What to expect
Highlights
- The misty hilltop and Venugopalaswamy temple.
- The sweeping views over Bandipur’s forests.
- The park-bus ride up from the checkpost.
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta is the highest peak of the Bandipur range, about 1,450 m, topped by the Venugopalaswamy temple and often wrapped in mist — himavad means "misty".
Practical guide
Plan Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Who's going?Tailor Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta to your trip
Typeviewpoint
Nearest baseGundlupet
DistrictChamarajanagar
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed2 to 3 hours including the bus ride
Places to visit2→From the hilltop the forest rolls away in every direction, and on clear mornings the views are superb.
Getting there
How to visit
- In the Bandipur reserve near Gundlupet; private vehicles are stopped at a checkpost and a forest-department bus takes visitors up.
- Go early for the mist and the views; carry a warm layer as the top is cool.
Distance by road
- Mysuru60 km
- Bengaluru180 km
- Ooty130 km
- Mandya90 km
- Kozhikode200 km
Road km to Chamarajanagar; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; early morning for the mist and clear views.
Weather in Himavad Gopalaswamy BettaSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Sunrise6:13 am
Sunset6:04 pm
Golden hour best light5:04 pm–6:04 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:04 pm–6:29 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌔 Waxing gibbous · 59%
Sunset is in about 52 minutes.
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- Access is by the forest bus only, on set timings — check them first; it is a temple, so dress and behave accordingly.
Photos
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta in pictures
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Top experiences around Gundlupet
One more place around Gundlupet worth a day of its own.
wildlifeBandipur National Park
7.8 km · ~19 min by auto
A famous tiger reserve and former Mysore royal hunting ground on the Mysuru–Ooty highway, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere; jeep and bus safaris in the teak-and-scrub forest offer chances of tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur and dhole.
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Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta — at a glance
TimingsSet forest-bus timings; check first
Best timeOctober to February; early morning for the mist
Entry: Forest-bus fee (private vehicles stopped at the checkpost)
Getting here
How to reach Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Bandipur reserve near Gundlupet; forest bus from the checkpost
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
wildlifeBandipur National Park
A famous tiger reserve and former Mysore royal hunting ground on the Mysuru–Ooty highway, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere; jeep and bus safaris in the teak-and-scrub forest offer chances of tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur and dhole.
7.8 km · ~19 min by auto · straight lineA
Anjaneya Swami Temple, Chamarajanagar
Place
templeAnjaneya Swami Temple, Chamarajanagar
The Anjaneya Swami shrine near Doddarasina Kola is a distinct local temple, not Chamarajeshwara under another name. Visit respectfully during confirmed worship access and ask before photographs.
44.7 km · ~74 min by cab · straight lineK
Kolada Ganapathi Temple
Place
templeKolada Ganapathi Temple
A separately mapped Ganapathi shrine near Doddarasina Kola in Chamarajanagar. Keep the worship entrance clear, remove footwear where directed and confirm access before entering.
44.7 km · ~75 min by cab · straight lineV
Veerabhadreshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar
Place
templeVeerabhadreshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar
OpenStreetMap identifies this local Veerabhadreshwara shrine in Kannada near the town centre. It is a smaller worship stop with no verified tourist timetable; follow local instructions at the entrance.
44.9 km · ~75 min by cab · straight line
templeChamarajeshwara Temple
Chamarajeshwara Temple is the living Shiva temple at the centre of Chamarajanagar, where a Mysuru royal dedication, a sculptured entrance tower and an annual chariot festival give the district headquarters a story of its own.
45.1 km · ~75 min by cab · straight line
templeBiligiri Rangaswamy Temple, BR Hills
The hilltop temple of Lord Ranganatha (Biligiri Ranga) that gives the Biligiriranga (BR) Hills their name, set amid the forests of the BRT Tiger Reserve where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet — a Soliga-tribal pilgrimage centre and a base for wildlife safaris.
68.0 km · ~113 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta is
Good to know
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta?
October to February; early morning for the mist and clear views.
What are the entry fee and timings at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta?
Entry: Forest-bus fee (private vehicles stopped at the checkpost). Timings: Set forest-bus timings; check first.
How do I reach Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta?
In the Bandipur reserve near Gundlupet; private vehicles are stopped at a checkpost and a forest-department bus takes visitors up. Go early for the mist and the views; carry a warm layer as the top is cool.
How much time do I need for Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta?
2 to 3 hours including the bus ride.
What else is near Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta?
Nearby you can pair Bandipur National Park (7.8 km), Anjaneya Swami Temple, Chamarajanagar (44.7 km), Kolada Ganapathi Temple (44.7 km), Veerabhadreshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar (44.9 km).
Read before you go
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta itself yet. These cover Gundlupet and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: Naveen R Gowda, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Shashidhara halady (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.