Belur Halebidu - Must see Heritage towns ...

Of the many destinations that Karnataka has to offer Belur and Halebidu would stand among the foremost, internationally known for its awe inspiring temples, a long and glorious history and easy access from Bangalore makes it one of the must see locations in the whole of Karnataka. The Capital of one of the most wonderful empires in the South – The Hoysalas , Belur was first Capital and then was moved to Halebidu. This wonder of the 12^th century still awes a 21^st century traveler beyond belief, with its intricate carvings and aura. October to April are the best months to visit the place.

 

Getting there :

By Road – It is a 217 km from Bangalore to Belur, one can drive down towards Tumkur – Kunigal on the NH48 and continue till Hassan and then get to Halebidu.

By Train – The nearest railway station is in Hassan and there are ample number of trains to Hassan from Bangalore.

Once you reach the Halebidu – which literally translates to “Old abode” in Kannada will present to you the magnificent Hoysaleshwara Temple, which is renowned for the fact that no two of its sculptures are alike, it has hundreds of sculptures and reliefs, with extreme detailing and spectacular meticulouslness. The intricate carvings run throughout the exterior of the temple which is guarded by the Shivate icon “The Nandi Bull”.  Then there is the magnificent Kedareshwara temple to keep your eyes happy. 

Belur is about 17 km from Halebidu and is known as “Dakshina Varanasi” translating to “Varanasi of the South”. Once you get to Belur the ever green, the ever mystic “Chenakeshave temple” touches your eyes and takes you in into its own aura, tansporting you back in time. With intricate detailing, the friezes and reliefs tell the tales from our great epics and the Upanishads. The 42 “Madanikas” or celestial beauties that are supposed to be inspired by the extremely beautiful and epitome of feminine beauty “Shantala Devi” adorn the place and will leave you speechless. The emblem of the “Hoysala” dynasty the sculpture of the tiger being slain by sala, which now has also almost become an icon of Karnataka. 

It is known that the artists from this time were encouraged to sign their signatures, making way to individualistic expression. The sculptures all though lined symmetrically differ from each other only extending its aesthetic exquisiteness. The distinctive star shaped exterior with detailed friezes is the epitome of the architectural history in Karnataka and mark a very important milestone in the history of art in India.

With all this heritage and history at 200 odd kilometers from the drab of the city makes it a superb destination for all Bangaloreans looking for a nice weekend get away. It also makes for a good trip if you are interested in photography, art and history. If you are used to sketching or making small drawings and notes do carry a sketch pad you will not regret it. 

Parinitha Konanur

Horsley Hills – A nice ride/drive for your weekend

Bangalore sees an absolutely perfect weather condition to ride, drive and travel around, during the time of October, November and December. With a little chill in the air, blue skies and warm sun it’s the perfect time to explore neighboring places on rides and drives. There are a lot of destinations around Bangalore that are worth visiting on the weekend, one of them is Horsley Hills. 

Getting there :

Horsley Hills is about 160 km from Bangalore and you will need to take the road to Hoskote , Chintamani then through Rayalpadu and Madanapalli to Horsley Hills. This is a good and easy route to be taken, or you can choose to go through Palamaneru on NH4 and then get to Madanapalli. 

Public transport Options are : One can take a train from Bangalore to Madanapalle and book a taxi from there to Horsley hills or even take local buses, though one must keep in mind that the buses are known to be crowded.

The best way however is to ride or drive to the place with one’s own bikes or cars. Once you reach the foot hills a narrow road takes you up the hill, the road is absolutely scenic and can make for an amazing ride, drive up. It is lined with Eucalyptus, Gulmohar and Jacaranda trees, making it very visually captivating. 

 Horsley Hills gets its name from the British officer W.D.Horsley, who was captivated by the beauty of the place and had a summer residence here , now it is used by the Governor of Andhra Pradhesh and hence known as the Governor’s Bungalow.

The popular local legend is of a little girl named Mallamma who was looked after by elephants, she used to treat the local tribal people of any illnesses.  When she suddenly disappeared people believed her to be a goddess and have built  a temple for her, thus the earlier name for Horsley Hills was “Yenugu Mallamma Konda”.

The main attractions of the place other than the awesome ride it self, is the High View point, Lake gangotri , Gaalibanda, the Environmental park and the Horsley hills museum. Other than this trekking enthusiasts can trek to the nearby hills, there are ample opportunities to do Rappelling and one of the few places to provide Zorbing in India [ for further information and to book an outing here with life is calling please contact us at contact.lifeiscalling@gmail.com ]

All in all Horsley hills makes for a superb weekend get away with an ample number of activities to do along with taking in nature’s beauty, works really well for a group outing.