GETAWAYS
Travel&Shop YELAGIRI HILLS Great for easy-paced, relaxed weekends; this is an ideal getaway. You can do trekking, go on long nature walks or indulge in some leisurely boating. Some of the tourist attractions include Punganoor Artificial Lake-cum-Park, Jalagamparai waterfalls, Swamimalai (the highest peak in the area), Murugan Koil temple and Telescope House. NOVEMBERand NOVEMBEReach year is the time for a Summer festival at Yelagiri Hills. Distance — 252 Km Location — Near Jolarpet station Tourist Centre, Govt of Tamil Nadu — 080-22286181 Chennai office — 044- 2536-8358 Best time to visit — Nov-Feb NAGARHOLE
BELUR AND HALEBID Located on the banks of the Yagachi River, Halebid and Belur are known for the Hoysala temples, which are world famous for their sculptures and architecture. The twin towns are about 16 km away from each other. The Belur and Halebid temples are cut from soft stone allowing for very intricate carvings on the walls. They are comparable to the Khajuraho temples of Madhya Pradesh. Distance — 268 Km Location — At the foothills of Western Ghat and 32 KMS from Hassan KSTDC — 08177-273224 Regional booking office — Halebid 08172-268862 Best time to visit — Oct-Feb
The enchanting 247 square-mile park in the Coffee land of Coorg boasts of huge herds of Asian Elephants, marsh crocodiles, monitor lizards, rock pythons, aquatic and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads and tree frogs and a myriad insects, including some very colourful butterflies. The best time to is between NOVEMBERand MAY. Location — Part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve. Tourist/booking offices Distance — 284 Km KSTDC — 080- 2227-5869 Range Forest officer 08274-246331, 94292-16062 Deputy Conservator of Forest — 08222-252041 Chief wildlife Warden — 080- 2334-1993 Best time to visit — Oct-NOVEMBER
HAMPI
Listed as a World Heritage Site, the city of ruins is home to over 500 monuments, each with a story behind it. The other tourism hotspots around Hampi include Anegondi, Pampa Sarovar, Gagan Mahal, Hospet and the Tungabhadra Dam.
66 | NOVEMBER 2020
Distance — 635.4 Km Location — Bellary district Department of tourism 08394-241339,
08394-228537 KSTDC — 2227-5869 Best time to visit — Oct-Mar
COIMBATORE
