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-   -   Wanderlust traveler - Halebidu - Belur from Bangalore (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/146644-wanderlust-traveler-halebidu-belur-bangalore.html)

After our trip to Goa in first week of November, all our trips planned were short one day trips to different locations near Bangalore. Halebidu & Belur was on radar since a while, so we decide to put the plan into action.

Checked with friends and they were also ready, finally the trip was planned with group, consisting of 7 members travelling in two cars; my Alto and friends Polo.

11 Jan 2014 -




As with any trip we start off early, by the time we all and both cars meet up at NICE road, it is past 05.30 AM. We reach toll booth on NH-4 near NICE road exit at 06.00 AM.

We turn to NH 48 (Bangalore - Mangalore highway) from Nelamangala, should say this is the best maintained road anywhere near Bangalore. Superb surface, empty lanes at toll booth and sparse traffic.

Polo leading the way



Our first stop is CCD near Belur cross, a break of around 30 minutes and we start off again. Based on suggestions from TBHPians we had planned to stop for breakfast at Athiti hotel past Channarayapattana. However as luck would have it, the place was closed for renovation, forcing us to take the Kamat on opposite side of the road. The food was average Kamat fare. Service was slow which means we lost above an hour waiting for breakfast. By the time we started from Kamat it was past 09.00 AM, we cross Hassan and proceed towards Belur. The road condition is good throughout.

Hassan Belur road -



We take a right from Belur road at Hagare, road narrows down and passes through few villages. However road condition stays good throughout -

Hagare - Halebidu road -



We reach Halebidu around 10.15 AM.

Halebidu
Parking is on roadside, however they charge you a hefty Rs.40 for the same.



KSRTC bus stand is next to the toilet complex in above pic. Just across the road from the bus stand is entrance to URL="https://plus.google.com/114579146315224206599/about?gl=in&hl=en"]Hoysaleshwara Temple[/url]



Temple is maintained by ASI and entry is free, however museum alongside the temple charges Rs-5 per head for entry.



Thankfully crowd is only building up.

The temple is not something you could call big, however every stone is crafted to the smallest detail.

Let the images do the talking -





Ceiling carving -



Doorway -














Temple Interior -


Exterior










One of the two monolithic Nandi's outside the temple -





As with all ASI museum entry is Rs.5 and you get a ticket which cost more than half that amount -


There is a garden next to the museum -

Our Halebidu visit as per initial plan was done, next stop was to be Belur. However my friend suggested we visit Jain Basti temple at Halebidu. I had seen the same in Google maps next to Hoysaleshwara temple, however strangely it is completely off the tourist circuit. We check for direction with locals and start off, Jain Basti temple is just few hundred meters from the car park.

We reach the temple in no time, but decide to drive further the road and check out Kedareshwara temple.

Kedareshwara temple

The temple is at end of the road leading from Jain Basti temple, there are no tourists apart from us.





Temple interior -




After few photo sessions we head to Jain Basti temple -







Google map links -

Kedareshwara temple

Jain Basti temple


With both the temples covered, we start off to Belur.

Belur

Traffic jam enroute.



Hassan - Belur road.



Entry to Belur town.



Belur circle - Left from here is Belur town, right towards Halebidu and straight road is towards Chikmangalur (~30KM)



It is time for lunch. As per TBHP reviews there are three hotels in Belur.

1. KSTDC Mayura Velapur located around here.
2. Sumukha regency located opposite to Mayura around here.
3. Vishnu Regency located around here.

Based on reviews we decide to head to Vishnu regency. It is a descent place with parking area too. However do not expect anything fancy.

Next to hotel we find this plane parked on top of a house -



Lunch done we head to Belur temple

Parking is on roadside, thankfully here it is free.



Inside temple complex.



Gravity pillar - This is one of the star attraction of Belur temple. This huge granite lamp post is placed on a platform balanced on its weight. Due to lack of any foundation it is possible to view other side of the platform through the gap on the pillar.













Statues on steps of temple -



Interior of temple has some amazing sculptures. Photography is allowed inside the temple too. For better viewing and to help in photography there is a spot light kept below the main dome of the temple. For a ticket of Rs. 20 they switch on the spot light for few minutes.







Detailed carving inside main dome



Notice how even the chain links are carved in detail on stone



Door towards main idol -




By the time we finish seeing the temple, it is nearing 04.00 PM. We are already late by half hour as per our plan.

We had planned of starting off to Shravanabelgola around 03.30 PM. We start off and decide not to stop anywhere on the way to save time.



Thanks to winter it is getting dark early



We had planned to take right towards Shravanabelgola after Channarayapattana at Mattanavile or take a right further ahead from Hirisave.

However in our enthusiasm to reach Shravanabelgola on time, we miss both these. We come to know about this mistake only on reaching the toll booth few KM's down the road towards Bangalore.

We turn back and head towards Shravanabelgola, we reach parking lot at 06.00 PM. By time we reach foot of hill to start climb we are informed that temple has closed at 06.00 PM, meaning we we will not be allowed to make the climb :Frustrati. We were not aware of temple timing which is 06.00 AM - 06.00 PM.

Well guess this is story for another trip :)

We start towards Bangalore at 06.40 PM, enroute we stop at Hotel Mayura for a half hour break. Would rate Mayura much above Kamat we stopped in morning.

Traffic was sparse on way back too and we reach NICE road toll booth around 09:15 PM.

This was the route we had planned of taking - Route



This was the route we ended up taking - Route




Epilogue

• Special thanks to TBHPian Parag for the detailed route information's.
• The trip can be made a 3 day trip by including Chikmangalore.
• Do visit Jain Basti & Kedareshwara temple, which are located next to Halebidu temple.
• Road condition is good all around. NH 48 especially is in good shape, you will infact be happy paying toll.
• Kamat Upachar where we had breakfast at, is best avoided. Average food, slow service and messed up bill - Not something you want to start your trip with.
• Updated route information about Belur / Halebidu / Shravenabelagola can be found here.
• Direct route from Hassan - Halebidu (SH 21) is best avoided due to bad road condition.

Another Wanderlust travelogue with ample details, keep up the good work sir.
Ofcourse the pictures did the talking... the carvings and idols as well. Thanks

Taking to the road with a vengeance!! Well structured and well written with great snaps as usual

Great snaps. Feel like making a quick trip to Belur and Halebidu. :)

Hoysala architecture is on par with some of the finest monuments in the world. Even we had tried food at Vishnu Regency 2 years ago. Brought back good memories. Thanks for sharing.

Hello mpksuhas,
For a change, you can take the Magadi road and join the Mangalore highway after the first toll. Roads are good throughout, but 2 lane ones with couple of villages in between. However you will enjoy the ride from this side. And you save on toll at the Elevated highway and the first one on the Mangalore highway if you take this route.

Thanks Ddrive. Awaiting your next travelogue.

Thanks. Had set a target of doing 12K Kms in last 6 months. Fell short of the target by 2K Kms. :D

Thanks. Totally agree with you. Should also add that KA tourism is mostly fixated on Mysore. Halebidu, Belur, Badami, Hampi etc I guess could be marketed better.

Thanks for the new route. Guess this route will make much sense for those joining from Jayanagar, Vijayanagar, Rajajinagar. May be will give it a try while driving on Mangalore highway next time.

Hi mpksuhas,

Nice travelogue with good pictures.

While in Halebidu, you could have also visited a place called Belawadi which is about 20 kms from Halebidu. A very calm place with less crowd and beautiful Hoysala architecture. Attaching some pictures for your reference.





Regards,
Anant

Hi Anantu,
Thanks for sharing the pics and details. I was not even aware of this location. The place looks beautiful, guess a must see for next trip.

Suhas, thanks for the beautiful TL. Pictures are really nice.
This reminds me my last trip to Belur-Halebeedu sometime back.
Somehow, I missed the museum at Halebidu.
Thanks Anantu for the info about Belawadi Temple.

Thanks iVento.
Yes I remember reading your "Sunshine travels" travelogue.
Halebidu museum is in the same campus as temple. While walking from entry towards the temple it is towards your left.
However it is easy to miss that since from outside it looks more like an office / restroom than museum. :)

You are most welcome buddy.

Superb snaps of all the monuments in and around Belur and Halebidu Suhas. I am heading to Belur this weekend as usual.

The interesting update is the fact that the Hagare-Halebidu road is all good. This certainly works very well for all those who don't want detour and make Hassan-Belur-Halebidu a triangular circuit.

Another thing I wanted to ask you was why you again came back to Hagare when you could directly drive to Belur from Halebidu which is a good road for 16 kms? (Or have I missed something?).

Your snap on parking itself is a proof on how crowded the temple is becoming on weekends. The parking fees has been waived off since more than 5 years. It has so happened in the past that sometimes sighting a Bangalore registered car parked opposite to the North wall of the temple, the parking attendant would come to collect the parking fees only to smile later upon realizing that it belongs to someone who stays there :-).

Regarding food options in Belur, I think Vishnu Regency is a decent option. It was perhaps the first of its Kind hotel in Belur which started to serve North Indian dishes (something that we relished driving to Hassan or Chikmagalur in those days). They also run a normal south Indian hotel before the Bus Stand called Vishnu Prasad.

I also learnt from your PM on how you almost missed Athithi which anyways was undergoing renovation. Once functional, I am sure it will be a better option to Kamat the way it has been ever since it came up at this place.

Many would miss this place very easily these days but like I mentioned, this is the very first Hotel (Building) located on the left hand side after the CR Patna Bypass and the Truck Lay bye if driving towards Hassan.

Surprisingly, ampere and I had a discussion few weeks back on how Googlemaps shows nothing at this spot:Shockked:!

mpksuhas,

Thanks for the travelogue.

I had planned Pune - Chikmagalur - Mysore - Bangalore - Pune trip a few months back which did not happen. Will have to wait a few more months now.

Do you think Chikmagalur to Mysore travel is possible in one day spending enough time for sightseeing at Halebidu, Belur and Shravanbelgola? Are there any more/better sightseeing places between these two towns?