[gianni66]

I will be in Mysore area at the end of my Indian trip in August, and I am considering to visit the places around Hassan which seem really not to be missed; I'll be in Mysore (travelling by train overnight from Chennai) on day 1 early in the morning, and I have to leave to Bangalore on day 4 to take a flight late in the evening, so what could be the best plan for these days? if someone has experience or knowledge about the transportation opportunities in the Mysore/Bangalore/Hassan regio, could give me a suggestion about the following alternatives:

1. Stay all three nights in Mysore, visit Mysore and surroundings the first two days, take some buses to visit Halebid/Belur/Sravabenagola on day 3, leave to Bangalore by train in the afternoon of day 4;

2. Stay the first two nights and days in Mysore, leave to Hassan on day 3 in the morning and from there visit the region, leave to Bangalore by bus on day 4;

3. Stay the first day and night in Mysore and visit the town, leave to Hassan on day 2 and from there to Bangalore on day 4;

4. Go directly to Hassan, visit the region around and dedicate a day trip to Mysore, then go to Bangalore on day 4.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Gianni

[Aadil]

Hope you are visiting Somnathpur, Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola, Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami, Hampi too!!! I am sure you will enjoy your trip in Karnataka visiting these lovely temple towns and get a view of what it looked like in olden times.

Cheers,
Aadil.

[gianni66]

Aadil, on Jul 13 2006, 03:33 PM, said:

Hope you are visiting Somnathpur, Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola, Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami, Hampi too!!! I am sure you will enjoy your trip in Karnataka visiting these lovely temple towns and get a view of what it looked like in olden times.

Cheers,
Aadil.

I would like, but my trip will be focused to Tamil Nadu, and I will take the last few days to visit the Mysore/Hassan area (coming from Chennai it would be longer to get to Hampi area).

Thanks however!

Gianni

[Serena]

Number 3.

(this probably will be my next trip in December!!)

Serena

[dani]

Don't do Halebid/Belur/Sravabenagola  all on one day, you won't enjoy it.
I'd propose to 'only' visit Sravanabelagola and Somnathpur. In Somnathpur you'll find a Hoysala temple like the ones in Belur and Halebid, but unlike those others it contains 3 shrines and it's said to be the best preserved complete Hoysala temple. I liked it very much, it's a jewel.
And it is next to Mysore, so you won't need to travel all day.

[old india hand]

It's all a rush - however, suggest one night Mysore, one night Belur and one night Sravanabelagola - easy.

gianni66, on Jul 13 2006, 10:08 PM, said:

I will be in Mysore area at the end of my Indian trip in August, and I am considering to visit the places around Hassan which seem really not to be missed; I'll be in Mysore (travelling by train overnight from Chennai) on day 1 early in the morning, and I have to leave to Bangalore on day 4 to take a flight late in the evening, so what could be the best plan for these days? if someone has experience or knowledge about the transportation opportunities in the Mysore/Bangalore/Hassan regio, could give me a suggestion about the following alternatives:

1. Stay all three nights in Mysore, visit Mysore and surroundings the first two days, take some buses to visit Halebid/Belur/Sravabenagola on day 3, leave to Bangalore by train in the afternoon of day 4;

2. Stay the first two nights and days in Mysore, leave to Hassan on day 3 in the morning and from there visit the region, leave to Bangalore by bus on day 4;

3. Stay the first day and night in Mysore and visit the town, leave to Hassan on day 2 and from there to Bangalore on day 4;

4. Go directly to Hassan, visit the region around and dedicate a day trip to Mysore, then go to Bangalore on day 4.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Gianni

[Sudheer Poppa]

I would suggest first day in Mysore - Palace, train museum, maybe Brindavan garden/zoon in the evening, and Chamundi hills in the night.

Next day forenoon Somnathpur and some Mysore left overs like the market. Evening travel to Hassan and stay their for the night.

Next morning, Belur followed by Halebedu. Evening Sravanabelegola or you can even stay in the small town that night.. Night/moring bus to Bangalore.

Vidhana souda, ISKCON temple, Lalbagh in Bangalore.

[gianni66]

Good suggestions, thanks to everyone! maybe Mysore/Somnathpur/Sravabenagola is the most interesting option, staying all three nights in Mysore and avoiding a big rush.
26 days to go!!!!!  
Gianni

[Shaktipalooza]

Belur and Halebid are not hard to visit from Hassan. Sravanabelagola is a unique place worth spending more time. Last February we hired a car and visited in the following direction:

Bangalore > Sravanabelagola > Coffee Plantation > Halebid & Belur > Mysore > Bangalore

Sravanabelagola is on the way to Hassan but I believe it was around 1 1/2 hours one direction. Mysore is not that conveniently reached from Hassan, probably 3+ hours by private car.

Here are some of our pics from the Sravanabelagola Mahamastakabisheka and Hassan area temples

Edited by Shaktipalooza, 18 July 2006 - 04:49 AM.

[dzibead]

Fantastic photos!

[jorge reverter]

I would say number 4.

In December 2004 I've spent 2-3 weeks in the area.

Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola are the places to visit. Mysore is also interesting but not that interesting as the Hoysala places. Sriranganpatnam and Somnathpur are more or less on your way to Bangalore and are places not to be missed.  It's really a pity not to visit Hampi and Pattadadakal, Aihole, Badami, there are few places in India so impressives and are probably the best sites to understand Chalukia art and architecture.

Jorge

[gianni66]

jorge reverter, on Jul 19 2006, 12:56 AM, said:

I would say number 4.

In December 2004 I've spent 2-3 weeks in the area.

Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola are the places to visit. Mysore is also interesting but not that interesting as the Hoysala places. Sriranganpatnam and Somnathpur are more or less on your way to Bangalore and are places not to be missed.  It's really a pity not to visit Hampi and Pattadadakal, Aihole, Badami, there are few places in India so impressives and are probably the best sites to understand Chalukia art and architecture.

Jorge

I've just seen some pictures and read the huge post of Beach in Karnataka section... and I've changed my air ticket for my return trip so that I can manage to spend some days in Hampi! It should be really an impressive place, and I am very tempted to spend some days going around an ancient archeologica site by bicycle!  

Just a suggestion: coming from Chennai, I should first go to Tirupati to take a night train arriving in Hospet at 5 AM; I could go straight to Hampi spending there three full days, or spend one day in Tirupati/Tirumala and two days in Hampi; are three days in Hampi too much or is it worth to skip Tirumala to spend more time in Hampi?

[jorge reverter]

If you stay the three days in Hampi is very good, but if I was in your place I
should stay one day in Tirumala (great ambiance) and two days in Hampi.

All the best

Jorge

[Shaktipalooza]

gianni66, on Jul 19 2006, 06:26 AM, said:

Just a suggestion: coming from Chennai, I should first go to Tirupati to take a night train arriving in Hospet at 5 AM; I could go straight to Hampi spending there three full days, or spend one day in Tirupati/Tirumala and two days in Hampi; are three days in Hampi too much or is it worth to skip Tirumala to spend more time in Hampi?

if you stay in Tirupati a morning walk up to the temple is highly recommended. Get up very early and join the hundreds of barefoot pilgrims making their way.