Belgaum shares its border both with Maharashtra and Goa . So it can be said as the assimilation point of various culture and tradition. Belgaum has acquired the cultural flavor of these states and blended it with the local Kannada culture to create a rich heritage, which is unique in every on of its manifestations.
Belgaum is not only famous for its history but also for its natural beauty. It is also known as Malendu or the Rain Country and the vegetation here is lush green throughout the year. The tourists can spend their time just roaming through the beautiful spots of Belgaum like Halasi and Saundatti.
Halasi is in Background of Western Ghats in lush green atmosphere. It was the second capital of the Kadambas of Banavasi. The huge Bhuvaraha Narasimha temple has tall images of Varaha, Narasimha, Narayana and Surya. Saundatti has a fort built in the hill by Sirasangi Desai, with eight bastions. It was the capital of Rattas who latter shifted their headquarters to Belgaum . There are two temples of Ankeshwara, Puradeshwara, Mallikarjuna, Venkateshwara and the Veerabhadra. The Renukasagar waters touch the outskirts of Saundatti is the must-visited spot for the visitors.
Belur
Belur is situated at a distance of 187 km from the capital Bangalore . The Channekeshava Temple at Belur is the only one of the three major Hoysala sites still in use. The construction of this temple started in AD 1116 to commemorate the Hoysala's victory over the Cholas at Talakad. It is said that every Hindu deity has been represented at this temple.
Bijapur
Bijapur has many places of attractions like Badami, Aihole, and Basavana Bagewadi. Bijapur is a large town with the Gol Gumbaz rising like a humpbacked monarch above the trees, dominating the town from a great distance. But the Gol Gumbaz is only one of the many impressive monuments of Bijapur. Other monuments include Ibrahim Roza built in 1626, Taj Baoli, Assa Mahal, Gaggan Mahal, Bara Khamba, and All Saints Church.
Badami was once the capital of the Chalukya kings and the place is famous for many Hindu and Jain rock-cut cave shrines. There are around four caves each better than the other. A flight of stairs leads you to ancient caves and cave carved out of sandstone on the precipice of a hill. Aihole is situated on the banks of river Malaprabha at a distance of 483 km from Bangalore . Here, the cave temple of Ravana Phadi stands all by itself backed against the rocky hill out of which it has been carved. It has fine Tirthankara images. The place has durga temple. Other temples are Huchchi-malligudi, Gaudaragudi and Chakragudi, all in variety of designs, some big and some small.
Mohammed Shah Wali
The ancient fort at Bidar has a length of 5.5 km and is hewn out of solid rock. It is a very impressive structure, which once held 37 bastions and seven gates, royal baths, audience halls, pleasure pavilions, and water gardens in the style of West Asia . Other interesting monuments include the Rang Mahal, a huge college (madarsa) constructed in 1472, the Barid tombs, Bahmani tombs, and Chaukhandi of Hazrat Khalil-Ullah.
Gulbarga
Gulbarga was the first capital of the Bahmanis and the main attractions here are the tomb of Hazrat Khwaja Band Nawaz Gesu Daraz and a mosque in the old fort. Devala Gangapura and Shorapur are the two most popular sites in Gulbarga . Devala Gangapura is located at a distance of 651 kms from the capital city Banglore. Sri Narasimha Sarasati who had stayed here for long and was granted a jahgir by the Bahmain Sultan.
The Saint has cured the Sultan of a serious boil. The Saint is treaded as an incarnation of Dattatreya and devotees from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Shorapur its real name was Surapur. The place has a fine fort but the parts of palaces inside are being dismantled. Its prince Venkatappa Nayaka had revolted against the British. There is a Gopalaswamy temple in the town.
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