explore karnataka today

8/13/2019 Explore Karnataka Today

1/15

Explore Karnataka Today!

Karnataka is an enchanting land abounding in scenic beauty, rich is flora and fauna. It has

pomp and pageantry of glorious traditions and marvels of modern engineering.The State abinet, hich has decided to bring tourist activities under the priority sector,

has come out ith a host of ne plans including offering government land to

entrepreneurs at "# per cent of the market value to establish resorts and privatising themanagements of government guest houses. This as decided in $pril %##%. The

government ould be creating infrastructure in tourist places so that entrepreneurs could

open resorts, hotels, amusement parks etc. &ne of the ma'or attractions offered toentrepreneurs as to make available government land in all places barring in (angalore

ity, at "# per cent of the market value for opening resorts)hotels and for carrying out

tourist related activities. The Tourism *epartment ould be identifying the government

land available. If entrepreneurs fail to implement their plans ithin a stipulated time, thenthe government ould forfeit the land. The government ould be offering four per cent

tax concession for three years on aviation fuel to encourage domestic aviation industries

to operate flights to district head+uarters in the State. The government ould be

underriting certain number of tickets so that the industries ould have assured revenue.The government ould be using airstrips in (idar, (elgaum, ubli, -angalore, (ellary

and arihar. The air strips in -ysore and ulbarga ould be strengthened and thegovernment ill also build airstrips in (i'apur, /aichur, Karar, Shimoga and ulbarga.

0andi ills, (ridavan ardens, Kemmanagundi, 1og 2alls, (adami, $ihole, 3attadakal,

(elur 4 alebedu, Shravanabelagola, (i'apur, ampi, okarna and Karar ould betreated as ma'or tourist spots. The government ould be developing (angalore as a

tourist destination by promoting adventure sports, creating high5end accommodation and

alloing private parties to manage tanks like 6lsoor, Sankey, -adiala, (ellandur etc.

Karnataka7s manifold attractions include everything that interests the tourists. The ildgame sanctuaries at (andipur , 0agarhole and *andeli, the /anganathittu (ird7s

Sanctuary. " Kms from Srirangapatna hich is itself a ell knon tourist center, hillstations like 0andhi ills and Kemmannagundi and -ercara, beach resorts like Karar,6llal, -alpe and -aravanthe, the orld famous (rindavan ardens at Krishnara'asagara,

the monolithic statue of ommateshara at Sharavanabelagola, ol umba8 ith its

hispering gallery at (i'apur, the 1og falls and other ater falls at Shiva Samudram,-agod, 6nchelli or 9ushington near Siddapur, 9alguli at :allapur and other places

indicate the variety and richness of the attractions that Karnataka State holds out to the

tourists.

There are many places of historic and religious importance. The great $charyas,Shankara, /amanu'a and -adha, preached in this region. reat reformers like Sri

(asaveshara, mathematicians like (askaracharaya, commentators like Sayana, saint

poiets like 3urandaradasa and Kanakadasa, great riters like 3ampa, arihara andKumara ;yasa have all enriched the heritage of Karnataka.

The temples at $ihole, (adami and 3attadakal in (i'apur district have great significance

for all lovers of art. The temples of alebedu, (elur and Somanathapura are greatarchitectural achievements 5 the like of hich are rarely seen in any part of the orld.

The profusion of artistic skill is beildering in its range and ex+uisiteness. $t ampi


2/15

The -uslims and hristians in ages past have made no mean contribution to the

enrichment of art and architecture in Karnataka. The ol umba8 and Ibrahim5/o8a at

(i'apur, the *aria *aulat (agh >Summer 3alace? of Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna, theKha'a (andenaa8 *arga at ulbarga are someof their remarkable contributions. The

churches at -ysore, -angalore, (angalore and (i'apur indicate the contribution of

hristians to the great repertoire of Karnataka7s culture. @ith all these manifoldattractions a visit to Karnataka State is alays memorable.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

2allsB 1og 2allsC The 1og in Shimoga *istrict is the tallest ater fall in India here the

river Sharavati 'umps from a height of %D mts. into four beautiful cascades . The best

time to visit is only during 1uly to &ctober.

B The auvery at Shivasamudra falls >in -andya district? has tin 'umps,aganachukki and (harachukki, one km aay from each other and their ater has been

harnessed for production of poer from FD#F. The river Shimsha , a tributary of the

auvery, has its fall in -alavalli taluk in -andya district.

B $bbi 2alls is " km aay from -adikeri, Kodagu district hich is a perennial hill5station.

B The Irrupu falls, GH km from ;ira'pet in Kodagu *istrict, is bounded by sceniclocals.

hikmagalur district has many ater falls. The hill stations at Kemmannagundi has the

ebbe 2alls 'umping don from a height of about "## feet. -anikyandhara is yet anotherater falls near the famous pilgrim centre (aba (udangiri *attatreya 3eetha here ater

spills don like small balls giving the visitors a memorable shoer bath.

B Kallatti 2alls, F## km from Kemmanugundi at Kallattipura in Tarikere talu+ is

another beautiful fall ith ater leaping don from a height of G## feet. There is an old;eerabhadra temple very near the 2alls.

B hunchanakatte 2alls

The pictures+ue hunchanakatte 2alls in -ysore district is at the place of the same namehich also has an ancient temple of a 9ord /ama close by 6ttara Kannada is famous for

its 6nchalli >9ushington? 2alls. $ghanashini river creates this ater cascade hich

screams don from a height of about G"# feet.It is near :ellapur >FD km. aay? in 6ttaraKannada alled -ini 0iagara7, okak 2alls is another fall knon for its beauty.

ascading from a height of FJ# feet, it is famous for its spread and shape. okak 2alls

must be visited in 1uly5$ugust hen it ill be in full bloom.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA2orts

0o tourist survey is complete ithout mentioning about Karnataka7s historical forts. The

hole range of ancient capitals of (idar, ulbarga, (i'apur, ;i'ayanagara, (adami,(asava Kalyan, Srirangapattan, Keladi, hitradurga, -ysore, etc. had their forts.

There are hill forts at the 0andi ill >Kolar district?, Savanadurga >(angalore district?,

-adhugiri, 3avagada, -idigeshi in Tumkur district, 6cchangi near *avanagere andSandur >both in (ellary district?, 1amalabad in *akshina Karnataka, -an8arabad near

Sakleshpur >assan district? and Kavaledurga >Shimoga district?, hitradurga Shahapur

and Shorapur >ulbarga district?, 0argund fort built by Shiva'i >*harad district? and

3arasgad and ;allabhgad forts >(elgaum district?, also raised by Shiva'i.


3/15

(angalore, *evanahalli, -agadi >(angalore district?, $ymangala in hitradurga district,

hikbanavar in assan district, (elgaum have fortifications round part of the tons even

no. The coastal island forts like (ahadurgad, (asavara'a *urga, *evagad andKurmagad are as strong as they ere in the heydays.

Tourist information on Karnataka is no available across the country over a toll5free

telephone number. The toll free number is F##5GG5FGFG and the service is provided ninehours a day, from #DC## hrs >IST? FHC## hrs >IST? round the year. The office is closed on

Tuesdays.

If you need any assistance ith booking in any hotel in Karnataka or India in generalclick here

(angalore

Everyone has a different reason to love (angalore.9egend goes that King ;eeraballa of ;i'ayanagara once lost his ay in forest. ungry

and tired, he came upon a lone hut in the thick forest here he met an old oman.@hen

he asked for food, she gave him baked beans >7(enda Kalu7 in Karnataka?.The King found

this humble meal taste better than the richest fare.To commemorate this incident, hecalled the place L(enda Kalu &oruL>place of baked beans?. (angalore today is getting

popular though for a different variety of (eans51ava(eans.apital of the Southern state of Karnataka, (angalore today is $sia7s fastest groing

cosmopolitan city. It is home to some of the most high tech industries in India. The I.T

industry vies (angalore as the 7byte5basket7 of India. (angalore is also home to some ofIndia7s premier scientific establishments. (lessed ith a salubrious climate, gardens 4

parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls, the best restaurants and

pubs in this part of the globe, business opportunities, (angalore is the ideal gateay to

India and beyond. (angalore offers something for everyone5music and dance concerts>@estern and Indian?, dramas, exhibitions, carnivals, conferences and more.

o disco5hopping or pub5craling, shop till your feet give aay,relax in the sankiest

restaurants or ith your favourite movie stars5in the movie hall or simply tee off to glory.@elcome to (angalore.

9ocal sights

The (angalore 3alace 4 2ortThe (angalore 2ort as built by Kempe oda and expanded by Tippu Sultan.

@ithin its alls is the ell preserved Fth century anapathi Temple.

The (angalore 3alace as built by a @odeyar king in FHHJ. Inspired by the @indsor

castle, this palace as built in the Tudor style, complete ith othic indos, foiledindos, battlements and turrets resembling the *aria *aulat 3alace in Srirangapatanam,

this summer palace has been constructed largely of ood and is famous for its carving

and paintings.

9al (agh

yder $li laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural ealth tothem by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over

F### species of flora hich include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees

and herbs. The lass ouse, modelled along 9ondon7s rystal 3alace, is the center of


4/15

attraction in this %G## acre park. (i5annual floer shos attracting participants from all

over India is held in the lass ouse.

ubbon 3ark

This ooded and befloered park as laid out in the heart of the cantonment in FHG.Since then, fairy fountains, an august bandstand and a ealth of atatury have been added.

(ut the most important aspect of ubbon 3ark is its neer buildings that have added

beauty and cultural ealth. 9ush green lans, shady floering trees, vibrant floer beds,make ubbon park an ideal place for morning 'oggers and alike.

overnment -useum

&ne of the important buildings, the overnment -useum is one of the oldest inIndia>FHH?. $ special attraction here are the anti+uities from -ohen'odaro period.

Situated nearby the museum is ;isvesaraya Industrial and Technological -useum

named after the great engineer5statesman .

0ext to the ;IT- is the ;isvesaraya Industrial Trade enter, the first of its kind inIndia. In addition to its trade promotional activities, the enter has to exhibition floors

housing a permanent display of all that is manufactured in Karnataka.0ear the -useum is the K.;enkatappa $rt allery hich has a permanent exhibition of

the orks of the great artist, K. ;enkatappa. The allery does much to encourage art in

the state.$lso in the ubbon 3ark are the Seshadri Iyer -emorial all, hich houses the public

library, the igh ourt and the 1aahar (al (havan. The (havan, ith its toy train,

fairgrounds and theatre, is a recreational, hobby and educational centre for children.

The (ull TempleThis temple, built by Kempe oda, houses the magnificent stone statue of the sacred

bull, 0andi. It stands over F" feet tall and is over %# feet long . In 0ov)*ec every year,

hen the groundnuts have been harvested, a groundnut fair is held near the temple. Thefirst groundnuts are offered by the farmers to the sacred bull.

The angadhareshare Temple

Knon for its four monolithic pillars and rare idol of $gni, the od of fire,this templeas built by Kempe oda. $ uni+ue phenomena is itnessed here on 1an F)FGth every

year hen the rays of the setting sun enter through the indo, pass beteen the horns

of the 0andi and shine on the Shivalingam.

The *harmara'a Temple9ocated at 0a8arethpet in the suburbs of (angalore, this temple is the starting point of the

annual Karaga procession. The revered idols of this temple are the Shri *harmara'a

Samy, hero of the -ahabharata and 9ord Krishna.*argah a8arath Taakkal -astan

This -uslim shrine,located in ottonpet, a suburban locality, is associated ith the

indu Karaga festival too. The procession annually visits the *argah of this Sufi saint,Taakkal -astan. is tomb attracts both -uslim and non5-uslim pilgrims.

1umma -as'id

The 1umma -as'id is probably the oldest mos+ue in the city. It is an imposing structure

ith tall ornamented granite pillars adorning the elevated prayer hall. Scores of devote


5/15

-uslim orshippers throng this mas'id during the annual festivals of the -uslims. It is

located in the busy market area of (angalore, K./.-arket.

/avindra KalakshetraThe Kalakshetra, built to commemorate /abindranath Tagore7s centenary, promotes

cultural activity in the city. It has a superb theatre and houses the ultural $kademi

&ffices. 0ext to it is the othic styled 3uttannachetty Ton all hose huge auditoriumcan easily accommodate over F"## persons.

St. -ary7s hurch

Established by a 2rench missionary $bbe *ubois in FHFF, St.-ary7s church is the onlychurch in Karnataka state to be elevated to the status of a minor (asilica. Every

September, The ;irgin -ary7s festival is celebrated ith a procession that attracts people

of all faiths. The church is situated near the Shiva'i 0agar (us Terminal.

Indian Institute &f Science >IISc?$lso knon as the Tata Institute, is one of the country7s finest research institutions,

speciali8ing in advanced science and engineering studies.

andhi (havan

The andhi Smarak 0idhi, housed in the andhi (havan, houses a comprehensivepicture gallery and other exhibits of andhi'i hich depict the life and times of andhi'i.

The (havan is open on eekdays>F#C# $m to "C## 3-?.6lsoor lake

$ pictures+ue lake ith several tree5shaded islands in it, is an ideal picnic spot. :ou can

go boating or go for a sim in the nearby simming pool that is part of the recreationalcomplex near the lake. :ou can also go to the nearby urdhar, the largest Sikh shrine in

(angalore.

;idhana Soudha

This splendid neo5*ravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of theubbon park, is the home of the State 9egislature and the Secretariat. The massive

sandalood door of the abinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building.

The ;idhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is asight orth vieing. The building is open for visitors only after 3-.

The (angalore /ace ourse

The (angalore /ace ourse is one of the finest in India, ith racing events almost allyear round >-ay to 1une and 0ov to -ar?. Some of the biggest field stakes in the country

can be itnessed here.

$round (angalore

Several places of tourist interest are located ithin easy each from (angalore. *istanceshon in brackets is from (angalore.

(annerghatta 0ational 3ark >%% Km?

Those interested in natural history can go to (annerghatta. The park situated inpictures+ue surrounding has a ide variety of fauna. $mong the attractions are

crocodiles, picnic corner, serpentarium and pets corner, lion7s safari. &n *ec %", %##F the

govt announced plans of starting a butterfly park in (annerghatta >$reaC F% acres, ostC/s .% crores?

Tipu7s 3alace

(uilt in FJDF, this beautiful to5storeyed ornate ooden structure ith ex+uisitely carved

pillars, arches and balconies as one of Tipu7s favourite summer retreats.


6/15

esaragatta

%" Kms aay, esaragatta is an interesting picnic spot offering ater sports to the

adventurous. (oating and ind5surfing is the ma'or attraction. It also has a dairy 4horticulture farm here you can picnic.

/amohalli

/amohalli, located %H Kms est is a popular picnic spot. $ ma'or attraction at /amohalliis the G## year old giant (anyan tree hich sprals over an incredible acres.

-uthyalamaduvu

$lso knon as the 3earl ;alley, -uthyalamaduvu is G# Kms aay. The beautifulcascading ater falls surrounded by verdant settings provide an ideal picnic getaay.

/amanagaram

/ock5climbers and adventure seekers need look no further. GD Kms south5est from

(angalore, /amanagaram, provides the ideal location ith landscaped rock faces.$nother ma'or attraction at /amanagaram is the silk cocoon marketing centre. &ne of the

most famous indi movies Sholay as shot in /amanagaram.

1anapada 9oka

Spraling across F" acres, 1anapada 9oka or L2olk5culture @orldL is a orld ofsimplicity and art.1anapada 9oka, a subsidiary of the Karnataka 1anapada 3arishath, is

dedicated to preserve and promote folk art and culture. The complex has an art gallery, anopen5air theatre, a studio and a museum. 1anapada 9oka is located near /amanagaram

and is " Kms aay from (angalore.

hannapatna$ bustling ton, # kms south5est from (angalore, hannapatna is famous for its eye5

catching lac+uer are and hand5crafted ooden toys. It is also a ma'or silk centre of

Karnataka.

-ekedatuushing aters, imposing landscapes, and untouched picnic spots is hat -ekedatu is all

about. The auvery river s+uee8ing through a narro gorge before traversing its south5

bound terrain is a breathtaking sight .It is DH Kms south of (angalore.0andi ills

&ne of the popular retreats of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of -ysore, 0andi ills offers

breathtaking getaay of the eary tourist. Tipu7s *rop, a ##m high cliff face provides amagnificent panoramic vie of the beautiful terrain. 0andi ills is # Kms north of

(angalore.

Essentials

etting ere(angalore is ell connected by air, rail and road to all the ma'or cities such as *elhi,

-adras, (ombay, alcutta and to most other important cities and tons.

There are regular train services from -adras>G trains per day?, -ysore>J trains per day?,alcutta>eekly tice?, 0e *elhi>F service daily?. (angalore $irport is used for both

domestic and international flights.

Shopping

Shopping is a delightful experience in (angalore. :ou7ll find some of the most ex+uisite

silks here. :ou can also take home handicrafts in sandalood and rose ood, available in

state5oned emporia and private stores. 2or gold and 'eellery, you can visit the +uaint


7/15

1eeller7s Street. Some of the favourite shopping haunts are -../oad, (rigade /oad,

/esidency /oad and ommercial Street. (argain hunters tend to favour K../oad,

-allesaram and Shiva'inagar. The main shopping areas of (angalore areCB (rigade /oad

B ommercial Street

B -.. /oadB /esidency /oad

Some of the popular Shopping entres at (angalore areC

B -.. /oadC 3ublic 6tility (uilding, Shrungar Shopping entre, (ombay StoreB 1.. /oadC 6nity (uilding

B /esidency /oadC 3into Toers and lots of furniture shops

B (rigade /oadC ur8on omplex, St.3atricks omplex,-ota hambers 4 "th

$venue.B Infantry /oadC Safia 3la8a and opper $rch

B St. -ark7s /oadC Sophia7s hoice

B Shoppers Stop

B 9ifestyle >near 2ootball stadium?Tourist Information

If you need any assistance ith booking in any hotel in Karnataka or India in generalclick here

B *epartment of Tourism. Fst 2loor,727 (lock,auvery (havan,K../d. TelC MDF5

H#5%%F"GHDTourism Information ounter

(angalore $irportC MDF5H#5"%H#F%.

/ailay StationC MDF5H#5%HJ##H

ovt. of India Tourist &fficeC KS2 (uilding,GH,hurch Street. TelC MDF5H#5""H"FJ.onducted Tours

Karnataka State Tourism *evelopment orporation organi8es a half5day (angalore

Sightseeing Tour. 2or details please call the KST* ead &ffice5TelC MDF5H#5%%F%D#F)%%F%D#%)%%J"HH)%%J"HD. 2axC MDF5H#5%%H#F

-:S&/E

9ocal Sights

-ysore 3alace

The -ahara'a7s 3alace is one of the important sights in -ysore. (uilt in Indo5Saracenicstyle ith domes, turrets, arches and colonnades,the 3alace is a treasure house of

ex+uisite carvings and orks of art from all over the orld. Intricately carved doors open

on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The ma'estic *urbar all has an ornate ceiling andmany sculpted pillars. The magnificent 'eel studded golden throne of the @odeyars is

displayed here during the *asera festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays

,the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.hamundi ills

$ ell knon " metres high landmark,hamundi ill can be reached by a F km road

or by climbing up the F,### steps laid out by the -ysore -ahara'a in the FJth

century.alf5ay up along the stone steps is 0andi, 9ord Shiva7s (ull, a ma'estic G.H


8/15

metre monolith.$t the top is the F%th century temple of hamundeshari, the patron

goddess of the @odeyars.lose to the temple is the gigantic statue of the demon

-ahishasura. The summit offers a panoramic vie of -ysore7s lakes, parks and palaces.(rindavan ardens

9ocated at the K/ Sagar *am


9/15

above the ground.Its temples are opened for ceremonial orship on special occasions

5once in telve years.

ShivsamudraH" Kms east of -ysore,here the river auvery cascades don in to pictures+ue

aterfalls,is Shivsamudra.2alling don from a height of J" m into a deep gorge,these

falls are best during the monsoons.F." kms.aay is $sia7s first hydro5electric poerpro'ect set up in FD#".

0agarhole 0ational 3arkD kms.from -ysore, in the forest of 0agarhole,is a 0ational 3ark.$bounding in a rich

variety of ildlife,one can find elephants,antelopes and even leopards here.

Kabini /iver 9odge

Situated H# kms.from -ysore in the Karapur forests is the old hunting lodge of the-ahara'as and ;iceroys.The lodge on the banks of the river Kabini arranges 'eep rides

into the 'ungle and coracle rides on the Kabini for bird atching.$ naturalist guide helps

you identify the many varieties of birds and ild beasts.

(./. ills

This pictures+ue hill range,at a height of "#DF ft.,is F%# kms.from -ysore and is home toa rich variety of flora and fauna.The temple on the hill,dedicated to (iligiri /angasamy

attracts devotees round the year.

Essentialsetting ere

-ysore is ell5connected by road to (angalore, -adras, -angalore, oimbatore, &oty,

annanore, alicut and 3ana'i>oa?

$ccomodationB *asprakash 3aradise, :adavagiri. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%""""

B King7s ourt, 1.9.(./oad. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%"%.

B otel -etropole, 1.9.(./oad. 3honeC MDF5H%F5"%#HF.B otel -ayura oysala, %,1hansi 9akshmi (ai /d. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%"GD.

B 9alith -ahal 3alace, Siddharthanagar. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%J"#)%JJJF

B /amanashree omforts, arding ircle. 3honeC MDF5H%F5#"#.B The reen otel, hittaran'an 3alace, %%J# ;inoba /oad, -ysore "J# #F%.

3honeC MDF H%F "F %", 2axC MDF H%F "F FD

B overnment $partmentsC

;isha Kannada Sammelana omplex,unsur /oad,

-ysore. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%HFH"

otel -ayura /iver ;ie, Srirangapatna,-andya *istrict.3honeC MDF5H%5"%%Shopping

-ysore is famous for carved sandalood, pure silk sarees and incense. The best place to

shop is the auvery $rts 4 rafts Emporium on Sayya'i /ao /oad, hich is the -ainshopping area. There are also many other craft shops on *hanavanthri /oad.

The shopper7s stopC-ysore is knon the orld over for its exotic sandalood and rich

silks. $t the overnment Sandalood &il 2actory,you can buy Sandal 3oder, Sandal

&il and scented incense sticks.$t the overnment Silk 2actory you can see the master


10/15

eavers at ork. (uy shimmering silks straight off the looms. Shop at auvery

andicrafts Emporium or in the little back streets and by lanes that offer some exiting

bargains.Tourist Information

/egional Tourist Information,

&ld Exhibition (uilding,Irin /oad,-ysore.

3honeC MDF5H%F5%%#D

Karnataka State Tourism *evelopment orporation:atrinivas (uildings,

1.9.(./oad, -ysore.

3honeC MDF5H%F5%"%

onducted ToursKST* organises sightseeing tours to many of the ma'or sights in and around -ysore.

2or more details call the KST* &ffice. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%"%.

Sightseeing harter 2lights

(angalore based air5charter operator, Tane'a $erospace and $viation 9td >T$$9?, haslaunched sightseeing charter flights to ampi and -ysore in &ct %##%. ontact $n'an

/ao at DHGG#5%JDD or emailC an'anrOtane'aaerospace.com for further details.-angalore

-angalore district is a panorama of palm5fringed beaches,lush green fields andenchanting forests. It is sheltered by the soaring estern ghats on the east and the mighty

$rabian sea roaring along its estern shores.@ith an important port,this coastal ton is a

ma'or commercial centre.The lifeline of the district, the 0ational ighay 0o FJ almost

runs parallel to the sea for over D" kms in the district. 0ohere does the distance beteenthe highay and the sea exceed more than a fe kilometers.

-angalore,the district head+uarters, has a long history of maritime trade. Thoughdeveloped as a business and commercial centres -angalore still retains its old orld

charm5old tile5roofed buildings amidst coconut groves, fishing boats silhouetted against

the darkening skyline, fishermen hauling in rich catch of fish,sea food served in spicycoconut curries. -angalore is a remainder of the good times of life. The district offers a

ide range of interesting places for both pilgrimage and pleasure tourists such as

*harmasthala, Subramanya, Kollur, 6dupi, Karkala, ;enoor and -oodabidri.

etting ere-angalore is "J kms from (angalore. -angalore is ell connected by rail, road and air

from)to (angalore. -angalore is ell connected by rail to all ma'or South Indian cities.

-angalore is ell connected by bus to all ma'or tons in Karnataka.@here to Stay

B @elcome roup -an'arun

&ld port /oad,-angalore ,

3honeC DF5H%G5FJDF, DF5H%G5%DH#.

B otel -aurya 0etravati

3honeC DF5H%G5GFFFD%


11/15

B -oti -ahal

2alnir /oad

3honeC DF5H%G5%%%FF>F# lines?B ;imlesh International

anapathi Temple /oad,

-angalore3honeC DF5H%G5JFF>F# lines?.

B otel Srinivas

..S /oad , -angalore3honeC DF5H%G5%%HF>F# lines?

B otel 0avarathna 3alace

K.S./oad,

-angalore,3honeC DF5H%G5"H#,"HF

B Summer Sand (each otel,

6llal

3honeC DF5H%G5GJD#Srirangapatna

:ou ill come across this island fortress of Tipu Sultan on the (angalore5-ysoreighay. This history5rich ton as the capital of the @arrior5Kings yder $li and his

son Tipu Sultan 5 The Tiger of -ysore.

2ortC It is from here that Tipu charged at the (ritish soldiers ith his legendry sord. $nobelisk in the 2ort marks the place here he fell 5 betrayed by his on men. @ithin the

2ort is a -os+ue and the Sri /anganathasamy Temple.

*aria *aulat (aghC (uilt in FJHG, this Summer 3alace as one of Tipu7s favourite

retreats. -ade of teak, this Indo5Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes.umba8Cousing the mortal remains of Tipu Sultan, his father yder $li and his mother,

the umba8 has splendid ebony doors inlaid ith ivory. Tipu7s favourite Tiger stripes

cover the alls./anganathittu (ird SancturyCG Kms from Srirangapatna, this (ird Sanctury is home to

several exotic species of birds. (irds from as far aay a Siberia come here every year.

etting hereC/oadC -ost buses that operate form (angalore to -ysore stop at Srirangapatna.

@here to stayC

B $mbelee otel /esort

TelC DF5H%5"%%B otel -ayura /iver ;ie

Srirangapatna

-andyaShravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola in assan *istrict is F"J km aay from (angalore is an important

1aina centre. There is a pond and to stony hills, called handragiri and Indragiri.handragiri has the handragupta basadi of the angas and the 3arashanatha basadi

here is the biggest. The ton belo the hill has the 1aina matha hose alls have very

old paintings. Indragiri has the ommata monolith, "H7 tall, installed by a anga general

and scholar havundaraya, and also Siddhara basadi, &degal basadi, hennanna basadi


12/15

and hauvvisa Tirthankara basadi, and also the finely engraved pillar called Tyagada

(rahma 3illar. The floral designs on it are excellent. To the north of ton is

1inanathapura hich has the $regal basadi and the Shantinatha basadi of oysala times.Shravanabelagola has over "## inscriptions, and some of them are recording death by

starving >sallekhana7? by 1aina ascetics and laymen.

etting hereCShravanabelagola is ell connected by road and rail to (angalore, -ysore and assan.

/egular buses ply from assan.

@here to stayCB 3rivate otels and 3@* uest ouses

(elur

(elur in assan district >%%% kms from (angalore and H kms. from assan? is famous

for its magnificent oysala Temple omplex. The hennakeshava temple here ascompleted in FFF by oysala ;ishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the

hola. It took F# years to complete. The facade of the temple is filled ith intricate

sculptures and frei8es5ith no portion left blank. Elephants, episodes from the epics,

sensous dancers nothing as left uncarved. The ;eeranarayana temple houses the shrinesof Kappe henniga, $ndal, Saumya 0ayaki, and other dieties.

etting hereC(elur is ell connected by road and rail to (angalore, -ysore and -angalore. /egular

buses ply from assan to (elur.

alebidualebidu >former *arasamudra? in assan district is in (elur taluk and %J kms aay

from assan and as the capital of oysala after (elur. It has one of the finest oysala

temples. The tin Shiva Temple ith a common platform and to garbhagrihas, one

beside the other have a common broad navaranga. &ne of them houses ;ishnuvardhanaoysaleshara 9inga and the other Shanthaleshara 9inga. Infront of the oysaleshara

is the 0andimantapa and behind that is a shrine of Surya ith a to5metre5tall image.

The temple doorays are highly ornate and impressive. &uter alls have ros ofintricate figures narrating episodes from epics like /amayana, (haratha and (hagavata.

The place has a 3arshanatha basadi ith highly polished pillars in hich on5 lookers

+ueer images are reflected. There is a -useum of the $.S.I. The Kedareshara temple isanother monument built by Ketaladevi, (allala II7s Pueen. hatchatnahalli >nearby? has a

trikuta temple built by hatta *andanayaka in F%%#.

etting hereC alebidu is ell connected by road and rail to (angalore, -ysore and

-angalore. /egular buses ply from assan.@here to stayC

B 3rivate hotels and uest houses

ampi and ;i'ayanagarL If dreams ere made out of stone, it ould be ampiL

Saint ;idyaranya established the seat of ;i'ayanagara empire in F $.*, ith the help

of his devotee disciples akka and (ukka. The empire later became famous for itssupport toards renovation)reconstruction of temples through out India. It also became

renoned for re5establishment of Indian culture, its support for music, art and literature.

@ith the prime purpose of caring for the people and their elfare, this empire stretched


13/15

physically covering Karnataka, $ndhra and -aharashtra and became a by5ord for

golden rule.

$-3I, the seat of the famed ;I1$:$0$$/$ empire as the capital of the largestempire in post5mogul India, covering several states. The empire reigned supreme under

Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor. The ;i'ayanagara empire stretched over at least three

states 5 Karnataka, -aharashtra, and $ndhra 3radesh. The destruction of ;i'ayanagar bymarauding -oghul invaders as sudden, shocking and absolute. They reduced the city to

ruins amid scenes of savage massacre and horrors beggaring description.

$lthough in ruins today, this capital city once boasted riches knon far beyond theshores of India. The ruins of ampi of the FGth entury lies scattered in about % s+. km

area, amidst giant boulders and vegetation. 3rotected by the tempestuous river

Tungabhadra in the north and rocky granite ridges on the other three sides, the ruins

silently narrate the story of grandeur splendor and fabulous ealth. The splendid remainsof palaces and gateays of the broken city tells a tale of men infinite talent and poer of

creativity together ith his capacity for senseless destruction.

Stren over a large area >about nine s+uare miles? the ruins at ampi offers to the tourist

a remainder of the greatest land in the hole orld. Every rock, every path and everymonument at ampi speak the same languageQ a language of glory and beauty.

In -arch %##%, the overnment of India has announced that ampi ould be developedas an international destination centre. The State ovt ill constitute a ampi @orld

eritage $rea -anagement $uthority for integrated development and conservation of

ampi.ampi is a @orld eritage entre

ospet is the main ton providing the getaay for ampi. In $pril %##%, Karnataka

officially set up the ampi @orld eritage $rea -anagement $uthority ith ide5

ranging poers, as ell as a State 9evel $dvisory ommittee.9ocal Sights

-ost of the ruins are along the road leading from Kamalapura to ampi.Three kms don

the road, on a commanding site, stands the temple of -alyavanta /aghunathasamy.It isbuilt in the *ravidian style. Strange5looking fishes and marine monsters carved along its

outer alls are orth noticing.

The ampi (a8aar, " yards ide and nearly H## yards long as knon to be a Lverybeautiful street ith very beautiful housesL.

The ;irupaksha Temple rises ma'estically at the estern end of the famous ampi

(a8aar. The temple has a F%# feet tall toer on its eastern entrance. The temple contains

the shrines of Shiva, 3ampa and (huvanesari.3arts of this temple are older than the;i'ayanagar kingdom itself. The ork of this style dates back to the FFth or F%th century.

0earby is the .Jm tall monolith of 6gra 0arasimha. $n inscription nearby states that it

as hen from a single boulder in F"%H during the reign of Krishnadeva /aya.;ithala Temple omplex

The most splendid monument of ampi is undoubtedly the ;ithala Temple omplex

ith its " musical pillars.To the east of the hall is the famous Stone hariot ith stone heels that actually

revolve. In front of the shrine stands the great mantapa. /esting on a richly sculpted

basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, about F" feet in height, each

consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single block


14/15

of stone. Several of the carved pillars ere attacked ith such fury that they are hardly

more than shapeless blocks of stones and a large portion of the central part has been

destroyed utterly.

0earby is the 73urandra *asara -antapa7 hich has been also declared a protected

monument.ouse of ;ictory.

It as built hen Krishnadeva /aya came back from his victorious expedition against the

King of &rissa. The spaces beteen the ros of the plinth5mouldings here are mostelaborately and elegantly carved. The kings of ;i'ayanagar used to sit on a grand throne

in the ouse of ;ictory and itness the nine5day *asara festival.

@estards from the ouse of ;ictory, leading through to ruined gates, the path leads to

the a8ara /amasami temple. This temple is believed to have been the private place oforship of the royal family. The chief attraction of the temple is the series of scenes from

the /amayana carved on to of the inside alls of the mantapa. The genesis of the place

knon today as ampi dates back to the age of the indu epic /amayana hen it as

the site of Kishkinda, a monkey kingdom.King7s (alance

ampi is also full of surprisesC like the King7s (alance here kings ere eighed againstgrain, gold or money hich as then distributed to the poor, the Pueen7s (ath, a

simming pool, "# ft.long and ft.deep, ith its arched corridors, pro'ecting balconies

and lotus5shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed ater, the to5storeyed

B 9otus -ahalC shaped like a lotus floer from top, this to5story structure has

beautiful arc ays set in geometric regularity. It as an air5cooled summer palace of the

+ueen.B Elephant StablesC This huge stable, a beautiful example of indu5-uslim style of

architecture, housed about FF elephants in separate compartments.

B 3ushkarini TankB -ahanavami *ibbaC The foundation of a lion story ooden structure from hich

the royalty vieed ampi ith pomp, colour and revelry during the -ahanadu festival.

This platform has beautiful carvings.B -ustard aneshC This is a D feet tall single stone statue hich is also knon as

Sasivikalu anesha.

B 0oblemenRs 3alaceC This place as recently discovered and they suspect this as

for aristocrats and high5ranking officials.9ocal 2estivalsC The ;i'ayanagar 2estival organi8ed by the overnment of Karnataka in

*ecember recreates the grandeur of the bygone era.

Essentialso to get there

B $ir

F. The nearest airstrip at Tornagallu in Sandur Taluk hich is % kms. from ospet.(angalore based air5charter operator, Tane'a $erospace and $viation 9td >T$$9?, has

launched sightseeing charter flights to ampi and -ysore in &ct %##%. ontact $n'an

/ao at DHGG#5%JDD or emailC an'anrOtane'aaerospace.com for further details.

%. The second nearest airport is (ellary>JG kms?


15/15

. &ther convenient airports are at (elgaum >FD# kms? and (angalore>" kms?.

B /ailC ospet is the nearest rail head >F kms?. ospet is linked by rail to

(angalore, (i'apur,ubli and untakal.B /oadC ampi is "# kms from (angalore. KS/T (uses ply regularly from

ospet.

(est time to visitC &ctober to -arch@here to Stay

:ou could use ospet as your base to visit ampi.

B otel -ayura ;i'ayanagar, Thungabadhra *am ospet, TelC#HDG5GH%J#B otel 3riyadarshini, Station /oad, ospet, TelC #HDG5GHHH.

B otel -alligi, ospet5(ellary road.

B otel -ayura (huvanesri, Kamalapur, ampi. TelC#HDG5"FJG

B KST* ottages.TelC#HDG5HF#H

explore karnataka today

Documents