Tourist attractions near Shravanabelagola, Karnataka
Shravanabelagola is a well-known tourist attraction primarily because of the world famous Gommateshwara statue. This statue is considered to be one of the tallest monolith statues across the globe. There are also numerous scenic towns near Shravanabelagola.
Once you have seen the famous statue of Gommatheswara at Shravanabelagola Karnataka, you should spend some hours visiting nearby tourist attractions in Karnataka.
1. Halebid Karnataka: The town of Halebid (its name means old abode) has a lovely lake named Dwara Samudhra (meaning entry door from the ocean). The Halebid temple complex is a peaceful place with 2 main temples made from traditional soap stones, the Hoysaleshawara and Kedareshwara temples and two Jain ones. Although many of the sculputes have been destroyed over the centuries, you can still see most of the intricately etched mythological figures of dancers, birds and animals. The temple was never fully completed. Take note of the two Nandi statutes at the entrance sides of the Hoysaleshwara temple and visit the archeological museum in the Halebid temple complex.
2. Belur Karnataka: The town of Belur can be reached from Shravanabelagola the same day (approx. Rs. 900/- or above for hiring a driver). At Belur you should visit the Chennakesava temple complex which houses the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, constructed by King Vishnuvardhana, and near it is Kappe Chennigraya temple, said to have bee constructed by Queen Shantaladevi. You should take a closer look at the lower carvings around the temple – there are only elephants etched into the panel. The temple is said to have taken over 100 years to be completed! Famous incidents from mythological epics adorn the various parts of the temples and its ornate pillars. One of the main tourist attractions of the temple is the carving of Darpana Sundari ( beautiful lady with a mirror). It is said the most of the carvings were a creation of master carver Jakanachari. Another famous featue is the tower which soars to nearly 50 feet which is said to have withstood the worst natural calamities over centuries. A little to the side of the main entrance there is a step well (called Pushkarni) or stepped well to the right side of the main entrance.
3. Kali Temple at Doddagadduvalli Karnataka: This lovely temple is located at the edge of a lake off the main highway that connects Halebidu and Hassan. You will see many similar carvings as the ones you admired at Belur and Halebidu.Information for tourists to Shravanabelagola
1. If you are traveling by road in the months of November-December, you must be extra cautious as sometime there is fog during these months on the route in the early morning hours & you will need to keep your vehicle lights on.
2. The road route from Hirisave to Shravanabelagola is extremely narrow and rough.
3. There are no parking spaces close to the entrance of this tourist place.
4. It takes about 1 hour to climb the over 600 steps; if visiting on a hot day, wear socks and always wear a large-brimmed hat.
5. Apparently if you climb up in a zig-zag manner, you will feel less tired; and if you climb down backwards it is less strenuous on the knees!
6. You can take a doli, that is palanquin (Rs.150/- plus tips). Four men will carry you up and down the steps. There are also dolis available to take you on a tour in the hills.
7. Toilet facilities are not quite hygienic at Shravanabelagola. It is a good idea to carry a bar of soap. The frequent travelers to this place suggest a stopover at Kamat Restaurant (about 175 km from Bangalore) and New Agarwal Bhawan (about 30km from Bangalore) for clean washroom facilities.
8. For those who want authentic detailed information about the Gomateswara statute, the various hill temples, etc. it is a good idea to hire a local guide (approx. Rs.200/-).
9. Please find out about areas where footwear is not allowed and respect the religious sanctity of the place.
10. Since Shravanabelagola is a religious town, avoid wearing revealing clothes.
Final reminder: do not spit or litter any place in this temple city!Dining and Shopping
There are some fairly good restaurants in Shravanabelagola Karnataka. One food dish which you must feast on is the paper dosas. Eaten plain or stuffed with potatoes, these dosas are very delicious. Also recommended are the idlis and sheera (a sweet dish). At a few restaurants you can also get a full thali which provides for a complete meal with rice, rotis and vegetables.
Restaurants recommended by visitors to Shravanabelagola:
1. Suranga Jain Marwadi Bhojanalya Shravanabelagola : this is located at the foot of the hill on the Jain Mutt road. Lunch is less than Rs.100/-
Ph: 91-9902440395
2. Andhra Dhaba near Hirisave
3. Vishnu Regency restaurant in Belur serves good vegetarian thali
4. Lakshman's tea shop Hassan - it is located near the Hassanamba Temple, Hassan.
What to buy at Shravanabelagola: jewellery, fabric, shawls. Do try to bargain and get the rates down!How to reach
Shravanabelagola is connected directly by numerous roads to major cities and towns in Karnataka and hence is easily accessible from railway stations, bus stands and even the Mangalore airport.
1. The nearest airport to Shravanabelagola Karnataka is the Mangalore International Airport. Formerly called the Bajpe Airport, the Mangalore International Airport is located in the town of Bajpe.
Flights to Mangalore International Airport:
(i) Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines operate flights from Bangalore to Mangalore International Airport.
(ii) Kingfisher Airlines operates flights from Chennai & Cochin to Mangalore International Airport.
(iii) Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Indian, and Air-India Express operate flights from Mumbai to Mangalore International Airport.
From the Mangalore International Airport, the distance to Shravanabelagola Karnataka is about 210kms.
2. You can also catch a flight from most major cities in India to Bengaluru International Airport and from there travel by road. The distance from Bengaluru Airport to Shravanabelagola is approx. 145kms.
3. The nearest Railway stations to Shravanabelagola are at Hassan (52kms) and Arasikere (63kms).
Hassan and Arasikere Railway Station Arrivals and Departures Enquiry Number: 193
4. You can travel to the town of Shravanabelagola by road in your own vehicle or hire a private vehicle or taxi from Hassan, which is about 52kms away, and from Channarayapatna, which is about 14kms away. Other major towns and cities, such as Mangalore, Bangalore, Mysore, etc also have road routes to Shravanabelagola.
Bangalore to Shravanabelagola Road Route: The ideal road route from Bangalore to Shravanabelagola is from Bangalore to Hirisave via the Bangalore - Mangalore National Highway (NH-48). Your starting point should be Yeshwanthpur, from where you should take the road connecting Bangalore to Nelamangala (NH-4). From Nelamangala, take the left turn to Mangalore (NH-48) and proceed towards Solur and Kunigal and onwards to Vadiyur and then to Nelligare (here you have to pay the toll of Rs.5/-) and then to Bellur. Once you reach Bellur, take the road diversion to Hirisave and from there you take the left turn onwards to Shravanabelagola.
Shortest Road Route from Mysore to Shravanabelagola (78kms): From Mysore proceed towards Srirangapatna and onwards to Pandavapura and K.R.Pet. Here, you need to look for the K.R.Pet circle and take a right turn which will take you right through K.R.Pet bus stand. The road from there leads to Marenahalli, from where you will then pass through the tiny villages of Hariyaladammana Gudi and Dammaningala. From the Dammaningala village, it is a short distance to Shravanabelagola.
5. You can board one of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses to Shravanabelagola.
Bus routes and distance from Karnataka cities to Shravanabelagola:
(i) Bangalore to Shravanabelagola: 145kms
(ii) Mysore to Shravanabelagola: 83kms (bus ride takes about 3½ to 4hrs.)
(iii) Hassan to Shravanabelagola: 52kms
(iv) Channarayapatna to Shravanabelagola: 14kms
(v) Arasikere to Shravanabelagola: 63kms
(vi) Belur to Shravanabelagola: 90kms
(vii) Helbid to Shravanabelagola: 82kms
(viii) Mangalore to Shravanabelagola: 230kms
KSRTC Bus Enquiry Phone Numbers: 12666 / 22873377 / 22870099 / 7760990560
This is a historical temple town and pilgrimage centre in Karnataka, located in South India. This small town boasts of the largest number of Digambara temples as well as the largest number of inscriptions in the country.
Shravanabelagola is located in the small taluk of Channarayapatna, about 12kms in the south-eastern direction of the town of Channarayapatna in Hassan District in the State of Karnataka in South India.
This is a very picturesque location, sandwiched between the hills of Vindyagiri and the Chandragiri.
Click on the link below to see the location of Shravanabelagola on Google MapsVisiting hours and entry fees
When visiting Shravanabelagola, you don't have to worry about timings the way you would were you to visit the Mysore Palace or the Brindavan Gardens! Since it is what you would call an open air place, you can visit Shravanabelagola at any time convenient to you.
Another great aspect is that there are absolutely no entry fees. However, those who have visited frequently would advise you to hire a guide knowledgeable about Shravanabelagola Karnataka. The fees for a guide at Shravanabelagola (approx. Rs.200/-) is worth the huge amount of interesting information you will get about the monolith statue and its environs.
The Mahamastakabhisheka of the Gommateshwara statue in Shravanabelagola Karnataka is scheduled for 2018, for which you will need to find out the ideal times to visit. Address and contact information
Before setting out on your tourist trip to Shravanabelagola Karnataka, you may confirm details of puja timings, road routes, etc from the KSTDC office or from the managing officials of Shravanabelagola.
1. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) Contact Information
49, 2nd Floor, Khanija Bhavan,
Race Course Road,
Bangalore - 560 001
Karnataka
India
Ph: +91 80 2235 2901
Email: info@karnatakaholidays.net
2. Shravanabelagola Kshetra Committee Contact Information
Near Bus station (Back in Vidyanada Dharmashaala)
Shravanabelagola -573135
Phone: +91-8176-257258
Chief Secretary Ph: 91 08176 257226
General Enquiries: 91 08176 257235
Phone Number for information on Shravanabelagola Pujas: 08176 257281 (call between 10.00 am - 1.00/ 4.00 pm - 8.00 pm)Emergency Phone Numbers:
1. Sub-Inspector, Shravanabelagola Police Station Phone Number: 257229
2. Sub-Inspector, Hirisave Police Station Phone Number: 226888
3. Sri Chamarajendra District Hospital, Hassan Phone Number: 08172 250330
4. Bahubali Children's Hospital Shravanabelagola Phone Number: this hospital is being constructed in ShravanabelagolaLord Bahubali Pujas information at Shravanabelagola Karnataka
1. Daily Bahubali Puja Timings at Shravanabelagola:-
(a) In Vindyagiri Hill to Lord Bahubali Paada Pooja: daily, 8a.m.
(b) In Shravanabelagola and surrounding temples: daily, between 7a.m. to 9a.m.
2. Special Bahubali Puja Timings at Shravanabelagola: Sundays, 8.30a.m.
3. Festival Pujas:
On certain days, there are special festive pujas. These are as follows:
(1) Yugadi (New Year)
(2) Akshya Tritiya
(3) Shruta Panchami
(4) Ashtahika Parva (8days) - Every year Ahsada, kartika and Maaga masa
(5) Dashalakshana Parva (10days) - Bhadrapada pachami to chaturdashi
(6) Navaratree, Dasara
(7) Mahaveer Nirwan Utsava, Deepavali
