🏨 Poetry in Stone Tour - Shravanabelagola, Belur & Halebidu with Breakfast & Lunch Activity

Poetry in Stone Tour - Shravanabelagola, Belur & Halebidu with Breakfast & Lunch

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From $212.27

6 reviews (5.00)

Price varies by group size

Lowest Price Guarantee

Pricing Info: Per Person

Duration: 15 hours

Departs: Bangalore, Bangalore

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

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Overview

In this awe-inspiring journey, you will discover that stone was clay in the hands of a breed of legendary sculptors, the likes of which are no longer around. We will explore a variety of fascinating sites from different eras. These include ancient Hindu temples with mind-blowing carvings and a millennia-old giant monolithic statue perched on an idyllic hilltop. Breakfast and lunch are included in the price

What's Included

All entry Fees

Breakfast

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Central Bengaluru

Lunch

Service of a Cultural/Heritage Expert for the duration of the Tour

Transport by air-conditioned car or minivan or Coach

What's Not Included

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Gratuities

Personal Shopping

Traveler Information

ADULT: Age: 4 - 75

Additional Info

Adult pricing applies to all travelers.
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Language English only
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Public transportation options are available nearby
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Wheelchair not accessible

A maximum of 8 people per booking
Dress code is smart casual
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Minimum age is 4 years
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Regular temperature checks for staff
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

What To Expect

Kunigal

Our first stop is about an hour after the start of the tour for an authentic local breakfast freshly prepared and served in an open rustic setting

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Shravanabelagola

Post breakfast we move on to Shravanabelagola. An over 2300 years old town acclaimed as a seat of learning and spiritualism and is today a major pilgrimage centre of one of India's ancient religions, Jainism. Our objective here is to scale a moderately steep hill with about 700 steps barefoot to marvel at one of the tallest monolithic sculpture in the world carved over a millennia ago. The beautiful statue and the idyllic countryside visible from the top is a visual treat.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Hassan

We break our journey here for a sumptuous and tasty buffet lunch served in a quiet and lush garden.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Belur

Post lunch we make our way to see some of the best collection of stoneworks not seen anywhere else in the world.

We will explore the Sri Chennakeshava temple here with its amazing dancing maidens perched on the exteriors of the walls and marvel at the sheer beauty and stone imagery on the pillars and ceiling inside. Get ot know a bit about Hinduism and and its a

60 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Halebid

Our final stop of this tour is the over 800-year-old Hoysaleswara temple with sculptures and stone carvings that exist nowhere else. The richness in detail and the sheer volume of carvings on the over 200 meters long outer walls of this temple - of Hindu gods, scenes from Indian epics, animals, flowers, mythical beasts and design patterns are spellbinding and sure to leave you speechless.

60 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Reviews

Perfect for solo travelers interested in history and culture!

wheelzonmyfeet, 08-01-2023

Poetry in Stone indeed!! This tour demonstrated the magnificent beauty that south India's ancient temples have to offer. You should not miss it! Each of the sites offers a slightly different style of exquisite sculpture, and all take you back in time to a world of extraordinary sculptors, artisans, and architects.

The tour itself was fantastic. I've taken cultural/historical tours like this across the world, and this was among the finest. Praveen was extremely knowledgeable, and went into significant detail about the history of the temples and the carvings, the contemporaneous events, and the details of the carvings themselves. And the breakfast and lunch stops were yummy and clean (and a good showcase for south Indian food).

Some may wonder whether it is really possible to do all of this as a day trip from Bangalore. It is!!! We left at 6am, were back by 9pm, and had plenty of time at all of the sites as well as breakfast and lunch.

It is also worth noting that I went on the tour as a solo female traveler and it was perfectly safe. The weather was great (I went at the end of December) but you may want to bring a hat and sunglasses as it can get sunny and hot.

Jus as the name: Poetry!

695beatrizj, 04-12-2022

The name of this tour make justice to what you will see and feel. Literally is Poetry! I will call this an experience, Hidden Gems makes honor to their title, I will never thought all this could be seen in the South of India.
The cravings on the stone, the Bahubali statue
Is a long day, but worth every part of it. All the details are taken care.
Praveen is so passionate and understand how to relate to each person on their own cultural context. The price is right for the quality of service you receive.

Breathtaking Beauty

jenniferandersonvb, 04-03-2020

This tour was amazing. The temples were absolutely exquisite. Praveen’s excitement in sharing these historical wonders is contagious. We were in awe!! And the local cuisine is always a plus!!!

Artistry in Sacred Stones and Stories

SunSeeker300, 11-01-2020

Truly an amazing day. We drove through the countryside to the first stop in the midst of the coffee-growing countryside to visit the first temple which was build around the Bahubali stone monolith in the Jain temple of Shravanabelagola. The 700 steps were a challenge, but one that Praveen (who could also be a motivational speaker!) gently guided these two seniors up and down. The fellow climbers we met along the way, particularly school children, gave the visit a sense of being part of a much larger story, the culture and worship of the Jain tradition. Pilgrimage comes in many forms! The next two stopes at Belur and Halebidu took us into the magic of stone sculpting that is simultaneously art and education and devotion. The incredible skill of the generations of carvers, the power of teaching through architecture and stories captured in the stone and the sense of wonder, especially at Halebidu, filled our minds and imaginations. Praveen is passionately prepared and knowledgeable, but also eager to help his clients step into their own experiences of Indian history, shaped by his carefully curated information and excellent questions. Having been to India once before, Praveen built on our experiences, gave us new insight and depth into social and religious history, and enjoyed the constant conversation with him that his leading us gave rise to. Coconut water and sugar cane juice were highlights, too, reminding us of how agriculture shapes the Karnataka State that Praveen so loves. We highly recommend Hidden Gems Tours and Praveen and hope that visitors to Karnataka will take the time to go into the countryside to experience the beauty, awe and importance of these temples and their context. Thank you Hidden Gems Tours!

Poetry in Stone Tour

LoriD1451, 09-12-2019

Wow! What a wonderful day. The drive was fascinating with rural sights and views of coffee plantations. Our first stop was for breakfast at an outside restaurant. The food was delicious and fresh! Next we stopped at the monolithic statue of Bahubali after walking up the 700 steps to the Jain site in Shravanabelagola. We were up high enough to see the surrounding countryside. Just breathtaking! Our next two stops were to the temples of Belur and Halebeedu. SO incredible to see these examples of Hoysala architecture. The carvings were exquisitely detailed and fascinating to observe. The grounds of the Halebeedu temple were peaceful and relaxing. Praveen explained in detail the background of each location so that we could understand the importance of their place in Indian history.

This was one of six tours we have taken with Hidden Gems. We love hanging out with Praveen as he guides us through his home state of Karnataka.

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Poetry in Stone Tour - Shravanabelagola, Belur & Halebidu with Breakfast & Lunch Activity - Bangalore Travel Guide

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