The Seven Wonders Of Karnataka

NDTV had unveiled 7 wonders of Karnataka in 2009 based on the user polls. Here's the list of these wonders:

Shravanabelagola

Steeped in history, Shravanabelagola is a town located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, about 144 km away from Bangalore. The town is most well-known for its Gommateshwara statue, a sculptural masterpiece, and one of Jainism’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. It is believed that after converting to Jainism, Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of India’s Maurya Empire, wandered to this place and took his last breath in Shravanabelagola. The town also has over 800 inscriptions dating to times between 600 and 1830 AD. Some of these inscriptions have valuable historical information and mention the rise and growth of some of the major ancient Indian dynasties. The town also hosts several temples dedicated to Jainism. These temples are praised for their aesthetic beauty and grandeur.

Hampi

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Group of Monuments at Hampi is undoubtedly one of the Seven Wonders of Karnataka. The town became the capital of the highly prosperous Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. At its peak, Hampi was a wealthy and grand city by the Tungabhadra River with numerous temples, bazaars, and farms dotting the city. By about the beginning of the 16th century, Hampi was possibly India’s richest city and the world’s second-biggest city after Beijing. Sadly, after centuries of rule, the Vijayanagara Empire finally crumbled down under the attack of the Muslim Sultanates and Hampi lost its glory for a period of time. Today, it is a tourist hotspot in the country and also an important center of pilgrimage. The beautiful temples and historical monuments of Hampi continue to enthrall its visitors to this day.

Gol Gumbaz 

Another one of the “Seven Wonders of Karnataka”, the Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of the Sultan of Bijapur, Mohammed Adil Shah. The mausoleum is located in the Bijapur district of the state. The construction of the Gol Gumbaz was completed between 1626 and 1656. The building was built using the Deccan architectural style. The Gol Gumbaz is one of the world’s largest single-chamber places. It has an area of 18,000 square feet. The Gol Gumbaz has a "Whispering Gallery” where even the slightest of sounds can be heard at the other side of the mausoleum due to the acoustics of the building.

Badami Cave Temples

Located in the town of Badami in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district is a complex of cave temples renowned for their architectural beauty and splendor. The complex features four temples, one Hindu temple, two Jain temples, and one (possibly) Buddhist temple. These temples have been carved out of rocks and are built using the Badami Chalukya architecture style. The temples represent one of the earliest Hindu temples in the Deccan region and influenced later temples in the region.

Srirangapatna

Located near Mysore in the Mandya district of Karnataka, Srirangapatna is a town of great historic, cultural, and religious significance. The entire town exists as a river island of the Kaveri River. The monuments present at this site have been enlisted in the tentative list of UNESCO. The town is one of South India’s primary pilgrimage centers of the Vaishnavite sect as it hosts the celebrated Ranganathaswamy temple that displays a perfect blend of the Vijayanagar and Hoysala styles of architecture. Several other ancient temples are also present in Srirangapatna. The town also hosts Tipu Sultan’s summer palace and mausoleum.

Belur

The town of Belur is located in Karnataka’s Hassan district. Like Halebidu, Belur also houses some of the finest buildings and monuments of Hoysala architecture including the spectacular Chennakeshava Temple. This temple and some of the temples in Halebidu have been proposed for inclusion in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The town served as the capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 11th century prior to Halebidu becoming the capital in the next century. However, Belur served as the second capital city of the empire till the 14th century. Today, the town is located at a distance of about 200 km from the city of Bangalore. 

Halebidu

Located in Karnataka’s Hassan District is the historical town of Halebidu that served as the capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. The town hosts some architectural marvels which are some of the best examples of Hoysala architecture. It is thus one of the Seven Wonders of Karnataka. Some beautiful Jain and Hindu temples are located in this town. The most notable examples of these temples were the Hoysaleshwara temple, the Kedareshwara temple, the Shantinatha Basadi, and others. Halebidu is located about 150 km away from Mysore.