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Bangalore --30km--> Nelamangala --44km--> Kunigal --75km--> Channarayapattana --40km--> Hassan--40km--> Sakleshpur --38km (ghat road)--> Gundya --40km--> Uppinangadi --31km--> Bantwal --27km--> Mangalore

Attractions around Hassan and Channarayapatna

Apart from the popular trio , Belur - Halebid - Shravanabelagola trio, there are a lot more to explore around Hassan. Two conditions, you need to be keen on archaeology and not to rate these temples with respect to the more popular temples at Belur and Halebid. Set base at Hassan which is about 180km away from Bangalore on the NH48.

For those who are driving from Bangalore, Hassan has good number of restaurants and hotels. For those Kamat's fans, there is a Kamat Upchar just after Channarayapatna, on the right side of the highway. On the left side of the highway is A2B, slightly ahead of Kamat Upchar. If you are of CCD genre, keep in mind the Cafe Coffee Day outlets at Bellur cross (after Kunigal), Channarayapatna (after the town,next to Kamat Upachar) both on NH48 and the one at Arsikere (before Haranahalli).

Koravangala has a beautiful Hoysala period Buchishwara temple. It's about 12km from Hassan. Take the Arsikere road from Hassan. Watch out for the right diversion (Koravangala rail gate) , about 8km from Hassan town. Now the road winds through paddy farms and traces the edges of the Koravangala lake. You'll see the temple after 2-3km

Haranahalli is another gem on the same route to Arsikere from Hassan. You'll find the Someswara Temple and the Keshava Temple near by. And of course Arsikere has the Chandramouleshwara Temple, all executed in the typical Hoysala style.

A 15km detour from Channarayapatna can take you to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli. Once a flourishing town during the Hoysala period, now it is a small village with two temples on its edges dedicated to, Lakshmi Narasimha & Sadashiva . Both are living temples.

Kondajji about 15km north of Hassan on the way to Halebid has the Allalanatha temple, famous for its 14th century massive idol. Further north, before Halebid is Adagur with a sprawling lake.

Belawadi and Javagal (Javagallu) are further north of Halebid. Javagal has the Lakshminarasimha temple as the main attraction while Belavadi has the Veera Narayana Temple, both are protected monuments, again executed in the Hoysala architectural style. You can make a circular detour from Halebid to Belawadi and Javagal and back.

By the way Shravanabelagola is about 10km detour from the NH48. You'll see signboards for diversion as you near Channarayapattna.

For Halebid take the ring road on the outskirts of Hassan. You can reach Belur from Halebid, of there is another direct road to Belur from Hassan. And do not miss the Doddagadduvalli on the Hassan Belur route.

14km south of Hassan on the way to Holenarsipura is Mosale, another important Hoysala site with the twin temples of Nageswara and Chennakeshava stand in symmetry.

Gorur, 25km south of Hassan on the way to Arakalgud is another toursist location. The dam built across Hemavathi is is a popular picnic spot. The 15th century Yoganarasimha Swamy, on the banks of Hemavathi and the Trikuteshwara, Vasudeva and Kailaseshwara temples are other attractions.

In the way to Gorur, at Shettyhalli , by the side of the backwaters is the ruins of an ancient church dates back to 1860 CE. As the dam gets filled during the summer, the church goes under water, and accessible during the summer period. ( This reminds of the ancient Venugopalaswamy temple near Mysore, that got submerged in the KRS Dam backwaters.However the temple was 'transplanted' to a high ground stone by stone...)

Channarayapatna to Krishnarajpet is about 30km. En route is the Hemagiri Falls near Kikkeri. Kitteri has the the 12th century Brahmeshvara temple, a compact specimen of Hoysala architecture. About 2km south of Krishnarajpet is Hosaholalu, with the Lakshminarayana temple, another must visit Hoysala temple.

Attractions around Sakleshpur

Sakleshpur is about km from Hassan towards Mangalore on the NH48.

Manjarabad Fort right next to the NH48 is easily accessible. The fort is about 5km after you've left Sakleshpur towards Mangalore. It's a short but exhausting steep climb to the hilltop where the star shaped fortification located. Tippu Sultan built this uniquely shaped fort in 1792 CE, as a defense outpost against the enemy forces from Madikeri and Mangalore region. You can park vehicle near the highway and make it to the hilltop. The ghat sections (Shiradi Ghat) of the highway starts after Manjarabad Fort point.

There is a road to Bisle ghat after the Manjarabad Fort junction. Ask for the Kuduraste. Places near to Sakleshpur like Donigal, Kagneri,Godda, Kadumane,Kumaraparvata,Jamalabad,Belthangady,Here Betta, Bisle Ghat etc are popular hot spots for the trekking enthusiasts.The Bisle Ghat road takes you to Kukke Subrahmanya. One of the tough ghat roads to drive, the 30km last stretch can take anything around 2 hours drive. Obviously these are lonely routes, with no sighting of another vehicles for hours.

If you are heading to Kukke Subrahmanya, take the left diversion at Gundiya check post instead (about 38km from Sakleshpur) of the Bisle Ghat route. Road from Gundiya to Kukke Subrahmanya is pretty good.

Dharmastala is 22km detour from the NH48, after Gundia checkpost. On the way to Dharmasthala is Southadka.This place has a unique Ganesha shrine without any enclosure or roof.

Attractions around Mangalore

Kukke Subrahmanya is at about 22km diversion from NH48 at Gundya (forest dept. check post). You'll be driving through the forest most of this diversion.

About 17km after Gundya towards Mangalore, you'll get the Y fork diversion for Dharmasthala. Take the right diversion to Dharmasthala. It is about 22km from here to the Dharmastala town.

Southadka, peculiar for the openair Ganapathi shrine is about 8km off the NH48, on the way to Dharmasthala. Take the same Y fork diversion mentioned above to Dharmasthala. After about 5km you've left the NH, you can see a left diversion (a narrow road) to Southadka temple.

Venoor & Moodabidri and two important Jain centers. Moodabidri is about 30km north of Mangalore, and at another 20km is Venoor with a Bahubali statue built during early 17th century CE. Moodabidri is chiefly known for the 1000 pillared Jain Basadi built in 1430CE.

Konaje Kallu , forested region with the massive granite monolith , is a trekkers paradise. It's about 6km east of Moodabidri on the road to Hosmar (the road that faces the 1000 pillar Jain Basadi)

Beyond Mangalore

Horanadu (320km)
Shringeri (330km)
Kudremukh (340km)
Karkala (360km)

Mangalore (350km)
Kateel (360km)
Kaup (390km)
Udupi (400km)
Maravanthe (460km)