Belur and Halebid

Overview

Situated in the Hassan district of Karnataka, the twin towns of Belur and Halebid (about 16 km from each other) are favoured destinations for discerning travellers, historians, architecture lovers as well as art and crafts lovers. Belur and Halebid are linked with great Hoysala Kingdom of South India that was famous for its temple architecture. The Hoysala rulers have built a number of massive temples in the region of Belur and Halebid. Highlights of Hoysala period temples are exquisitely carved sculptures and pillars. Besides mythological tales, you can see the beautiful figures of elephants, lions, horses, dancing ladies on the temple walls.

Belur and Halebid

A visit to the towns of Belur and Halebid provides you a fine opportunity to see some of the finest old temples of India. In fact, the temples of the area have been proposed for listing in UNESCO’s world heritage sites. While Chennakeshava Temple complex is the prime attraction of Belur, Halebid is renowned for Hoysalehwara Temple complex. In addition to these, Sravanabelagola (Gomateshwara Temple), a noted Jain pilgrimage centre fascinate the visitors a lot. Plan a trip to the quaint towns of Belur and Halebid to enjoy a relaxing vacation and see architectural jewells of the bygone era. Make the city of Hassan your base to visit Belur and Halebid, as the district headquarters has plenty of good accommodation options.

Fast Facts

Main Languages: Kannada is widely spoken and used by the people of the towns. Basic English and Hindi are also spoken by the locals.

When to Go: The climate of Belur and Halebid usually remains pleasant most of the year expect the summers (April to May) when the mercury soars above 40 degree Celsius. The monsoon season brings rain in the towns during June to September. October to March is considered the best time to visit Belur and Halebid.

Local Transport: Generally tourists cover the temples and other attractions of Belur and Halebid on foot. Any defined mode of local transport such as auto-rickshaw is not available in these towns. Hire a private vehicle like car or taxi to explore the towns of Belur and Halebid.

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR) 1 USD is approximately 48 INR

Voltage: 230V / 50Hz

Time Zone: Indian Standard Time (UTC +5:30)

Location: Hassan district in the state of Karnataka

Nearest Metropolis: Bangalore - 222 km away

Eating

Belur and Halebid are not dotted with luxury restaurants or noted fast food joints. You have to choose from whatever offered by the eateries of the temple towns. It is better to dine in Hassan city, where the eating joints offer South Indian dishes at reasonable rates. Rice is served as the main dish along with side dishes. If you don’t wish to savour South Indian dishes, then it is better for you to carry your own food.

Shopping

Shopping in Belur and Halebid revolves around locally manufactured objects including traditional crafts of Karnataka. You can find interesting items offered by temporary stalls or hawkers around the towns. Hassan en-route to Belur and Halebid is a fine place to buy curios, stone sculptures, terracotta items, silk sarees, sandalwood, ivory brassware and wooden toys. You can buy these items as souvenir for yourself or near and dear ones.

Sightseeing

Temples are the major attractions of the twin towns of Belur and Halebid that are known for their excellent architecture and exquisite sculptures. In fact, the temple art in Belur and Halebid war promoted by the rulers of Hoysala dynasty. Most of the temples in the towns and nearby areas were made from a special material called ‘steatite’ that is soft and easy to work. Although centuries have been passed since the construction of the temples, but even today they fascinate the visitors with their unparalleled beauty. Once you visit the temples of Belur and Halebid town, you will surely be amazed and would praise the brilliant works of artisans. The Chenakeshava Temple (Belur) along with Hoysaleswara Temple (Halebid) and the Jain monuments at Shravanabelagola have been proposed as world heritage sites to UNSECO.

You can begin your temple tour from any temple in Belur or Halebid as all will surely please you equally. However, it is better to start from Chennakeshava Temple complex in Belur that took around 103 years to get completed. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Chennakeshava Temple is noted for its intricate details, beautifully carved sculptures over the temple walls. You can also see the scenes from the great epics, sensuous dancers (Shilabalikas), lions, and horses and elephants fighting in war in detail on the temple stones. Inside the temple complex there are many ornate pillars including a popular attraction ‘Darpana Sundar’ (Lady with the mirror) carved on the walls of the temple. Besides the main temple, also visit other two small temples of Hoysalas, namely Virnarayan Temple and Chennigaraya Temple that also have intricate carvings as Chennakeshava Temple.

After covering the temples and major attractions of Belur, head towards the temple town of Halebid (16 km), which is equally popular and deserves a visit. Once the capital of the Hoysalas, Halebid is not well preserved like Belur and destroyed in the early 14th century by the Delhi Sultanate. Visit the Hoysalehwara Temple complex that houses Hoyasaleshawara and Kedareshwara temples. Hoysaleshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has two monolithic sculptures of Nandi bulls at the entrance. The temple dating back to the 1121 A.D is known for its sculptural details and wall carvings that describe tales from Hindu mythology. You will also find the impressive figures of dancing ladies (Shilabalikas), animals and birds on temple walls.

Close to the temple, Sravanabelagola (Gomateshwara Temple) also deserve a visit during Belur and Halebid trip. One of the famous Jain pilgrimage centre in South India, Gomateshwara Temple is set atop Indragiri hill (3,000 feet above sea level) and known for its colossal monolithic 57 feet high statue of Gomateshwara. You can reach the temple by climbing 614 rock-cut steps and enjoy a splendid view of the surroundings. The temple complex also has several small size images Jain tirthankaras (revered Jain teachers). In fact, there are 15 Jain bastis (temples) and mathas (monasteries) in the twin towns and on Chandragiri Hill.

Activities

Belur and Halebid are small historic towns and don’t have fun & amusement parks, entertainment centre or other happening places. However, you can pass leisure moments by taking walks along the tranquil streets of the towns. Also visit the temples and other attractions of these towns on foot. Spend hours in getting understating the architecture style of Hoysala temples including sculptures and delicate carvings.  

Events

Due to small population, the towns of Belur and Halebid celebrate very few festivals and events every year. However, the people in and around the towns celebrate most of religious as well as South Indian festivals. Basically a dance festival, Hoysala Mahotsava is organised against the magnificent backdrop of Hoyasala temples. Skilled dancers from the towns and nearby areas participate in dance performances. During the event a massive chariot is also pulled through the streets of Belur town, which is joined by thousands of people. Mahamastakabhishekam Festival is another noted festival of Belur and Halebid, which is held once in every 12 years at Gomateswara Temple. Locals bath the image of Gomateswara in milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins during the festival.

Nightlife

Nightlife doesn’t exist in the towns of Belur and Halebid. Usually the twin towns get deserted as the dark progresses after sunset. So, don’t look for nightlife options in Belur and Halebid, and enjoy as much as possible in the broad day light.

Excursions

Along with base town Hassan, you can cover many popular cities of Karnataka during your Belur and Halebid tours. Mysore (155 km), Mangalore (165 km) and Bangalore (222 km) are some of the popular cities that you can explore by taking two to three days trips. All these cities have many places of tourist interesting including historic monuments and modern attractions as well.

Getting There

Air: The nearest airports from Belur and Halebid are located in Bangalore (222 km) and Mangalore (165 km). Both these airports are well-connected with major cities of India. From these airports, you can hire a private vehicle (taxi / car) to reach Belur and Halebid.

Rail: Hassan Railway Station is the nearest railhead from Belur and Halebid. Many trains connect Hassan Railway Station with Mysore, Bangalore, Mangalore and other places of the country. Buses ply at regular intervals from Hassan to Belur and Halebid.

Road: Good roads connect Belur and Halebid with Hassan, a major city close to the twin towns. KSTDC (Karnataka State Transport Development Corporation) offers bus services to Hassan, Belur and Halebid from Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore and other cities of Karnataka. You can also use Arasikere town as a base to visit Belur and Halebid towns. Besides buses, Belur and Halebid are easily accessible by cars and taxis from nearby major cities.

Driving directions: From Bangalore – Start from Brigade Road and after crossing Richmond Road, Fort Road hit Sri Narsimha Rao Road (SH 17). Further take the Mysore Road Flyover and move on Mysore Road (SH 17) till you reach Tumkur Road (NH 4). After crossing NH 48 and SH 57 you will reach Hassan, which located at close distance from Belur and Halebid (222 km, 6 hours approx).

From Mangalore – Begin your journey from NH 17 and take a turn on Falnir Road (NH 48). Take a left on NH 13 and further switch onto SH 58 to reach Belur and Halebid (165 km, 4 hours approx).

Recommended for:

Suitable for all types of travellers such as singles / couples / friends / single woman / senior travellers and family with children

Top 5 Must See

Chennakeshava Temple: Built in 1117 AD by Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana the temple is filled with delicately carved sculptures of elephants, dancers and episodes from the epics.

Hoysaleshwara Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva popular for its two shrines in the Linga, and exquisite figures of the sacred bull ‘Nandi’.

Gomateshwara Temple: One of the most popular pilgrimage centres of Jains in South India, known for the massive statue of Gomateswara and many smaller images of Jain tirthankaras.

Kappe Chennigraya Temple: Constructed by Shantaladevi, queen of King Vishuvardhana in Belur.

Virnarayan Temple and Chennigaraya Temple: Situated in Chennakeshava Temple complex, these temples have beautiful sculptures.

Badami - a quaint town in Karnataka

Overview

Earlier known as Vatapi is a historic town (taluk) situated in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. Once served as the capital of Chalukya Kingdom (between 6th century AD to 8th century AD), Badami is now a quaint town and draws discerning tourists, religious mind people, historians, art lovers and architect lovers. Badami is the place where the Chalukyas started a new type of architecture called Dravidian architecture ((a blend of older South Indian temple construction and the Nagara style of North India) that later became a source of inspiration for architectural styles of the region.

Besides Chalukyas, Badami was ruled by many dynasties whose rulers built several forts, temples and impressive monuments. Badami abounds with major attractions like magnificent cave temples, ruined fortresses, beautiful carvings and much more. A trip to Badami virtually takes you back to old era and offers a chance to see the unique architectural and sculptural styles. The wonderful location of Badami in a tranquil valley at the base of a rugged, red sedimentary outcrop surrounding Agastya Lake, and excellent shopping opportunities of local handicrafts and sandalwood items altogether makes a holiday in Badami a memorable experience.

Badami Cave Temples

Fast Facts

Main Languages: Kannada along with English and Hindi.

When to Go: The climate of Badami is characterised by four seasons, namely winter (November to January), spring (January to March), summer (April to June) and monsoon (July to October). During the summer season the mercury level remains over 40 degree Celsius most of the time, while the winter and spring seasons are quite comfortable. November to February is the best time to visit Badami.

Local Transport: Rickshaws and tongas are the modes of local transport in Badami.

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR) 1 USD is approximately 48 INR

Voltage: 230V / 50Hz

Time Zone: Indian Standard Time (UTC +5:30)

Location: Bagalkot district in Karnataka

Nearest Metropolis: Bangalore – 450 km away

Eating

Don’t expect about luxurious restaurants at the small town of Badami. The eateries and food stalls in and around Badami serve traditional South Indian dishes at cheap rates. You may also find North Indian and other Indian cuisines at some eating joints.

Shopping

Although there are no huge shopping malls or shopping centres in Badami, but the town offers delightful shopping experience to visitors. The town of Badami is dotted with many small shops that mainly deal in handicraft items and rugs. Explore the shops and see a beautiful collection of attractive objects made from sandalwood and rosewood. Take your pick from a variety of items that you can be a souvenir for your near and dear ones. Jewelleries, handlooms, sandalwood sculptures, paintings, inlay work, wood carvings, metal lamps, perfumes, sandalwood oil and incense sticks are some of the must buy in Badami. Most of the shops in Badami offer a little bit of haggling, so don’t hesitate to ask your desired price.

Sightseeing

Because of its historic connection, the tourist attractions in Badami mainly revolve around ruined fortresses, massive gateways, amazing cave temples and beautiful carvings. Begin your sightseeing expedition in Badami from the massive cave temples that can be reached by taking a climb of about 2000 steps. Actually carved out a hill, the three caves represent the Brahmanical faith, while the fourth cave represents the Jain faith. Lord Shiva as Nataraja with 18 arms is the presiding deity of the first cave. The second cave shows Lord Vishnu as presiding deity, who is portrayed as a dwarf form of Trivikrama. Lord Vishnu is the holy deity of third cave and shown in various forms. The fourth cave is dedicated to Jain Thirthankaras.

Further visit the 18th century Tipu’s Fort, situated atop the same hill in which the cave temples had been carved. While heading towards Tipu’s Fort, you can see some exquisite carvings. Next pay a visit to noted temples of Badamai, namely Bhootnath Temple and Banashankri Temple. A brilliant masterpiece of South Indian temple architecture, Bhootanath Temple actually comprises two temples both dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples are situated against magnificent backdrop along the lake and have impressive sculptures and Jain figures.

Just 5 km away from Badami is Banashankari Temple that deserves a visit. Believed to be constructed in the 17th century by the Chalukyas of Kalyan, Banashankari Temple houses the black stone statue of Goddess Parvathi seated on a lion. Every year during the Hindu months of Pusha - Magha (January – February) the car festival is organised at Banashankari Temple, which draws large number of devotes and common people.

Set at the foothills of the northern hill, Badami Museum is another must visit place which was established in 1979. Badami Museum has four galleries and encompasses a fine collection of pre-historical stone equipments, sculptures and other interesting items dating between 600 AD and 1600 AD. You can also see impressive exhibits of Lord Shiva and Vishnu inside the museum. Badami Museum is open all weekdays (except Fridays) from 10 am to 5 pm.

Activities

Leisurely walk is the most popular among the visitors to Badami. In fact, you have to cover the popular destinations of the town on foot. The red sandstone cliffs of Badami offer excellent opportunities for leisure activities like climbing and bouldering. Badami has more than 150 bolted routes and multiple routes that are ideal for free climbing.

Events

The people in Badami and nearby areas celebrate a number of festivals and events every year. Hindu festivals like Dusshera and Deepawali (October / November) are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. Some specific local (temple) festivals are also celebrated in Badami. Banashankari Temple is the venue of annual temple festival (January – February) that showcases massive festivities including huge processions. Vinayak Chaturthi (September) is also an important festival of Badami. Almost all the festivals and events in Badami provide a fine glimpse of the old traditions and customs. Plan a trip to Badami during noted festivals and events, and become a part of the traditional festivities.

Nightlife

Badami is a small temple town and offers nothing special to do in the night. If you wish, you can ask your hotelier to arrange a bonfire within the hotel premises.

Excursions

After exploring the tourist hotspots of Badami take excursions to cover nearby attractions. Pay a visit to the town of Aihole, situated in the western side of Badami. Renowned as the birthplace of Hindu stone architecture, Aihole is home to around 125 temples that are noted for their unique construction styles. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pattadakal is about 30 km away from Badami and thronged by visitors in large numbers. Set on the left bank of Malaprabha River, Pattadakal is home to attractions like Virupaksha Temple and Banashankari Temple. Hubli (100 km), Bijapur (135 km), Amboli (200 km) and Goa (210 km) are other famous tourist destinations close to Badami. You can combine your Badami tour with state capital Bangalore (460 km) or the city of Mangalore (450 km).

Getting There

Air: Belgaum Airport, approximately 150 km away is the nearest airport from Badami, but currently the airport is not served by scheduled flights. Dabolim Airport in Goa (200 km approx) is the nearest major airport, which is served by many flights from various parts of the country and few international destinations as well. From Dabolim Airport hire a private vehicle (taxi / car) to reach Badami. Bangalore Airport (460 km) is another option, from where you can reach Badami by taking a taxi or bus.

Rail: The nearest major railhead is located in Hubli, about 100 km away from Badami. Hubli Railway Station is connected by express trains to many important cities of the country. There is also a small railway station close to Badami, which is just 5 km away but has very few trains.

Road: KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) and private operators offer bus service to and from Badami at frequent intervals. Tourist buses also ply daily from many cities like Bangalore and Mangalore to Badami.

Driving directions: From Bangalore – Start from Brigade Road and proceed towards NH 7 (Shri Chowdaiah Road). Continue till you reach CV Raman Road (NH 4) and take a right on NH 13 at Chitradurga. Further take a left on SH 30 to reach Badami (460 km, 12 hours approx).

Recommended for:

Top 5 Must See

Cave Temples: Pay a visit to amazing cave temples that are carved out from a hill.

Bhootnath Temple: Actually a group of two temples, Bhootnath Temple is a fine specimen of South Indian Temple architecture.

Banashankari Temple: Built in the 17th century, Banashankari Temple has mythological as well as architectural significances.

Tipu’s Fort: Situated at the top of a hill that fort provides a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

Open Air Museum: Established in 1979, the museum has a vast collection of ancient sculptures and equipments.

Art lovers, architect lovers, historians and temple lovers.

Incredible India! Hosur - A Little Explored Destination in Tamil Nadu

Fast Facts About Hosur

Located in the State of: Tamil Nadu

District of : Krishnagiri

Famous for/as: Temples / Temple town

Languages Spoken at Hosur : Tamil

Best Season to visit Hosur: October to March

Average Temperatures at Hosur: Summer 22 to 40°C, Winter 19 to 32°C

Altitude of Hosur: 879 m

STD code of Hosur: 04344

An old temple town, Hosur is situated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Hosur is located in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu adjacent to the border of Karnataka. Hosur is quite close to Karnataka’s capital Bangalore, just 40 kms away and easily accessible by buses and taxis. Besides a temple town, Hosur is now a special economic zone and is also an up and coming manufacturing industry town. Hosur is also known as an agricultural town and enjoys an excellent climate.

Considered among the oldest inhabited places in Tamil Nadu, Hosur has very ancient historic connection. In fact, archeologists have found many Neolithic, Monolithic and Paleolithic sites in Hosur. There are many cave paintings and carvings that have been found in the town of Hosur and it is an interesting place to visit. There are many interesting sites, buildings and temples that can be seen in Hosur and the town is also famous for its excellent golf course. The Hogenekkal Falls that is located near Hosur is also another interesting place to visit especially during the winter season.

Karnataka - A verstatile Indian State calling all

Karnataka, the eighth largest state of India is one of the four major states of South India. Set over the Deccan Plateau, Karnataka is surrounded by the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa. The history of Karnataka can be traced back as early as the stone age. It is amazing to believe that people actually have been inhabiting this place even some 3000 years before. However, the golden era started with Mauryans followed by Chalukyans, Hoysalas, Bahmani and Adil Shahi kings. The state as such bear impressions of the popular Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim dynasties that have once ruled the place.

Karnataka is a very famous state and you will find more than a single reason to this fact including rich history, unique culture and tradition. One of the greatest contributions that we owe to Karnataka has been the emergence and development of world famous ‘Carnatic Music’. This devotional and philosophic music has inspired millions and is one important variable that characterizes the popular culture. The state has given birth and fostered some prominent musicians in the Indian sub continent.

Lal  Bagh in Bangalore, Karnataka

The vast panorama of Karnataka withholds many faces. Hills, beaches, waterfalls, woodlands, monuments, religious places are some of popular elements you will find at Karnataka. Apart from that, the state also constitutes some of the developed cities of India, namely Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore.

Tourist Destinations (Cities) of Karnataka

Some of the popular tourist destinations in Karnataka include Bangalore, Mysore, Kodagu or Coorg, Madikeri, Mangalore, Hassan, Hampi, Udupi ,Vijayanagar and Bijapur. The state holds a place of its own in the multi cultural lands of India. The state is a great place to be at. The cities are par distinction and equipped to meet out the challenges of a metropolitan technologically savvy society. No wonder Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is called the Silicon Valley of India. The state has places in abundance - places that gives a break from the scheduled hectic life. Hills, beaches, waterfalls, rivers portray the beauty of Karnataka.

Mysore Palace in Mysore

Major Temples in Karnataka

Popular temples of Karnataka display great works of art and reveal the splendour of some of the great dynasties in power, in the past. Apart from that there are several pilgrimage places located within this state that see a lot of pilgrims who come to pay homage every year. Some famous temples in Karnataka are the ISKCON Temple, Hoysaleshvara Temple, Kedareshvara Temple, Indragiri Hill, Chandragiri Hill, Krishna Temple Udupi and Virupaksha Temple.

Hoysaleshvara Temple in Karnataka

Adventure / Adventure Sports in Karnataka

A charming land, Karnataka is surfeited with magnificent mountains, mighty rivers, ravishing rivulets, lovely becks, shimmering rivulets, dense primieval forests and host of several other natural resources. All these natural jewels together make Karnataka a popular destination for adventure sports like trekking, parasailing, paragliding, hang-gliding, wildlife safari, rock climbing, mountaineering, river rafting, angling, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving and caneoing.

Wildlife / National Parks / Wildlife Sanctuaries in Karnataka

Karnataka is dotted with wildlife reserves and forest tracts. Evergreen forests of the Western Ghats and the tracts lying to the south of Vindhyas hold a plethora of living forms. A number of wildlife sanctuaries and parks lie abutted by the state boundaries. The reserves support hundreds of species, of plants and animals. Some major wildlife reserves include Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Elephants Grazing inside Bandipur National Park

How to Reach Karnataka

Air: A total of five airports render their services in the region. These airports are located at Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Belgaum and Mangalore. Domestic and international flights operate from these airports from major cities of India and many international destinations.

Rail: Karnataka state is well connected with vast network of rail lines that lay spread all over. Railway networks covers about 3,090 kms in Karnataka. Major rail heads in the state are Bangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Mangalore, Hassan, Gulbarga and Belgaum.

Road: Road network further connects different cities and towns of Karnataka. The state sees a total of six national highways providing the access to the state. The interiors of Karnataka are served by state highways and rural roads. Buses, mini buses, rickshaws and taxis are some popular means of transport.