Bellary

Overview:

The historic city of Bellary belonging to the Bellary District of the Indian state of Karnataka is situated at the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. According to Hindu mythology goddess ‘Balari’ manifested herself in the city; hence the region derived its name from her. Few events in the Ramayana have been related to places in and around the celebrated capital of the Vijayanagara Empire - Hampi. Historically, the region of Bellary has been known by various names like Kuntala Desha, Nolambavadi-nadu and Sindavadi-nadu. Bellary’s long tryst with a colourful history is reflected by the rich cultural diversity and architecture of the place. The dynasties of the Mauryas and the Satavahanas until the Cholas ruled Bellary in succession until the Mughals, Tipu Sultan and finally the British Empire captured and ruled over it. Bellary was transformed into the seventh largest town in Madras Presidency by 1901 AD. Amongst the chief military stations in southern India, British and native Indian troops alike were garrisoned by the British Indian Government. The district of Bellary in the Madras State was divided on linguistic basis on 1 October 1953. Areas dominated by Kannada speaking population were transferred to the state of Mysore while the districts of Anantapuram and Karnulu were merged with areas housing a significant Telugu speaking population. After much protracted debate and controversy; with a population of both Telugu and Kannada speakers the city of Bellary itself was included into Mysore state. Legions of Neolithic archeological sites like the ash mounds at Sanganakallu, Budhihal, Kudithini, Tekkalakote, Hiregudda and Kupgal have been discovered in and around Bellary. Covering an expanse of over 1,000 acres the Sanganakallu settlement is among the largest Neolithic complexes in the world. The au courant Bellary has gained the nick name ‘Jamshedpur of Karnataka’ due to the number of steel plants sited here. At an average elevation of 495 meters Bellary lies in the cusp of a wide, level plain of black cotton soil. A semi arid climate prevails in Bellary. The months from November to February are the best time to tour the city. Bellary is located at a distant of around 306 kilometers from Bangalore. Tourists generally opt for car rentals or taxi cabs from Bangalore to Bellary to make the five hour’s drive from Bangalore to Bellary by car. Hiring a cab makes commuting to and within Bellary easy, economical as well as comfortable.

Places of Interest:

The main attraction of the city is the Bellary Fort. It is built on a huge rock that is considered to be the world’s second largest monolith. The fort is divided into two parts – the Upper Fort and the Lower Fort. The former has a polygonal structure with a single entrance. It consists of a temple and a cistern along with several cells and pools. The Lower Fort, constructed by Haider Ali, is located at the base of the rock. It is half a mile long, and was once used as an armoury and garrison.

From the fort, tourists can take their rented car to Hampi, which is a World Heritage Site. It used to be the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is located along the bank of Tungabhadra River on a landscape strewn with boulders. Local sightseeing points include Hampi Bazaar, Virupaksha Temple, UrgaNarasimha, Vithala Temple Complex, Stone Chariot, HazaraRamaswami Temple, Lotus Mahal, King’s Balance, Elephant Stables, MahanavamiDibba, SasiveKalu (Mustard) Ganesh, KadaleKaalu Ganesh; Sister Stones, BadaviLinga, and an Artistic Stepped Tank, all of which speak high of the once flourishing dynasty.

The city of Bellary is chiefly spread around two huge hills of rocky granite, namely the Bellary Gudda and the Kumbara Gudda. Granite rocks and hills are a prominent feature of Bellary and are visible from almost every corner of the town. Gudda in kannada translates into ‘hill’. Granite extraction is among one of the major businesses of Bellary.

Other places that tourist might want to visit include Bellary Zoo, Dr. Vishnuvardhan Park, Golden Jubilee Park and the Tungabhadra Dam.

Things to do:

Bellary has a wonderful historical background. Due to the heavy industrialization, it attracts people from all over the country. Visitors visiting Bellary can stay in any of the hotels that are present in multitudes within and around the city.

For those architecturally or historically inclined, Bellary offers many buildings built during the British colonial period. Although a majority of them have been partially modified, the typical colonial British style of architecture is still retained by them. Bellary Central Jail, The Wardlaw High School Complex, St. Philomena's School Complex, St. John's School Complex, St. Joseph's School Complex, The main building of VIMS ((Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences) are some of the architectural attractions.

Bellary’s region is naturally arid with semi-desert flora. However, due to the collective efforts of the city residents, the regional forest department and the local municipal corporation, the city has accumulated lush greenery over the past few decades. Visitors can unwind at parks and green space such as the Ballari and Kumbara rock hills and Kuntegadda Park.

Nature lovers or tourists travelling with children can undertake a trip to the Bellary Zoo. The zoo was established in 1981, along with the children's park it covers an area of close to 2.4 hectares. A variety of fauna including Blackbuck, Spotted deer (Chital), Jackal, Crocodile, Indian Peafowl, Cobra, Python, Bear, Panther, Boar, etc are hosted by the zoo.