Ayyappa Swami Temple

The Mangalore Airport is the closest to this place. From there one can take a bus or a taxi to reach the temple. There are many buses that one can take to reach this place. If not bus one can also travel by taxi to reach here. It is also possible to drive down to this place. The Sakleshpur Railway Station is the closest to this place. From here one can take either a bus or a taxi to reach the temple. The best time to visit this place is during the winter season.

There are many places where one can stay around this temple. The prices too are affordable. Some of the names of the places are Hotel Aashritha, Hotel Durga International, Balcool Nature Resort, Swastha Homestay, Kadumakki Resorts, etc. There are also many places where one can eat food at. Some of the names of the restaurants are Mythri Restaurant, Hotel Yadgar, Bharani mess, Hotel Shri Srinivasa Pure Veg, Food Plus, et

The Sakleshwara Temple is located in Sakleshpur which is in the Hassan District of Karnataka. It is situated on the banks of the River Hemavathi. One can find this temple right at the entrance of the city. It is also believed that Sakleshpur derived its name from this temple. This temple was constructed approximately between the 11th to 14th centuries. During this time period, the Hoysala Empire was at its peak in South India. The temple thus showcases the beautiful Hoysala architecture. There is also a beautiful huge statue of Lord Shiva here. Also since this temple is along the banks of River Hemavathi the view around is wonderful to look at. This temple also celebrates the rath yatra festival every year in the month of February and many people come there during that time.

 

The Manjarabad Fort is an ancient as well as a unique fort which is located in the Hassan District of Karnataka. This fort is situated at an altitude of approximately 3240 feet. It was built by Tipu Sultan. When Tipu Sultan built this fort it is believed that he inspected the place and found it covered in fog and thus he named the fort as Manjarabad Fort. The term Manjara means fog or mist. The fort displays the beauty of Islamic architecture. It was built using granite blocks and it was surrounded by a deep moat. This fort has an interesting octagonal design with eight walls. Another noteworthy thing about this fort is that it has just one level whereas the other forts have multiple levels. If one looks at this fort from above it appears to have a beautiful star-shaped appearance. The purpose behind building the fort was to store ammunition and also protect the army of Tipu Sultan from the British. When one goes inside the fort they get to see a cross-shaped tank that was made for the purpose of collecting water so that the drinking water needs of the guards who lived there were met. There is also a deep well here and next to this two cellars were built where gunpowder was stored. One also finds cannon mounts and musket holes at fixed intervals here. An exciting thing that one can find here is a secret tunnel that will take one directly to Srirangapatna Fort. Currently, the Archaeology Department maintains the Manjarabad Fort.

 

The Hemavathi Dam is located in Gorur which is in the Hassan District of Karnataka. This dam is also called Gorur Dam. It was built across the River Hemavathi in the year 1979. The purpose behind building this dam was to provide water and also help in irrigation to the villages nearby. There is a garden which is opposite the dam and people use that garden as a picnic spot to enjoy watching the water gushing down from the dam. If one goes here early in the morning they get to see many beautiful varieties of birds here.

 

Sri Kedareshwara Temple is in Halebeedu. This temple was built during the rule of the Hoysala dynasty. This temple is a Trikuta temple. The main deity here is Lord Shiva who has taken the form of Kedareshwara. Here one finds four star-shaped pillars that are on either side of the entrance which again is a famous thing that the Hoysalas did in most of their temples. There are many images of Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, etc found here. Each of these images is carved keeping in mind their expressions and then accordingly each image is made to hold weapons. This place is also surrounded by coconut trees and it makes it look all the more beautiful.

 

The Basadi Halli is another interesting place to visit. It is a group of Jain monasteries. This temple is famous for its pillars which are polished and appear mirror-like and also for its three shrines. The Adinatha Swamy temple is located at the centre, and the Shanthinatha Swamy temple is located on the east side. The most popular shrine is the Parshwanatha Swamy Temple. In this temple, one finds a 14 feet tall black stone figure. The seven-headed serpent is printed on this figure. The 12 pillars of this temple have beautiful images and each image is quite different from the other. Even there are intricate carvings on the doors of the temple and the Halebeedu work is quite praiseworthy.

 

Thus the Ayyappa Swami Temple truly makes for a refreshing getaway.