Shadesofpink.in A Women's World By Women
Karnataka is one of the most richly endowed states in India. With a mix of natural beauty as well as man-made wonders, the region is full of astounding locales. And many of these places can be visited a short ride away from the capital city of Bangalore. You’ll never be short of places to explore during the weekends from the city – here are few options.
1. Kundura Betta – BR Hills – Shivanasamudra Falls: ↔ 370km
Kundura Betta is an almost unexplored rocky mountain with thick shrubbery. The place is untouched and offers a trekking option from the Rashasideswara Temple at the bottom to the Mallikarjuna Temple at the middle of the hill. The rock strewn trail is not marked and is really exhausting but the view from the top is absolutely worth the toil.
BR hill range forms the south-eastern border of Karnataka and is known for the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or BRT Wildlife Sanctuary. Another highlight of the place is the BR temple.
The fantastic Shivanasamudra Falls is on the Kaveri River after the river has found its way through the rocky ravines of the Deccan Plateau. It is a perennial waterfall and the most voluminous flows can be seen after the monsoon season. Other nearby points of interest are Dargah view-point, Barachukki Falls, you can coracle ride to the falls.
2. Talakadu – Somanathapura – Srirangapatnam: ↔ 327km
Talakadu in southern Karnataka is an intriguing historical site dotted with architectural wonders which are buried in sand. The Archaeological Survey of India is conducting excavations to unearth these buried wonders. The Vaidyanatheswara Temple along with four others – Arkeswara Temple, Pathaleswara Temple, Maraleswara Temple, and Mallikarjuna Temple, form the Pancha Lingas believed to represent the five faces of Lord Siva. Other places of importance are Tirumakudal Narsipur, Keerthi-Narayana Temple, and Kaveri river-front.
Chennakesava Temple on the banks of River Kaveri in Somanathapura, Karnataka, is situated at 25km from Talakadu. The ornate temple is a model illustration of the famous Hoysala architecture and is a spellbinding site.
Srirangapatna was a formidable cosmopolitan 200 years back and the citadel of the Mysore Kingdom for many decades. Today it appears unassuming and nondescript. The final battle, ‘Siege of Srirangapatnam’, of the fourth war between the British East India Company and Tipu Sultan’s Mysore Kingdom was fought here, where Tipu Sultan was killed. The main spots of attraction are Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Dari Daulat Bagh, Tipu Sultan Gumbaz, Karighatta Temple, Bailey’s Dungeon, and Srirangapatnam Fort
3.Mysore: ↔ 300km
Mysore aka Mysuru is the third largest city of Karnataka. The cultural ambience of Mysore earned it the nickname Cultural Capital of Karnataka. Mysore is famous for its palaces and heritage monuments. It served as the capital city of the Kingdom of Mysore for nearly six centuries from 1399 until 1956. The major significant locations are Jaganmohan Palace, Chamundeswari Temple, Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum, St Philomena’s Cathedral, among many others.
4. Shravanabelagola – Melukote: ↔ 326km
Shravanabelagola is one of the most popular Jain pilgrimage centres in South India. The 17m (57 ft.) high monolithic Gommateswara Bahubali statue present on one of the two hills here was built around 983 CE and is one of the tallest free standing statues in the world. Other exciting places are Gomateswara Bahubali Temple, Chamundaraya Basadi, Kambadahalli, Badrabahu Cave, Vindhyagiri, Chandragiri, among other places.
Melukote is an important sacred place in Karnataka. The impressive Yoga-Narasimha Temple perched high on the Yadugiri Hills is the biggest allure here. Cheluva-Narayana Swamy Temple is another important attraction in Melukote. Also visit Thondanoor which is a nearby temple town and is the location of the many famous temples.
5. Hogenakkal Falls – Yercaud: ↔ 466km
Hogenakkal Falls is on the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu. The name Hogenakkal is derived from two Kannada words: hoge – smoke and kal – rock, hence, literally translates to ‘smoking rocks’. The waterfall is given the name because the force of the water during the fall appears as smoke rising from the top of the rocks.
Yercaud is a hill station in Tamil Nadu, located in the Eastern Ghats, at an elevation of 1,515m (4,970 ft.) above sea level (ASL). Splendid trekking options are available at Yercaud and it is one of the best places to unwind on a weekend.
6. Coorg: ↔ 488km
Coorg aka Kodagu is known for its coffee and people. Kodagu is locally known as Kodavanadu – land of Kodava people who are the indigenous people of Kodagu. It is a hilly district located on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. The highest peak here is Tadiandamol rising to 1,750m (5,740 ft.) ASL. The main sites of appeal are Abbi Falls, Madikeri Fort, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Namrodoling Monastery, Dubare Elephant Camp, Nalkanad Palace, Tadiandamol peak trek among others.
7. Chitradurga ↔ 407km
A rock cut edict of Emperor Ashoka reveals that Chitradurga was part of the Mauryan Empire dating to the 3rd century BCE. Local traditions date Chitradurga to the period of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Other enchanting places include Chitradurga Fort, Obavanna Kindi, Chandravalli Archaeological Site, Jogimatti Peak, Aadumalleswara, and Tuppada Kola.
8. Chikmagalur: ↔ 488km
Chikmagalur is a paradise for trekkers and nature lovers. Some of the most picturesque treks of South India are to peaks in Chikmagalur district. Must-do activities in Chikmagalur are Kudremukh peak trek, Mullayanagiri peak trek, and Kemmannugundi peak trek. If you enjoy long drives, take the Devaramane–Charmadi-Chikamagalur route which will leave you awestruck with some fantastic views. This route will make the return trip 626km.
This Content has originally written by Charishma Thankappan and published on February 13, 2018. No Copyright/IPR breach is intended.
Photo by Yoal Desurmont on Unsplash
