Access by Air:
Bangalore international Airport, known as 'HAL Airport'
is situated on Airport Road and well within the city- about
6 kms from MG Road -the city centre. A busy Airport with over
70 international and domestic flight landings everyday, this
airport is divided into two terminals. Terminal I contain
the Departure lounge for the Domestic Flights and Terminal
II is for Arrival of Domestic Flights. International Terminal
handles Departure and Arrival of International flights. The
airport is a major hub in South Zone for traveling and for
the feeder routes. Flights operating out / to Bangalore airports
with other parts of India are to Mumbai, Cochin, Trivandrum,
Chennai, New Delhi
The main flights operates are Indian Airlines
and Air India. The Departure area contains elevators to take
the luggage to the Indian Airlines/Air-India Counters. It
also has Child Welfare Room. The security section is well
appointed with cushioned chairs. Small refreshment counter
and foreign exchange service counters are also present.
Access by Rail:
Regular train services connect Bangalore to all the
major cities in India such as to Mumbai in Western India,
New Delhi in North India, Cochin in South India, Kolkatta
in East India etc.
Access by Road:
Bangalores National Highway connects it to the
major cities of India. The National Highway connecting Bangalore
is superbly made with long driving and motels in between kept
while upgrading the highway for the welfare of the drivers
in mind.
Vidhana Soudha is one of the most splendid
architectural creations, India can boast of. Located at the
north - west end of Cubbon Park, it is a granite structure
built in the neo - Dravidian style of architecture.
Lal Bagh, was laid out in the 18th
century by Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan. Spread over
an area of 240 acres, the park contains a variety of plants
and trees, a deer park, and one of the largest collections
of rare tropical and sub - tropical plants, in the country.
Cubbon Park, laid out in 1864, a brainchild
of the British, covers an area of 300 acres. Within its premises
are the Public Library, the High Court, the Government Museum
and the Visveswaraiah Technological & Industrial Museum.
Sightseeing around Bangalore:
Srirangapatnam : Visit Srirangapatnam, which is renowned
as the capital of Mysore Rulers - Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan
and also known for the bloody struggles against the British
in the late 18th century. The southern entrance to the fort
is the Mysore gate where about 10, 000 captives seized the
opportunity afforded by Cornwallis’s in 1792 to break out
of the city. Close by, to the west lies a picturesque Elephant
gate and a marble slab which carries a fulsome Persian inscription.
Also visit the Jami mosque which was built by Tipu Sultan
and is a graceful affair with pierced minarets crowned by
onion domes, containing narrow staircases. The circuit ends
at the Garrison cemetery which is an appropriate place to
contemplate the bloody history of Srirangapatnam.
Belur & Halebid : At Belur visit the Chennakeshava
temple - one of the early masterpieces of the Hoysala period.
Entirely built of grey-green chloride, the temple itself consists
of a sanctuary with minor shrines on three sides and a columned
mandapa partly open as a porch. Beneath the overhanging eave,
angled brackets carved as maidens are supported on the column
capitals. These bracket figures are the finest examples of
Hoysala art.
In Halebid, visit the Hoysaleshvara temple, which
belong to mid 12th century. Both architecturally and artistically
renowned, the temple represents the Hoysala style. Two identical
temples are linked to form a complex with two sanctuaries
and two mandapas. In the grounds of the temple are collections
of sculptures gathered from all over the sites. Also visit
the Kedareshvara temple dating back to the 13th century
Sravanabelagola: This is one of the most celebrated
Jain religious sites in southern India. The monuments and
temples are located on two granite hills as well as in the
village that lies between. Visit the Gommateshvara image –
this monolithic sculpture representing Bahubali, the son of
the first Tirthankara (ruler). At 58 feet, this is the highest
freestanding sculpture in India, carved out of a single stone.
Badami : Badami, also identified as Vatapi, was the
capital of the early rulers during the 06th to 08th centuries.
Today Badami is better known for its Hindu & Jain cave temples.
The temples at Badami provide important evidence of the formative
stages of southern Indian architecture. Examples of the later
evolution of early Chalukya architecture are at the nearby
sites of Aihole, Mahakutta & Pattadakal. Of the structural
temples at Badami the Mahakuteshwara and Naganath Shivalaya
Temples are worth visiting for its remarkable architectural
beauty. Visit the Badami Fort which comprises a lower fort
enclosing the town, commended by two strong forts on the hills
above, the northern one known as the 52 rocks fort and the
southern one known as the battlefield fort.
Mysore : Once the capital of Wodeyar kingdom, Mysore
is still one of the finest cities of southern India. The frangance
city of sandalwood and jasmine, this city is a blend of palaces,
temples and gardens. The City Palace, the seat of Wodeyar
dynasty was built in 1897 and is a contrasting mixture of
Indian and Victorian architectural style. Visit the well-laid
out Brindavan Gardens which is worth a visit at night when
it is floodlit. Other interesting places are the Zoological
Gardens, Mysore Arts and Crafts Centre.
Hassan : 115 kms from Mysore, this calm and peaceful
town is a convenient base to visit Sravanbelagola, Belur and
Helebid.
Hampi : Hampi was the capital of Vijaynagar is situated
on the southern banks of river Tungbhadra. Vijaynagar reached
its pinnacle of glory under its greatest scion, Krishnadevaraya.
Here one can visit Queen’s Bath – an engineering feat, Vijay
Bhawan, Stone Trough, Hazaarama Temple – a sculptural master-piece,
Zenana Enclosure, Elephant’s Stable, Narsimha Monolith and
Lotus Mahal – exemplifying synthesis of Hindu Islamic style.
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