Chinaga Betta Trek

Chinaga Betta Trek

Highest Altitude: 1225m (4019ft)

Location: Thimlapura wildlife sanctuary, Tumakuru District

State/Country: Karnataka/ India

Base Village: Swandenahalli

Trek Open: Year Round

Total Distance: 4km (Return)

Time: 45 mins to 1 Hour

Difficulty Level: Easy

On the 25th of December 2025, I left home at around 4:40AM and picked up my friend Mir on the way. We were heading to Tumakuru. As required, I had booked the Chinaga Betta trek through Aranya Vihara website. 

We reached there around 7AM. Once you take the deviation from the highway, the village route to the base of the hill is amazing. We pass a few villages until we arrive at Swandenahalli. A little ahead on the same road, you shall find the entry point to the trek. Here a forest guard was stationed. Harish was kind enough to give me all the details of the trek. He told me that a total of 26 people had booked and many had gone ahead. 

After our bookings were checked, he asked us to go ahead. He was waiting for a group of 10 people to arrive and would follow us along with them.  

The road to Shri Ranganatha swamy temple was not good. Most of the route is unpaved. There are ditches on the mud road. But I managed to drive the maximum distance without hitting the chassis to the ground. About 200m from the temple, I stopped near a water tank and parked the car there. The road ahead did not seem to be safe for driving a small car. SUVs and bikes can park near the temple. There is enough parking space there.

From Ranganatha swamy temple a path leads to another smaller shrine in the woods. The trekking trail begins behind this small shrine. 

There are enough markings on the rocks to indicate the trail. The winter had turned the green grasses golden. I often find this view amazing. The clear winter sky was perfect for photography. 

Close to the summit there is a huge rock. There are steps cut on them to aid ascent and there is also a rope for support. This is the most interesting part of the trek. 

Mir and I were the first to reach the top and we got enough time to enjoy the view and the silence, before the other groups joined. 

We spent a good amount of time at the summit and began our descent at around 9:30 AM. We stopped at the lake for a bit and headed to Tumakuru. 

At Tumakuru, we had breakfast at the Udupi Shree Krishna Bhojanalaya. On Sundays and holidays they make Kotte Kadabu, Pathrode and other Mangalorean delicacies. We had a sumptuous meal before returning to Bangalore. 

This is a perfect trek for beginners and those who want to experience a relaxed, less crowded trek around Bangalore. 

Trek Video: