BRT Tiger Reserve

BRT Tiger Reserve is a protected tiger reserve in the Biligiri Rangana Hills of Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka, between the Western and Eastern Ghats. Notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 and declared a tiger reserve in 2011, it covers about 574 sq km. It is notable for its unique biogeographical confluence, diverse flora and fauna including tigers, elephants and over 200 bird species, and the hilltop Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple.

Visitors can expect a forested hill landscape with undulating terrain, deciduous and evergreen patches, and grasslands. The main visitor experience is an organized jeep safari through designated forest zones to view wildlife such as elephants, tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gaurs and birds. The hilltop Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple is accessible within the reserve. Facilities are basic and forest-focused, with safari tracks, viewpoints and interpretation areas.

The area was notified as Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974 under the Wildlife Protection Act and declared the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve in January 2011. The hilltop Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha is a historic temple traditionally associated with the region's cultural history and gives the hills their name.

The reserve is culturally significant for the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple, an important pilgrimage site, and for the Soliga tribal community who have traditionally inhabited the hills and maintain cultural and ecological knowledge of the forest. The temple's annual car festival and local traditions reflect the interconnection of forest and cultural heritage.