Nature & Wildlife

Bandipura National Park: Bandipur National Park is seemed as one of the maximum stunning and the higher-controlled countrywide parks of India. Located amidst the picturesque environment of the towering Western Ghats at the Mysore-Ooty dual carriageway in Karnataka, it’s far an crucial a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that constitutes Karnatakas Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole) to its Northwest, Tamil Nadus Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary to its South, and Keralas Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary to its Southwest. The general volume of Bandipur National Park is 872.24 sq.km. It is placed partially in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar District and partially in H.D.Kote and Nanjangud taluks of Mysuru District. Once the personal searching grounds of the erstwhile Maharajas, and nestled on the foothills of the Nilgiris, Bandipur has had an extended tryst with tigers. One of the thirty reserves recognized throughout the united states to keep the tiger and its habitat, its additionally one of the final refuges of the endangered Asiatic wild elephant. Apart from the 2 famed residents, some of different endangered species along with sloth bears, gaurs, Indian rock pythons, jackals, muggers and four-horned antelopes may be noticed on this countrywide park. Bandipur additionally shelters sambar, mouse deer, chital, sloth endure and the uncommon flying lizard.

Over 2 hundred species of birds and a variety of plant life upload to its attraction. Bandipur additionally helps a extensive variety of wooden timber along with teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian-laurel, Indian Kino tree, massive clumping bamboo etc.Though Bandipur is around-the-yr traveller destination, summers are the first-rate time for flora and fauna sightings. March to May being the dry season, the animals pop out of hiding and may be noticed through the watering holes. But for bird-watchers, the wintry weather months are a higher bet, for November to January, many migratory birds from the North, specially the Himalayas come down south to roost.

The Bandipur Safari Lodge (a assets of state-owned Jungle Lodges & Resorts) is the first-rate manner to revel in Bandipur. You can move on a flora and fauna safari or bask in nature walks right here. The Bandipur Safari Lodge is constructed in modern architectural style; however, there aren’t anyt any tv units and aircon right here. With well-appointed rooms, it could accommodate as much as 60 humans at a time.Forest Safari is performed through the Forest Department two times daily. Visitors in massive agencies can avail bus safari that is less expensive and shorter (45-60 mins) whilst jeep safaris are extra appropriate for smaller agencies and for a longer, extra specific revel in (lasts 2-three hours)- each function among 6 to nine AM and three PM to six PM. Elephant Safari is to be had among 10 AM and eleven AM.

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta:Gopalaswamy Betta (hill) is a lofty hill in picturesque environment, that is located approximately sixteen km south-west of Gundlupet. It rises to a peak of 4,770 ft above the ocean level. It has been additionally referred as Dakshina Govardhanagiri. The summit of the hill seems to be enveloped through clouds and mist, and as a result the call Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (Himavad way blanketed in mist). There is an antique citadelress at the hill stated to had been built all through thirteenth century. Inside the citadelress is the Gopalaswamy Temple devoted to Lord Krishna. The gopuram of the temple is single-tiered and rests at the compound wall of the enclosure.

The parapet wall of the facade of the mukha mantapa incorporates the sculpture of dashavatara (the avatars of the Lord Vishnu). The garbhagriha incorporates an idol of Lord Krishna gambling a flute beneathneath a tree. The idol of Lord Krishna is superbly sculpted with the left toe resting at the proper one.
Male Mahadeshwara Hills: Male Mahadeshwara Betta is a famous pilgrimage centre withinside the State. It is a hill variety placed withinside the Hanur taluk and is three,2 hundred ft above sea level. It is advised that MM Hills constitutes of 7 hills Elu Male particularly Anemale, Jenumale, Kadumale, Kanumale, Ponnachimale, Pavalamale and Pachchemale. The historical and sacred temple devoted to Lord Shiva is a totally famous Shaiva pilgrim centre. The deity of the temple is withinside the shape of a linga. According to records, a Veerashaiva Saint, Mahadeshwara who lived all through 14th-fifteenth centuries, settled at the pinnacle of this hill and attained samadhi (salvation). He had a massive wide variety of devotees and therefore this place have become a sacred place.

In his honour, the temple became built right here. There is likewise a large massive photo of Nandi (Lord Shiva`s vehicle) right here in conjunction with some of different shrines across the place. Around a lakh of devotees from South India congregate right here for the Car Festival held all through the fairs of Shivarathri, Ugadi, Gauri festival, Mahalaya Amavasye and Deepavali. There are many peoples songs in Kannada which sing praises of Male Mahadeshwara Hills/ Temple.

BR Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary: Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary takes its call from the historical Ranganatha Swamy Temple that sits at the brink of a precipice and has an volume of 539.fifty two sq km. The Biligirirangana Betta (hill) is at a peak of 5,091 ft above the ocean level, and stretches from north to south for approximately sixteen km. It is taken into consideration to be the flora and fauna hall that connects the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats which in flip allows the gene float among the populace species inhabiting each the mountain ranges.

Tourist Attractions

Hogenakkal Waterfalls: Hogenakkal waterfalls is a scenic amalgamation of rock, water and mist placed on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
Hoge manner smoke and Kallu manner rock in Kannada. Hogenakkal basically manner smoke over the rocks, that’s the way it appears whilst there`s adequate water falling over the rocks as river Kaveri enters Tamil Nadu from Karnataka.
Bharachukki Falls: The island of Shivanasamudra has lovely falls fashioned with the aid of using Cauvery River. The Barachukki Falls is at the jap department of the river that’s placed in Kollegal taluk in Chamarajanagar district. A high-quality extent of water rushes and cascades right all the way down to approximately 30 ft right here. The western department of the river bureaucracy the Gaganachukki Falls that’s placed in Malavalli taluk which falls in Mandya district. The falls in complete waft at some point of the monsoons is a charming sight.
Kundura Betta: 30 kms from Kollegala, Kundura Bettais an offbeat rocky mountain. Ideal for hiking
Dodda Sampige: four kms from BR Hills, River Bhargavi, a tributary of Kaveri flows in Dodda Sampige.

Religious Places

Ramalingeshwara Temple, Narasamangala: Narasamangala is a village located round 24 km from Chamarajanagar. It is domestic to the Ramalingeshwara Temple of the Ganga instances believed to be constructed round ninth century. The temple going through east has a spacious garbhagriha, a slender ardhamandapa and mahamandapa. The sikhara over the garbhagriha is a completely unique introduction owning a brick and stucco Vimana of high-quality splendor and inventive merit, 11 meters excessive over a lofty stone adhisthana, meters excessive. One of the hanging photographs right here is that of a king seated in nation and his queen status beside him. Behind the temple in a corridor are located lifestyles length saptamatrika photographs.

They are exquisitely carved, lovely and tremendous for his or her workmanship.
Chamarajeshwara Swami Temple: Chamarajanagar became in advance called Arikutara which became modified with the aid of using Krishnaraja Wadiyar III in reminiscence of his father Chamaraja Wadiyar who became born at this place. In 1826, he additionally built the Chamarajeshwara Swami Temple. Lord Eshwara (Lord Shiva) is the principle deity right here. To the left of Lord Chamarajeshwara, we’ve got Goddess Kempananjaamba and to the proper is Goddess Chamundeshwari. There is likewise an area which has rows of Sahasralingas (1,000 Shivalingas) and different shrines devoted to numerous different Gods and Goddesses.

Haradanahalli: A famous Veerashaiva centre, domestic to Gopalaswamy temple and Divyalingeshwara temples.
Hole Alur: Home to Arkeswara temple
Homma: Home to Rameshwara and Janaradhana temples, approximately 2 kms from Hole Alur.
Yelandur: Home to the sixteenth century Gowrishwara temple complex, Yelandur became headquarters of Hadinadu rulers. Parvati is the opposite temple. The 2 hundred years vintage house of Dewan Purnaiah is getting used as a central authority workplace at present.
Yeriyur: Home to later Vijayanagara technology Veerabhadra temple
Ummattur: Home to Janardhana, Ranganatha, Veerabhadra, Bhujangeshwara temples and Jain Basadis (Adinatha and Vardhamana)
Triyambakapura: Home to a large Triyambakeshwara temple constructed at some point of Vijayanagara length in reminiscence of Bukka 2nd.
Terakanambi: Home to Gopalaswamy, Moolasthaneshwara, Lakshmi Varadarajaswamy and Sugreeva temples.
Maleyur: Popular Jain centre with numerous basadis, Maramma temple and Chandramouleshwara temple
Kulagana: Home to Nellikalla Basaveswara, Parvati, Maramma, Kalikamba, Jalavasudeva and different temples.
Karivaradaraja Betta: five kms from Chamarajanagara, domestic to Lakshmi Varadaraja Swamy temple
Others
Kollegala: Kollegala became Karnatakas biggest taluk (till 2017 whilst Hanur speak became carved out), placed in Chamarajanagar district. Two countrywide highways, NH 212 and 206 byskip thru Kollegala. Kollegala is domestic to important hills, waterfalls and luxurious inexperienced nature, making it a really perfect weekend getaway from Bengaluru/Mysuru. Sri Muruleshwara Swamy temple, Sri Chowdeshwari temple and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple are important temples in Kollegala. Mural Paintings at Parivaradavara Chavadi is really well worth visiting. Beesu Kamsale: Beesu Kamsale is every other energetic dance shape intently related to the rituals of Male Mahadeswara worship, and employs a high-quality combination of aesthetic sublimity and martial agility. A cymbal like disc, theKamsale`, is performed in rhythm with the songs exalting the dignity of Lord Mahadeswara.