Karnataka has been ruled over by some of the very prominent rulers over a number of years. They were great patrons of art and spent quite a deal of money in promoting artists. This can be seen in the beautiful artistic structures that have withstood the passage of time, weather and the onslaught of the rulers who reigned subsequently. In the present times, one can see the government as well as people trying their level best to maintain the structures if not put it back to their former glory. Such is the beauty of these structures that they cannot be replicated by anyone. UNESCO has declared several such architectural marvels as World Heritage Sites and these are a must-visit If you ever tour the state.
Hampi: Bellary, Northern Karnataka
The ancient city of Hampi existed on the banks of the River Tungabhadra. It was ruled by the kings of Vijayanagara Empire who ruled over the place from 1336 to 1565. The Vijayanagara rulers were considered great patrons of art and that is very much visible in the ruins that still exist in the city of Hampi. They built beautiful stone structures that housed temples and other similar monuments. Some of these are still worshipped by the people of the place. One such place is the temple of Virupaksha dedicated to Lord Shiva. This magnificent work of art in stone is visited by tourists who come here to see the structure as well as pilgrims who come to worship Virupaksha. There are other several important sites near Hampi like the Anegundi, Achyutaraya Temple, Chandramouleshwara temple, Ugra Narasimha temple, Hazara Rama temple etc. There are also several other structures that are visited like the King’s Balance, the various canals, the elephants stables, the Madhavan palace which has more than one lakh pillars and the famous Vittala temple where the stone chariot, which now has become the face for Karnataka Tourism, can be seen. The entire place is filled with wonders that will leave anyone awestruck.
One can reach the ruins of Hampi from Bangalore. It is about 353 km away from the silicon city. The nearest town would be Bellary from where Hampi is just 74 km away. One should visit the place during the Hampi festival that is held annually and organized by the government of Karnataka in the month of November.
Pattadakal: Bijapur District
The river of Malaprabha has, on its banks, the very famous Pattadakal. Famous for the type of architecture that is a combination of both Dravidian as well as Nagara, Pattadakal was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site for the rich culture and history that it upholds. It was under the reign of the Chalukya kings that this place grew and gained the glory which it maintains even to this day. Among the monuments built by them, the most famous is the Virupaksha temple that was commissioned by the Queen Lokamahadevi. The other important and famous monuments and structures are the Sangameshwara temple, the Mallikarjuna temple, the Kashivishvanatha temple, the Galaganath temple, Papanatha temple, the Jain temples etc. Most of these structures are either built in the Dravidian style or the Nagara style or is a mixture of both. The Virupaksha temple is still visited as a place of pilgrimage and tourists from all over the world come here to marvel at its glory. It is a standing monument of the dedication and the patronage of the kings of the Chalukya dynasty towards art and culture.
From Bangalore, Pattadakal is about 514 km away. There is good rail as well as road connection to this place and the best time to visit will be during the months from October to February
Apart from the ones that were declared as world heritages site by UNESCO, there are several other places which speak of the legacy of Karnataka. Though they do not feature in UNESCO’s list, they are still very beautiful and great works of art and places that must be visited if in Karnataka.
Badami Caves
Another beautiful work of art is the Badami caves in the district of Bagalkot. Known for the temples that are within the caves, the place is famous and most visited by those who love to learn more about the great rich culture that Karnataka has. The main features of the caves are the four temples. Two of them are Vaishnava temples dedicated to lord Vishnu. One is a Shiva temple and the other one is dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. The rock cut temples are magnificent in their architecture and highlight the Dravidian and Nagara style of architecture seen mostly during reign of the Chalukya. In each of these temples, one will find a Mantap, veranda and pillars and a place for god’s carved image. There is an archeological museum for the history enthusiasts where one can learn more about the history of the caves and the rulers etc. There is also a fort close by that is worth a visit.
It is located about 500 km away from Bangalore and 30 km from Bagalkot. The best time to visit would be when the annul fairs are organized in the months of January and February.
Lakkundi
Lakkundi is another historical site in the Gadag District that one must visit. The great dynasties like the Hoysalas, Chalukyas, Kalachuris etc. who established empires in the region in subsequent periods have left their marks, making Lakkundi a remarkable site of beautifully done stone architecture. More than 50 temples exist here and among them the temples of Mallikarjuna, Veerabhadra, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Kasivisvesvara are all very famous for their beautiful architecture. There is also a beautifully done, ornate Jain Basadi among the ruins. Among other structures, the 101 stepped well is also a must-see.
Lakkundi is close to the city of Hampi. In fact, Lakkundi falls on the way to the city of Hampi. It is about 11 km away from Gadag. However, most of the tourists do not know about its existence and because of that they lose a great opportunity to see the glorious stone-cut-work that exists nowhere else but here. If ever on the way to Hampi, insist on visiting Lakkundi.
Chitradurga Fort
Chitradurga fort has been very famous in the textbooks of the state for the heroic deed of one lady by name Obawa, who killed the soldiers trying to enter the fort through a small opening in the wall. Chitradurga is also mentioned in the epic, Mahabharatha. From this, the history and the importance of the site are obvious. The place was ruled by several prominent dynasties like the Hoysalas, Chalukyas as well as the Rashtrakutas before being taken over by Hyder Ali. During their reign, several beautiful rock temples as well as other structures were built for the benefit of their subjects. This historical site has several temples and a beautiful fort. There are about 18 temples inside and among them the temple of Hidimbeshwara is very popular. Other important temples are the temples of Siddeshwara, Ekanathamma, Hanuman, Nandi, Krishna etc. There are several other structures that are a must-see like the Rain water harvesting structure that was built to collect rain water and connected to reservoirs, the Panchalinga caves dedicated to lord Shiva, warehouses that housed the grains and a masjid that was a later addition by Hyder Ali, once he took over the kingdom from the Nayakas. The place where Onake Obavva killed the soldiers is also a must-see.
It is located about 120 km away from Hampi and about 200 km away from Bangalore and is well connected by rail as well as road.
Gulbarga Fort: Gulbarga
Another beautiful and historical place is the Gulbarga fort. Taken care of by the Archeological Survey of India, the fort is a must-visit for the great history that it has. It is dated back to the 13th century and was built by the kings of Bahamani dynasty. The fort houses temples, buildings, elephant stables, courtyards, ammunition go-downs etc. The famous Jama Masjid is also within this same fort. One must also the visit the tombs of the Khwaja Bande Nawaz. From the fort, the scenery is picturesque. One can see the Golconda tombs from the fort. The fort is well connected and is about 610 km away from the city of Bangalore.
Bidar Fort: Bidar
The rulers of the Chalukya dynasty built this fort during their reign in Bidar in the 8th century. However, the fort gained its popularity during the rule of the Mughals who further enhanced the fort by building more around and inside of it. There are about 7 different entrances to the fort which are a must-see. Also the several mosques, palaces, baths, kitchens and gardens are also beautifully done, showcasing the Mughal architecture. Among the palaces, there is Takth Mahal where the coronation of the kings would take place. Rangeen Mahal, Tarkash Mahal, Jali Mahal etc. are a must-see. The royal bath called Hammam and the royal kitchen called Shahi Matkhab are also famous that must be seen on a trip there. The fort is about 740 km away from the city of Bangalore. If ever on a trip here, Bidriware, the most popular handicraft of this place, is a must-buy. It is said that the ware is made using metals along with the black soil that is taken from within the fort making it unique and novel only to the state.
Belur-Halebidu: Hassan
Another place filled with history is the sites of Belur and Halebidu. Such is the beauty of the place that it has been proposed to be included in the UNESCO heritage sites. Located in the district of Hassan, Belur and Halebidu attract tourists due to the beautiful stone carvings here. In Belur, one can see the magnificent stone carvings that were done during the reign of the Hoysala dynasty. The most popular of these structures is the Chennakeshava temple, which has the most beautiful of the carvings. This place is not just visited by the tourists but also by devotees who worship Lord Vishnu even now. The lady with the mirror is a very famous sculpture here. Another unique feature is the elephants that go all around the temple walls. It is said that no two elephants are alike. Such was the craftsmanship of the period.
Halebidu is another beautiful place that is a must-visit. Little farther, about 16 km from Belur, this place has several stone structures which are testimonies to the architecture of the period. There are two temples, the Hoysaleshwara temple and the Kedareshwara temple, here. It also has two Jain Basadis. The temple architecture is beautiful with scenes from various Hindu Mythology, figures of dancers as well as birds and animals. Here too, no two figures are alike. There is also a huge Ganesha as well as Nandi stone carving that can be seen. The closest is the city of Hassan from where this place is 31km away.
Shravanabelagola: Hassan
The huge monolithic statue of Bahubali is in the district of Hassan, about 158 km away from Bangalore. It is in the city of Shravanabelagola and is an important site of history and a place of worship. The most popular event is the Mahamastakabhisheka that takes place once in 12 years. The statue has inscriptions in Kannada, Tamil and Marathi. There are more than 800 inscriptions here in this place that speak of the various kings and the kingdoms that ruled the land. This is one monument filled with history that is still well preserved, making it a must-visit if ever in the state.
There are several other historical places like Somnathpur , which has several stone temples, the fort of Tipu etc. that speak volumes about the history and heritage of the state. Some of them already have gained the status of World heritage site and some have been proposed to be given the same status. On the whole, these places are full of history and are a must-visit if ever in the state of Karnataka.