Karnataka: Bangalore Belur Mysore Somnathpur Coorg Shivanasamudram Talakad

About this blog

This is about a short visit in February 2011 to Bangalore and to Belur, another visit in May 2011 to Bangalore and Mysore and Coorg, and yet another in August 2011 to Bangalore, Shivanasamudram and Talakad.

February trip: In Bangalore, we visited the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, the Big Bull Temple at Basavangudi along with the adjacent Bugle Rock Gardens, the Bannerghatta Butterfly Park - which incidentally has a lot less butterflies than at the Bugle Rock, and Chickpet - shoppers Mecca!

Belur's claim to fame is its Hoysala era Chennakesava temple, well known for its exquisite stone carvings and star plinth. Belur is approx. 220 km from Bangalore, in Hassan district.

May trip: Bangalore - Lalbagh botanical gardens

Somnathpura - Chennakesava temple - this is a scaled down version of the temple at Belur but it is much more easily accessible from both Mysore and Bangalore - and a lot less crowded! Well worth a visit.

Mysore - Karanji Kere, the illuminated palace, a drive through the Maldare forest of Coorg and Nagarahole

August Trip: The Shivanasamudram waterfalls are spectacular in the monsoons. Talakad nearby has ancient temples hidden in the sands of time .......

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My Karnataka photos on Flickriver: