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.
Altitude : 920 metres.
Temperature (Deg.C.): Summer - Max.: 35, Min.: 20; Winter - Max.: 28, Min.: 14
Rainfall : 86 cms (June and October).
Season : Throughout the year. (Sep. to March is the best time)
STD Code : 080.
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.
Getting there
Air : Indian 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.
Fare: Calcutta-Bangalore Rs.5538 (US$ 203). 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.
Fare: Calcutta-Bangalore Rs.1425 (AC-2A), Rs.1172 (I), Rs.313 (Sleeper). 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.
Bus : Regular bus services connect Bangalore to Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Bombay, Coimbatore, Goa, Hospet, Hyderabad, Madras, Madikere, Madurai, Mangalore, Mysore, Tirupati, Nandi Hills, Chanrajaragar, Jog Falls, Ootacamund (Ooty) Raichur, Ernakulam, Gulbarga, Pondicherry, Calicut, Dharwar etc.
Local Transport: Coaches of B.T.S., I.T.D.C., K.S.T.D.C. are available. Tourist taxis and city bus services are also available.
Tours
KSTDC operates the following tours from Badami House, Opp. to City Corporation Office, N.R.Square, Bangalore, Tel: 215883.
1. Bangalore City Tour Timings Fare
Lalbagh, Bull Temple Tipu's Palace, Ulsoor Lake, Vidhana 0730 to Rs.50
Soudha, Vishveswaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, 1330 hours
Govt.Museum & Venkatappa Art Gallery, Govt.Soap Factory. (daily)
2. Mysore Tour
Srirangapatna, Mysore City Palace, Zoo, 0715 to 2300 hours Rs.190
Art Gallery, Chamundi Hills, Brindavan Gardens. (daily)
3. Belur, Halebid, 0715 to 2200 hours Rs.175 Shravanabelagola (daily)
4. Mantralaya, T.B.Dam, Hampi Friday 2100 hours Rs.400 (3 day tour: Inclusive of accommodation) to Sunday 2200 hours
5. Tirupati, Tirumalai, Kalahasthi, Mangapuram 2230 hours to Rs.280 (2 day tour: Inclusive of Darshan charges) 2100 hours 2nd day
6. Mysore, Ooty, Nanjanagud (3 day tour) 0715 hours to Rs.575 (3 day tour: Inclusive of accommodation) 2230 hours 3rd day [Daily in season (Apr-June) and on Monday,Wednesday & Friday during off season.] There are seasonal trips from October to January as well as summer trips and weekend trips.
Places to see 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.
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.
. Informations 1) Govt. of India Tourist Office, K.F.C.Building, 48, Church Street, Bangalore- 560 001, Tel: 257-9517.
Altitude : 968 metres.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max. 34, Min. 20; Winter- Max. 28, Min. 14.
Rainfall : 86 cms. (June to October).
Season : Throughout the year.
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.
Getting there
Air : The nearest airport Mangalore (154 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines flights to Bangalore, Bombay, Madras.
Rail: The nearest railhead Hassan (37 kms) is connected to Mangalore witch in turn connected with . Road: Belur is connected by road to Bangalore- 222 km, Halebid- 16 km, Hassan- 37 km, Mangalore- 154 km, Mysore- 155 km, Shravanabelagola- 86 km etc.
Bus Services : Regular bus services connect Belur to Hassan, Halebid, Arsikere, Bangalore, Belgaum, Chickmagalur, Madikere, Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Sravanabelagola, etc.
Local Transport : Tourist & Other Taxis, Authorickshaws are available.
Tours
Nil. But Belur is covered as part of a daily conducted tour from Bangalore and also from Mysore ( thrice a week ).
Places to see
Chenakesava Temple, Veernarayan Temple, Kappe Chennigaraya Temple.
Halebid (16 kms), Sravanabelagola (86 kms), Gorur (61 kms).
Informations
1. Manager, Tourist Cottages, Belur, Tel.9.
2. Tourist Bureau, Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka, B.M. Road,
Hassan. Tel.8862.
