large town, it serves as the base for travelers heading into the BRT area.

Third Stop: Siddapura (~25 km from Chamarajanagar) – A village nestled near the wildlife sanctuary that serves as a good pit stop.

Final Destination: K Gudi Wilderness Camp (~10-12 km from Siddapura) – Enter the sanctuary area from here, passing through lush, forested paths toward the camp.

Route 3: From Coimbatore to K Gudi

Starting Point: Coimbatore City Center

First Stop: Mettupalayam (~45 km via NH 181) – A town at the base of the Nilgiri Hills. It serves as the entry point for traveling to hill stations like Ooty and is a good initial rest stop.

Second Stop: Coonoor (~30 km from Mettupalayam) – A scenic town known for tea estates and panoramic viewpoints, offering great photo opportunities.

Third Stop: Ooty (Udhagamandalam) (~20 km from Coonoor) – A popular hill station with colonial-era architecture, beautiful gardens, and lakes.

Fourth Stop: Chamarajanagar (~85 km from Ooty via NH 766) – Cross into Karnataka, passing through forested landscapes before reaching Chamarajanagar.

Final Destination: K Gudi Wilderness Camp (~40 km from Chamarajanagar) – Follow the road from Chamarajanagar, passing Siddapura, and head into the BRT Tiger Reserve.

Route 4: From Ooty (Udhagamandalam) to K Gudi

Starting Point: Ooty (Udhagamandalam)

First Stop: Mettupalayam (~45 km via Ooty-Mettupalayam Road) – Mettupalayam is the base town at the foothills of the Nilgiris.

Second Stop: Coonoor (~30 km from Mettupalayam) – A charming hill station where you can enjoy some local food or take a short break.

Third Stop: Chamarajanagar (~85 km from Coonoor via NH 766) – After descending from the hills and crossing into Karnataka, you’ll arrive at Chamarajanagar, an important town on your route.

Final Destination: K Gudi Wilderness Camp (~40 km from Chamarajanagar) – From Chamarajanagar, take the road to the sanctuary area, passing through Siddapura and entering the BRT Tiger Reserve.

Important Stops and Landmarks to Note:

Kanakapura (from Bengaluru) and Nanjangud (from Mysore): Key towns along the way to rest or refresh.

Kollegal and Yelandur: Rural areas that serve as gateways to the forest and wildlife sanctuary areas.

Coonoor and Ooty (from Coimbatore and Ooty itself): Hill stations that provide a cooler climate and beautiful landscapes. They are also popular tourist spots with plenty of scenic views and attractions.

Chamarajanagar: A major town that acts as a base before heading deeper into the BRT Tiger Reserve and K Gudi.

Siddapura and Satyamangala: Small villages on the approach to K Gudi, offering access to the wildlife sanctuary.