Off the beaten track

Channapatna (59 km)

The land of toy makers. Colourful lacquered and wooden toys in various shapes and sizes are the specialty of this region. Wooden beads, bangles, boxes and light furniture are also made here.

Magadi (46 km)

This birthplace of Kempe Gowda, it now has the remnants of an old fort and four temples of unspoiled charm. Someshwar Temple has a Nandi and decorated arches. This temple complex also has the figures of men, women and animals. It also contains Indo-Saracenic architecture.. The Ranganathaswamy Temple has a beautifully painted “Gopuram”. Well-laid out steps lead to an open rectangular tank facing the temple.

Savandurg (60 km)

Also known as the Magadi Hills, this is a towering granite hill, 1207 metres high, with a base about 10 km in circumference. A hill fortress of Sawantaraya, in olden days it was also called “Nelepatna” i.e. underground city. It was a hideout of Kempe Gowda. Later it was renamed as Savantdurg after its ruler Sawantharaya. It has temples dedicated to Basaveswara, Narasimhaswamy and Veerabhadrasamy. Between these two temples is the tomb of Sayyed Ghulam Hussain Shah Qadri, a Muslim saint.

Devanahalli (35 km)

Tipu Sultan was born here. A monument has been created in the memory of Tipu. A fort and a fine temple of Dravidian style Venugopal are the other attractions. Interesting episodes from the Ramayana have been carved on the outside temple walls. The Shilpakala Shala imparts training in traditional painting and sculpture. There is also an old mosque.

Devarayanadurga (79 km)

Perched at a height of 3,940 feet is Devarayanadurga, a hill station on Tumkur Road. An interesting natural spring called “Namada Chilume” is at the foot of the hill. Temples dedicated to Ugra Narasimha are situated at the top of the hill.