Situated at an altitude of 3,400 feet at the foothills of Mullayanagiri, Chikmagalur is one of the most popular hill stations in South India. With overflowing streams, rolling hills, lush green forest, tall mountains, aromatic coffee plantations and pleasant weather, Chikmagalur offers something for everyone that draws thousands of tourists all throughout the year as part of Karnataka Tour Packages. Apart from the attractions in the town, one can also visit many splendid places on the way to Chikmagalur from Bangalore that gives you the opportunity to explore the natural beauty and make your trip an unforgettable one.
Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Temple
One of the popular temples in Karnataka, Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Yediyur village. Situated on Bangalore-Hassan-Mangalore road, it is the tomb or Nirvikalpa Shivayoga Samadhi of Tontada Siddhalinga, a great Vireshaiva teacher and author who flourished at the end of the 15th century. With its Dravidian structure, the temple faces north and the inscription near the entrance says about the spiritual greatness of the teacher. Also, there is a small shrine of Veerabhadra Swamy in the basement. Besides, the temple holds annual festivals during Maha Shivaratri and Ugadi that lures large number of tourists and devotees as part Bangalore tour packages.
Shravanbelogola
Shravanbelogola is one of the most popular Jain pilgrimage places in India. Situated at an altitude of 3347 feet, it is one of the popular places to visit near Bangalore and a major heritage site in Karnataka. Shravanbelogola is famous for the Bahubali Statue which is supposed to be the tallest monolithic stone statue in the world carved out of a single block of granite. One needs to climb around 620 steps to reach the temple from the bottom of the hill. Besides, Shravanbelogola celebrates the Mahamastakabhisheka festival once in 12 years which attracts thousands of devotees and tourists from all over India as part of Shravanbelogola Tour Packages.
Must Read : Spectacular Festivals of Karnataka
Hassan
Referred as the architectural capital of Karnataka, Hassan is an ideal place for history lovers, pilgrims, as well as curious souls as it is lined up with several religious spots as well as monuments. The town is well-known for its ancient Hasanamba Temple built in 12th century CE, among the top places to visit in Hassan. Nuggehalli Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Shettyhalli Church, Mosale temples, Maharaja Park, Mavinakere Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Bucheshwara Temple at Koravangala, Chandramouleswara Temple at Arasikere, Gorur Dam and Lakshmidevi Temple at Doddagadduvalli are some of the top places to visit in Hassan as part of Hassan Tour Packages.
Sakleshpur
Perched at an altitude of 3061 feet, Sakleshpur is one of the best hill stations in Karnataka and among the weekend getaways from Bangalore. Placed in the Malnad region, the town is surrounded by lofty green hills covered with coffee, cardamom, pepper and areca plantations. Manjarabad Fort, Sakleshwara Temple, Agni Gudda Hill, Magajahalli Waterfalls, Betta Byraveshwara Temple, Hemavathi Dam, Pandavar Gudda and Agni Gudda are the must visit places as part of Sakleshpur Tour Packages. Also, the place is known for trekking trails like Bisle Reserve Forest Trail and Kumara Parvatha trail.
Belur
Situated in the Hassan district of Karnataka, Belur is a popular temple town and among the best places of heritage in Karnataka. Renowned for its famous Hoysala Temple, it is among the most visited tourist places near Mysore. Dedicated to Lord Channakesava (an incarnation of Vishnu), it is the best of three Hoysala temples nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Sites (other two being the temples at Halebid & Somnathpur). The temple is decorated with intricate pillars of various sizes, shapes and designs, bearing testimony to remarkable artistry. The major highlight of the temple is Darpana Sundari or The lady with the mirror. Besides, the beautiful sculpture of Shantaladevi is placed on the circular platform in front of the shrine which is unique for its hollow and movable jewelry that lures huge number of tourists throughout the year as part of Belur Tour Packages.
Also Read : UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
Halebidu
One of the top historical places to visit in Karnataka, Halebidu is one of the three Hoysala temples nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the other two being the Belur temple & Somnathpur temple). Earlier called as Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra, Halebidu was the glorified royal capital of the Hoysala kingdom in 12th Century. The Hoysaleswara, Kedareswara temples and two Jain basadis are the prime places to visit in Halebid. With its minute and intricate carvings, the Hoysaleswara temple is built on a star shaped platform and is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is one of the best places to visit as part of Halebidu tour packages. Besides, the walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and dancing figures. It can also be visited as part of Chikmagalur Packages.
Yagachi Dam
Built in 2001, Yagachi Dam is an earthen gravity dam constructed across the River Yagachi, a tributary of River Kaveri. Perched at an altitude of 965 feet, it is one of the best places to visit near Mysore, and among the must-visit places to experience Karnataka Tourism. The objective of this dam is to provide water for the irrigation purpose and to meet the demands of drinking water in Belur, Chikmagalur and Hassan districts. Also famous for its water sports, tourists can indulge in various activities like banana boat ride, cruise boat, speed boat, kayaking, jet skiing etc. Besides, the place draws large number of tourists to enjoy the beauty of the dam and the surrounding areas as part of Chikmagalur Tour Packages.