Hampi Utsav and Festival Quick Travel Guide – November

Hampi Utsav is organized by the Government of Karnataka every year in November to promote Hampi Tourism. The Hampi festival includes dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows and processions that recreate the grandeur of the bygone era and providing travellers a chance to experience a slice of Hampi’s glorious past. The festivities take you back to a time when the Dasara festivities of the Vijayanagar kings were held with incredible pomp and show. The kings of Vijayanagar used to sit on a grand throne in the House of Victory or Mahanavami Dibba and witness the 9 day Dasara festival.

Utsav or Festival Highlights

• Heritage Walk - conducted to cover important landmarks such as Virupaksha temple Mahanavami dibba, Gajaalaya, Queen’s bath and Vijaya Vittala Temple


• Illumination of the Vijaya vittala Temple which houses the stone chariot and musical pillars and other important Monuments for night viewing


• Eminent artistes to perform at Hampi Utsav to create a Mega cultural extravaganza of dance, drama and music (1,400 artistes would be performing on six stages simultaneously)


• Sound and light programme would focus on Karnataka Vaibhava.


• Cycle race, water sports and treasure hunt.

Sightseeing Highlights (Location Map for Sights)

• Vithala temple complex with its 56 musical pillars.


• Near the Vithala temple is the ‘Purandara Dasara Mandapa.


• Virupaksha temple and close by at the western end of the famous Hampi bazaar.


• Near to the Virupaksha temple is the giant ruin in the form of Ugra Narasimha which is a 6.7 m and sculpted from a single boulder during the reign of Krishnadevaraya.


• Mahanavami Dibba or the House of Victory which was built by Krishnadevaraya after his victorious expedition to Orissa.


• Hazara Ramaswami temple and its two ruined gates.


• Lotus Mahal an air-conditioned summer palace of the queen and close by elephant stable
  

Food Tip: Do not miss to taste of the local favorite cuisine jolada rotti and yennegai

Top Rated Hampi Videos

Top Rated Budget Stay Options in Hampi - Hotels and Home Stays

Waterfalls & Rivers of Karnataka - Travel Guide

Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls; it is home to some of the more spectacular falls in India. The waterfalls of Karnataka and Kudremukh National park are listed as must-see places and among the "1001 Natural Wonders of the World." . Some of these are part of the database listing the Largest Waterfalls in the World.

After a good season of rains all of Karnataka’s major river systems (Cauvery, Krishna, Sharavati and Godavari) along their course provide some great views primarily during the monsoon season. It is primarily the Rivers of the Western Ghats who along their course create some of the deepest and tallest Waterfalls anywhere in the world.

Karnataka hosts a very large number of waterfalls and river basins; there are more than 100 waterfall and river backwater or river side based Tourism destinations in Karnataka. This blog post is an attempt to catalog them by location and capture key highlights of these falls.


Around Chikmagalur

Hebbe Falls – Near Kemmangundi - River Sharavathi
Manikyadhara Falls – Near Kemmangundi – River Sharavathi
Kalathgiri Falls. – Near Kemmangundi – River Sharavathi
Shanti falls - Near Kemmangundi
Kadambi Falls - Near Kemmangundi
Sirimane Falls – Near Sringeri
Alekan falls – Near Kottigehara, Charmadi Ghat
Sirimane Falls – Near Kigga, Sringeri


Around Bangalore

Shivanasamudra Falls – 120 Km from Bangalore – Cauvery River – Second Biggest water fall in India and sixteenth largest in the world
Hogenakal Falls – 150Km from Bangalore – Cauvery River
Mekedatu – 90Km from Bangalore - Arkavati merges with Cauvery River
Muthyalamaduvu – 40Km from Bangalore - Arkavathi River
Chunchi falls – Near Kanakapura 90 Km from Bangalore – Arkavathi River


Around Mysore

Chunchanakatte Falls – Near KR nagar – Cauvery River
Balamuri - Near Mysore – Cauvery River


Around Coorg

Abbey Falls (also Abbi Falls) – Near Madikere - Cauvery River -
Irupu Falls – 50 Km from Madikere - Near Nagarhole - Lakshmana Tirtha River joining Cauvery River


Around Shimoga

Jog Falls – Near Sagara - Sharavathi River
Kunchikal Falls – Near Agumbe – Varahi River
Barkana Falls – Near Agumbe - Sita River
Arisina Gundi Waterfalls – Near Kodachadri
Dabbe Falls – Near Hosagadde, Sagar


Around Udupi (South Kanara)

Kudlu Teertha – 45 Km from Udupi – River Seetha
Jomlu Teertha - 45 Km from Udupi – River Seetha
Koosalli Falls- 85 Km from Udupi – Kundapura Taluka Near Shiroor
Kudumari Falls (Chaktikal Falls). - Kundapur Taluk
Bandaaje Arbi – Near Dharmasthala
donDole falls – Near Dharmasthala, kakkinje near charmaDi


Around North Kanara

Lalguli Falls - Near Yellapur - Kali River
Unchalli Falls (also Lushington or Keppa Jog Near because of the deafening sound) – Near Siddapur - Aghanashini River
burude falls – Near Sirsi or Siddapur - Aghanashini river
Magod Falls – Near Sirsi or Yellapur - Bedti river or Gangavati
Sathodi Falls – Near Sirsi – Kali River
Shivaganga falls – 40Km from Sirsi – Sonda River
Bennehole falls – Near Sirsi - Aghanashini river
Waate HaLLa Falls - Near Sirsi - Aghanashini river
Vibhooti Falls – Near Sirsi or Yana


Around Belgaum

Godachinmalki Falls – Near Gokak - Markandeya river joins Ghataprabha river
Gokak Falls – Near Gokak - Ghataprabha river
Vajrapoha Falls – Near Jamboti – Mandovi River



Around Raichur

Jaladurga Falls – Near Lingsugur - Krishna River


Make sure one or more of these Waterfalls in Karnataka are part to your next travel itinerary.

Top Home Stays in Mysore

Home stays a recent trend in Mysore are fast becoming becoming a viable budget stay option for travellers. Mysore Dasara a seasonal event and the year round Mysore Palace attraction ensure a steady stream of Tourists to this Royal Heritage city. This creates a year round demand for quality budget accommodation.

Homestay facilitate you to get an insight into local people and their traditions. It gives you an opportunity to mingle and enjoy Mysore's culture and hospitality. Homestays give tourists easy access to local cuisine, colorful festivals and intricate handicrafts of Mysore.

Some of the Homestays listed below are new stay options and few such as Gitanjali Farm, Mysore Karnataka have been there for a few years.

List of Home Stays in Mysore

Gitanjali Farm, Mysore Karnataka

Mauve Orchid

Premchand & Sons or PRS Calmn # 25/65, Lalithamahal Palace Road, Mysore

Contact Phone : 0821.2475900

Palysden # 252, A Block, 3rd Stage, Vijaynagar, Mysore

Contact: B. G. Den Thimmiah Phone : 9343558795, 0821.2416633

Hill View Farms, Chikka Hally, T. Narasipura Road, Mysore

Contact: Mrs. T. Suguna 9880481001, 0821.2901841

Women making Karnataka’s HomeStays great stay options for budget travel

Women have always been involved in large number of activities that contribute to powering and serving Karnataka's tourism industry indirectly. Karnataka has been an early starter in attracting women to the tourism sector when it extended 5 percent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs who intend to start hotels. This was initiated in 1992 under Tourism Policy to open HomeStays in Karnataka especially in Coorg Coffee estates and Plantations. Today, Women entrepreneurs are the forefront of the concept of home-stay springing up in Kodagu or Coorg and Mangalore districts. There are nearly 600 home Stays in Kodagu and around 75 in Chikmagalur districts that are being operated currently in many cases by Women. They provide tourists a homely experience through local food, cuisine and awareness to Karnataka’s culture. Coorgi’s and especially women folk are great hosts and they like meeting people and socializing.

Mysore Dasara Highlights and Tourist Guide

Mysore Tourism's FlagshipEvent Mysore Dasara is all set to take of Oct 12th


Dates of the Festival – 12th Oct to 21st Oct

Festival Inauguration from Chamundeshwari or Chamundi Hill – Oct 12th

Number of Tourists expected to attend the Dasara Festival – 1.2 Million

Key Performers – Hema Malini, Sonu Nigam, Usha Uthup and Kunnukkudi Vaidyanathan

Vintage Car Rally from Bangalore to Mysore – Oct 13th

21st Oct 2007 Afternoon - Dasara Procession (Jumbo Savari)

21st Oct 2007 Evening – Torchlight Parade

Palace will be illuminated with more than 96,000 bulb lights.
Illumination Time: 7.00 PM to 10 PM from Oct 12th to Oct 21st

Entry to the Palace will be restricted between 1.30 PM to 5.30 PM on Oct 12th and Oct 20th and no Entry on 21st on the day of Vijayadashmi procession.

Must know key telephone nos for Dasara Information Centre 9900801675, 9900804061

Most convenient and hassle free way to see the Dasara is to buy the Gold Card

Official Website

Brindavan Gardens hotel option for Mysore Dasara 2007

There are a ton of options ranging from Home Stay to Luxury hotels at Mysore for Dasara 2007.

Where would you rather stay if you had an option at Mysore for this years Mysore Dasara, Brindavan Gardens would be among the top Hotel or Resort choices.

The Royal Orchid Brindavan Gardens is a great new addition to the Mysore's Heritage Hotel collection.

Close to the inspiring Cauvery River and overlooking the breathtaking Brindavan Gardens, Royal Orchid Brindavan is a great getaway option for Mysore Dasra 2007. The other great option in Mysore being Royal Orchid Metropole.

Mysore Dasara 2007, Quick Guide - History and Highlights

Mysore Dasara 2007 in a NutShell

Dasara is Karnataka’s State festival know as Nadahabba. It is part of Navarathri the 10 day pan-india Hindu festival and with the last day Vijayadashmi being the most auspicious day of Dasara. The Dasara festivities were first performed by Wodeyor King, Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in the year 1610. Since then it has been a tradition for the celebration of the festival to be steered by the Royal Family of Mysore. The royal family of Mysore performs special pooja on the occasion of Dasara. During Dasara, the entire City is gaily decorated and illuminated.

Tip: Most convenient and hassle free way to see the Mysore Dasara is to buy the Mysore Dasara Gold Card


Mysore Dasara 2007 Festival Dates – 12th Oct to 21st Oct 2007

Key Dasara 2007 Progams

• 21st Oct 2007 Afternoon - Dasara Procession (Jumbo Savari)
• 21st Oct 2007 Evening – Torchlight Parade
  

Rest of the events & program guide can be found at the Mysore Dasara Site and the Mysore Tourism Guide.

New Home Stay options in Mysore for Dasara 2007

Home Stays are accommodation options that help the local community to showcase the ethnic culture and heritage to Tourists both domestic and international. Home Stays were launched during the last Mysore Dasara to help bridge Mysore's peak Tourist season accommodation crunch. Unfortunately Mysore Tourism has not been as fortunate as Coorg or Kodagu when it comes to creating sustaining affordable Home Stays which have become symbols of Eco-Tourism in Karnataka State. The Mysore Tourism dept.’s initiative derived from the age old Indian tradition of Atithi Devo Bhava (the guest is an embodiment of God) has never really taken root in this Tourist friendly town. The reason reasons being clearly linked to the new Boom town that Mysore is fast transitioning into very similar to the Bangalore of the early 90’s. Unlike Coorg where there are few options to monetize one’s house or space, in Mysore Home Stays are less sustainable when compared to other commercials options available to property owners. Most of last year's Home Stay property owners in Mysore have rented/converted their Home Stays to Corporate Guest Houses.

Mysore’s peak Tourism is just from October to February unlike Coorg which is popular round the year. This results in property owners having to sustain the long tourist lean period when there are few takers for Home Stays. There is tremendous short fall in accommodation during the Dasara period and Atithi or Home stay options are a boon for budget travelers. Here are few functioning Home Stay options in Mysore that will let you experience the local culture and authentic Mysore food. Home Stays for Dasara 2007.

In addition there are more expensive Top Rated Hotel and Resort options at Mysore for this year’s Dasara.

Wind Flower Resort & Spa, Mysore

Royal Orchid Metropole, Mysore

Regaalis Hotel, Mysore

Ginger Hotel, Mysore

Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore

Have a great Dasara.