Sights in Karnataka
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Anegundi
North of the river is the ruined fortified stronghold of Anegundi, an older structure than those at Hampi; within it you'll find a charming village. Free of the rampant commercialism that blights Hampi Bazaar, this is a wonderful place to stay thanks to a heritage-conservation project, the Kishkinda Trust. Much of the old defensive wall is intact and there are numerous small temples worth a visit.
It takes less than an hour to walk to Anegundi from Hampi Bazaar. At the time of research a new bridge across the Tungabhadra River was nearing completion; until then coracle rides cost Rs 10. Alternatively there's a road to Anegundi from Hospet.
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Channakeshava Temple
The Channakeshava Temple was commissioned in 1116 to commemorate the Hoysalas’ victory over the neighbouring Cholas. It took more than a century to build, and is currently the only one among the three major Hoysala sites still in daily use – try to be there for the puja (offerings or prayer) ceremonies at 9am, 3pm and 7.30pm. Some parts of the temple, such as the exterior lower friezes, were not sculpted to completion and are thus less elaborate than those of the other Hoysala temples. However, the work higher up is unsurpassed in detail and artistry, and is a glowing tribute to human skill. Particularly intriguing are the angled bracket figures depicting women in…
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Car Museum
The Car Museum in Dharmasthala is home to 48 vintage autos, including a 1903 Renault and a monster 1954 Cadillac!
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Virupaksha Temple
The focal point of Hampi Bazaar is the Virupaksha Temple, one of the city’s oldest structures. The main gopuram (gateway tower), almost 50m high, was built in 1442, with a smaller one added in 1510. The main shrine is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Shiva.
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St Aloysius College Chapel
Catholicism’s roots in Mangalore date back to the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 1500s, and today the city is liberally dotted with churches. One of the most impressive is the Sistine Chapel-like St Aloysius College Chapel, with its walls and ceilings painted with brilliant frescoes.
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Zenana Enclosure
A walled compound known as the Zenana Enclosure holds the Lotus Mahal, a delicately designed pavilion which was supposedly the queen’s recreational mansion. The Lotus Mahal overlooks the Elephant Stables, a grand building with domed chambers where state elephants once resided. Your ticket is valid for same-day admission to the Vittala Temple.
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Sri Chamundeswari Temple
At a lofty height of 1062m, on the summit of Chamundi Hill, stands the Sri Chamundeswari Temple, dominated by a towering 40m-high gopuram (entrance gateway). It’s a fine half-day excursion, offering spectacular views of the city below; you can take bus 201 (Rs10, 30 minutes) that rumbles up the narrow road to the summit. A return autorickshaw trip will cost about Rs250.
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Gomateshvara Statue
A steep climb up 614 steps takes you to the top of Vindhyagiri Hill, the summit of which is lorded over by the towering naked statue of Gomateshvara. Commissioned by a military commander in the service of the Ganga king Rachamalla and carved out of a single piece of granite by the sculptor Aristenemi in AD 981, its serenity and simplicity is in stark contrast to the Hoysala sites at Belur and Halebid.
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Bidar Fort
Keep aside a few hours for peacefully wandering around the remnants of the magnificent 15th-century Bidar Fort. Sprawled across rolling hills 2km east of Udgir Rd, this fort was once the administrative capital of much of southern India. Surrounded by a triple moat hewn out of solid red rock and 5.5km of defensive walls (the second longest in India), the fort has a fairy-tale entrance on a roadway that twists in an elaborate chicane through three gateways.
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Namdroling Monastery
Bylakuppe's highlight is the Namdroling Monastery, home to the jaw-droppingly spectacular Golden Temple, presided over by an 18m-high gold-plated Buddha. The temple is at its dramatic best when school is in session and it rings out with gongs, drums and chanting of hundreds of young novices. You’re welcome to sit and meditate; look for the small blue guest cushions lying around. The Zangdogpalri Temple, a similarly ornate affair, is next door.
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Lalbagh Botanical Gardens
Spread over 96 acres of landscaped terrain, Lalbagh or the Red Garden was laid out in 1760 by Hyder Ali, and is now one of Bengaluru’s most famous greens. Ten-seater ecofriendly buggies (per head Rs100) can take you on a guided tour across the garden, telling you more about the centuries-old trees and collections of plants from around the world. A beautiful glasshouse, modelled on the original Crystal Palace in London, is the venue for flower shows in the weeks preceding Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August). Walk in early on Sundays, and you can also hear the police band perform at the Police Bandstand.
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Maharaja's Palace
The fantastic profile of the walled Indo-Saracenic Maharaja's Palace, the seat of the maharajas of Mysore, graces the city's skyline. An earlier palace burnt down in 1897 and the present one, designed by English architect Henry Irwin, was completed in 1912 at a cost of Rs 4.5 million.
The palace's interior - a kaleidoscope of stained glass, mirrors and gaudy colours - is undoubtedly over the top, but it includes awe-inspiring carved wooden doors and mosaic floors, as well as a series of historically interesting paintings depicting life in Mysore during the Edwardian Raj. Hindu temples within the palace grounds include the Sri Shweta Varahaswamy Temple; its gopuram…
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