Mysore Travel Information

770m above sea level and 140 kms from Bangalore, this iperial city was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars. so known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint iarm that never fails to enchant.

City Sights:

Mysore Palace. Once the residence of the Wodeyars, this structure is one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the Indo-Saracenic style, this palace exudes a grandeur that is unmatched.

The Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mandap and the Gallery are the main attractions here. Sir Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. Housed in the Jaganmohan Palace, this gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1873. The collection includes paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore gold leaf style of painting.

St. Philomena's Church, in the Gothic style, is one of the largest churches in the country and has beautiful stained-glass windows.

Mysore Zoo houses some rare animals bred in captivity and exotic species of plants.

Chamundi Hills. Towering over the city, these hills are 13 kms away from Mysore. Halfway - up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 m monolith. Right on top is the 2000-year-old Chamundeswari Temple, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family.

Brindavan Gardens (Mandya Dist.). 19 kms north-west of Mysore is the KRS Dam and the ornamental Brindavan Gardens. The musical fountains and colourful lights transform this place into a fairy land in the evenings.


Festivals :

The Dasara celebrations in Mysore bring back the glory and grandeur of a bygone era. During Oct-Nov., the entire city rejoices with colour and gaiety. The 10-day festivity culminates in a grand procession on the last day- Vijayadashami.

Local Food Specialities : Mysore is famous for Mysore Pak - a sweet rich in ghee. Other delicacies include spicy rice preparations, idii, dosai and vada.

Shopping :

Sandalwood, its products and silk are Mysore's specialities, sold in Government-owned emporia at fixed prices. The Government Silk Factory offers silks straight off the loom.

Accessibility :

Mysore is connected by rail and road to Bangalore, Mangalore and Madras. Around Mysore (Distances and directions from Mysore):

Srirangapatna (Mandya Dist.) is 14 kms north-east, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. This island fortress, once the capital of the warrior-kings HyderAli and his son Tipu Sultan, has magnificent monuments that are well worth a visit.

Daria Daulat Bagh - Tipu's Summer Palace built in 1784 was his favourite retreat. Made of teak, this Indo-Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu's valour and his losing battle against the British.

Fort. It is from here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword. An obelisk in the fort marks the place where he fell - betrayed by his own men. The fort holds within it, a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Outside the fort is the Gumbaz, Tipu's tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory.

Sangama is 3 kms south of Srirangapatna where the two branches of river Cauvery re-unite in joyful exuberance.

Bandipur. Situated 80 kms from Mysore, the Bandipur National Park is one of the most beautiful wildlife centres. Rare species of animals and birds can be seen in their natural habitats. Bandipur has also been chosen as a centre for the Project Tiger Scheme launched in 1973 by the WWF to save the tiger.

Himvad Gopalaswamy Hills is a popular hill resort and a trekker's delight as well. It is situated in the verdant western ghats of Mysore District. The temple here is dedicated to Lord Hoysala.

Ranganathittu (Mandya Dist.) 4 kms from Srirangapatna and 18 kms from Mysore is a Bird Sanctuary that houses exotic birds. Birds from as far away as Siberia and even North America make their home here. Crocodiles basking in the sun is also a familiar sight. Best season -January to February.

important pilgrim centre and is famous for its Nanjundeshwara Temple (from which the place derives its name). Built in the Dravidian style, the temple is one of the biggest of its kind in Karnataka.

Somanathapur 35 kms east is famous for its 13th century Hoysala Temple. The temple in excellent condition, has frescoed exteriors with episodes from the epics.

Melkote 30 kms north, is a sacred pilgrim centre, known for its Vairamudi festival in March-April. More than one lakh devotees congregate here for the festival. Melkote is also known for its handlooms.

Talakad is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery and is completely buried beneath sand dunes. Its temples are opened for ceremonial worship on special occasions - once in twelve years.

Cauvery Fishing Camp. 82 kms from Mysore, at Bhimeshwari is a paradise for anglers. Mahasheer, the finest game fish is found here. This camp is also accessible from Bangalore (100 kms).

Shivasamudram (Mandya Dist.) is 85 kms east of Mysore, where the river Cauvery cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls. Falling down from a height of 73 m into a deep rocky gorge, these falls are best during the monsoons. 1.5 kms away is Asia's first hydro-electric project set up in 1905.

Nagarhole National Park and the Kabini River Lodge are perfect get-aways for nature lovers. Abounding in a rich variety of wildlife, one can find elephants, antelopes and even leopards here.

B.R. Hills. This picturesque hill range, at a height of 5091 ft., is 120 kms from Mysore and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. The temple on the hill, dedicated to Biligiri Rangaswamy attracts devotees round the year.

Mahadeshwara Hills, about 142 kms from Mysore, is a popular pilgrim centre. Atop the hill is a temple dedicated to Lord Mahadeshwara which is in the form of a Linga.

Accessibility: Tourist spots around Mysore City are well- connected bv road.

Helebid Travel Information

Halebid is 15 km from Belur.

This place was known as Dwara Samudra, the wealthy capital of Hoysalas.

Halebid has several strikingly beautiful Hoysala temples and Jain shrines.

The Hoysaleshwara temple, standing on platform like a casket, is a sculptural extravaganza, richly endowed with most finely detailed scroll work in stone.

Outside there is a Nandi (Bull), the mount of Shiva, and a hillock where the Palace stood, connected to the temple by a passage. Inside its dark depths, the queen Shantala Devi beckons from an alcove.

The figure of mortals and immortals are larger here as compared to Belur and are beautifully chiseled, in shining black stone.

The walls of the temples are covered with variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. There is a museum on the lawn with 12-13th century sculpture and the gold coins in use at the time.

Another famous temple is the Keddareshwara temple where the sculptor's virtuosity seems to have surpassed even the goldsmith's skill in its sheer intricacy.

One kilometre from Halebid is Basti Hill where there are Jain Bastis with gleaming black stone pillars.

Hassan Travel Information

194 kms from Bangalore is the District Headquarters of Hassan. This quiet and peaceful town is a convenient base to visit Shravanabelagola, Belur and Halebid. Hassan offers a wide variety of accommodation. It is well connected by road and rail to Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore.

Shravanabelagola. 31 kms south-east of Hassan, this is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres. Here is the 17 m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world's tallest monolithic statue. Thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka - a spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years, when the 1000 - year - old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2005 A.D.

Shravanabelegola is 158 kms from Bangalore.

Belur. This quaint hamlet - 38 kms from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala empire, today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete and you can see why. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensuous dancers... they are all there - awe-inspiring in their intricate workmanship. Inside are hand-lathe-turned filigreed pillars. The Veeranarayana Temple and the smaller shrines are well worth a visit.

Halebid is 27 kms north-west of Hassan and 17 kms east of Belur. The temples of Halebid - like those of Belur - bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labour. The Jain basadis nearby are equally rich in sculptural detail. Belur and Halebid are 222 and 216 kms from Bangalore, respectively.

Channarayapatna, Ramanathpur, Gorur and Manjarabad are the other places of interest around Hassan.

Hampi Travel Information

"Vijayanagara" is such that the pupil of they eye has never seen a place like it.." so eulogized Abdul Razaq, a Muslim envoy who visited Hampi, the erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom, in 1443.

You can still glimpse the splendour of Vijayanagara in its ruins. The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of a 700m long street that was once the famous Hampi bazaar. This is the only temple at Hampi that is still used for worship. Nearby is the 6.7 m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha, seated under a canopy of a seven hooded snake.

The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtly the Vithala Temple Complex. The 56 pillars in the main hall produce musical notes when struck. To the east of the hall is the famous Stone Chariot with stone wheels that actually revolve! Hampi is full of such surprises. Like the King's Balance, where ruling kings were weighed against grain, gold or money which was then distributed to the poor. Or the Queen's Bath, with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus - shaped fountains. Or even the Lotus Mahal in the 'Zenana' enclosure.

A beautiful Two-Storied place with recessed archways set in geometric regularity and opening out to the sun and the wind like the petals of a flower. The imposing Elephant Stables have arched entrances and domes. And in the Royal Enclosure of the city is the Hazara Rama Temple.

Explore Hampi at your own pace. Its monuments - like its centuries old patience and wisdom must be savoured bit by bit.

Local Festival:

The Vijayanagar Festival is organized by the Government of Karnataka in December. Dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, spectacular processions, all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era.

Languages Spoken:

Kannada, Hindi, English. When to go there. October to March

How to get there:

Air :

The nearest Airport is Bellary (74 kms). Other convenient airports are at Belgaum (190 kms) and Bangalore(353 kms).

Rail :

Hospet is the nearest railhead (13 kms). Hospet is linked by rail to Bangalore, Bijapur, Hubli and Guntakal.

Road :

Hampi is 350 kms from Bangalore.

Bijapur Travel Information

530 kms to the north-west of Bangalore is the ancient town of Bijapur, the capital oftheAdil Shahi dynasty. Bijapur is close to Belgaum - the gateway to Karnataka from Goa and Bombay. Bijapur has many places of historical, cultural and architectural interest.

City Sights:

Gol Gumbaz, the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, boasts of the second-largest tomb in the world. 44 m in diameter, the interior of the dome is mysteriously unsupported and has a whispering gallery under it, whose acoustics are superb.

Jumma Masjid, still used for worship, has been called one of the first mosques in India. It holds an exquisite copy of the Koran, written in gold lettering.

lbrahim Roza, the mausoleum of lbrahim Adil Shah II, is said to have inspired the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The Malik-e-Maidan. The largest medieval cannon in the world, is 14 ft long, weighing 55 tons. Legend has it that if you touch the gun and make a wish, it will come true!

ALso worth a visit are the Mehtar Mahal, the ]od Gumbaz, Afzal Khan's Cenotaph, Asar Mahal, Anand Mahal, Ark-Killa, etc.

Shopping :

Bijapur is famous for its handwoven Ilkal sarees.

Accessibility :

Bijapur is well-connected by road and rail to Bangalore, Belgaum and Goa. The nearest airport is Belgaum, 205 kms away.

Climate :

The ideal time to travel here is September-February.

Local Food Specialities :

Non-vegetarian preparations distinctly Mughlai or Hyderabadi, milk sweets.

Around Bijapur :

(Distances and directions from Bijapur): 110 kms, 134 kms and 120 kms away are the temples of Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami. Standing close to each other (within a 13 km radius), these temple towns represent Chalukyan architecture at its best.

Bangalore Travel Information

Located 1000 m above sea level, this bustling capital city Of Karnataka, has a perpetual holiday atmosphere, thanks mainly to its picnic weather. Founded in 1337 by a local chieftain Kempe Gowda, Bangalore has seen much and imbibed even more. Rapid industrial growth has not taken away Bangalore's old-world charm. And a trip here can be truly delightful. Known as the Garden City and Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore offers you more than a day or two of sightseeing. There's always something going on here - music and dance concerts (both western and Indian), dramas, exhibitions, carnivals... you could go disco-hopping or pub-crawling. To the restaurants or to the movies. Or window-shopping. Or even for a round of golf.

City Sights:

Vidhana Soudha. A magnificent building housing the State Legislature and Secretariat. It was conceived and executed by Kengal Hanumanthaiya, the then Chief Minister, in 1936. It is built entirely of Bangalore granite in the Neo-Dravidian style.

Attara Kacheri:

This elegant two-storeyed building is directly opposite the Vidhana Soudha. It houses the State High Court. Within walking distance are the Public Library, the Government Museum, the Visveswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum and the Venkatappa Art Gallery.

Cubbon Park:

This beautiful park, sprawling across 300 acres, was laid out by Lieutenant General Sir Mark Cubbon in 1864.

The Lalbagh was started by Hyder Ali in 1760 and later completed byTipu Sultan. This 240 acre landscaped park is home to some very rare species of plants. The Glass House inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, is the venue of an annual flower show. Bangalore Palace. Inspired by the Windsor Castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style by a Wodeyar king in 1887.

Badami Travel Information

The capital of the Early Chalukyas, Badami (also known as Vatapi), is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a Ravine between two rocky hills.

Rock-cut cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions, sculptures that seem to come alive under your eyes… Badami has to be seen to be believed. Climb a flight of steps to reach the ancient caves all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.

There are four caves here. The first three belong to the Vedic faith and the fourth cave is the only Jain temple in Badami.

Enter the first cave temple past Shiva's door keepers and there he is ! The eighteen armed Nataraja stricking 81 dance poses !

The largest and most ornamental is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu. Here are some splendid carvings of the Hindu Pantheon. Narasimha the half-man half Lion avatar of Vishnu Hari Hara, the composite god who is half-Shiva and half-Vishnu. Vishnu Narayana sitting as well as reclining on the snake Shesh or Ananta (Eternity )… There are also some painting on the ceiling and wonderful bracket figures on the piers.

A little to the east of this shrin, on top of a cliff is a Jain temple. Here you will find many Jain deities and a huge figure of Parshwanatha.

Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Also a must are the Bhutanatha temples that lend their name to the lake just beneath the cave temples.

Take a dip in this green tranquil lake. It is said to have healing properties. According to a popular story, King Kushataraya was cured of leprosy here.

Badami also has eighteen inscriptions ranging from the sixth to the sixteenth century. After you have exclaimed over the beautiful sculptures and admired the exquisite carvings, stop by at the museum set up by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Languages Spoken:

Kannada, Hindi, English.

When to go there:

Anytime from October to February.

How to get there:

Air:

The nearest airport is Belgaum (150 kms).

Rail:

Badami is on the Hubli-Sholapur rail route.

Road:

Badami is connected by road to : · Hubli (128 kms) · Bijapur (132 kms).