Karnataka, with its capital at Bangalore,
is home to a fascinating legacy of richly
carved temples, imposing mosques and trappings
of a royal past. Bangalore, with its many
hotels and fine restaurants, is a good base
for exploring the state. At once a modern
industrial city, a shopper’s paradise
and a gracious legacy of the British, Bangalore
is renowned as much for its industrial plants
as for its silk saris, and for the sprawling
Cubbon Park which lies at the heart of the
city, as also its prestigious race course.
Mysore, the capital of the erstwhile princely
state, has a profusion of palaces and museums.
Nearby Srirangapatnam is linked to the memory
of one of the old state’s best known
rulers – Tipu Sultan. Somnathpur, a
few miles away, has a magnificently carved
temple. Belur and Halebid have between them
a series of carved stone temples. For perfection
of finish, wealth of detail and sheer artistry,
they are unrivaled specimens of the art of
temple sculpture.
Hassan, with a comfortable hotel, makes the
perfect base from which to explore the riches
of Belur and Halebid. Also a short distance
away, Shravanbelagola is famous as the pinnacle
of the sculptor’s art. A figure 120
metres tall has been carved out of a single
piece of granite in 183 AD. Every 12 years,
the figure of Gomateswara is ritually bathed
by priests and witnessed by millions of devotees
in one of the most colorful festivals of the
austere Jain religion.
Bangalore, capital
of Karnataka State, Bangalore is famous as
the city of gardens. It is one of the most
attractive cities in India with its beautiful
parks avenues and impressive buildings.
How to get there?
Air: Airlines link Bangalore with
Calcutta, Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Pune, Ahmedabad,
Coimbatore, Goa, Hyderabad, Calicut and Trivandrum.
Damania Airlines, East-West, Continental Aviation
also operates flights from Bangalore to Bombay.
Rail: Bangalore is directly connected by rail
with Ahmedabad, Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin,
Delhi, Guwahati, Howrah, Hyderabad, Mangalore,
Madras, Mysore, Nagpur, Trivandrum, Vasco-da-Gama
(Goa) and other cities in India.
Road: Bangalore is connected by good motorable
roads with Bandipur- 220 kms, Belur- 322 kms,
Madras- 334 kms, Bombay- 998 kms, Cochin-
526 kms, Dandeli 481 kms, Halebid- 214 kms,
Jog Falls- 377 kms, Kodaikanal- 430 kms, Mysore
140 kms, Panaji- 595 kms, Sravanabelagola-
160 kms, Tirupati- 250 kms.
Major tourist attractions :
Aquarium- 5 kms, Bull Temple- 5 kms, Fort
& Tippu's Palace- 4 kms, Ulsoor Lake-
2 kms, Lal Bagh- 4 kms, Venkatappa Art Gallery-
1 km, Cubbon Park- 1 km, Vidhana Soudha- 2
kms, Vishveswaraya Industrial & Technological
Museum- 1 km, Venkatappa Art Gallery- 1 km
Excursions from Bangalore : Bannerghat
National Park- 21 kms(Closed on Tuesdays),
Nandi Hills-60 kms, White Field (Kadugodi)-
16 kms, Kolar Gold Fields- 98 kms, Ramohalli-
25 kms, Sati Subramanya- 52 kms, Mysore- 140
kms, Kaivara (Temples of Pandavas)- 79 kms
Belur und Halebid,
situated around 86 kms away Belur is famous
for the Chennakesava Temple built in the Hoysala
style. Started in 1116 AD it took 103 years
to complete this temple.The temple commemorates
the victory of Hoysala over the Cholas in
the great battle of Talakad. The temple is
intricately carved with sculptures, friezes
& pillars.
Places of interest : Chenakesava
Temple, Veernarayan Temple, Kappe Chennigaraya
Temple etc
Excursions from Belur :
Halebid (16 kms), Sravanabelagola (86 kms),
Gorur (61 kms)
Mysore
Somnathpur (40km) has one of the finest 13th
century Hoysala temple in the shape of a star
with 16 points.
Sravanabelgola (99 km) has the 1000 year old
colossal statue (57 feet tall) of the hermit
Gomateswara.
Belur (91 km) has the beautiful Chennakesava
13th century temple.
Halebid (117 km) has the famous Hoysaleswara
Temple. That took 80 years to construct.
Badami
Badami, the one time capital of the Chalukyas,
is noted for several temples, some structural
and others rock-cut,of the sixth-seventh century
A.D.
Major tourist attractions of Badami
: Badami Caves (0.5 km), Badami
Fort (2 km) and Museums & Art Galleries
A Sculpture Gallery is maintained by the Archaeological
Survey of India on the Bhutanatha Temple Road.
Entrance is free. Timings: 0900 to 1700 hrs.
Closed on Fridays.
Excursions from Badami : Aihole
(44 km), Banashankari Temple (50 km), Guledgud
(24 km), Lakkundi (82 km), Mahakuta (14 km),
Naganath Temple (10 km), Pattadakal (22 km),
Kada Siddeswara Temple, Jambulinga Temple,
Galaganatha Temple, Sanghameswara Temple,
Mallikarjuna Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Papanatha
Temple, Jaina Temple, Shivayoga, Mandira (11
km), Pattadakal : A tiny village only 22 km
away from Badami known for its ancient structural
temples built by Chalukyas. Connected with
Badami by regular bus services.
The important temples in Badami are
: Khada Siddheshwara Temple, Jambulinga
Temple, Galaganatha Temple, Sangmeshwara Temple,
Mallikarjuna Temple, Virupakesha Temple, Papanatha
Temple, Jain temples & ASI Museums etc
Aihole, is historically
famous as the cradle of the Hindu temple architecture.
There are almost 125 temples divided into
22 groups scattered all over the village.
It is connected with Badami via Pattadakkal
by regular buses. The important tourist attractions
are : Durga Temple, Ladhkhan Temple, Gowda
Temple, Suryanarayana Temple, Konti group
of temples, Hucchimalli Temple, Meguti Temple,
Ravanphadi Temple and ASI Museum
How to get there?
Air: The nearest airport is Belgaum
(189 km) which is connected to Bombay by Vayudoot
flights.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Bagalkot (34
km) on the Hubli-Sholapur metre gauge line.
Road: Aihole has convenient road connections
to important places around it. Badami (44
km.), Aminagad (10 km.), Bagalkot (34 km.),
Bangalore (510 km.), Bijapur (135 km.), Pattadakal
(22 km.)
Excursions from Aihole are : Badami (44 km),
Koodalasangama (45 km), Pattadakal (22 km)
Hampi, it was once the
glorious capital of mighty Vijayanagara Empire
(1336-1565), from the Deccan Plateau to the
tip of the Peninsula. Founded in the middle
of the 14th century by two local princes,
Hukka & Bukka, the Vijayanagara empire
came to be celebrated for its might and wealth
and as a showpiece of imperial magnificence.
The emperors of this dynasty were great patrons
of art and architecture which can still be
seen in the vast ruins of Hampi. In an effort
to resurrect this abandoned capital, the government
has been involved in the restoration, excavation
and protection of the ruins which spread over
an area of 26 sq. kms. The terrain is dominated
by rocky hills and the mighty Tungabhadra
river which flows through this rugged landscape.
How to get there?
Air: The nearest airport is Bellary
(77 kms) which is connected by Vayudoot flights
to Bangalore. Belgaum (259 kms) is connected
by Indian Airlines flights to Bombay. Bangalore
(353 kms) is linked to most parts of India
by Indian Airlines and Vayudoot flights.
Rail: The nearest railhead is hospet (13 kms)
which is connected to Bangalore, Hubli and
guntakal.
Road: Hampi is connected by road to Aihole
156 km (via Hospet,Hungund); Badami 189 km
(via Hospet, Hungund); Bangalore 353 km (via
Hospet,Chitradurga); Bellary 77 kms, Bidar
379 kms (via Gulbarga, Homnabad); Bijapur
254 kms (via Hospet); Hungund Gadag 91 kms,
Gulbarga 264 kms (via Sindhnur); Guntakal
133 kms (via Bellary); Hassan 335 kms (via
Hospet, Chitradurga, Hosdurga, Arsikere);
Hospet 13 kms, Hubli 154 kms (via Gadag);
Hyderabad 416 kms (via Raichur, Mahaboobnagar);
Mysoer 366 kms (via Chitradurga, Tiptur, Chennarayapatna);
Raichur 194 kms (via Gangawati, Sinnur); Tungabhadra
Dam 17 kms.
Major tourist attractions :
Virupaksha Temple, Monolithic Ganeshas, Krishna
Temple, Monolithic Narasimha, Hazara Rama
Temple, Elephant Stables, Zenana Enclosures,
Royal Performance Zone, Royal Residences,
Quieen's Bath, Vittala Temple, Achyuta Raya
Temple, Kodandarama Temple, Museums &
Art Galleries : There is an Archaeological
Survey of India Museum in Kamalapur which
has a collection of sculptures found in the
region. Entrance free.
Timings: 1030-1800 hrs. Friday Closed.
Excursions from Hampi :
Tungabhadra Dam (17 Km)
: this dam built across the Tungabhadra river.
The high masonry dam is about 590 metres long
and 49 metres high. The reservoir has a storage
capacity of 1,32,559 million cu.ft. of water
spread over an area of 379 sq. kms.Regular
bus services are available from Hospet.
Nagarhole National Park
: The name Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada
`Naga' meaning `snake' and `Hole' meaning
`streams'. A number of streams snake through
the rich tropical forests of Nagarhole which
is situated in picturesque districts of Kodagu
and Mysore in Southern Karnataka. Forest Types
(a) Southern tropical semi-evergreen forests.
(b) Southern tropical dry deciduous forests.
(c) Southern tropical moist mixed deciduous
forests.
(d) Scrub forests.
(e) Lush, green, grassy swamps.
Flora & Fauna : Animals Four horned antelopa,
sloth bear, civet cat, barking deer, mouse
deer, spotted deer, wild dog, elephant, jackal,
common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque,
common mangoose, small Indian mangoose, striped-necked
mangoose, Otter, Pangoline, panther, wild
pig, porcupine, sambhar, giant squirrel, flying
squirrel, malakar squirrel, threestriped palm
squirrel tiger. Birds Pea fowl, common babbler,
scinaitar babbler, bea eater, red whiskered
bulbul, red vented bulbul, little brown dove,
ring dove, spotted dove, crested hawk eagle,
crested serpent eagle, tawny eagle, malabar
pied hornbill, malabar grey hornbill, loriekeet,
minivet, biyth's myna, Alexandrine parakeet,
blue winged parakeet, blossom-headed and rose
ringed parakeets, southern treepie, green
imperial pigeon, adjutant stork, balabar trogon,
great Indian Warbler, reed warbler, wood-peckers.Reptiles
Common cobra, marsh crocodile (in Kabini river)
Krait, Monitor Lizard, rock python, Indian
python, bamboo viper, pit viper, Russell's
viper, several species of gecko, skink and
agamid lizaards, etc.
Bandipur Nationalpark
The Moyer River forms a natural boundary between
the Mudumalain Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamilnadu
and the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka.
Nestling at the foothills of the Nilgiris,
the Bandipur National Park was formed by extending
the Venugopal Wildlife Park which was set
up in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajas.
A popular game resort of the rulers of Mysore,
the flora in the forest comprises of teak,
rosewood, honne, mathi, bamboo, sandal trees.
The important animals in the park are the
tiger, elephant, gaur, leopard, chital, samber,
etc. Birds like the pea fowl, partrige, quail,
hornbill, Ibis, etc., are alsofound here.
The Bandipur National Park is one of the
fifteen Tiger Reserves in the country, launched
under the Project Tiger scheme during 1973.
The scheme is committed to the preservation
of the fast dwindling tiger population in
India.
How to get there?
Air: The nearest airport is Mysore
(80 km) connected by Goa Way flight to Bombay.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Mysore (80 km)
Road: Motorable roads connect Bandipur to
Bangalore 220 km via Mysore. Coimbatore 168
km via Udhagamandalam Mudumalai Wild Life
Sanctuary 19 km Mysore 80 km. Udhagmandalam
( Ooty) 79 km via Mudumalai.
Flora & Fauna
(1) Southern Tropical Moist-mixed deciduous
forests.
(2) Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests.
(3) Scrub Forests.Flora Forests consists predominantly
of teak (tectona grandis) with its main associate
species like rosewood (dalbergia latifolia),
Honne (Pterocarpus Marsupium), nandi (lagerstroemia
lanceolata), mathi (terminalia tomentosa)
hunal (terminalia paniculata) dindal or dindiga
(anogeissus latifolia), bamboo ( bambusa arundianasia
and dendrocalamus strictus), bende (kydia
calycina), sandal (santalum album), mavu (mangifera
indica), muthuga (butea/frondosa ) also occur
in these forests.
Fauna:
a. Animals Tiger, elephant, gaur, leopard,
chital, sambar, sloth bear, barking deer,
wild boar, wild dog, jackal,mouse-deer, four-horned
antelope, common langur,porcupine, otler,
pangolin, malabar squirrel, civer cat,leopard,
hares, jungle cat, bonnet macaque, etc.
b. Birds Pea fowl, grey jungle fowl, partridge,
quail, paradise fly catcher, hornbill, wood
pecker, ibis, stork,sun bird, flower pecket,
thrush, crested hawk eagle, serpent eagle,
drango, cuckoo, oriole, minivet, wagtail,
myna, blue jay, king fisher, etc.
c. Reptiles Land monitor, crocodile, tortoise,
python, cobra, krait, viper, rat, snake, flying
lizard.
