KARNATAKA
BADAMI, PATTADAKAL, AIHOLE – The seventh century site of Badami represents the sophistication of Chalukyan architecture. Of Badami’s four richly carved cave temples, three are Vedic caves, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, and the fourth, with its idol of Parashwanatha, to Jain deities. Patta-dakal, with its Virupaksha Temple, is a World Heritage Site. Among the 10 temples in the complex are also the stunning Mallikarjuna and Papanath temples. Erstwhile Chalukyan capital Aihole is home to 100 shrines built between the 6th and 12th century AD, the star attraction being the Durga Temple, which has a fusion of Dravida with Nagara architectural styles. Use Badami as your base for a day tour of the other two. Accessed from Hubli (115km), which is a six-hour drive northwest from the state capital Bangalore.
HAMPI – Its jaw-dropping carved temples, palaces and other ruins of the Sacred Centre around Hampi Bazaar and the Royal Centre near Kamalapuram from the legendary Vijayanaga-ra Kingdom provide a window into the world of medieval South India and its enormous wealth, noted by many writers of the era. But adventure buffs in the 21st century love it for the great landscape of giant boulders among which the historic site stands. A handful of rock climbers from abroad discovered the potential of Hampi as a granite bouldering climbing site. Today, would-be boulderers seek locally available professional help to explore Hampi’s 700 boulder challenges, especially in November and December. Hampi is accessed from Hospet (13km). The 341 kms drive from Bengaluru takes about six hours.
MYSORE – Central to this erstwhile royal city is the massive sprawl of the Mysore Palace, home of the Wodeyar royals. Rising Phoenix-like from the ashes of a terrible fire, this grand palace is the first stop for visitors in the city—for the dazzle of its Darbar Hall and Kalyana Man-tapa. The palace design and aesthetic displays a mix of Hindu, Islamic, Gothic and Rajput styles. A higlight is the dramatic lit-up view after sunset. The 10-day-long Mysore Dasara Festival was a royal initiative, and is celebrated lavishly with the public display of the Golden Howdah even today. Set off on a languid trawl of Mysore’s other ornate palaces, gardens, Chamundi Hill and old markets where you can pick up Mysore silks, sandalwood joss sticks and garlands of fragrant jasmine. Mysore is a 146kms drive from Bengaluru, which takes 2.5 hours.
DANDELI – Said to be the oldest declared game reserve in India, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is where you can spot the elusive black panther. Flying snakes, flying squirrels and flying lizards are other unique denizens of this pristine world, also famed for its rare and colourful hornbills. The white water rafting experiences, arranged by Kali Wilderness Adventure Camp on the Kali River, attract many adventure buffs. For the less adventurous there are gentle coracle rides on offer. Jungle safaris are arranged by the Kulgi Nature Camp. Trekkers can conquer Shiroli Peak and further ahead explore the network of limestone caves at Kavala. The nearest railway station is Alnavar, 35kms away.
RIVER TERN ISLAND – An all-year retreat, this picturesque island rises off the sparkling waters of the backwaters of the Bhadra river, just 4km from the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. The river shares the secret of this special place with only those who venture into these parts. You can’t stay on the island itself, as it disappears when the monsoon engorges the backwaters. But before that happens, it’s the residence of the river terns, who have been using it as a nursery for years. Stay at Jungle Lodges River Tern Lodge here and take a boat ride to watch the chicks come out to take their first swim. Watersports are also on offer by the resort. The island is about 27Skms from Bangalore.
