13 Best Historical Places & Heritage sites near Mangalore

Mysore, the erstwhile capital of the Mysore Maharajas, is one of the popular destinations in Karnataka and among the must-visit places as part of 2 day trip near Bangalore. It is about 139 km from Bangalore. With its dazzling royal heritage, intricate architecture, its famed silk sarees, yoga, and sandalwood, Mysore is one of the top heritage sites in India.

Often called the City of Palaces, Mysore still retains its old-world charm with its palaces, heritage buildings, traditions, and temples. Mysore Palace is among the must include places in your Mysore tour packages. Apart from the Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill Temple, Mysore Zoo, Srirangapatna, and Brindavan Gardens are the most famous places to visit in Mysore.

The royal city of Mysore Dussehra is known for its grand Dussehra celebrations. The month-long Dussehra celebrations, with its colorful processions, fireworks, and the beautifully lighted palace, give an enchanting look to the city. Mysore can also be visited as part of Coorg tour packages. If you are planning to visit Bandipur or Nagarhole along with Mysore, staying at Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) properties is best way to explore ...

Distance from Mangalore: 251 Kms

Sringeri is a renowned pilgrimage center located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. About 88 km from Chikmagalur, and 318 km from Bangalore, it is one of the important places of pilgrimage in South India, and among the must include places in Karnataka tour packages.

Sringeri is well known for Sharada Peetham, among the must-visit places as part of the Sringeri holiday packages. Sringeri Sharada Peetham is the first and foremost of the 4 Peethams established by the renowned 8th-century saint Sri Adi Shankaracharya.Vidyashankara Temple, Chennakeshava Temple, Sharadamba Temple, and Sri Parswanath Jain Tirthankara Temple are the other prominent Sringeri places to visit.

Adi Shankara Temple, Kere Anjaneya temple, Malayala Brahma Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Torana Ganapati Temple, Kigga, Sirimane Falls, Agumbe, Kudremukh are other attractions here. Sringeri can be visited along with Udupi Tour Packages.

Distance from Mangalore: 108 Kms

Belur is one of the best heritage sites in Karnataka. It was the early capital of the powerful Hoysala Empire on the banks of River Yagachi. About 25 km from Chikmagalur, and 217 km from Bangalore, it is among the most visited places as part of Chikmagalur tour packages.

Belur is renowned for the grand Hoysala Temple built by king Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE. Dedicated to Lord Chennakesava, it is the best of three Hoysala temples nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Sites (other two being the temples at Halebid & Somnathpur). The Hoysala temples are known for minute & intricate carvings and sculptures with metal-like polishing. Sri Chennakesava Temple is one of the must-visit places as part of Belur holiday packages.

Standing on a star-shaped platform, Sri Chennakesava Temple is known for its intricate sculptures and friezes. There are about 48 pillars of various sizes, shapes, and designs, bearing testimony to remarkable artistry. The main highlight of the temple is Darpana Sundari or The lady with the mirror. Yagachi Dam, Halebidu, and Narasimha Pillar are the other tourist places in Belur.

Distance from Mangalore: 152 Kms

Halebidu is one of the best heritage sites in Karnataka. About 34 km from Chikmagalur, and 211 km from Bangalore, it is among the most visited places as part of Chikmagalur tour packages.

Halebidu is famous for the beautiful Hoysala Temples of Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara built in 1121 AD. These are the most important places to visit as part of Halebidu tour packages. Hoysaleswara Temple is one of the three Hoysala temples nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the other two being the Belur temple & Somnathpur temple. The Hoysala temples are known for minute & intricate carvings and sculptures with metal-like polishing. Halebidu is one of best places to visit near Bangalore.

Another popular place to visit in Halebidu is the Kedareswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built by King Ballala II, it was decorated with sculptures and panels in typical Hoysala style.

Distance from Mangalore: 169 Kms

At a distance of 137 km from Bangalore, 35 km from Mysore & 50 km from Shivanasamudra Falls, Somnathpur is well known for the breathtaking Prasanna Chennakesava Temple, one of the three famous & finest representations of Hoysala architecture (other two being temples at Belur & Halebid). This is one of the three Hoysala temples nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Bangalore & Mysore and one of the wonderful weekend getaways from both the cities. The Hoysala temples are known for minute & intricate carvings and sculptures with metal like polishing. It is one of the well known Karnataka tourist places and also one of the best places to experince Mysore Tourism.

Located on the banks of Cauvery River, Chennakesava Temple was built in 1268 by Somnatha, a general of King Narasimha III. The temple stands on a raised platform like other Hoysala temples. The temple comprises three shrines and three wonderfully carved peaks with a common Mandapa. The three sanctums once housed beautifully carved idols of Keshava, Janardhana and Venugopala. Today, the idol of Lord Kesava is missing but the other two are still worshipped by the visitors.

The Somnathpur temple is famous for its elaborate and ...

Distance from Mangalore: 289 Kms

Shravanabelagola is one of the most popular Jain places of pilgrimage in Karnataka. About 83 km from Mysore, and 140 km from Bangalore, it is one of the popular places to visit near Bangalore.

Shravanabelagola is famous for the Bahubali Statue, among the must include places in Shravanabelagola tour packages. With a height of 58 feet carved out of a single block of granite, the statue is supposed to be the tallest monolithic stone statue in the world. Gomateswara temple, Odegal Basadi, Tyagada Kamba, Siddhara Basadi, Chennanna Basadi, Akhanda Bagilu, Chamundaraya Basadi, Chandragupta Basadi, Chandraprabha Basadi, Kattale Basadi, and Parshwanatha Basadi are importantplaces to visit in Shravanabelagola.

Once in 12 years, Shravanabelagola celebrates the Mahamastakabhisheka festival which attracts thousands of devotees and tourists from all over India. Shravanabelagola can also be visited along with Mysore tour packages.

Distance from Mangalore: 213 Kms

Kasargod is a coastal town in Kerala. About 48 km from Mangalore, 110 km from Coorg, and 369 km from Bangalore, it is one of the least explored tourist places in Kerala, and among the famous places to visit near Mangalore.

Kasaragod packages are a mix of majestic forts, lofty hills, meandering rivers, and golden beaches. Bekal Fort, among the popular places of heritage in Kerala, Bekal Fort Beach, Pallikere Beach, Kappil Beach, and Kanwatheertha Beach are the popular tourist places in Kasaragod.

Besides, Kasargod is also blessed with a dozen estuaries as 14 rivers crisscross the district that nourishing the verdant landscape. Kasaragod can also be visited along with Coorg tour packages.

Distance from Mangalore: 54 Kms

Hassan is a city and the district headquarters of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka. About 120 km from Mysore, 170 km from Mangalore, and 177 km from Bangalore, it is one of the must include places in Karnataka tour packages. It is considered the architectural capital of Karnataka.

Found by the chieftain Channa Krishnappa Naik in the 11th century, Hassan was the command center of the Hoysala Empire. Hassan is the base station for Haebidu, and Belur tour packages. Dotted with several religious spots as well as monuments, Hassan is an ideal place to explore for history lovers, pilgrims, as well as curious souls. Hasanamba Temple, Nuggehalli Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Shettyhalli Church, Mosale temples, Maharaja Park, Chandramouleswara Temple at Arasikere, Bucheshwara Temple at Koravangala, Lakshmidevi Temple at Doddagadduvalli, and Gorur Dam are the top places to visit in Hassan.

It is here where the plains begin to gently slope into the Western Ghats. Besides, Hassan is close to Belur, Halebid, Chikmagalur, Sakleshpura, and Coorg.

Distance from Mangalore: 245 Kms

At a distance of 12 km from Halebidu, 27 km from Belur, 64 km from Chikmagalur, and 82 km from Kemmangundi, Belavadi is a village situated in the Chikmagalur district. It is one of the popular places to visit in Halebidu.

Belavadi is famous for Sri Veera Narayana Temple built in Hoysala architectural style. The place is described as Ekachakranagara of Mahabharata and is said to be the place where Pandava prince Bheema killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people. Belavadi Temple can be visited along with Chikmagalur Tour Packages.

The Veera Narayana temple was built in the 13th century by the Hoysala King Veera Bhallala II. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in three different forms. While Belur and Halebid are famous for their intricate sculpture, this temple is one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture. The west side of the temple consists of a square garbhagriha, a sukanasi, Ranga mandapa and square maha mantapa. The whole structure has been constructed on a raised platform. The entire temple is built out of soapstone and is believed that this temple was constructed in two phases. The temple is in trikuta style (three vimanas) with Sri Veera Narayana in the center facing east, Sri Venugopala facing north and Sri Yoganarasimha facing south. The shrines ...

Distance from Mangalore: 173 Kms

At a distance of 1.6 km from Basavakalyan Bus Stand, 78 km from Gulbarga, and 80 km from Bidar, Basavakalyan Fort, earlier known as Kalyani Fort is located in the town of Basavakalyan. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Karnataka, and among the must include places in Bidar Tour Packages.

Basavakalyan Fort is considered to be one of the oldest and most imposing forts in South India. It was built by King Nalaraja in the 10th century. Basavakalyan, earlier known as Kalyani, was the royal capital of the Western Chalukyan Dynasty from 1050 to 1189. The name was changed to Basavakalyan in 1956. It is named after Basaveshwara, a spiritual scholar from the 12th century. During the rule of Chalukyas, Jainism flourished and a large number of Jain images were carved on the walls of the forts by Chalukya kings. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Bidar.

This fort was ruled by Yadavas of Devagiri, Kalachuris, Western Chalukyas, Bijapur Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate, Bahamani Sultanate, and Hyderabad Nizams. After the fall of Western Chalukyas in the 12th century, the fort lost its. The fort still shows signs of different dynasties ruled this region.

The fort is strategically built as a defensive structure, with inter-connecting boulders scattered on the hills with strong fort ...