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Travel Karnataka is famous for its multitude of tourist attractions and temples. Karnataka has innumerable sites in the Temple Map of India, with its some of its still surviving monuments going back to the 7th century AD. The Badami Chalukyas were the builders of rock cut caves and ancient temple complexes. At Pattadakal, there are Temples in the Dravidian style along with Temples in styles that were later adopted in Eastern and Central India. The sculptural quality in these temples is outstanding. Religious Places in Karnataka Karnataka's pilgrim Centres are excellent examples of its rich cultural heritage and attract thousands of devotees all through the year. This has been a school of thought for many Philosophers and Philosophies.Sonda Mutt: Sonda is small remote place surrounded with nature and enveloped with beauty. It is around 20 KMs from Sirsi Town of North Kanara. The Sonda mutt is approached by road through beautiful, verdant, thick forests, tall hills and river. As one nears the Sode Mutt, first to be sighted is the lake known as Hayagriva Samudra. Towards the west of this lake stands a Dvaja sthamba in front of the Rama Thrivikrama temple. Both the Lord's vehicles - the Hamsa and Garuda are depicted on this Dvaja sthamba. The Rama Thrivikrama temple consists of three parts - the sanctum sanctorum with the lovely idol of Lord Thrivikrama, the stone chariot used for transporting the Lord's idol and the idol of Sri Lakshmi Devi in the chariot. Following are few information’s to reach to Sonda
Distance from Bangalore : 430 kilometers. Mysore is roughly the same distance. Distance from Hubli : 120 kilometers away. Distance from Sirsi : 22 kilometers. Nearest Railway Stations : Haveri(100 kms), Hubli. Nearest Airport : Hubli, Bangalore, Mangalore. Lodging Facilities : Rooms are available through the temple administration itself, though they get full during weekends. If rooms are unavailable, administration will provide safe lockers @ Rs 5/- per day! The temple provides lunch and dinner. Sugama, VRL Logistics, Sea Bird travelers run daily buses to Sonda from Bangalore. You need to book in advance though. The buses reach Sonda around 7:30AM and leaves around 8:30PM. The departure time is not set in stone. The buses wait till the Bhoota Raja Bali and dinner is complete. KSRTC buses are available from Sirsi to Bangalore, Mysore and Hubli. There are buses to Sirsi every two hours. In between, there are private shared Cabs running between Sirsi and Sonda. The last bus to Sirsi is at 5:15PM so one needs to plan well if returning from Sirsi. Driving directions from Bangalore : Bangalore – Tumkur – Chitradurga – Haveri – Sirsi. From Sirsi, take the Yellapur highway and you will find signboards pointing towards Sode Moodabidri : 391 Kms. from Bangalore. Moodabidri is small town in the South Canara is famous for 1000 pillared Jain Shrine Karkala : 376 Kms. from Bangalore Karkala is an important Jain centre located in South Canara is known for a 12.8m high monolith of Gomateshwara. Melkote : 155 Kms. from Bangalore. Melkote is a sacred pilgrim centre known for the Vairamudi Festival held during March - April Ugra Narasimha Temple : The gigantic 8/9 metres tall image of Ugra Narasimha is located in the south of the Hemakuta group of temples that includes the Virupaksha Temple. The Narasimha is a four-armed figure seated under the canopy of a seven-hooded snake. Beyond the Krishna Temple Complex is the celebrated but badly damaged sculpture of Narasimha, carved out of a single boulder. The recent discovery of the detached figure of Lakshmi identified this massive sculpture as Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha. Now in a damaged state, the awesome image depicts the benign aspect of the god since a part of the right hand goddess Lakshmi skirts around the Narasimha suggesting that goddess Lakshmi was originally seated on his lap. The monolith s disfigured but its significance is undisputed. Hidimbeshwar Temple : The Hidimbeshwara temple is the oldest temple the hill. The other temples in the hill fort are those of Ekanathamma; Phalguneshwara, Gopalakrishna, Anjaneya, Subbaraya and the Siddeswara. A huge kettle-drum, in one of the temples, 6 feet in height and 10 feet in circumference is said to be Bhima's. Walk across to the stones that ground the gunpowder for Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. Cave Temples : Badami town is best known for its beautiful cave temple, cut into the cliff face of a red sandstone hill. They display the full range of religious sects which have developed in India. Two of them are dedicated to Vishnu, one to Shiva and the fourth is a Jain temple. There's also one natural cave which is a Buddhist temple. Shravanabelagola : 51 kms southeast of Hassan, this is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. Here is the 17 m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world's tallest monolithic statue. Thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka -a spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years, when the 1000 -year- old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2005 A.D. Shravanabelegola is 158 kms from Bangalore. ISKCON Temple : The ISKCON Temple was built recently by the International Society for Krishan Consciousness. As you climb the granite steps you will encounter three small shrines before the main temple. The three idols of Lord Krishna in the main shrine are made of brass. Hoysaleswara Temple : This temple is one of the most remarkable examples of Hoysala art. The interior and the exterior walls of the temple are covered with intricate sculptures depicting the various Hindu gods, sages, stylised animals and birds, and friezes portraying the life of the Hoysala rulers. The temple is set in a well-maintained garden adjacent to which is a museum containing a collection of fine sculptures. Inspite of the fact that construction of the temple started in the year 1121 (Approx.) and there was 80 monotones years of labour the temple was never completed. Among the other famous temples of Halebid are the Kedareswara and Jain temple. Chennakeshava Temple : The Channekeshava Temple at Belur was constructed in the year 1116 to celebrate the victory of the Hoysala's over the Cholas at Talakad. Intricate carvings can be found on the interiors of the temple. The sensational seven storied gopuram is exceptionally beautiful with some breathtaking sculptures explicitly depicting the apres-temple activities of dancing girls. The temple is enclosed in a paved compound with a well and a bathing tank. Among others temples of Belur are the Channigaraya and the Viranarayana Temples Somnathpur Temple: Karnataka is justly called the cradle of stone architecture, as its peerless stone wonders are eloquent reminders of a fertile heritage. As one reaches Somnathpur, a small village on the banks of the Kaveri, 140 kms, south-west of Bangalore, one feels an eternal stillness and freshness in the air as if the place is if saying eternity grows here. Here, amidst the lasting rural serenity stands Kesava temple - one of the grandest of Hoysala monuments. The Somnathpur temple built in AD 1268 is considered an example of the fully evolved style of Hoysala architecture. The Hoysalas were a mighty martial race who ruled large parts of present day Karnataka between 1100 and 1320 AD. The Hoysala temple at Somnathpur is truly unique in design, perfect in proportion and the stone carvings are striking marvels in stone. The shrine stands in the centre of a walled compound, around which runs an open verandah with 64 cells. The temple itself, stellar in shape, has three elaborately carved pinnacles with a common Navranga and stands on a raised platform. TEMPLES OF DAKSHIN KANNADA - UDUPI - UTTAR KANNADA
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