Bellary Tourism | How to Plan a Trip to Bellary

Bellary is the headquarters of the district of Bellary in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is primarily an industrial town, with 7 taluks standing amidst a wide, level plain of black cotton soil characteristic of the Deccan. A tour to Bellary is a tryst with history meeting the present.

The name Bellary is said to have originated from the word Balari which refers to Goddess Durugamma, who according to a legend, had manifested herself in the town. The mention of Bellary is to be found in the great epic Ramayana. It is said that Lord Rama, while searching for Sita, met Sugreeva and Hanuman at a place close to Hampi, the erstwhile capital of Vijayanagara kingdom.

Historically, Bellary played a significant role during the rule of the Satavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas of Kalyana, Kalachuryas, Sevunas and Hoysalas period. Later the Vijayanagara rulers built their City of Victory on the banks of Tungabhadra River at Hampi in Hospet Taluk. Bellary was transferred to the former Mysore state on 1st October 1953 from the Madras state.

• Hampi:- Declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, Hampi used to be the capital of the Vijaynagar Kingdom and is now a cluster of elegant ruins and temples. Here, you can visit the Virupaksha temple, which is almost completely preserved; the Stone Chariot, Ugra Narasimha, King’s Balance and Lotus Mahal, Elephants stables are the other major tourist attractions in Bellary in Hampi. They display some of the most exquisite stone carvings and architecture.
• Mallara:- Mallara is Renowned for the temple of Lord Shiva where the idol of Shiva depicts him in his form of Mallara or Mallari. The temple is famed for the annual festival of Mallara.
• Ramanadurga or Ramgad:- At this hill-station nestled amidst a group of granite hills, there is an ancient temple dedicated to Ramadeva.
• The Tungabhadra Dam:- This is a beautiful place overlooking the reservoir of the Tunghabhadra Dam.

How to Reach Bellary

Bellary has an airport that connects it to Bangalore and Hyderabad. The Bellary railway station is connected to the rest of Karnataka. Besides, Bellary is very well connected via road to other cities in Bangalore. Bellary tours can thus be undertaken easily from any part of Karnataka and also from some parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Historically, Bellary played a significant role during the rule of the Satavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas of Kalyana, Kalachuryas, Sevunas and Hoysalas period. Later the Vijayanagara rulers built their City of Victory on the banks of Tungabhadra River at Hampi in Hospet Taluk. Bellary was transferred to the former Mysore state on 1st October 1953 from the Madras state.