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A GREAT DESTINATION
ETERNAL
INDIA
encyclopedia
Belur & Halebid
: The sculptural decoration on these superb
temples rivals the temple of Khajuraho and Konarak. The outside
walls and much of the interior are covered with an endless variety
of Hindu deities, sages, stylised animals and birds and friezes
depicting the life and times of the Hoysala rulers.
The Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid was started in 1121 A.D.
There is also a smaller temple, the Kedareswara, at Halebid.
At Belur, the Channakeshava temple was built in 1117 A.D. by
King Vishnuvardhana. Belur was the capital of the Hoysala
Empire before it was shifted to Halebid.
Sravanabelagola
: This is one of the oldest and most important
Jain pilgrimage centres in India and site of the huge 17 metre (57
ft) high statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshvara) said to be the
world's tallest monolithic statue. It overlooks the small town of
Sravanabelagola from the top of the rocky hill known as Indragiri
and is visible even. at a distance of 25 km. The word
'Sravanabelagola' means the monk on the top of the hill'. It is a
Digambara or 'sky-clad' Jain shrine.
During
the
spectacular
Mahamastakabhisheka
ceremony,
which takes place once every 12 to 14 years Sravanabelagola be-
comes a Mecca for thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all over
India and abroad. The climax of the Mahamastakabhisheka in-
volves the anointing of Lord Bahubali's head with thousands of
pots of coconut milk, yoghurt, ghee, bananas, jaggery, dates, al-
monds, poppy seeds, milk, gold coins, saffron and sandalwood
from the top of a scaffolding erected for the purpose.
Coorg
: Until
1956,
when it was included in Karnataka, Coorg was
a separate mini-state. A mountainous area, Coorg is in the south-
west of Karnataka bordering with Kerala.
Mercara
: The capital of Coorg stands 124km west of Mysore.
There is a fort here which has played an important part in Karna-
taka's history, and also the Omareswara temple. This region is
green, scenic and fertile and an important coffee-growing area.
Mangalore
: At one time Mangalore was a port of great im-
portance and was the major seaport and ship building centre of
Hyder Ali's kingdom. Even today it is a major centre for export of
coffee and cashewnuts. The Sultan's Battery, the old lighthouse
and St. Aloysius College Chapel are all worth seeing.
AROUND MANGALORE
Dharmastala:
A little south of the Mangalore - Belur road, about
halfway between the two there are a number of Jain bastis at
Dharmastala, including the famous Manjunatha Temple. There is
also a 14 m-high statue of Lord Bahubali which was erected in
1973.
Venur
: Mid-way between Mangalore and Dharmastala, 41 km
from the latter, Venur has eight bastis and the ruins of a Ma-
hadeva temple. An 11-metre-high statue of Lord Bahubali stands
on the South bank of the Gurupur River, where it was installed in
1604.
Mudbidri
: At this site 22 km from Venur there are 18 bastis, the
oldest of which is the Chandranatha temple with its 1000 richly
carved pillars.
Karkala
: A further 31 km north of Mudbidri are several important
temples and a 13 metre-high statue of Lord Bahubali, which was
completed in 1432.
Jog Falls
: 348 km north-west of Mysore at the terminus of the
Birur railway line, Jog Falls are the highest in India The Sharavati
River drops 253 metres in four distinctly separate falls known as
the Rani, the Rocket, the Raja and the Roarer. The best time to
see them is just after the monsoon. Even in the dry season they
are superb.
Udupi
: Further up the coast from Mangalore is Udupi, where the
13th century Sri Krishna Temple is located.
Malpe
: Only 5 km from Udupi, Malpe has a good beach, swim-
ming and fishing.
Maravanthe :
There's another good beach here, 9km from Coon-
dapur. Kollur, 30 km from Maravanthe, is a famous pilgrimage
centre. Mookambika temple was founded by Shankaracharya.
Ankola
: There's a beach at this small village. Near Ankola the
village of Gokama is an important pilgrimage place because of the
Mahabaleshwara temple.
Karwar :
Only a short distance south of Goa, 56km north of
Gokarna, Karwar has excellent beaches.
OTHER PLACES IN CENTRAL KARNATAKA
Chitradurga
: On the Bangalore-Hampi road Chitradurga has a
famous fort of the Naik Pallegars of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Harihar
: On the Bangalore-Hubli railway link, Harihar has a
Hoysala temple dating from 1223 A.D. The image in the temple is
of Harihar, half-Shiva, half-Vishnu.
Sringeri
: In the coffee-growing hills of Chikmagalur, near
Harihar, Sringeri is the first of the four maths or centres of
religious learning founded by Shankaracharya.
Hampi
: 13 kms from Hospet. Was once the capital of Vijay-
anagar, one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history.
Among the sights to be seen in Hampi are the Vittala temple,
Hazarama temple, Virupaksha temple and the palace area with
its Dasara temple, Lotus Mahal, Queen's Bath, Watch tower and
the Elephant stables.
Tungabhadra dam:
Is the largest masonry dam in the world. It is
24 metres long and 49 metres high and has created a lake some
370 square km in area. The dam is used to generate electricity and
to irrigate Bellary and Raichur in Karnataka and Cuddappah and
Kurnool districts in Andhra Pradesh.
Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole. These three small villages
were once the capital cities of the Chalukyas who ruled the
greater part of the central Deccan between the 4th and 8th centu-
ries. Some of the earliest and first Dravidian temple architecture
can be seen here. The main attractions of Badami are the five
rock-cut cave temples, all connected by flights of steps.
Bijapur
: Full of ruined and still-intact gems of 15th to 17th
century Muslim architecture - mosques, mausoleums, palaces
and fortifications. Its world famous monument is the Gol Gum-
baz. Its dome is the second largest in the world, after St. Paul's
in Rome. It has a whispering gallery which can repeat any sound
ten times over.
Jami - e- Masjid
: This is another finely proportioned building with
graceful arches, a fine dome and a large innei courtyard containing
fountains and a reservoir. It is quite a large monument covering
an area of 10,800 square metres and has room for 2250 wor-
shippers.
Bidar
: This little visited town in the extreme north-east comer of
the state was the capital of the Bahmani Kingdom from 1428 and
later of the Barid Shahi dynasty. It has an impressive 15th century