Tourism

1. Bellary Fort

The Bellary Fort was ruled by Tippu Sultan “The Tiger of Mysore” which was built on the monolithic rock known to be the second single rock mountain in the world.  There was seven colour’s water which now been evaporated due to heavy heat and  it is known to be that the tunnel linked the route to Srirangapatna of Mysore. Bellary Fort is one of those historical sites that spin a history of over 3000 years. It was constructed by Hanumappa Nayaka during Vijayanagara era. In 1769 Hyder Ali captured the fort and revamped it with the help of a French engineer. Bellary Fort is situated at the hilltop of the Ballari Gudda. The USP of the fort is that it has been built on a monolithic rock. Ballari Gudda is presumed to be the second single rock mountain in the world. After Hyder Ali it was Tipu who ruled Bellary Fort.
Bellary Fort can be divided into two parts-the Upper fort and the Lower fort. The Upper fort was originally constructed during the Vijayanagara times. The polygonal Bellary Fort is with a single entrance. This part of the fort consists of a citadel (1976 ft.), cisterns, temple, several pools and cells. There was a seven-color waterbody that has currently evaporated. The tunnel here is also said to link the cities of Mysore and Sriragapatna. A single rock-strewn way will lead the travellers to the top of Bellary Fort.

The Lower part of the fort was constructed by Hyder Ali. This part lies in the eastern base of the rock. Measuring half a mile it once had armory and garrisons. There are two entrances to access the Lower fort facing the eastern and the western directions. Outside the eastern gate the tourists will come across a temple of Lord Hanuman. Bellary Fort is a major tourist attraction in the Bellary district. Recently the fort has been beautified with light and it is spectacular to witness the huge structure at evening. The green expanse and the hill top sceneries are the other attractions of the Bellary fort.

The fort attracts plenty of visitors during the day and also towards the evening; recently the fort has been illuminated on a 2 km stretch  using 188 special lights.

 Location:  It is about 2 km from Railway Station and Bus Stand.

2. Bellary Railway Station - This is the sacred place where Mahatma Gandhi spent about 8 hours on 01.10.1921 during his visit to Bellary.

How to Reach
By Bus       – Bellary City is well connected by bus network.
By Train    – Bellary City is well connected by train network
By Air        – The nearest Airport to reach Bellary is Bangalore, 305 KM away

3. Dr||Rajkumar Park -OR- Golden Jubilee Park (KUNTEGADDA Park)  
  Golden Jubilee Park is newly developed park beside railway station.  It contains musical fountain which starts at 7 O'Clock in the evening.

Location:  It is about 1 km from Bus Stand and less than half kilometer from Railway Station.

4. Dr||Vishnuvardhan Park

Dr||Vishnuvardhana Park was inaugurated on 12-08-2011 for public.  The statue of the veteran kannda actor Dr||Vishnuvardhan was also unveiled during this occasion. The park is constructed by Jindal Steels Ltd., Toranagallu with a cost of Rs.1.10 Crores in an area of about 3 acres.  This park has ample opportunity for the children to play around.

Location:  It is about 5 km from Bus Stand and Railway Station.

5. Bellary ZOO (Childrens Park)

Name of the Zoo               :          BELLARY CHILDRENS PARK-CUM-ZOO

Zoo Clasification               :          Small Zoo
Zoo Location                      :          Bellary
Area(Hect.) of the zoo       :          2.3999999999999999
Year Of Establishment      :         1981
Incharge Designation       :         Deputy Conservator of Forests
Full Address of the zoo     :         BELLARY DIVISION,  BELLARY, KARNATAKA.
Date of Establishment      :         1981
Address                                :         BELLARY DIVISION, BELLARY, KARNATAKA.
Telephone Number            :         08392-240797
Fax                                        :         08392-240797
Email Id                               :         dcf_bellary@rediffmail.com
Status ( Recog / Derecog ):       Recognized
Major Species Displayed :         Blackbucks, Spotted deer, Jackal, Crocodile, Indian peafowl
Controlling Authority          :         Chief Wild Life Warden, Karnataka
Photogallery                        :         click here More Information http://www.cza.nic.in/            

Location:  It is about 3 km from Bus Stand and Railway Station.

6. Hampi - A World Heritage Centre (Bellary District)  " If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi"
A brief history - Heritage Hampi was the capital city of the powerful South Indian Vijayanagar Empire. Founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336, it fell to the Muslim rulers of North India in 1565 after the disastrous Battle of Talikota, and subsequently lapsed into decline and abandonment. The onceproud city of victory is now a city of desolation. However, the ruins of these historical monuments have stood the ravages of man and time and still evoke memories of the grandeur of a bygone era.
Set amidst an awesome boulder strewn landscape along the banks of the Tungabhadra river 12km away from the sleepy town of Hospet in Bellary district, Hampi was the magnificent capital of the mighty Vijayanagar kingdom. “The city is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it, and the ear of intelligence has never been informed that there existed anything to equal it in the world,” marveled a 15th century Persian ambassador. There were opulent palaces, marvelous temples, massive fortifications, baths, markets, aquaducts, pavilions, stables for royal elephants, and elegantly carved pillars. The city of victory carved in stone, that once flourished and rivaled Rome in terms of beauty, magnitude and population. Till today, each rock in the ruins speak volumes of the grandeur, and majesticity it experienced 5 centuries ago. HAMPI, the "Pompeii of India", is a dream come true for archaeologists, historians, art-lovers or tourists. Forts, Palaces, temples, sculptures, baths, Irrigation canals, bazaar ruins of a civilization belonging to the medieval era, Preserved in stone. Hampi is now recognized as a world heritage monument by UNESCO who have joined hands with the archaeological department of India for its conservation. As excavations have progressed among its ghastly ruins, Hampi unveils sector by sector a large number of palatial complexes and basements of several platforms. Interesting finds include a large number of stone images, both in round and relief, beautiful terracotta objects and stucco figures that once embellished the palaces, many gold and copper coins, household utensils and, a square stepped tank. Inscribed Buddhist sculptures of 2nd and 3rd Century.A.D have also been unearthed recently. This has added a new facet to its early history. Though Hampi has in a sense survived death and desolation, which even in its present ruins, it continues to fascinate people from all walks of life. Come to Hampi, the site of fabled Vijayanagar Empire, and the most powerful 13th century kingdom and feel the vibrance in its ruins. AT HAMPI STONES SPEAK IN SILENCE.

This was a city whose merchants offered diamonds, pearls, fine silks, brocades, horses, and, according to one Portuguese visitor, “every sort of thing on earth.” A visit to Hampi is a sojourn into the past.The best way to experience this World Heritage Site is to take a leisurely stroll through the eloquent ruins. Most of the important structures and ruins are located in two areas, which are generally referred to as the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre. The Royal Centre in the southwest part of the site contains structures that seem to have been palaces, baths, pavilions, royal stables, and temples for ceremonial use. The Sacred Centre is situated on the northern edge of the city along the banks of the holy Tungabhadra river. The ruins of Hampi are extensive and fascinating enough to absorb your attention for several days. There is always something new to discover in Hampi. If you are in a hurry, a day or two will suffice to see all the important structures. Photography and archaeology buffs should plan on staying a little longer.   Hospet is the main town providing the getaway for Hampi.

Local Sights
   
The Hampi Bazaar, 35 yards wide and nearly 800 yards long was known to be a "very beautiful street with very beautiful houses".
  
The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of the famous Hampi Bazaar. The temple has a 120 feet tall tower on its eastern entrance. The temple contains the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneswari.Parts of this temple are older than the Vijayanagar kingdom itself. The work of this style dates back to the 11th or 12th century.

Nearby is the 6.7m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha. An inscription nearby states that it was hewn from a single boulder in 1528 during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya.

Vithala Temple Complex
The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtedly the Vithala Temple Complex with its 56 musical pillars.

To the east of the hall is the famous Stone Chariot with stone wheels that actually revolve. In front of the shrine stands the great mantapa. Resting on a richly sculpted basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, about 15 feet in height, each consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single block of stone. Several of the carved pillars were attacked with such fury that they are hardly more than shapeless blocks of stones and a large portion of the central part has been destroyed utterly. Nearby is the 'Purandra Dasara Mantapa' which has been also declared a protected monument.

Westwards from the House of Victory, leading through two ruined gates, the path leads to the Hazara Ramaswami temple. This temple is believed to have been the private place of worship of the royal family. The chief attraction of the temple is the series of scenes from the Ramayana carved on two of the inside walls of the mantapa. The genesis of the place known today as Hampi dates back to the age of the Hindu epic Ramayana when it was the site of Kishkinda, a monkey kingdom.

King's Balance
Hampi is also full of surprises: like the King's Balance where kings were weighed against grain, gold or money which was then distributed to the poor, the Queen's Bath, a swimming pool, 50 ft.long and 6 ft.deep, with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed water, the two-storeyed
  
Lotus Mahal: shaped like a lotus flower from top, this two-story structure has beautiful arc ways set in geometric regularity. It was an air-cooled summer palace of the queen.

Elephant Stables: This huge stable, a beautiful example of Hindu-Muslim style of architecture, housed about 11 elephants in separate compartments.

Mahanavami Dibba: The foundation of a lion story wooden structure from which the royalty viewed Hampi with pomp, colour and revelry during the Mahanadu festival. This platform has beautiful carvings.

Sasive Kalu (Mustard) Ganesh: Thanks to the resemblance the giant monolithic Ganesha statue is locally called Sasivekalu(mustard seed)Ganesha. This is located on the southern foothill of the Hemakuta Hill. In Hindu mythology Lord Ganesha (also known as Ganapathi or Vinayaka) is notorious for his food habit. One day he ate so much of food that his tummy almost busted. He just caught a snake and tied it around his tummy as a belt to save his tummy from bursting.  On this statue you can see the snake carved around his tummy. Also he holds the goad, pasha (noose), and his broken tusk. The hand which holds modak (a kind of sweet ball) is broken and not reconstructed. This monolithic statue carved out of a huge boulder measures about 2.4 meters (8 feet). An open pavilion is build around the statue. According to inscriptions found nearby this pavilion was built by a trader from Chandragiri (in present day Andhra Pradesh)in 1506 AD, in memory of one of the Vijayanagara king – Narasimha II (1491-1505 AD).

Kadale Kaalu Ganesh:This giant statue of Ganesha was carved out of a huge boulder at the northeastern slope of the Hemakuta hill. The belly of this statue resembles a Bengal gram (Kadalekalu, in local language) and hence the name.A sanctum is built around the statue. The pillared hall in front of this sanctum is as charming as this giant statue itself. The open hall constructed by unusually slender and tall pillars. Each of them is highly ornate with mythical themes.  This 4.5 meters (15 feet) tall statue is one among the largest sculptures in Hampi. The pillared hall is a vantage point to survey the environs, especially the Hampi Bazaar and the foothills of Matanga Hill.The open porch in front of the Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple. Note the slender long pillars that is unique in Hampi's architecture.

Sister Stones :These are two giant boulders leaning against each other, making an archway like formation. You can find them on the left side of the main road when you go from the Underground Shiva Temple towards Hampi bus station. The road almost passes through under the stones. Akka Tangi Gundu means ‘sister stones’ in the local language. The local folklore has it that it that they were two sisters and they became stone as a curse when they ridiculed the place!

Badavi Linga :This is the largest monolithic Linga in Hampi. Located next to the Narasimha statue the Linga is housed inside a chamber with an opening in the front.  A close look on this icon can reveal three eyes (depicting the three eyes of Siva) carved on it. Legend has it that this was commissioned by a peasant woman and hence the name (Badva means poor in local tongue).  The sanctum in which the Linga is installed is always filled with water as a water channel is made to flow through it.  According to Hindu mythology the River Ganga (Ganges) was brought from heaven to earth to quench the drought. But the river was so forceful that it could split the earth into two pieces if allowed to fall on earth. Lord Shiva consented to take the impact by allowing the torrent of Ganga to fall on his matted hair. Thus helping to release a smooth flowing river on to earth from his hair. As an iconic representation of this, in Siva temples you can spot a dripping pot hanged over the Linga.  Both Lakshmi Narasimha & Badavilinga shrines can be visited together.

Artistic Stepped Tank

Local Festivals: Hampi Festival is organized during the month of October and November in the city of Hampi. Admist rocks and ruins that dates back to hundreds of years this festival of dance, drama and music is organized for everybody to enjoy. Village of Hampi near Vijaynagar have its share of visitors all year around but during the month of October prominent people from the field of art, dance, music and drama land in this village to participate in the Vijaya Utsav also called the Hampi Festival.The Hampi Festival is organized by the Government of Karnataka, the Hampi festival includes Dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, spectacular processions, all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era. Artists from every corner of India gather here to enjoy the beautiful splendor of the festival, the village of Hampi and the appreciation of the people.

The soothing classical music and the carefully placed light dance steps of artists who have trained day in and day out to perfect various 'Mudras'or dance steps, are visible to the visitors as they enjoy the open air environment of the celebrations. This festival have turns around the lifestyle of the people in Hampi. So, that this calm and quiet village enjoys the vibrant and the soothing classical music and enjoy the presence of the artists in their village.

7. Daroji Bear Santuary (Bellary District) Hampi near Hospet, in Bellary district is a renowned world heritage centre. The unique Sloth Bear sanctuary is situated very close to this heritage site. Situated only 15 kilometers from Hampi, Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is the only sanctuary in North Karnataka. Though the sanctuary is relatively new, which began in 1994 in the eastern plains of Karnataka, it has proved to be a suitable habitat for the Indian Sloth Bears in a span of few years. The rock-strewn hillocks that stretch between Daroji of Sandur taluk and Ramasagar of Hospet Taluk in Bellary district have been the abode of Indian Sloth Bears since ages. In October 1994, the Government of Karnataka declared 5,587.30 hectares of Bilikallu reserve forest as Daroji Bear Sanctuary. Geographically, it is located between 15o 14' to 15o 17' N latitude and 76o 31' to 76o 40' E longitude. However, at the time of declaration, the forest had nothing but barren stony hillocks and thorny trees. Owing to the arduous efforts of the staff and support of the surrounding villagers, the sanctuary has transformed into a lush green area boasting of a verdant forest with exuberant local species of flora and fauna. It is estimated that about 120 Sloth Bears are living in this sanctuary, apart from Leopards, Hyena, Jackals, Wild Boars, Porcupine, Pangolins, Star Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, Mongoose, Pea Fowls, Partridges, Painted Spur Hen, Quails etc. About 90 species of birds, and 27 species of butterflies have also been identified in this sanctuary in a preliminary survey.

How to Reach
By Road : Bangalore to Chitradurga (199 kms) on NH-4, then to Hospet (135 Kms) on NH-13. And then to Kamalapura(12 Kms)-which is 10 Kms from the Sanctuary.
By Rail : Nearest railway station is Hospet where
trains from Bangalore and Hubli are accessible.

8. Tunga Bhadra Dam (Bellary District)
              
Tungabhadra Dam is built across the river Tungabhadra. It is one of the biggest multi purpose dams in Karnataka. It is spread over an area of 400 sq.kms. It has 33 gates from which water gushes out forming it into a breath-taking site. The water canals of this Dam genarate 27 mega watts of electricity and also irrigates thousands of acres of lands. This dam also forms a great place of recreation for tourists with its beautiful gardens, children play parks, aquarium and musical fountain.
The Tungabhadra is a river of southern India. It is the chief tributary of the Krishna River. It formed by the confluence of two rivers, the Tunga and the Bhadra, which rise in the eastern slope of the Western Ghats, in the state of Karnataka. The Tungabhadra flows east across the Deccan Plateau, joining the Krishna in Andhra Pradesh state, from where the Krishna continues east to empty into the Bay of Bengal.
The wedge of land that lies north of the Tungabhadra, between the Tungabhadra and the Krishna, is known as the Raichur Doab.Vast stretch of Beautiful  Garden enhances the unforgettable view of the Dam. Every Visitor takes home happy memories, How impact-making nature could be!! Pleasure trips in Motor Launches for the Tourists are also available.
How to  Reach
Air      - The nearest Airport to reach Tunga Bhadra Dam  is Bangalore, 340 KM away
Rail    -  Hospet is the nearest rail head (6 kms). Hospet is linked by rail to Bangalore, Bijapur,Hubli and Guntakal.
Road  - Tunga Bhadra Dam  is 340 kms from Bangalore. KSRTC Buses ply regularly from Hospet.

This page is maintained by Sri.M.A.FEROZ, Senior Programmer, City Corporation, Bellary +91 99860 70917, updated on 14/07/2011