Sri Beligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple

Biligiri Rangana Betta means Bilikalina Betta in Kannada Language ( White stone hills ) in Sanskrit it is Swetadri. It is the abode of famous historical ancient temple of Biligiri Ranganathaswamy. The hill temple is at about 5091 feet above sea level and surrounded by a thick forest. The temple is at the distance of 24 Kms from Yalandur the Taluk head quarters town and about 48 Kms from Chamarajanagar District in Karnataka State.

The temple deity Biligiri Ranganathaswamy is a beautiful idol standing 5 feet Majestically. It is beleived that Sri Vaishta Maha Rishi did the Prathistha of the the idol of Lord Srinivasa along with his consort Alamelumangai also known as Ranganayakamma�.

The temple is of Dravidian architecture and said to have been renovated by Vishnuvardhana. The temple houses the idols of Nammalvar, Acharya Bhagavath Ramanujacharya and Swami Vedantha Desikan . The history of the temple dates back to the year 1667 and has been built by the Then Paleyagar Sree Mudduraju of Hadinadu and these hills were given as Donation to the Lord Poornaiah of the erstwhile Minister of Hyder ali and Tiger Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Then during the King Wodeyar Dynasty left two villages to the temple as Donation.

There are many interesting legendary stories about the Lord Ranganathaswamy the temple deity. A huge pair of sandles has been kept near the temple Sanctum it is beleived it belonged to the Lord who use to wear the same and go around the forest at night daily. The native villagers of nearly Boodi Tittu offer the Sandals to the Deity once in every three years as their offering to the lord the tradition continues even now.

The Tribal inhabitant of Soliga Community living in their Podi the hutments at the Hillock consider lord Ranganatha as their �Bhava� means their Sisters husband. It is said in their Janapada story that Lord Ranganatha on his one of the rounds in the forest happens to meet the Soliga tribal girl �Kusumale� and marries her as such the Soliga tribals are taking part in the temple works during Rathotsava period. It is also believed that Lord Ranganatha use to meet Kusumale every night on the pretext of hunted Rabit.

There is an epic story, that the sage Parushurama penance at this hillock and worshipped the Lord Ranganatha to come out from his Matruhatya Dosha. A Riveret which takes its birth here is being called in his name as �Bhargavi� a tributary of the River Cauvery. The hillock is also famous for its gigantic Champaka tree locally called as �Dodda Sampige� which if of 2000 years old, the tree is of 34 meters. At the foothills of the temple an Anjaneyaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman also exists near Vadagere village.

Kalyani Kola is also called "Theertha Tharuva Kola" is at walkable distance. Every day temple is opened only after water (Theertha) is brought from this pond.
Krishnaiahna Katte is at 16 Km from the temple at the foot hill of BR Hills.
Someshwara Kere (Lake) where Theppothsava is performed is at a distance of 2 Km.
Ningammana Katte is at a distance of 5 Km
Bhargavi Nadi lake is at 13 Km from the temple can be viewed with the permission of Forest Department.