72 Places to Visit near Bangalore within 200 kms (2024)

At a distance of 71 km from Tirupati, 13 km from Chittoor, 175 km from Chennai, 181 km from Bangalore, 50 km from Vellore, 59 km from Sripuram, 420 km from Coimbatore and 575 km from Hyderabad, Kanipakam is a village and pilgrimage center located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Famous for the Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple (Kanipakam Temple), Kanipakam is one of the top Andhra Pradesh places to visit. This is one of the ideal weekend getaways near Bangalore & Chennai for a day trip and a major pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh.

This village lies close to Karnataka & Tamil Nadu border on the banks of Bahuda River. The temple was constructed in the 11th century by Chola king Kulothunga Chola I and was expanded further in 1336 by Vijayanagara Kings. Kanipakam temple is a rare temple with a self-manifestation (swayambhu) idol of Lord Ganesha.

The striking feature of the idol is that it is still growing in size. According to a legend, there were three handicapped brothers, Dumb, Deaf and Blind. They were farmers and used to draw water for farming from a well nearby. One day the well got dried and they could no longer continue cultivation. One of them got into the well and started digging it up. He was shocked to see blood coming out of the well. Within in a few seconds the entire water turned red. All the three became normal getting rid ...

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At a distance of 24 km from Somnathpur, 32 km from Sivanasamudram & 49 km from Mysore, Talakadu is a historical place situated on the banks of Kaveri River n Karnataka. It is one of the popular places to visit in Somnathpur.

Talakadu is a beautiful place surrounded by temples and is among prime place to visit on a Mysore trip. Talakadu had over 30 temples, most are them are buried in the sand today. Some of these temples have been excavated and are open to the public. There are five temples dedicated to Lord Siva - Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Vaideeshwara, and Mallikarjuneshwara Temple. The Keerthinarayana temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is a beautiful site with wonderful carvings.

Talakadu was ruled by several dynasties - Gangas, Hoysalas, Rashtrakutas and Vijayanagara Kings. The temples of Talakadu have mixed architecture styles of these dynasties. Talakadu is also known for 'Curse of Talakad' by Alamelamma on the Wodeyar Dynasty of Mysore.

A famous festival called Pancha Linga Darshana is celebrated here once in 12 years. It is held on new moon day in the month of Karthika when two stars conjoin, the stars of Khuha Yoga and Vishaka.

Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

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At a distance of 3 km from Srirangapatna, and 16 km from Mysore, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a small sanctuary situated in Srirangapatna, Karnataka. It is one of the must include places in wildlife tours in India and among the must visit Mysore tourist places.

Spread across 67 sq. km, the sanctuary comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River. It was declared in 1940 as a result of many requests from Dr. Salim Ali who surveyed the birds in this area. Since then, the sanctuary has become a paradise for bird watchers. The sanctuary is a breeding ground for many migratory birds from all over the world. It is home to a wide species of birds including cormorants, darters, white ibis, spoon billed storks, open-billed storks, painted storks, white-necked storks, egrets, herons, terns, swallows, kingfishers, sandpiper, etc.

A boat ride takes you to the six islets crowded with many species of birds. The best time to visit the sanctuary is between June & October.

Timings: 9 AM to 5.30 PM

Entry Fee: Rs. 60 for Indians, Rs. 30 for Indian Children, & Rs. 200 for Foreigners

Boating Charges: Rs. 60 for Adults & Rs. 200 for Foreigners

Parking: Rs. 30 for Four wheeler & Rs. 20 for Two wheeler

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At a distance of 50 km from Mysore and 133 km from Bangalore, Melkote / Melukote is a historical town located in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka. Also known as Thirunarayanapuram, it is one of the popular pilgrimage places in Karnataka and also one of the best places to visit as part of Mysore Tour.

Melkote can also be included in your Mysore holiday packages. The town is built on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri overlooking the Cauvery valley. The town derives its name from two words, Melu means top and Kote means fort. According to the history, the great Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya lived here for about 14 years in 12th century AD and thus it became a prominent center of the Srivaishnava sect of Brahmins.

There are two popular temples reside in this town, one is Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the other one is Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple. These temples existed even before Sri Ramanujacharya came to this place. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu known as Thirunarayana or Cheluvaraya installed by Lord Krishna. The utsavamurthy or procession idol of the deity is referred as Cheluvapille Raya whose original name appears to have been Ramapriya. This utsavamurthy was lost when the Moghuls invaded the place and it was recovered by Ramanujacharya from Bibi Nachiyaar the daughter of Mohammed Shah.

The temple has been under the patronage of the Mysore royal family and is ...

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At a distance of 61 km from Gundlupete, 66 km from Mysore, 68 km from Kutta, 128 km from Ooty, and 209 km from Bangalore, Kabini is one of the most popular haunts for those who love to explore the wildlife sanctuaries in India and enjoy getting up close with nature. Kabini can be visited along with Mysore Tour.

Kabini is a region situated around the banks of the Kabini River. It is a part of Nagarhole National Park, famous for its spectacular wildlife and birdlife. It is the starting point of wildlife safari in the south-eastern part of Nagarhole. There is a dam built on Kabini River near Sargur which spread over an area of 55 hectares covering forests, rivers, lakes, and valleys. The backwaters of the Kabini reservoir are very rich in wildlife especially in summer when the water level recedes to form rich grassy meadows. During summer, animals in large numbers gather near the lake.

There are different kinds of accommodation facilities available near Kabini which include Orange County Resort, Kabini River Lodge, The Bison, Red Earth Resort, Waterwoods Lodge and Resorts, Kabini Lake View Resort, and The Serai. Besides accommodation, the resorts also offer several facilities to its guests like Wildlife Safari, Coracle Ride, Boat ...

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At a distance of 85 km from Mysore, 40 km from Chamarajanagar and 170 km from Bangalore, the Biligiri Ranga Hills popularly known as the BR Hills is a lofty hill range in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is considered to be the wildlife corridor that connects Eastern Ghats to Western Ghats. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Mysore and is one of the top attractions you must include in Mysore packages.

BR Hills is famous for BRT Wildlife Sanctuary (Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary). The sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 5091 feet and is spread across an area of 540 km. It was declared a tiger reserve in 2010 by the Karnataka State Government. The highest peak within the sanctuary is the Kattari Betta. The wildlife sanctuary is inhabited by a number of animals including elephants, sloth bears, bison, deer, porcupines and a number of other wild animals. It is said that the sanctuary has more than 250 species of birds like the Paradise Flycatcher, Racquet Trailed Drongo and the Crested Hawk Eagle, etc.

Another attraction of the BR Hills is the 500 years old famous Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple which is situated on the highest peak of the hill range, on the white cliff (biligiri) which gives the hill its name. The local form of the deity is called Ranganath, another form of Lord Vishnu and is depicted in a unique standing position. ...

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At a distance of 71 Kms from Mysore, 85 Kms from Bangalore City Junction, Kokkare Bellur Bird Sanctuary is located in Mandya District of Karnataka and is about 20 km from Mandya. The name of the village is derived from Kokkare meaning stork and Bellur meaning village of jaggery. This is one of the popular tourist places near Bangalore & Mysore.

The Mandya district is famous for sugarcane fields and this village is famous for having large colonies of Painted Storks and Spot-billed Pelicans nesting in trees within the village. It is home to cranes, painted storks and pelicans.

The best season to visit the migratory birds is October to March.

Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

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At a distance of 55 Kms from Mysore, Chunchanakatte Falls is a famous waterfall formed by Cauvery River. The river flows into Chunchanakatte forming a 60 feet tall and about 350 feet wide waterfall. It is one of the top Mysore tourist places to visit in monsoon and another popular attraction not to miss in a Mysore tour package.

Legend describes that Lord Rama during his tenure in the forests stayed in this place on the behest of the tribal couple Chuncha and Chunchi. There is a belief that Goddess Sita took holy bath in this place and till now the water colour in that area looks like mixed with turmeric and other holy powders used for pooja. The place is very scenic surrounded by waterfalls and greenery. Lord Kodanda Rama temple is situated just beside the waterfalls.

There is a hydraulic power generating station installed.

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At a distance of 75 km from Bangalore City Junction, 16 km from Kanakapura & 112 km from Mysore, Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta is a hill near Kanakapura town. It is one of the highest hills in the area, and also one of the popular places to visit near Bangalore.

Situated at an altitude of 3780 ft, Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta is also called Bilikal Betta that means white rocks. It is one of the popular places for trekking around Bangalore. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Rangaswamy at the peak of Bilikal Betta. This temple is located underneath a huge, white-colored rock. The temple priest lives near to the temple and the only person living at the peak. Every year, pilgrims from the surrounding area climb this hill to celebrate a festival at the Rangaswamy temple at the top.

The Trekking Trail starts from Konala Doddi (which is about 58 kms from Bangalore City Junction - Bilikal Betta is 6 kms from here). Bilikal Rangaswamy Trek is a moderate one with a well marked path up till the peak. The trekking takes 2.5 hrs uphill and about 1.5 hr downhill. The trail begins with a half kilometer walk on a relatively level path, after which the forest becomes denser and the gradient of slope increases drastically. The trail constantly winds uphill at an incline and includes slightly steep ...

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At a distance of 61 km from Bangalore City Junction and 5 km from Chikballapur, Skandagiri is an ancient mountain fortress lies at an altitude of about 1350 m. It is geographically located close to Nandi HIlls. This is among the best places for trekking near Bangalore especially famous for night treks, camping and bird watching.

Skandagiri is also known as Kalavara Durga. It has an ancient dilapidated fort that belonged to a local king and was later concurred and used by Tipu Sultan. After Tipu's downfall, the fort was ignored and laid in ruins. Today one can only see parts of the fort wall in some places.

The Skandagiri trek is a moderately difficult trek. There are two routes to reach the base of the hill. One is from Chikballapur town and the other as a detour from the road that leads to Nandi Hills. The trek starts from the Papagni Temple at the foot of the hill. This steep and fantastic trek through a maze of dense shrub is highly interesting. There are six series of stonewalls protecting an abandoned ancient temple on the hilltop.

Skandagiri is more famous for night trekking. Hundreds of people gather there on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch the sunrise. It is best climbed very early in the morning or in a full moon night. Sunrise seen from the top is breathtaking. At the top of the hill is a stretch of flat area that has a temple and few stone pillars belonging to ancient houses. This 8 km trek comprises of ascending and descending through rugged ...

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At a distance of 30 km from Kolar and 98.5 km from Bangalore City Junction, Avani is a small village in Kolar district of Karnataka. Avani is renowned for housing varied ancient temples. It is one of top historical places to visit as part of your Bangalore tour and among the popular sightseeing spots around Bangalore. It is also a popular location for rock climbing.

The village of Avani received a prominent place mainly due to the legends associated with it. According to mythology, goddess Sita gave birth to her twin children Lava-Kusha at Avani. It is also said that the war between Lord Rama and his sons Lava and Kusha took place in this village. As per the local belief, sage Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana was residing here during the period of Ramayana.

Another legend has it that when Sri Narasimha Bharati IV of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham was on his sancharas', he camped here for a few days. During his stay in Avani, he discovered an idol of Goddess Sharada. The idol was in standing posture flanked by Adi Shankaracharya with Sri Chakra. He established a new Mutt, which is presently known as Avani Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sharada Peetham.

Avani also houses a Sita temple situated on a hill. This temple is one of the few temples dedicated to Sita Devi in India. This temple has the idols ...

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At a distance of 2 km from Magadi Bus station and 44.5 km from Bangalore City Junction, The Ranganatha Swamy Temple located in Magadi is an ancient temple and a protected monument. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites to visit around Bangalore.

The Ranganathaswamy temple is situated on a hill called Tirumale. There is a vast Prakara with a gateway having tall Rajagopura. The sanctum of the Ranganatha temple was first consecrated in early 12th century by the Chola ruler and the temple has undergone renovations and expansion since. The beautiful gopuras were built by Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya in the 16th century and later renovated by King Jayachamaraja Wodeyar of Mysore. There are structures inside the sanctum which were also built by the Cholas and later renovated.

The temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha is actually a standing image of Narayana about 3 ft tall in Vijayanagara style with Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Abhaya attributes in four hands. The main deity is traditionally believed to be installed by Mandavya Rishi. Gopura of the temple is in Dravidian style. There are beautiful pillars inside the temple. Usually the idol of Lord Ranganatha would be in reclining position. But here it is in standing posture. Originally it is said to be the idol of Lord Venkateshwara. During the period of Tippu Sultan, many Hindu temples were destroyed. To save this temple, they called Venkateshwara as Ranganatha, as Tippu Sultan was faithful to his god Ranganatha ...

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At a distance of 23 km from Bangalore City Railway Station, Bannerghatta National Park is a wildlife park spread in reserve forests of Anekal Range in Karnataka. At an altitude of 1245 - 1634 m, this one of the most famous wildlife parks in Karnataka and among the top tourist places in Bangalore. This park is part of a wildlife corridor for elephants which connects the BR Hills and the Sathyamangalam forest. Bannerghatta is one of the popular national parks in India and among the must include place in Bangalore packages.

Bannerghatta National Park was founded in 1971 and declared as a national park in 1974. Spread over an area of 25,000 acre and a portion of the park became a biological reserve called the Bannerghatta Biological Park in 2002. The park consists of the main Nature Reserve, a zoo, a children's park, an aquarium, a crocodile park, a museum, a butterfly park, a snake park and a safari park. The forest consists of deciduous trees and thorny scrubs.

This is a very prominent destination that attracts people from different parts of the country. The park is home to tigers, lions, leopards, bison, deer, bears, birds and butterflies. One of the main attractions of this park is lion and tiger safari or Grand Safari. The one-hour long ...

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At a distance of 93 Kms from Bangalore (via Kanakapura), 107 Kms from Mysore, Sangama and Mekedatu are two lovely places situated nearby. This is one of the famous weekend getaways from Bangalore. Sangama is the place where Arakavathi river merges with River Kaveri. From this point, about 3.5 kilometers downstream, Mekedatu is a place where river Kaveri flows through a deep and narrow gorge. These two are the must visit places for those people who want to relax amidst pristine nature as part of Bangalore trip.

Mekedatu means goat's leap in Kannada. River Kaveri flows into a deep and narrow gorge, so narrow that a goat could leap over it and that is how it got its name. It is said that a goat being chased by a tiger saved its life by jumping over the gorge whereas the tiger did not attempt to take the risk and abandoned the chase. When reaching the gorge the river flows ferociously onto the rocks sculpting them into some amazing shapes. The river Kaveri flows through a deep ravine of just 5-10 meter wide. The water flow is very fierce at this place during monsoons making it very dangerous to swim here. The rocks are also very steep and slippery, and visitors need to be careful while descending the rocks. Several tourists downed here due to water force and slippery rocks.

Sangama, 3.5 kms ahead of Mekedatu, is the confluence of Kaveri and Arakavathi. ...

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At a distance of 60 Kms from Bangalore (situated close to NH207 towards Chik Ballapur), Nandi Hills or Nandidurga is a popular trekkig destination near Bangalore. Located close to Skandagiri, it is one of the must visit places for trekking enthusiasts as part of Bangalore tour packages and among the popular one day trip from Bangalore.

It gets its name from the ancient Nandi or bull which is meant to be the mount of Lord Shiva. These hills are the source of the rivers Palar, Arkavati and Pennar. It was one of the Tipu's summer retreats. There are about 1,200 steps laid from foot of the hill to reach the top. Bhoga Nandishwara Temple situated at the foot of the hills is a must see place which houses a 1000 year old sculpture of Nandi.

Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace and Tipu's Drop, a 600 ft cliff from where Tipu Sultan used to throw his prisoners, offers a spectacular view of the valley. Amrita Sarovar Lake, ruins of Tipu Sultan's fort are other places to visit. There are also three temples dedicated to Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Yoga Narasimha and Sri Bhoga Narasimha.

There are few accommodation options available on the peak for those who want to experience early morning sunrise, though trekking the peak early in the morning is the best option. Self camping on the peak is not safe.

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At a distance of 50 Kms from Bangalore (close to NH4 towards Tumkur), Shivaganga Hill lies at an altitude of 4599 ft and it is a good short trekking destination near Bangalore and a popular tourist place to visit near Bangalore.

There are also two Shiva temples, one very close to the foot of the hill, called Shivaganga Temple and another one at top of the hill, called Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple. The unique feature of the hill is that it looks like a bull from the East, a Ganesha from the West, a Linga from the South and a cobra from the North. A set of well laid steps will lead you to the top of hill where the shrine of Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave temple is situated. There is a ruined fort at the bottom of the hill near Shivaganga Temple.

The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple is believed to be very ancient, built in 13th century by Hoysala's. The current structure was built during 18th century. There is a huge rock with a large Nandi statue which offers a panoramic view of the plains below the hill.

There is a fresh water spring called Pathala Ganga on the way to hilltop past Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple. The water here is considered to be as holy. The trek to hilltop takes around 30-40 minutes one way.

While driving from Bangalore, a diversion is required at Dobbaspet (before Tumkur) towards left and Shivaganga Hill is about 7 Kms from here.

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At a distance of 72 Kms from Bangalore (near Tumkur), Devarayanadurga is a rocky hill situated in the midst of picturesque locality at an altitude of 3940 ft. The main attraction of Devarayanadurga is the temples of Yoga Narasimha & Bhoga Narasimha. The Bhoga Narasimha temple is located at the foothills while the Yoga Narasimha shrine is located at the top of the hill. This is one of the popular tourist places near Bangalore.

This is also an ideal place for trekking. Motorable road is available till the hill top. Many people trek the hill from the Bhoga Narasimha temple at foothill. One can driver further from Yoga Narasimha temple to the peak of the hill to capture a nice view of the valley and surrounding places.

Devarayanadurga is famous for the natural water spring called Namada Chilume which is considered as the source of Jayamangali River. There are two other springs known as Ramatirtha and Dhanushtirtha. There is a large cave nearby with figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. The car festival of Sri Bhoga Narasimha Swamy is held during the month of March/April here.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Jayanthi, an annual celebration of Narasimha avathara day takes place here during the month of Chaitra (around May).

A diversion is required on NH4 before Tumkur at Kyathsandra to reach Devarayanadurga.

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At a distance of 83 km from Bangalore, and 101 km from Mysore, Chunchi Falls is a serene waterfall situated near Harro Shivanahalli near Bangalore. It is one of the popular waterfalls near Bangalore, and among the must include places in Bangalore Tour Packages.

Lies en route to Mekedatu and Sangama, Chunchi Falls is formed over River Arkavathi and is one of the most visited tourist places near Bangalore. It drops down from a height of about 50 feet through multiple tiers into a small pool. It is an ideal place to swim, play & relax in water amidst naturally formed rock formations.

Located on the edge of the Western Ghats, the waterfall is surrounded by rocky hills and lush vegetation, which make the scene quite picturesque. On the way to Chunchi Falls, travellers also come across a watchtower from where one can get a panoramic 360-degree view of the rocky terrain adorned with deciduous forest. There is a power station ahead of Chunchi Falls. After the installation of the power station, the amount of water has reduced significantly in the Chunchi falls.

This place is usually crowded on weekends. A little walk is required from the nearest road point to reach the falls. The place is a little dangerous due to the slippery rocks and deep gorge on the way to the falls. It is advised ...

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At a distance of 42 km from Hassan, 44 km from Halebidu, 71 km from Chikmagalur, the Ishvara Temple, also known as Chandramouleshwara Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Arasikere town of the Hassan district in Karnataka state, India. It is one of the stunning Hoysala temples in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Hassan.

Dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, the Chandramouleshwara Temple at Arasikere was built in the 12th century by the Hoysalas. Though modest in size and figure sculpture, the temple is considered the most complex one in architecture among surviving Hoysala monuments because of its ground plan - a 16-pointed star-shaped mantapa (hall), along with an asymmetrical star-shaped shrine, whose star points are of three different types.

Like all Hoysala constructions, this east-facing temple was built with soapstone and is an ekakuta shrine (single shrine or cella) with two mandapas, one open and one closed. The sanctum (garbhagriha) enshrines a Shivalinga. The ceiling in the closed mantapa is divided into nine compartments or 'bays' by the four lathe-turned pillars. Unlike other temples, to have a darshan of Lord Shiva inside the garbhagriha, there is no direct straight access, since this particular mantapa is star-shaped. Instead, there are two lateral entrances at north and south of the mantapa.

The temple has a shikhara or tower with a decorated water pot like sculpture called kalasha on the top. The vestibule, which connects ...

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At a distance of 10 km from Hassan Railway Station, Bucheshvara Temple (also spelt Bucheshwara or Bucesvara temple) is an ancient Hindu temple located at Korvangla village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the stunning Hoysala temples in Karnataka, and among the top tourist places in Hassan.

The Buchesvara Temple is a simple yet elegant specimen of the 12th century of Hoysala architecture. The temple was built in 1173 AD by a rich officer called Buchiraja to celebrate the coronation of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. The Bucesvara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

This is a dwikuta temple with two shrines facing each other. These shrines are connected by a closed mantapa, and an open mantapa. The western shrine facing east containing an image of Surya, the sun god, and the eastern shrine contains a Shivlinga. The entrance is very small and guarded by elephants. There are beautifully carved dwarapalaka statues on either side. This entrance leads to a Mukha mandapa which is supported by 32 pillars. The ceiling is partitioned into 13 parts and each is carved beautifully with lotus flowers. The navaranga is square and stands on four central lathe-turned round pillars. The ceiling of the navaranga has 9 ankanas decorated with different types of moldings. The open sabha mandapa is star-shaped, standing on four central lathe-turned round pillars.

The sanctum sanctorum has a huge Shivalinga made of black stone. As usual, there is a Nandi statue in ...

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At a distance of 29 km from Shravanbelagola, and 52 km from Hassan, Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is an ancient temple located at Nuggehalli in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Karnataka, and among the must include places in Shravanabelagola Packages.

The Lakshmi Narasimha Temple at Nuggehalli was built in 1246 CE by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the Hoysala Empire during the rule of King Vira Someshwara. The town of Nuggehalli was called Vijaya Somanathapura in ancient times and gained importance as an agrahara (place of learning) during the time of Bommanna Dandanayaka. The temple is maintained by the people who reside around the temple area called Agrahara, an area donated to Brahmins by the ruling people in view of maintaining and performing poojas in the temples that they built.

Built with soapstone, the temple is a good example of 13th-century Hoysala architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Like other Hoysala temples, the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple at Nuggehalli is also built on an elevated platform called the jagati. The temple is constructed as a trikutachala i.e. it has three sanctums. The three shrines are located around a central closed mantapa with 9 bays. The ceiling of the closed mantapa is supported by four lathe-turned pillars which are deeply domed in the center.

The main temple is raised with a statue of Lord Narasimha in ...

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At a distance of 5 km from Kikkeri, 19 km from Shravanabelagola, and 56 km from Hassan, the Panchlingeshwara Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Govindanahalli village in the Mandya district of Karnataka. It is one lesser-known Hoysala temples in Karnataka and among the top Hassan tourist places.

Panchalingeshwara Temple was constructed around 1238 AD during the reign of the Hoysala King Vira Someshwara. This temple is constructed in Pancha-kuta style and is probably the only surviving example of its kind built during the Hoysala period. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. The famous sculptor of Hoysala times, Ruvari Mallitamma, is known to have made contributions to the temple.

The whole structure faces east and the entrance is provided via two porches facing each other. Each entrance is guarded by its own set of dwarpalas (guardians). The temple consists of five sanctums connected with a common navaranga (hall). All the garbhagrihas are provided with their own shikhara and are connected with the navaranga via suknasi. These five garbhagrihas houses five different manifestations of Shiva which are Sadyojata, Tatpurusha, Vamadeva, Aghora, and Ishana. The shikhara of all the five shrines are richly decorated in Dravidian style.

An intriguing feature of this temple is that though the temple is dedicated mainly to Lord Shiva, the outer walls of the temple carry images of various forms of ...

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At a distance of 16 km from Kikkeri, 25 km from Melukote, 26 km from Shravanabelagola, 55 km from Mysore, and 69 km from Hassan, the Lakshminarayana Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Hosaholalu in the Mandya district of Karnataka. It is one lesser-known Hoysala temples in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

Lakshminarayana Temple in Hosaholalu was built by King Vira Someshwara of the Hoysala Empire in 1250 CE. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple may not be as famous as the other temples of Karnataka but it is a mystifying place. The beautifully carved sculptures, grand temple interiors, and the overall design of this shrine are the most attractive features.

Built out of Soapstone, Sri Lakshminaryana Temple at Hosaholalu is a splendid example of a trikuta vimana (three shrines) temple though only the central shrine exhibits a tower on top. The lateral shrines are square in construction with five projections and no special features. The temple is built on a jagati (platform) that resembles a star. This platform is raised and has a pillared hall or navaranga in the center and the three shrines around it.

The interior of the temple consists of a closed hall (navaranga) of modest size with four polished lathe-turned pillars supporting the roof. The four central pillars divide the hall into nine equal 'bays' (compartments) and nine decorated ceilings. Each pillar is beautifully carved with sculptures of young dancing girls in various ...

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At a distance of 32 km from Melukote, 53 km from Shravanabelagola, 65 km from Mysore, and 108 km from Hassan, the Mallikarjuna Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Basaralu in the Mandya district of Karnataka. It is one of the Hoysala temples in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

The Mallikarjuna Temple in Basaralu is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and was built by Harihara-dandanayaka in 1234 CE during the rule of the Hoysala Empire King Vira Narasimha II. Harihara and his two brothers consecrated god Mallikarjuna in the name of their father. They also constructed a tank nearby, in the name of their mother. This temple is protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Stands on a jagati or the raised platform, the Mallikarjuna temple is a highly ornate example of Hoysala architecture. Built-in the trikuta style (3 shrines), the temple faces east and consists of a Nandi-mandapa, navaranga, and antarala or sukanasi. The entry to the 3 shrines is through a common mandapa (hall). The sanctum sanctorum houses the Shivlinga representing god Mallikarjuna and the other two shrines have Surya and Nagas. The temple has only one shikhara built upon the sanctum sanctorum and is elaborately embellished with sculptures.

This temple has various distinctive features of the mature Hoysala period architecture. The base, like all Hoysala temples, has six layers of decorative moldings that comprise elephants, horse riders, lions, ...

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At a distance of 9 km from Arasikere, 34 km from Hassan, and 59 km from Shravanabelagola, the Lakshminarasimha Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Haranahalli village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the Hoysala temples in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

The Lakshminarasimha Temple, also known as Kesava Temple, is a complete and good example of 13th century Hoysala architecture. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple was built in 1235 AD by the Hoysala King Vira Someshwara. Mallitamma, one of the best-known Hoysala sculptors of the 13th century, is the main sculptor of the Kesava Temple. This is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Stands on a jagati or the raised platform, the Lakshminarasimha Temple is built-in the trikuta style (3 shrines) with a strong focus on the middle shrine which has a shikhara and a sukhanasi. The three shrines are connected by a common hall (mantapa). The lateral shrines are connected directly to the hall while the middle shrine has a vestibule that connects the sanctum to the hall. Since the lateral shrines do not have a tower, they do not appear like shrines at all from the outside but rather as a part of the hall. The sanctum of the three shrines contain the idols of Venugopala, Kesava, and Lakshminarasimha.

The tower over the central shrine and its vestibule are intact and intricate. Since the lateral shrines have no towers, ...

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At a distance of 10 km from KR Pete, 14 km from Kikkeri, 32 km from Melukote, 63 km from Mysore, and 67 km from Hassan, Hemagiri Waterfalls is a scenic waterfall located at Bandihole village in Karnataka. It is one of the popular places to visit near Hassan while holidaying in Karnataka.

Hemagiri Falls is formed due to a weir or a low dam built across the Hemavati River to supply water to the surrounding villages and their farmlands. And when the river has good flow during the monsoon season, this weir overflows and forms the Hemagiri Falls across the entire width of the river, and is a treat to watch. When the flow is low, one can safely go under the falls and take a shower, but when the flow is heavy, all you can do is find a nice spot near it, admire the lush nature around and lose yourself in the roar of the waterfall.

The lush green farmlands and serene hillocks are an enticing feature of this spot. This spot seems to be a film shooting locale for some of the Kannada movies. People frequent this place for relaxation and recuperation. Not only do you get to enjoy this panoramic waterfall, but also visit many ancient temples located in the vicinity. And the best part is that there are hardly any crowds so, it is a perfect hidden weekend getaway.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free

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At a distance of 9 km from Belavadi, 13 km from Halebidu, 40 km from Chikmagalur, and 45 km from Hassan, the Lakshminarasimha Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Javagal Karnataka. It is one of the forgotten Hoysala temples in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

The Lakshminarasimha Temple is dedicated to Narasimha, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu, and was built in 1250 AD by the Hoysala King Vira Someshwara. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India. Indeed, this is the village from where the former Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath's family originally hails, and while Srinath was raised in Mysore, his uncle's house still exists in the village and villagers will happily point it out.

The Lakshminarasimha Temple is an example of mid-13th century Hoysala architecture. It is a trikuta temple (three shrines) type built on an elevated platform known as jagati. The three equal size shrines are all square in plan and are connected by a common closed hall (mandapa). The closed hall is preceded by an open porch. The lateral shrines are connected directly to the hall while the middle shrine has a vestibule that connects the sanctum to the hall. Lord Narasimha here is accompanied by his consort, Goddess Lakshmi. The other two shrines of this trikuta temple are occupied by two other incarnations of Vishnu, Venugopal, and Sridhara. But only the shrine containing Lord Narasimha has a ...

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At a distance of 53 km from Shravanabelagola, 90 km from Hassan, and 94 km from Bangalore, Yediyuru Siddhalingeshwara Temple is a pilgrimage center situated in Yedeyuru Village in Karnataka. It is one of the famous temples in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Shravanabelagola.

Situated on Bangalore-Hassan-Mangalore road, Sri Siddalingeshwara Swami Temple is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of the state as it is the tomb i.e., Nirvikalpa Shivayoga Samadhi of Tontada Siddhalinga a great Vireshaiva teacher and author who flourished at the end of the 15th century. He traveled far and wide preaching Sharana faith which is predominantly praying with ISHTA LINGA (Atma linga) as envisaged by Basavanna, Allamaprabhu, and a vast group of learned men and women from all walks of life. He performed 12 years of penance at a garden belongs to Vokkaligara Nambiyana (Thota) and hence came to be known as Thontada Siddalingeshwara Swamy.

The Siddlingeshwara temple faces north and is a fairly large Dravidian structure. An inscription near the entrance says about the spiritual greatness of the teacher while scenes from the life of Sidhalingha are depicted on the Gopura. There is a small shrine for Veerabhadra Swamy in the basement. Sri Siddhalingeshwara Swamy is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is known to perform miracles on a large number of people belonging to different caste and creed. Many sick and suffering people are believed to be cured ...

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At a distance of 21 km from Koratagere, 48 km from Tumkur and 106 km from Bangalore, Madhugiri is a town in Tumkur district of Karnataka. Madhugiri is famous for a hill which is the second largest monolithic rock hill in Asia after Savandurga. It lies at an altitude of 3,930 feet and is becoming a famous destination for trekking from Bangalore.

There is a fort on the slopes of the hill which derives its name Madhugiri from the Honey bee colonies that were abundant during those days. Antaralada Bagilu, Diddibagilu, and Mysore Gate are the three gateways of the fort. A series of doorways lead to the hilltop. There is a temple of Gopalakrishna at the top of the hill. Both the temple and the fort stand in a ruined condition today due to lack of maintenance.

The construction of original mud fort was started around 1678 during the reign of Raja Heera Gowda and was finally completed around 1740 AD. Further fortification was carried out by Hyder Ali, who added huge arches, watch towers and large circular granaries. It was under the control of the British for a short duration. It was used by the British to jail the mutineers of the first India's Independence struggle in 1857.

There are four levels from the bottom to top and each level has a wall with circular bastions. The walls are about 6 feet tall with slits at regular intervals. Throughout the climb to the fort there are huge tanks used for the storage of rain water. The trek to Madhugiri is of moderate to difficult ...

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At a distance of 17 km from Chikballapur, and 78 km from Bangalore, Vivekananda Falls is a beautiful waterfall situated at Kethanahalli village in Chikballpur district of Karnataka. Also known as Kethanahalli Falls, it is one of the stunning waterfalls in Chikballapur, and among the prominent places to visit near Bangalore.

Vivekananda Falls is a seasonal waterfall situated amid the greenery. The 2 tiered waterfall drops down from a height of 90 feet amidst five hills namely, Brahmagiri, Divyagiri, Nandagiri, Skandagiri, and Vishnugiri. It cascades down the rocks makes a deafening roar during the monsoon season. The sound of water breaks the silence of an otherwise quiet forest and can be heard from afar. During the monsoon season, the waterfall is surrounded by a lovely mist that enhances the beauty of the falls.

To reach Vivekananda falls, one needs to head towards Kethenahalli, and the fall is about 1 km away from the village. Visitors need to cover the distance by walk as the road is not suitable for vehicles. Once you get there, the excitement and joy will be tenfold by looking at the scenic beauty of the place.

Timings: 7 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free

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At a distance of 54 km from Mysore, Chikkadevvamma Hill is a sacred place situated at Kundur Village in the Mysore district of Karnataka State. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage near Mysore and among the prominent trekking places in Karnataka.

There is a temple on the hilltop and is dedicated to Goddess Chikka Devamma, believed to be the sister of goddess Chamundeshwari. This old temple was constructed by Mysore Wodeyars. The hill derived its name from the goddess Chikka Devamma, who came from Kerala and settled in Chikkabetta. Devotees have a strong belief that the Goddess has fulfilled all their genuine demands.

Besides, Chikka Devammana Hill is well known for its mesmerizing surroundings. From the top, one can have a panoramic view of agricultural fields, villages & Nugu Reservoir. The hill is also surrounded by forest so one can find elephants, leopards deers and other animals here.

The journey to the hilltop is also a wonderful experience as there are many hairpin bends. Especially, in the last stretch, from the foothills to the top, one needs to climb around 200 m vertical height, in a length of 4 km. But interestingly, the condition of the hilly road is very good and within 15 minutes, one can climb the hill without much difficulty.

Temple Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

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At a distance of 34 km from Bangalore, the Innovative Film City is an Indian movie theme park located at Bidadi on Bangalore-Mysore highway in Karnataka. It is one of its kind theme park in India, and among the most popular tourist places to visit near Bangalore.

Covering over an area of about 58 acres of land, the Innovative Film City is broadly divided into three parts and is replete with a myriad of fun activities. Whether you want to cool down during the summer months, feel that fear of meeting something spooky, or take your kids back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the earth, Innovative Film City has something for everyone irrespective of their age.

The Film City boasts of many attractions, which guarantee the visitor a day full of fun and adventure. One can experience icy shivers as you gear up to meet zombies, ghostly beings, and skeletons at Haunted Mansion, splash around in the water with your little ones, enjoy thrilling rides or show your moves on the dance floor in the Aqua Kingdom, enjoy time travel and admire super-realistic dinosaurs up close at Dino Park, or have fun finding your way out from a mind-boggling maze of beautiful mirrors. Cartoon City features exciting rides that are inspired by well-known cartoon characters. There are also Theme Museums including the tribal museum, wax museum, and oddities museum.

Visitors can see the miniature versions of famous landmarks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Great Wall of China, London Bridge, and ...

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At a distance of 100 km from Bangalore, Siddara Betta is a mountain and pilgrimage place situated near Koratagere in the Tumkur district of Karnataka. It is one of the top places for trekking near Bangalore, and among the popular religious places in the Tumkur region.

Located at an elevation of 1700 feet, Siddara Betta is a tourist place surrounded by rocky hills, temples, and caves. The hill is frequently visited by trekkers, adventures as well as pilgrims who climb the mountain to visit the shrine of Lord Siddalingeshwara which is placed inside the caves. Siddara Betta means 'Hill of Saints' in the local Kannada language owing to the many Hindu saints who perform penance and meditation within the caves here in the olden days. Besides, this place is also very popular for medicinal plants.

The hill is very much loved by trekking enthusiasts and professional climbers due to the amazing panoramic views of the surrounding villages and the serene environment atop. The 4 km trekking path is moderate in terms of the level of difficulty. The trek pathway starts with a flight of staircase and later progress to a more rugged stairway carved onto the hill with a steeper gradient. It takes 45 minutes to reach the natural cave temple of the Lord Siddeshwara Swami from the base of the hill. After that, the trekking trail traces through some huge boulders and caves.

From here, one has to take ...

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At a distance of 12 km from Srirangapatna Railway Station & 15 km from Mysore, Balmuri Falls & Edumuri Falls are man-made waterfalls on the way to KRS dam in Karnataka. Situated near Brindavan Gardens, it is one of the must include places in Srirangapatna Tour Packages.

Balmuri Falls is famous of the two and is a favorite film shooting spot. Balmuri Falls is actually a small waterfall created by a check-dam constructed on river Cauvery. The water flow is not heavy during the dry season and it is safe to enjoy & play in the waters here. It is a good picnic spot and is typically visited in the winter.

Edumuri Falls is about 500 m east of Balmuri Falls and is a good spot to swim and play in the water. There is also an ancient Ganesha temple in the vicinity.

Timings: 6 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free

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At a distance of 19 km from Magadi, and 35 km from Bangalore, Manchanabele Dam is a beautiful reservoir set amidst dense vegetation at Manchanabele village in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka. It is one of the most popular places to visit near Bangalore.

Manchanabele Dam is built across the Arkavati River. It provides drinking water to Magadi town and surrounding villages for farming. This place is visited by a lot of tourists due to the calm, natural beauty, and serenity offered by the location. Manchanabele Dam is replete with cool and clear water. This dam is also surrounded by lush green trees in small hills that make the place look even more mesmerizing. The place looks spellbinding during sunrise and sunset as the different hues of the sky juxtaposed with the lush greenery and blue water is simply magical.

The destination is preferred by both nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts who come here to enjoy a wide range of activities ranging from trekking to rappelling, kayaking, and camping to various other water sports. A boating experience in this clear reservoir will rejuvenate your body and soul. The place is a great choice for organizing a fun-filled family get-together or corporate events. However, the reservoir bed is a death trap with sudden fault-lines, large boulders as well as deep slush. More than 200 people have lost their lives between 2006 and 2011. It is very dangerous to get into the waters ...

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At a distance of 32 km from Bangalore, Thottikallu Falls is a seasonal waterfall situated at Nallakkana Doddy village off the Kanakapura Road. It is one of the scenic waterfalls near Bangalore, and among the must-visit Bangalore tourist places.

Thottikallu Falls or TK Falls is one of the lovely spots for nature lovers and trekkers. It is also known as Swarna Mukhi Falls which means Golden face. The name itself implies the mesmerizing beauty that the waterfall boasts of. Thottikallu Falls is an amalgamation of two adjacent waterfalls. One fall has a wide shower, and the other is a narrow jet stream. People also visit the Muneshawara Temple that is located under a huge tree right at the entrance of the waterfall. It is a peaceful site for visitors to spend a few moments.

One can take a shower after the tedious trek or inhale the fascinating beauty of this place. Visitors cannot take the four-wheelers quite far because the road leading to the fall is narrow and getting a vehicle there can be an uphill task. If you are opting for a trekking scene then, you will find a steep, narrow trail leading to a high cliff. The view from the cliff is astounding. Getting down the cliff is risky and can be fatal if precautionary steps are ignored.

To enjoy the real charm of this waterfall, one must visit immediately after or during the monsoon season as in the summer season, it dries up to a large extent. If you ...

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At a distance of 5 km from Bheemeshwari, 90 km from Mysore, and 97 km from Bangalore, Muthathi or Muttatti is a settlement situated on the banks of the Kaveri river near Malavalli in Karnataka. It is one of the must-visit places near Bangalore, especially for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Muthathi is surrounded by a dense forest that is part of the Cauvery Wildlife sanctuary, with the Cauvery river flowing through it. River Kaveri and Hanuman temple are the main tourist attractions in Muthathi. The location has mythological associations with Sita, the wife of Rama and Hanuman. Once goddess Sita loses her nose ring while taking bath in the Kaveri river. Later, Lord Hanuman finds her nose ring in this place and returns it to her. Hence, Hanuman in this place is called 'Muthetharaya'. The village acts as a transit point and a stopover for folks that have a religious obligation and/or want to sacrifice animals.

The forest itself is quite amazing and the best time is to visit is in the early morning. It is quite an enthralling experience to see wild trees like 'Flame of the Forrest' bloom & the different hues of the leaves and topography during the summer months. It is home to a good number of bird species and wildlife, including Elephants, Langoors, Spotted deer, foxes, mongoose, Indian monitor lizards, and some reptile species. Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp is yet another spot near Muthathi.

The access to the river from the forest road has been cut-off ...

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At a distance of 25 km from Chikballapur, and 91 km from Bangalore, Avalabetta is a hilltop situated in the Chikballapur district of Karnataka. It is one of the few trekking destinations near Bengaluru and among the popular one day trips from Bangalore.

Located amidst one of the minor hill ranges in the Deccan Plateau, Avalabetta is popular among the youth, especially trekking enthusiasts. The hillock offers a charming view of the countryside with hills, valleys, lakes, trees and is a green treat. The natural beauty and serenity of this place have earned it the name 'Nandi Hills without the Crowds'.

The primary attraction at Avalabetta is the protruding rock and the temple. The protruding rock is an almost unsupported cliff, projecting away from the main hillock. Youngsters who come here can be seen making poses and taking selfies at the rock. The temple here is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Temple which is a typical Dravidian-style temple with a pyramidal tower known as vimana above its sanctum. There is a small pond on the hilltop, where one can sit, chill, have a nice conversation and look at the greenery all around.

To reach the Avalabetta trek starting point, you need to drive to Chikkaballapur on National Highway 44. From the Chikkaballapur Exit, head to the town of Peresandra, where you exit the main road and enter the service road, to reach the hillock's base. From there, you ...

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At a distance of 12 km from Tumkur Bus Stand, and 60 km from Bangalore, Mandaragiri Hill or Basadi Betta is a small settlement in the Tumkur district of Karnataka. It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Bangalore.

Mandaragiri Hill has evolved as a popular Jain pilgrimage center mainly because it houses four ancient Digambar Jain temples built between the 12th & 14th centuries and got restored recently. These small Jain temples belonged to Bhagwan Chandranatha, Bhagwan Parshwanatha, and Bhagwan Suparshwanatha. The first thing to notice at the base of the hill is the Manastambha, a beautifully carved pillar-like structure similar to the ones adorning the thousand pillars temple in Moodabidri.

There is a statue of Chandranatha Tirthankara to the right ahead of Manastambha. Close to it to the right, there is the Guru Mandir, built in the shape of a pinchi, a peacock feather fan carried by the Jain munis. The dome was used as a meditation center. Behind the hill is a beautiful lake known as Mydala Kere. The calm waters along with dense forest and mighty hills make for a perfect spot to sit and enjoy your serene morning.

There are about 450 steps carved on the rock and hardly takes 15 minutes to climb the hillock. While on top, you will be treated with a 360-degree view of the entire surrounding. The best thing about the hill is you can enjoy scenic sunset from the top of this hill.

Timings: 6 AM ...

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At a distance of 10 km from Sangama, 14 km from Bheemeshwari, 14 km from Mekedatu, and 102 km from Bangalore, Galibore Fishing & Nature Camp is a resort located deep in the deciduous forests of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. It is one of the scenic accommodations maintained by the Jungle Lodges, Karnataka, and among the best places to visit near Bangalore.

Named after the windy hillock called Galibore that stands behind it, the Galibore Nature Camp is a good bet for a true sense of escape. Surrounded by hills, Galibore Camp has 10 tented cottages which will get you very close to nature. The camp is devoid of modern comforts such as electricity, however, you will be provided with hurricane/solar lamps. The camp also provides barbecue by the riverside and a bonfire for the guests in the evening.

Activities at this resort include coracle ride, trekking, joy fishing, lazing on the hammocks, angling, bird watching. If fishing is your kind of thing, the place offers you ample opportunities to indulge in this activity. Just ensure that you release the catch back in the waters as Galibore Fishing and Nature Camp practices a strict catch-and-release policy, especially to protect the endangered mahseer fish. Also, the Camp does not provide you with fishing gear and you are to make arrangements for these on your own.

The place is also home to amazing wildlife like spotted deers, the endangered grizzled giant squirrel, marsh crocodiles, turtles, and snakes await ...

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At a distance of 54 km from Bangalore City Railway Station, 6.5 km from Chikkaballapur, 9.5 km from Nandi Hills, Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple situated in Nandi village is a grand temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is a great specimen of South Indian temple architecture. It is one of the best temples near Bangalore and also one of the best one day trip near Bangalore.

Originally built in 9th century by Nolamba dynasty, the temple received great contributions from the rulers of Ganga, Chola, Rashtrakuta, Hoysala & Vijayanagara dynasties. The temple boasts wonderful architecture and great sculptures. The large temple complex has a vast open area in front of the wonderful gateway. The main enclosure has three shrines dedicate to Lord Shiva known as Bhoga Nandeeshwara, Arunachaleswara and Ardhanareewara (also known as Uma Maheshwara) along with several other shrines on the rear side of the temple. The large mandapa in front of the main shrines has great art work with each pillar possessing beautifully carved images of gods, animals, puranic characters, sages and scenes depicted from Hindu mythology.

The highlight of the temple is the vasantha mandapa built in front of Ardhanareeswraa shrine. Constructed during Hoysala period, the kalyana mandapa is breathtakingly beautiful with passionately carved pillars, artistic roof and intricately carved images of Shiva, Parvathi, Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, Brahma, ...

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At a distance of 6 km from Ramanagara Bus Stand, and 49 km from Bangalore, Ramdevara Betta is a serene hill situated in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka. Located on Bangalore - Mysore Road, it is one of the popular places for trekking near Bangalore.

Standing tall at a height of 3800 feet, Ramadevara Betta is a good spot for a quick one-day trip. The place also has relevance in Hindu Mythology. On the top of the hill lies small temples dedicated to Lord Rama, Hanuman, Ganesh, and Shiva Parvati. It is believed that Sugreeva established the idol after Lord Rama helped him in killing Asura Sukasura. This idol later was identified and renovated by Kempegowda, founder of Bangalore. Kempegowda also built a fort here, the remains of the Fort wall can be seen at various points. There is another attraction called Sita's Pond. No one knows how deep it is and why it is called so.

Ramadevara Betta is also popularly known for the location of Bollywood's most iconic movie 'Sholay'. This is the place that was converted into Gabbar's hideout and the movie's best scenes and songs were shot here. For several decades, the place is also home to Eygptian and white-backed Vultures. Thus, the area was designated as Vulture Sanctuary by the Forest Department in 2012. But sadly, there are hardly any vulture sightings because of the temples and the number of people visiting. The forest is also home to leopards, bears, and peacocks. However, the wildlife is more active after sunset.

There ...

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At a distance of 24 km from Lepakshi, 33 km from Chikballapur, and 92 km from Bangalore, Gudibande Fort was is a historical fort situated at Gudibande town in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Bangalore.

Gudibande Fort was built in the 17th century, by Byre Gowda, a local chieftain who ruled the place for only three years. It was believed that he belonged to the Tuluva dynasty of the Vijayanagar empire. It can be said as a concise replica of the Madhugiri fort.

The fort has seven levels with interconnecting escape routes which would help soldiers to flee in case of emergency. The fort contains two temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. The Shiva temple is known as 'Sir Rameshwara Temple', and is believed to be established by Lord Rama. The nandisthambha in front of the shrine, which stands on a square base, has sculpted stone images of Nandi, Shanmukha, and Shiva Linga. Besides, there were around 19 rock ponds at different levels of the fort that are linked by dhones and they could hold nearly 3 lakhs liters of rainwater in all.

One can also visit the Lakshmi Venkataramana Swamy Temple in Gudibande town which was constructed by Cholas. The temple is sort of a cave temple hewn out a huge rock and the name Gudibande to the town came from this where Gudi means temple, and Bande means rock. One can also visit a pristine lake called Bhairasagara ...

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At a distance of 15 km from Ramanagara, and 61 km from Bangalore, Revana Siddeshwara Betta or SRS Hills is a sacred hill located at SRS Betta village in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Ramanagara, and among the best trekking places near Bangalore.

Situated at an altitude of 3,066 feet, Sri Revanna Siddeshwara Betta is famed for its arduous rock climbing spots and the Shiva temple. There are 3 temples on the hill, Renukamba temple at the base, Bemeshwari Temple at midway, and Reveanasiddeswara temple at the top. This elegant cave temple of Lord Siddeshwara is snuggled on the notch of a monolithic stone hill and is surrounded by the trails of natural wonders. Sri Revana Siddeshwara Swamy is considered as a reincarnation of the great Jagadguru Shri Renukacharya, who was one of the five acharyas who came to Kali Yuga to teach and preach Virasaivism.

One needs to climb around 300 steps to reach the top from the base of the hill. The climbing was not difficult since steps were craved and covered with a sheet on the top with also grills around. It will take 30-40 minutes to reach the hilltop. From the top, one can get the panoramic view of surrounding villages, a beautiful lake, and farms. Whether you are looking for solace or wish to add a rock climbing experience to your trip, then this is the best pick.

Timings: 8.30 AM to 5 PM

Entry: Free

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At a distance of 20 km from Shivanasamudra, 74 km from Mysore and 130 km from Bangalore, Doddamakali Nature Camp is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Karnataka. Located on the banks of the magnificent River Cauvery, it is one of the scenic destinations in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Mysore as well as Bangalore.

Situated just 6 km upstream from the Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp, Doddamakali is known for its rustic charm and sylvan surroundings. It is one of the popular locations for corporate team building and weekend getaways in Bangalore. As it is isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city, this place promises a tranquil escape from the chaos of city life.

With its lush greenery, gushing river, and abundant wildlife, this place perfectly blends natural beauty and adventure. The main attraction here is the River Cauvery, which flows gracefully through the region, providing ample opportunities for water-based activities like angling, kayaking, and river rafting. The surrounding landscape of Doddamakali is adorned with dense forests, making it an ideal destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The region is home to various exotic species, including elephants, leopards, deer, and numerous bird species.

Mountain biking and hiking are also common at Doddamakali. Tourists visiting Doddamakali often go for nature walks and visit the ruins of an ancient Shiva temple located nearby. ...

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At a distance of 7 km from Pandavapura, 14 km from Srirangapatana, 30 km from Mysore and 122 km from Bangalore, Kunti Betta is a picturesque hill situated in Pandavapura Taluk of Mandya district in Karnataka. This place Pandavapura was named after the Pandavas who had been here during their exile days. Kunti Betta is one of the best places to visit near Bangalore for one day trip and also one of the popular places to visit in Mysore.

Kunti Betta is marked by the two rocky hills at an altitude of 2,882 feet. These rocky hills are surrounded by sugarcane, paddy fields & coconut trees. The Kunti Betta trail is a short but fairly challenging one. It includes steep ascents and descents. There is a temple with a pond at the foot of the hill which serves as a popular destination for pilgrims. There are rooms which are used by the pilgrimage for an overnight stay at the temple. The temple is situated between the two hills of Kunti Betta.

The Kunti Betta trek starts from the right side of the pond. The initial inclination for few meters is more than 60 degrees. One needs to be slow and careful on this slope. There is a rock on the edge of the hill top. The rock has a shear drop and an inclination on the other side and visitors must be very careful if they want to reach the edge of the rock. This gives a clear view of the paddy fields ...

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At a distance of 21 km from Nandi Hills, and 45 km from Bangalore, Grover Zampa Vineyards is located at Doddaballapura. It is the longest-standing wine producer and leading exporter in India and among the top places to visit near Bangalore.

Situated at an altitude of about 920 m, Grover Zampa Vineyards spread over 410 acres on the foothills of the Nandi Hills. With over 30 years in the trade, the company maintains the most impressive pedigree in the Indian wine industry through its sustainable viticulture practices, selective hand harvesting, and winemaking carried out by a team of local enologists directed by international French wine consultant Michel Rolland and French winemaker Mathias Pollard.

Take a trip to Grover Zampa Vineyards to learn the process of winemaking. Go on a tour around this peaceful vineyard, and learn all about their winemaking - from filtering to the packaging of the bottles. Visitors can sample a variety of wines produced at the vineyard and also take part in some fun and traditional grape-stomping! This is an immersive and educational experience that wine lovers cannot afford to miss.

There are three tours in a day that start at 10.30 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM. The winery tour and tasting session would take around 60 to 90 minutes, or sometimes more. The winery tour starts from the crushing unit where visitors will understand the sorting, crushing, fermentation, ageing, ...

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At a distance of 69 km from Bangalore, Heritage Winery, now called Domaine Sula, is located on the Mysore highway near the town of Channapatna in Karnataka. It is Sula's fourth unit in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Mysore, as well as Bangalore.

Spread over nine acres, the Heritage winery produces Sula's Kadu range of wines - meaning 'wild' in Kannada. It is the first wine in India dedicated to tiger conservation within Karnataka, besides its other delicious range of wines. The winery is extremely famous for the finest quality of wine and the choices they have. The rustic town Channapatna offers the best favorable climatic conditions to produce remarkable grade wine and is exceptionally famous in Karnataka.

Heritage Winery is probably the best place near Bangalore to witness the wine-making process. The 1-2 tour begins with grape farming, where the visitors are taken through the fields and shown how grape cultivation is done, how different varieties of grapes are grown in different climatic conditions as well as how watering is done based on the timing of each grape's quality. The next section of the tour begins with a tour of the wine-making process that includes crushing, fermentation, and storage. Later, visitors were taken to taste the Kadu and Sula wines in their tasting room. There is an in-house restaurant offering European, Italian, and Indian cuisine, where you can grab an ...

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At a distance of 29 km from Bangalore, Big Banyan Vineyard is located on the outskirts of Bangalore. It is one of the scenic vineyards in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit in Bangalore.

Set in 20 acres of sprawling greenery, Big Banyan Vineyard is situated near the iconic Dodda Alada Mara, the massive 400 year old banyan tree spanning 3 acres. The red clay soil and the mildly nippy weather with bursts of sunshine are perfect for some of the varietals cultivate here. Lucio Matricardi, the vineyard winemaker, has handpicked a crew of farmers and trained them in the subtle nuances of viticulture. Together, they tend to vines, prune them, nurture them, wait for the ripe moment and pluck the grapes for the winery.

The vineyard is open to the public, and the company has built a modern Tasting Room where you can try four to six wines and cheese from 10 Cuts of Cheese. The vineyards and the Big Banyan winery offer the rare experience of witnessing the magical creation of exotic fine wines. Take a stroll down the vineyards and join the team at the winery as they guide you through the entire wine-making process.

Open from Monday to Sunday, the wine tours run in slots every hour starting from 11 AM to 4 PM, and on Weekends i.e. from Friday to Sunday, there is an additional tour at 5 PM. Advance booking is mandatory to visit the vineyard. If you're longing for a short relaxing break ...

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At a distance of 30 kms from Bangalore & 5.5 Kms from Hesaraghatta, Nrityagram is a famous dance village on the outskirts of Bangalore.

The village was established in 1990 by the well-known Odissi dancer Protima Bedi. The idea behind Nrityagram was to develop a traditional Gurukul to teach Indian classical dance. The school offers training in Indian classical dance forms, Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Manipuri.

One of the best times to visit Nrityagram would be during the Vasanthahabba festival held to celebrate the arrival of spring. Artists from all over the world perform at the Nrityagram amphitheater during this festival.

A temple was built in 1998, which depicts the image of Kelucharan Mohapatra, guru of founder Protima Bedi in a dancing pose. Hesaraghatta Lake is very close (about 4 kms) to Nrityagram and can be visited together.

Casual tours and guided tours are allowed in Nrityagram. Guided tours need to be booked in advance.

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At a distance of 100 kms from Bangalore, 35 kms from Kolar and 14 kms from Bangarapet, Sri Kotilingeshwara Temple is a wonderful temple situated at Kammasandra village between Bangarapet and Bethamangala. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites to visit as part of Bangalore tour and also one of the ideal one day trip near Bangalore.

Kotilingeshwara, meaning 10 million lingas, is one of the famous pilgrimage sites around Bangalore with great religious significance. This temple is famous for huge 108 feet Shivalinga, which is one of the largest in the world and 35 feet tall Nandi in front of it. There are lakhs of shivalingas all over the temple. The temple was built in 1980 over an area of 13 acres.

There are several other shrines inside the temple complex and they are usually visited while moving towards the main shivalinga. Apart from the main shrine of Lord Kotilingeshwara, the other shrines include Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheshwara temples, Venkataramani Swamy Temple, Goddess Annapoorneshwari Temple, Lord Panduranga Swamy Temple, Lord Panchamukha Ganapathy temple, Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita Temple, Lord Anjaneya Temple, Goddess Kanyaka Parameshwari Temple and Goddess Karumaari Amma Temple.

The temple attracks large crowd during weekends. It is advised to reach the temple early in the morning (preferably, 8 AM) to avoid ...

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At a distance of 80 kms from Bangalore & 4 kms from Kolar, Anthargange is a wonderful tourist place near Bangalore with religious significance as well as a nature & trekking destination. The place is famous for Anthargange Caves and Temple and which are quite famous as ideal places for trekking from Bangalore city, particularly well known for night treks and camping. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites to visit around Bangalore.

Anthargange literally means Inner Spring, named after a spring originated in the hill and water flows through a bull statue at the temple in middle of the Anthargange hill. The temple is situated amidst thick vegetation and a wonderful spot to experience natural beauty of the area. Motorable road is available close to the temple but vehicles need to be parked at the entrance of the hill and need to walk up hill for about 15 minutes to reach the temple.

The temple is very ancient and considered sacred. There is a water pool formed by the water sourced from the spring. The place is full of monkeys and they also attack pilgrims for food sometimes. Visitors are advised to be careful and also take care of kids.

The Anthargange Caves are located on the peak which is about an hour trek from the temple. There are several caves on the hill top that can be explored by foot. Some of the caves are quite big and good for camping. Several visitors trek up the hill to camp overnight on the hill.

There are no food options at Anthargange. ...

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At a distance of 80 kms from Bangalore, Kolar is a small town which was once famous for gold mines. Kolar has several tourist attractions like Someshwara Temple & Kolaramma Temple. Anthargange is about 4 kms from Kolar. Kolar is one of the popular tourist places to visit around Bangalore.

Someshwara Temple is a beautiful temple built in 14th century during Vijayanagara rule. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Someshwara Temple is famous for large temple tower built on a stone carved mahadwara. The temple has nice carvings on the pillars and large mahamandapa. There is also a stepped temple tank adjacent to the temple. The temple is located near Fort Area in Kolar.

Kolaramma Temple, situated at a distance of 100 meters from Someshwara Temple is another interesting place to visit in Kolar with lot of history. It is believed that the temple was constructed in 5th century during Ganga dynasty. The temple has several carvings from Chola rule (11th century). This is a protected monument and being maintained by ASI. Timings: 5.30 AM - 1.30 PM & 5 PM - 8 PM.

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At a distance of 25 kms from Bangalore City Junction and 32.6 km from Ramanagara, The Dodda Alada Mara literally translated to Big Banyan Tree is a giant Banyan tree located in the village of Kethohalli in the Bangalore Urban district of Karnataka. This is one of the popular tourist places near Bangalore.

Dodda Alada Mara is a single Banyan tree that is 400 years old and has spread over 3 acres of land. This tree is said to be the largest tree in Karnataka and the second largest in India. It has a circumference of more than 250 m and has more than a thousand aerial roots. In last 10-15 years the main root of the tree succumbed to natural disease, and thus the tree now looks like many different trees. The area is fenced and well-maintained with pathways, bright cement seats and handy dustbins.

There is small temple dedicated to Lord Muneshwara (Lord Shiva). It is believed that the Big Banyan Tree symbolizes the holy trinity of Hindu Gods. The root, stem and branches represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively. The big banyan tree is also a well-liked outing for quite some time as well as a preferred location for several film shootings.

Manchinabele dam which is 8 km and Mukti Naga Temple, which is 3 km from Dodda Alada Mara are the nearby attractions. Mukti Naga temple houses the world's largest monolithic statue of Lord Naaga about 16 feet ...

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At a distance of 58 km from Bangalore City Junction, Ghati Subramanya is a popular pilgrim center located near Doddaballapur. This is one of the popular sites pilgrimage near Bangalore and among the well known Bangalore places of interest.

The Ghati Subramanya temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. Lord Subramanya is elder son of Shiva and Parvati. Subramanya is considered as lord of Snakes. It is believed that the idol of Shri Subramanya is self originated. The uniqueness of the temple is Sri Subramanya is facing east and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is facing west in a single idol. The devotees can view Laxmi Narasimha through a strategically placed mirror.

According to legend, Ghati is the place where Lord Subramanya performed penance in the guise of a serpent inside the caves in the mountain ranges of this area before going to kill the demon Tharakasura. Ghati is also the place where Lord Subramanya invoked protection from Lord Lakshmi Narasimha for the serpentine clan from Garuda's scare.

Ghati Subramanya has a recorded history of more than 600 years. It is an ancient temple built in Dravidian tradition. The temple is particularly special for those who seek the Lord to bless them with a child. It is also an important centre in South India for snake worship. An interesting ritual here is of installing idols of snakes. One can see thousands of these near ...

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At a distance of 103 km from Bangalore City Junction and 58 km from Mandya and 84 km from Mysore Junction, Bheemeshwari is a small town in Mandya district of Karnataka. It is located between the Shivanasamudra Falls and Mekedatu on River Cauvery. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Bangalore and a well known place for the activities of trekking and adventure near Bangalore city, apart from being a famous Bangalore weekend getaway for one day trip.

Bheemeshwari is a great spot for eco-tourism and is a natural habitat for the Mahseer fish found in the waters of the Cauvery River. Mahseer is considered as one of the finest game fish in the world. A number of fishing camps have been developed here where professional and amateur anglers can catch mahseer. The surrounding lush forest cover is home to many animas like elephants, wild boars, monkeys, jackals, crocodiles, otters and leopards; as well as a variety of water birds like herons, ibis, cormorants and kingfisher.

Bheemeshwari is also a great place for trekking and boating. Tourists can participate in adventure activities like river rafting on the Cauvery, enjoy a coracle ride, take a nature walk to just sit back and indulge in bird watching.

Bheemeshwari is surrounded by lush green forests and lies in the midst of steep valleys, this place is ideal for trekking ...

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At a distance of 48 km from Bangalore City Junction, 31 km from Ramanagara and 13 km from Magadi, The Savandurga hill is considered to be among the largest monolith hills in Asia. Savandurga hills are located at an altitude of 1226 m above the sea level and are also considered to be a part of the Deccan Plateau. This is one of the popular one day trip from Bangalore for trekking and also one of the ideal weekend getaways from Bangalore.

Savandurga consists of two hills, the Billigudda and the Karigudda. They serve as the base for pilgrims who come to visit the Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy temple and Narasimha Swamy temple, situated at the base of the hills. The paths leading to these temples are quite uneven and thrilling. Thus, they make it to the wish-list of the rock-climbers, cave-explorers and adventurers.

Savandurga was a prominent place during the Hoysala rule. The hill fort on the top of the hill was erected in 1543 by Samanta Raya. It came under control of Kempe Gowda until 1728 when it was captured by the Raja of Mysore from whom it passed to Haider Ali. In 1791 Lord Cornwallis captured Savandurga from Tipu Sultan's army in the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

Trekking in Savandurga is an extremely popular activity. There are actually two main trekking trails that run up towards Savanadurga. One is the Karigudda and the other is the Billigudda trail. Both Karigudda and Billigudda are tough ...

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At a distance of 61 km from Bangalore City Junction, 18 km from Doddaballapura and 6.4 km from Ghati Subramanya Temple, Makalidurga is a hill fort situated near the village of Makali in Karnataka. This is one of the top things to do in Bangalore.

Makalidurga hill is situated at an altitude of 1350 m above the sea level. It used to be granary storage of the late 1800's palegar 'Makaliraya'. Hence it is known as Makalidurga. At the foothill there is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. This hill is filled with date plants, lemon grass and small boulders. From the hill top it is very beautiful to see the lakes on either side, curvy roads and the railway track below this hill. The glimpse of the train from here is very exciting.

Makalidurga Trek is a moderately difficult trek. There are some directions written on the rock which provide directions for climbing. The trekking trail here is not as popular as Savandurga but the experience is still wonderful. The Fort situated atop the massive granite hill is the main attraction in Makalidurga. The fort at the summit has an old temple of Shiva with Nandi and in legend Markandeya Rishi performed penance here. The path leading to the fort comprises of rocky and uneven trails which are often traversed by trekkers from various regions.

According to the history of Makalidurga, Vijayanagara Empire where they used to conduct army exercises in this ...

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At a distance of 2.5 km from Kaigal Village, 28 km from Palamaner, 55 km from Kolar, 92 km from Horsley Hills, 142 km from Tirupati, 123 km from Bangalore, 68 from Chittoor, 78 km from Kanipakam, 96 km from Vellore & 225 km from Chennai, Kaigal Water Falls, also known as Dumukurallu Waterfalls is a nice waterfall located on the Palamaner - Kuppam Highway.

The waterfall is natural, perennial and water comes from a big rock at a height of 40 feet, irrespective of seasons. But its force and beauty is increased during the Monsoon season. The name Dumukurallu waterfalls came into prominence because of its sound resembling the fall of stones from above.

The falls is formed by the Kaigal stream which is one of the two streams flowing through Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary. There is a big pond below the waterfalls and this is a nice place to visit for nature lovers. It is situated in a dense forest with plenty of birds, shrubs, trees and wildlife. The falls is particularly popular picnic destination for people from surrounding areas. There is a shivalinga installed near the falls which attracts pilgrims from nearby villages during Shivaratri festival.

Visitors seeking public transportation can take Palamaner - Kuppam bus and get down at Kaigal waterfalls bus stop. From the Kaigal Waterfalls bus stop, the falls can be reached by 10 minute walk on mud road. The road from ...

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At a distance of 3 km from Penukonda Railway Station, 79 km from Anantapur, 436 km from Hyderabad, 550 km from Vijayawada and 142 km Bangalore, Penukonda Fort is a medieval fort situated at Penukonda in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Penukonda was once served as the 2nd capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom after the fall of Hampi and was earlier called as Ghanagiri or Ghanadri. According to the inscriptions, the Penukonda state was gifted by the King Bukka-I to his son Virupanna. This fort was built at the time of Virupanna. This fort was one of the best defenses of the Vijayanagara kingdom. With the decline of Vijayanagara kingdom, the Sultan of Golconda captured this fort. Later Mysore Kingdom captured this fort briefly until British overtook after the fall of Tipu Sultan.

Built on a gigantic hill, the huge and imposing fort offers a spectacular view of the town below. The basement of the walls, bastions and gateways in the fort was made of stone, mortar and lime. The first inner section of the fort residential building designed amenities for royal family members. The central hall of the fort follows Hindu and Muslim architecture. Dome of this hall has been designed in Hindu style of construction, whereas the floor has the signature style construction of Islamic architecture.

The fort bounds with natural fortification of surround hills and moats dug up around the outer wall. There are seven citadels within ...

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At a distance of 1.5 km Kadiri Railway Station, 100 km from Anantapur, 113 km from Kadapa, 458 km from Hyderabad, 476 km from Vijayawada, and 174 km from Bangalore, Sri Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is located in Kadiri town in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, a Man-lion form and is one of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Narasimha in this temple is swayambhu emerging from the roots of Khadri tree (Indian mulberry). The specialty of this temple is that after the daily Abhishekam is performed, the idol of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha oozes sweat continuously even after repeatedly wiping off sweat by the temple priests.

The construction of this temple is said to have been commenced during the Western Chalukya rule but it was completed during the time of Vijayanagara rulers. The inscriptions in the temple relate mostly to the Vijayanagar period. One of them states that the temple was built by a Nayaka during the reign of Bukka I in 1332 AD. The raja gopuram was built by Harihararaya. The popular king of Vijayanagara Sri Krishna Devaraya and Maharashtra King Shivaji visited this famous temple and constructed sub temples and Mahishasuramardini Temple respectively.

The temple is enclosed in large walled compound with 4 entrances having a gopura over each entrance. On the eastern entrance one can see the idol of Anjaneya. Garbgriha is decorated beautifully with four lions in corner. There is an idol of Prahalada ...

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At a distance of 36 km from Madakasira, 70 km from Hindupur, 156 km from Anantapur, 513 km from Hyderabad, 627 km from Vijayawada and 158 km Bangalore, Hemavathi is a small town located in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Hemavathi was the capital of Pallavas between 8th and 10th century AD. The town was known as Henjeri during the Pallava reign.

Pallavas built few fascinating temples at Hemavathi. Ruins of a large fort were excavated near Hemavathi town. There are many temples around this fort which possess wonderful architecture. Some of the famous temples are Siddeswara Temple, Doddeshwara Temple, Virupaksheswara Temple and Malleswara Temple. The temple complex is spread over an area of around 15 acres.

Among these temples, Doddeswara Swamy temple is most striking and a well built structure. The stone used in making the idols are polished like metal and also make a sound of metal when struck. There is a 6 feet tall Shivalinga installed inside the sanctum sanctorum. A huge 8x4 feet idol of Nandi made of black granite sits at the entrance. The temple boasts some wonderful artwork. The walls of the temple are adorned with several artistic sculptures and images. The pillars have scenes from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Rajendra Chola was very much attracted by the massive pillars in this temple. The temple adorns the place as a witness of a striking collection of Pallava and Chola architecture.

The other two temples in this complex are dedicated ...

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