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  • 0124 Tirthankara Basadi/Ammanavara Basadi,Venur

    24 Tirthankara Basadi/Ammanavara Basadi

    Travellers are recommended to visit 24 Tirthankara Basadi that lies on the right side of Kallu Basadi (Dodda Basadi). Upon reaching this basadi, tourists will see an inscription on the right side of the temple that conveys the information that this site was constructed in 1537.

    Visitors will also get a chance to view 24 separate idols of Tirthankaras that have been placed in a row in a standing position (Kadgasana). The idol of Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Padmavathi can be seen on the right and left side of the Tirthankara idols, respectively. Goddess Padmavathi is known as Ammanavaru by Jains in Karnataka. Therefore, 24 Tirthankara Basadi is also known by the name of Ammanavara Basadi.

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  • 02Adinatha Basadi,Venur

    Adinatha Basadi

    Travellers on a trip to Venur village are recommended to explore Adinatha Basadi that lies on the left side of the Kallu Basadi (Dobba Basadi). The prime attraction of this basadi is the statue of the presiding deity, Lord Adinatha, in Padmasana.

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  • 03Agni Gudda Hill,Sakleshpur

    Agni Gudda Hill

    The most favorite trekking and camping spot for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers, Agni Gudda Hill can be spotted in various South Indian and Bollywood movies. The hill is surrounded by lush green rice terraces and is a favorite among the youth for many horrent activities. The beautiful mountain provides panoramic views of the rice fields in the surrounding and often called a trekker’s delight. Due to the extremely volcanic nature of the hill in the region, the hill has got its name ‘Agni Gudda means Fiery Mountain.

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  • 04Akkangala Basadi Or Eda Basadi,Venur

    Akkangala Basadi Or Eda Basadi

    If time permits, tourists are recommended to explore Akkangala Basadi that is located on the western side of the Bahubali idol. Akkangala Basadi, otherwise known as Eda Basadi, was constructed by Malli Devi and Pandyakka Devi (two wives of King Thimmanna Jila) in 1604. The queens decided to build this basadi after taking blessings from Charukeerthi Swamy. Upon reaching the site, travellers will get the chance to see the idol of Chandranatha Swamy.

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  • 05Anthargange Caves,Anthargange

    Anthargange Caves

    Anthargange Caves, located on the Anthargange Hills in the Kolar District of Karnataka, have been formed out of small volcanic rocks. The big and small rocks have mounded together over the years to create cave-like structures. These caves keep travellers busy with exploration and are a perfect destination for those looking for some adventure. Some of the caves at Anthargange are so small and narrow that travellers have to crawl through them.

    Apart from caves, travellers can also visit a few old temples and other religious centres during their visit here. Anthargange is located some 70 km from the city of Bangalore; hence, day trips are ideal from the city. Trekking, rappelling and high-rope traversing are some of the interesting activities that tourists can enjoy here. Several natural springs present at the hill and the pleasant weather are the other highlights of the place.

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  • 06Bandipur National Park,Bandipur

    Bandipur National Park, one of the 'must visit' attractions of Bandipur, is the ideal spot for nature lovers as well as adventure lovers. Sprawled across the area of 800 sq km, this park has abundant beautiful, deep and dense forest.

    In 1931, the Maharaja of Mysore founded this National Park, which measured 90 sq km at that time. This park was named Venugopala Wildlife Park in 1941, which was based on the main deity of the region.

    Tourists can enjoy beautiful views from all corners of the park as it is encircled by Nagur, Kabini and Moyar Rivers. The park is the habitat of several animals, such as tigers, four horned antelopes, giant squirrels, elephants, hornbills, wild dogs, panthers, sloth bears and gaurs. Along with animals, some rare bird species can also be found here, including migrant and resident birds.

    Brown hawk owl, trogons, grey jungle fowls, Drongo Bay owls, weaver birds, woodpeckers, kingfishers, common warblers and fly catches can be seen at the park. This park also has some rare flora species, such as Tectona grandis, Emblica officinalis, Bambusa arundinacea, and Dalbergia latifolia. Tourists can visit the park between 10 am and 6 pm at nominal charges of Rs. 25 for Indians and Rs. 150 for foreigners.

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  • 07Bannerghatta National Park,Bannerghatta

    Bannerghatta National Park, one of the prime attractions of Bannerghatta, is a 'must visit' for nature lovers. This national park sprawls over 104 sq km of area and is a home to numerous species of animals, birds and plants. The park was established in 1971 and since then became the home of tigers, lions, and crocodiles.

    Animals like gaurs, wild pigs, elephants, sloth bears, jackals, sambar, leopards, barking deer, hare and foxes can also be seen at this park. This park also features diverse flora species that include sandal, jalari, zizyphus, tamarind, neem and chujjullu. The snake farms are the major attractions of Bannerghatta National Park. This park also includes ten reserve forests of Anekal Range that are supervised by the Bangalore Forest Division.

    Tourists can also visit the country's first Butterfly Park that is spread over a vast area of 7.5 acres. This park was set-up by Zoo Authority of Karnataka, University of Agricultural Sciences and the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE) in 2006. This park has a museum, butterfly conservatory and an audio-visual room. An abode to 20 species of butterflies, the Butterfly Park is bounded by a polycarbonate roof that creates tropical, humid and artificial climate.

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  • 08Basava Sagara Dam,Yadgir

    Basava Sagara Dam

    Basava Sagara Dam, earlier known as Naeayanpur Dam, is one of the major attractions near Yadgir in Karnataka. The dam gives water for irrigation to Yadgir, Bijapur and Raichur districts of the state. The dam is around 29 m high and approximately 10 km long. The dam is located in Narayanpur which is a scenic place that has waterfalls, hills and temples for travellers to explore.

    Bhima river, Dhab Dabi waterfalls and Chintanalli are some of the nearby attractions. There is also a group of four hills in this region which are collectively known as Sleeping Buddha, as the shape of the hills resemble the sleeping posture of Buddha.  

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  • 09Bettada Byraveshwara Temple,Sakleshpur

    Bettada Byraveshwara Temple

    Sakleshpur, a small Taluka in Karnataka, situated on the edge of the Western Ghats at an elevation of about 3100 feet above sea level, Sakleshpur Taluk includes the Bisle reserve forest that is one of the eighteen biodiversity hotspots in the world. Surrounded by this serenity, Betta Byraveshwara Temple is one of the top places to visit in Sakleshpur. Nestled in the beauty of Western Ghats, Betta Byraveshwara offers everyone a panoramic view of the landscape.

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  • 10Binnani Basadi or Bala Basadi,Venur

    Binnani Basadi or Bala Basadi

    Tourists are recommended to explore the Binnani Basadi, if time allows. It is popular for the bronze idol of 16th Theerthankara Shanthinatha. Binnani Basadi, otherwise known as Bala Basadi, was constructed in front of the Akkangala Basadi by Binnani Devi (youngest queen of Timmaraja). Upon reaching the site, travellers will get the chance to view the inscriptions that depict details about donations and blessings of Charukeerthi Swamy. Tourists can also see a pillar of Lord Brahma on the southern side of Binnani Basadi.

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  • 11Elephant Training Camp,Dubare

    Elephant Training Camp, one of the 'must visit' attractions of Dubare, is a camp where a large number of animals are trained on the banks of the river Kaveri. This project is administered by the forest department and elephants are trained by Kurabas, a local tribe. Tourists can enjoy watching elephants bathe in the river and observe the animals perform on the directions of mahouts; elephants also perform mock logging operations at this site.

    A few lucky campers may even get the rare opportunity of scrubbing and feeding the elephants. The camp has a professional naturalist who describes the history, ecology and biology of elephants. Tourists can also take part in a wildlife safari, elephant ride and coracle rides at this camp; they can even spot various birds here, such as kingfishers, woodpeckers and peacocks.

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  • 12Gomateswara Statue,Venur

    Gomateswara Statue

    While on a trip to Venur village, tourists must visit the Gomateshwara statue that was constructed by a Jain ruler, King Thimmanna Ajila in 1604 AD. This single-rock idol is believed to be sculpted by Amarashilpi Jakanachari. The monolith idol of Lord Gomateshwara lies on the banks of Phalguni river.

    This monolith statue is the smallest of the 4 Bahubali idols located in Karnataka (others being at Karkala, Dharmasthala and Sravanabelagola) and has a height of 35 feet. The unique feature about the Gomateshwara statue of Venur is that this idol stands on a raised platform without any support.

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  • 13Kallu Basadi Or Dodda Basadi,Venur

    Kallu Basadi Or Dodda Basadi

    If time allows, then tourists are recommended to visit the Kallu Basadi that is otherwise known as Dodda Basadi. This basadi was constructed using rocks and that is why the site was named Kallu Basadi. The existence of a palatial courtyard is the reason why the site was also called Dodda Basadi (Big Basadi). Upon reaching the Kallu Basadi, travellers will get a chance to explore the 5-feet statue of Shantinatha. Tourists can also see rock formations of Yakshi Mahamanasi and Yasha Garuda on both sides of the idol. The main attraction of Kallu Basadi is the Tirthankara idol that can be seen in Padmasana with a meditation stance.

    The idols of two Tirthankaras, namely Chandranatha and Mahaveera, are also kept inside the Kallu Basadi. On close observation, visitors can see an inscription on the base of the pedestal of the 24 bronze idols of Tirthankaras. This pedestal has been given the name Hari Peeta.

    Slate rock has been used for constructing the entrance (only the exterior part) of the Kallu Basadi. Travellers can also see the Saraswati idol (right side) and the Padmavathi Devi idol (left side) inside the sanctum sanctorum. Due to the presence of the above mentioned idols, the site is known as Ammanavara Basadi.

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  • 14Kudalasangama,Bagalkot

    Kudalasangama

    Basavanna was a 12th century Kannada poet, social reformer and saint who was under the patronage of King Bijjala I in Karnataka. Basavanna was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and his revolutionary movement gave rise to Veerashaivism (Lingayat community) in South India. Koodalasangama or Kudalasangama is a place where Basavanna spent his childhood and died. Hence, it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Lingayats or the followers of Veerashaivism.

    Koodalasangam is known for Sangameshwara Temple (Sangamanatha Temple) and Aikya Mantapa (Basavanna's samadhi or tomb). There is also a museum which has a collection of Basavanna's literature and many artefacts of ancient Karnataka.

    Kudalasangama is a small village on the banks of Krishna and Malaprabha rivers in Bagalkot district. It is one of the interesting places which was part of a huge Bhakti movement in Karnataka.

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  • 15Madhukeshwara Temple,Banavasi

    Madhukeshwara Temple

    Tourists on a trip to Banavasi must visit the Madhukeshwara Temple that was built by the Kadamba Empire during the 9th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is renowned among travellers for its beautiful and unique architectural carvings and designs.

    Upon visiting Madhukeshwara Temple, tourists can view monolithic stone works like a stone couch and triloka mantapa that showcases earth, heaven and nether. However, the prime attraction of this pilgrimage site is one half of the idol of Lord Ganesha; the other half of the idol is believed to be in Varanasi.

    Apart from Lord Ganesha, the idol of Lord Narasimha can be found in the Madhukeshwara Temple. Devotees visiting this temple can see the 2nd century sculpture of five-hooded Naga. Upon closer observation, pilgrims can notice an inscription (in Prakrit language) on this Naga sculpture.

    As per the information derived from the inscription, the sculpture was set here by Princess Sivaskanda Nagashri after the establishing Vihara and a tank. Devotees of Lord Shiva from across the country visit the Madhukeshwara Temple during the occasion of Shivaratri.

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