Pickup from your home at about 5:30 AM and breakfast near Kunigal. Climb Vindhyagiri hill at Shravanabelagola to the Gommateshwara statue before the midday break, lunch in Hassan, then the carved temples of Halebidu and Belavadi. End with sunset at Hirekolale lake and check in at Chikmagalur. About 280 km, 6 hours of driving with stops.
- 5:30 AM
Pickup from your home
Your driver calls you 30 minutes before. We leave early so you finish the climb before the statue area closes for the afternoon.
- 1 h 48 min · 79 km
- 7:30 AM
Breakfast stop near Kunigal
Idli, vada and dosa at a highway eatery. Pay as you eat.
- 1 h 14 min · 74 km
- 9:30 AM1
Gommateshwara statue, Vindhyagiri hill
2 h hereAbout 620 rock cut steps up Vindhyagiri hill to the 57 foot statue of Bahubali, carved from one stone around 983 AD. Shoes come off at the foot of the hill, so wear socks. The statue area is said to close from about 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, so we climb early. Dolis (carried chairs) are available at the foot for those who cannot climb, paid there.
- 58 min · 54 km
- 12:30 PM
Lunch in Hassan
South Indian meals in Hassan town. Pay as you eat.
- 47 min · 31 km
- 2:00 PM2
Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu
1 h 15 min hereEvery inch of the outer walls is carved: elephants, dancers, gods and scenes from the epics. Free entry. Shoes off at the gate. The small museum next door is closed on Fridays.
- 16 min · 13 km
- 3:35 PM3
Veeranarayana Temple, Belavadi
40 min hereA big, quiet Hoysala temple with three shrines and rows of polished pillars, about 10 km from Halebidu. Free entry and rarely crowded.
- 1 h 4 min · 40 km
- 5:15 PM4
Sunset at Hirekolale lake
45 min hereA quiet lake with the Mullayanagiri range behind it. The sun drops behind the hills around 6 PM in winter.
- 21 min · 10 km
- 6:30 PM
Check in at your hotel
Dinner at the hotel or in town, your choice. Try a cup of fresh Chikmagalur coffee.
