Chalukyan capital between 4^th to 7^th centuries, there are 70 temples scattered over Aihole are the rare example of the earliest structural temples, showing evolution of the art of temple architecture in India. Lad Khan Temple, representing an important stage in this development, has a circumambulatory Path, with perforated screen windows in this development, with the very first known attempt of creating a 'Shikhara' over the sanctum. It was built around 450 A. D. the Durgigudi temple is circular in shape.

Aihole is 17 km from Pattadakal & 46 km from Badami.

Accommodation : KSTDC Tourist Bungalow, Aihole.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Belgaum (196 km)

Rail : Nearest Railway Stations are Bagalkot (43 km) and Badami (46 km)

Bus : Regular buses to Pattadakal (17 km), Badami (46 km), and Bagalkot (43 km).

Badami, Pattadakal & Aihole villages were once the capital cities of the Chalukyan Empire between the 4^th to 8^th centuries A. D.

Badami is famous for its rock cut temples, some of them has 12 to 14 feet high gigantic carvings. Of the five rock cut temples, two are dedicated to Vishnu, one to Shiva and the 4^th is a Jain temple and 5^th is a natural cave, the Buddhist temple. They are connected by flights of steps. Erotic carvings are found in the third cave.

Accommodation : KSTDC Tourist Lodge and Inspection Bungalow at Badami.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Belgaum (167 km)

Bus : Regular buses to Aihole, Pattadakal, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gadag, etc.

Bagalkot is a good base for the tourist who needs batter glass accommodation to visit Aihole, Pattadakal & Badami.

Accommodation : 1. KSTDC Tourist Home.

2. Inspection Bungalow.

3. Travelers Bungalow

4. Old and New Circuit house.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Belgaum (167 km)

Bus : Regular buses to Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami, Bijapur, Gadag etc.

(80 km) Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary has area of 689 sq. km and joins the Mudumalai Wild Life Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu State, which extends down south to Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala State. The best season is between October to May when most of the animals can be spotted. Bandipur is noted for it herds of bison, spotted deer, elephants, and Sambar. The forest Department offers automobile and elephant rides within the sanctuary.

Accommodation : Two 20 bed dormitories and eight double bed rooms. For reservations contact Field Director, Project Tiger, Government House Complex, Mysore.

Situated 1000 meters above sea level and with a very pleasant climate, Bangalore was founded by Kempegowada in the early 16^th century. Now it is the capital of Karanataka State.

Places of Interest :

2. Vidhan Sabha : Built of granite in the neo-Dravidian style of architecture and located at the northern end of the Cubbon Park. It houses both the secretariat and the State Legislature. The building is floodlight on Sunday and Public Holiday evening.

3. Cubbon Park : This park is full of flowering trees, covers an area of 120 hectors. It was laid out in 1864. Red Gothic building in the park, houses the Public Library, the High Court and the Government Museum (1886). Museum is open from 8.00 to 17.00 hrs with Wednesday closed. The technological and industrial museum, also at Cubbon Park is open from 10.00 to 17.00 hrs with Monday closed.

4. Lalbagh Botonical Gardens : In the southern suburbs of Bangalore, it covers an area of 96 hectors, laid out in the 18^th century by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. It contains many countries old trees, lakes, lotus ponds, and flowerbeds, a Deer Park.

5. The Fort : Located on Krishnaraja Road : closed to the city Market. Originally a mud-brick structure, built in 1537 by Kempegowada. Later rebuilt in stone in the 18^th century by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan but destroyed during the war with the Britisher.

6. Tipu Sultan's summer Palace : Situated on Albert Victor Road. The palace is build by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, it was completed in 1791.

7. The Bull Temple : Four watchtowers near the temple. Temple situated on the bull road. Temple is build by king Kempegowda. It has a massive bull, carved in rock,, measuring 15 feet high and 20 feet long.

Conducted Tours : City sights seeing tour starts from the railway station at 9.00 hrs. to 19.00 hrs. Tour covers Tippu's Palace, Bull Temple, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Vidhan Sabha, Cubbon Park, Government Art Gallery, and Technology Museum.

Excursion tour of Srirangapatna: Mysore City and Brindavan Gardens.

Tour starts at 7.15 hrs and ends at 22.45 hrs.

Another excursion tour of Belur, Halebid & Sravanabelagola (Fridays and Sundays only)

Tour starts from city Railway Station at 7.15 hrs and ends at 22.00 hrs.

Air : Airport is 13 km from City Indian Airlines Office.

Bus : Regular buses to Mysore, Halebid, Belur, Sravanabelagola, Bannerghatta N P.

This national park has an area of 104.27 sq. km, is only 24 km south of Bangalore on the Anekal road. Tourist camping sites are available within the Park.

Animals residing in this park are sloth bear, chital, kakar and wild boar while elephants migrate into the area during the rainy season in search of fodder and water. Safari Parks for lions, tigers and baboons are attractions of the National Park. Models of pre-historic animals and the old, historical temples of Bannerghatta are the additional attractions of this Park.

Accommodation : Traveler's Bungalow at Bannerghatta.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Bangalore (24 km)

Rail : Nearest Railway Station is Bangalore (24 km)

Bus : Regular buses play between Bannerghatta National Park and Bangalore.

Situated on Bombay - Pune - Goa Bus and Rail route, 2,520 feet above the sea level, Belgaum population is over 2,50,000. 50 km from Belgaum on way to Miraj, & 8 km from Gokak Road railway station, there is a 52 meters high Gokak fall on the river Ghataprabha.

Places of Interest:

2. Oval - Shaped stone fort

3. Mosque

4. Masjid-I-Sata

5. Jain Temples

Air : Airport is 40 km from City Indian Airlines Office.

Bus : Regular buses to Pune, Miraj, Gokak, Dharwad, Panaji etc.

Haysales Kings ruled this part of Deccan between the 11^th in to 13^th centuries.

King Vishnuwardhana-Bittiga (Jain), under the influence of the great-saint Ramanuja, who converted him to Vishnu faith. During his reign that the temple of Belur and Halebid were built. The Hosaleswara Temple at Halebid was constructed about to 10 years after the Channekeshava Temple at Belur and despite 80 years labor it was never finally completed.

The Channekeshava Temple at Belur : Here much of the Decoration has gone into the internal supporting pillars and lintels, very delicately carved images of deities and guardian beast. This temple was constructed in 1117 A. D.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Bangalore (232 km)

Rail : Nearest Railway Station is Hassan (32 km)

Bus : Regular buses to Hassan, Halebid, Bangalore, Mysore etc.

One time capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty in the 16^th century. A formidable fort surrounds Bijapur. It is well known for its monument Gol Gumbaz.

Places of Interest :

2. Gol Gumbaz : This is the second largest dome hall, next to world largest dome St. Paul's in the Vatican city, Rome. Area of Gol Gumbaz is 1704 sq. meters. (18337 sq. ft) with a height of 178 feet, a diameter of 124.5 feet and 10 feet thick walls. The tick of a watch or the rustle of paper can be heard across a distance of 124 ft in the whispering gallery of the huge dome, and the sound echoed eleven times over. Pillars do not support the dome and octagonal seven storied towers at each of the corners buttress his four walls. It is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil shal (1626-56) and two of his favorite wives Rambha & Arusbih, one of his daughter and a grand son.

3. Ibrahim Roza : (5 km from Railway Station) Roza was constructed by Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1580-1626). His queen Taj-Sultana, his daughter, two sons and his mother Haji Badi Sahiba, are buried here. Its minarets are 24 meters high.

4. Jama E Masjid : This mosque was constructed by Ali Adil Shah I (1557-80) who also erected the fortified city walls, Gagan Mahal and installed public water system.

5. Asar Mahal : Built by Mohammed Adil shah in about 1645 to serve as a hall of Justice.

6. Gagan Mahal : Built by Ali Adil Shah I around 1561 to serve the double purpose of a royal residence and a Durbar Hall.

7. Malik-e-Maiden : This huge cannon measures 4 meters long and almost. 1.5 meters in diameter and is estimated to weight 55 tons. It was cast in 1549 by Mohammed-bin-Hasan Rumi, a Turkish officer, in the service of the King of Ahmednagar. This cannon was brought to Bijapur as a trophy of war.

8. Upli Burji : This watch tower, 24 meters high was built by Hyder Khan, a general in the service of Ali Adil Shah I and Ibrahim II, in about 1584. There are two guns measuring 9 meters and 8.5 meters, on the top of the tower.

9. Anand Mahal and Mecca Masjid, both in Citadel.

10. Mehtar Mahal.

Accommodation :

1. ITDC Travelers Lodge, Station Road.

2. KSTDC Tourist Home, Station Road.

3. KSTDC Tourist Home at the entrance to the Citadel.

4. Private Hotels.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Belgaum (192 km)

Bus : Regular buses to Bagalkot, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Solapur, Belgaum.

(19 km). This garden has been laid out below the Krishnarajasagar dam, across the Cauvery River. Garden is illuminated by myriad lights, in the evening. Boat facilities are available.

Halebid was the capital of Haysalas kings, who ruled this part of Deccan between the 11^th to 13^th centuries.

Hosaleswara Temple at Halebid : The external walls of the temple are covered in frenzies, depicting the life and times of the Hoysala rulers. No two are alike. Scenes from war, hunting, agriculture, music, dancing activities of the dancing, girls are represented here.

Accommodation

1. Karanataka state Tourist Development Corporation Tourist Cottages at both the places, Belur and Halebid. K.S.T.D.C Tourist Office at Hassan, books them in advance.

2. There is a I.T.D.C. Hotel Ashoka at Hassan.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Bangalore (239 km)

Rail : Nearest Railway Station is at Hassan (39 km)

Bus : Regular buses to Hassan (39 km), Belur (16 km),Bangalore (239 km), Mysore (160 km) etc.