Excursions


While Shreyas is a destination on its own, encompassing the entire gamut of health, wellness, fitness, rejuvenation, detox and restorative therapies in luxurious surroundings nestled in the lap of nature, there are plenty of options for guests who are interested in exploring Southern India and discovering ancient temples, magnificent palaces, game reserves, tea estates, beaches and more.


We will be glad to help you plan your excursions around and beyond Bangalore.

MYSORE
Mysore is 180 kilometers from Shreyas (about 3 hours by car). Mysore or Mysuru was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Mysore. Now, Mysore is the third-largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. The Mysore Maharaja Palace is one of the most visited monuments in India. One of the largest palaces in the country, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, this was the residence of the Wodeyar Maharaja's.

Mysuru is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka. The Mysore painting style is an offshoot of the Vijayanagar School of painting, and King Raja Wodeyar (1578-1617 CE) is acknowledged as a patron. The distinctive feature of these paintings is the gesso work, to which gold foil is applied.

SRIRANGAPATNA

Srirangapatna is 160 kms from Bangalore, on the way to Mysore.

Srirangapatna, an island fortress-city is of great religious, cultural and historic importance. It is situated about 14 kilometres from Mysore on the banks of river Cauvery. from Mysore. Srirangapatna is nestled in the banks of river Cauvery.

For a short while the city of Srirangapatna was the capital of the Mysore state, while Tipu Sultan was ruling Mysore. After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 the British shifted the capital back to Mysore. The town, temples, mosque and other historical monuments are surrounded by a strong stone fort with four gates.

BANDIPUR

Bandipur National Park is regarded as one of the most beautiful and the better-managed national parks of India. Located amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghat Mountains on the Mysore-Ooty highway in Karnataka, Bandipur National Park covers an area of about 874.2 sq km. Together with Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and Nagarhole National Park in the North, it creates the India's biggest biosphere reserve popularly known as the 'Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve'.

BELUR, HALEBEEDU AND SHRAVANABELAGOLA

Halebeedu, a small town in the Hassan district of Karnataka, is known for its temples built during Hoysala period. Along with Belur and Shravanabelagola, Halebeedu forms the Golden Triangle of Karnataka tourism. Shreyas offers a 1-day excursion to Halebeedu, Belur and Shreavanabelagola for our guests.

The word Halebeedu means 'ruined city'; earlier it was called as Dwarasamudra which meant 'entrance to the ocean'. Halebeedu was the royal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century.

BELUR

The ancient city of Belur, located on the banks of the Yagachi River in Hassan district, is cloaked in mystique. It was previously called Velapura. Belur was chosen as an alternate capital city by the Hoysala dynasty after the attack and subsequent destruction of their capital Dwarasumudra (now known as Halebeedu) by the sultans of Northern India.

The best of Hoysalan monuments are found in Belur. The innovative architecture and beautiful sculptures draw several thousand every year to both Belur and its twin city of Halebeedu.

Vistors must see the exquisite Chennakesava temple that took 100 years to complete. It was finished in 1117 AD

SHRAVANABELAGOLA - THE TEMPLE CITY

Shravanabelagola - nestled by the Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills, protected by the monolith Bhagawan Bahubali and home of 2300 years of heritage is a veritable picture postcard of history spanning centuries.

The Lord Gomateswara Monolith in Shravanabelagola is one of the oldest (AD 918) and most important Jain pilgrimage sites. This 59-foot statue of the naked Lord Gomateswara - a representation of Bahubali, son of the 1st Jain tirthankara, said to have sought enlightenment by standing naked and motionless for an entire year - is the tallest monolithic statue on Earth.


Shreyas offers a 1-day excursion to Belur, Halebeedu and
Shreavanabelagola for our guests

JOG FALLS

Jog falls, the tallest waterfall in India is situated in the dense evergreen forests, in Shimoga district, Karnataka. The falls are located at the heart of Western Ghats, The Western Ghats gives rise to the Sharavati river that plunges from a height of 829 feet in four magnificent cascades namely Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket.

Jog falls is also known as Gerusoppaa falls, is the highest untiered waterfalls in India as it drops directly and does not stream on to the rocks.

August-December is considered the season of best flow and the best time to visit.

COORG

Coorg is a wonderland of misty mountains, streams, waterfalls, tropical forests and miles and miles of tea, coffee, paddy and spice plantations.

Coorg or Kodagu as it is officially known now is an unspoilt 'country of million hills', situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats. Coorg is India's coffee bowl. The tiny district in the state of Karnataka is the biggest producer of coffee. It is well known for its breathtakingly exotic scenery and lush greenery. Forest covered hills, spice and coffee plantations make this a nature-lovers delight.

Coorg is 300 kilometers form Bangalore

HAMPI (A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CENTER)

Scattered among the Henri Moore-like boulders in the heart of Karnataka's rural interior, Hampi was once the royal seat of the powerful Vijayanagar kingdom, its size and wealth drawing comparisons with Imperial Rome. Today the city has crumbled away to a few starkly beautiful leftovers, but the remote setting could not be more romantic.

Hampi is charismatic even in its ruined state, attracting thousands of visitors every year. Vast stretches of boulder-strewn hills make the backdrop of Hampi unique. Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500-plus monuments.

EXCURSIONS IN / AROUND BANGALORE

Temples Around Shreyas

SHANI (SATURN) TEMPLE

  • Saturn is the bestower of Wisdom (not just knowledge) through experiences and hardships.
  • The crow is Saturn's vehicle - that which consumes the unwanted and waste in the environment to enable fresh life and recycle waste.
  • Saturn is the slowest but steadiest of the planets. These are his characteristics when he confers benefits.
  • Saturn is the only Navagraha (the 9 planets in Indian Astrology), which is called Ishwara (God). As wisdom is required to wade through the maze of life unscathed, he is bestowed with such honour.
  • LOCATION - The temple is around 4 miles from Shreyas. People visit here to propitiate Saturn and pray to him to ward off the impending or present difficulties in life. Villagers bring all their new vehicles and get the ritual done here before they start to use them.

ANJANEYA (HANUMAN) TEMPLE

  • As per Hindu mythology, Anjaneya is the son of Anjana, a tribe that resembled monkeys, which lived in the southern pockets of Indian forests. He is born to Anjana and the Air element (Vayu). Because of this he acquired the ability to fly at will; incidentally it is one of the 8 supernatural powers Yogis (ones who have mastered the senses) possess.
  • He is a Chiranjeevi - a person who lives on for ever till pralaya (end of the world).
  • He is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and was His messenger to the court of Ravana, the demon king, of Sri Lanka.
  • From the ancient Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius to today's modern psychologists, it is believed that 'What we contemplate that we become' In these lines, a contemplation on Hanuman is said to bestow the worshipper with astuteness, strength, (includes physical, mental, spiritual strengths), fame, courage, all round health, talent for verbal fluency, fearlessness etc.
  • DISTANCE - The temple is around 1 mile from Shreyas. It is renowned for its two yearly festivals in the month of April - Hanuman Jayanti and Sri Rama Navami. The celebrations of the birth days of Hanuman and His Lord, Sri Rama. Huge temple car with the wheels made of granite is taken in procession around the village and various cultural activities take place. This includes the dramas with themes from Indian epics. The local fair is also organized around this time.

VISHNU TEMPLE

  • Established by King Janamejaya of the Pandava clan, the deity dates back to around 5000 years. The deity in this temple is called Venkataramana Swami. Swami is a suffix given to any entity that is considered to be holy and auspicious.
  • It is said that in olden days, this entire place was full of forests and was under the rule of the aforesaid King. Apart from this Sage Kountinya has done Penance (Tapas) in this location and the temple pond that he created is still live in the name of 'Shank Pushkarani' (The Conch Pond). This is because the pond is formed in between the rocks that resemble a conch.
  • This temple is around 4 miles from Shreyas.

LOCAL TEMPLE TOUR OFFERED AT SHREYAS:

  • Nelamangala, the town Shreyas is located in, is famous for its temples. During the approximately 2 -hour temple tour, guests are taken to the Vishwa Shanti Ashram, a Hanuman Temple and a Jain Temple.
  • Vishwa Shanti Ashram is a spiritual centre near Bangalore. The complex, spread over nearly 20 acres of land, has a number of beautiful temples and a park. At the front, there is the huge Vijaya Vittala statue and inside there are the Ashtalakshmi temple, Gayathri Mandir, Meditation hall with Bhagavad Gita Bodana and Vishwaroopa statues. Below this statue is the Lakshmi Narayana temple. Spread on either side of this temple is the Ashtalakshmi Mandir, with the eight forms of Mahalakshmi. Further on there are temples for Gayathri Devi, Navagrahas and Santhoshi Mata. At the center is the Bhagavad Gita Mandir. To the right of this Mandir lie a series of statues representing the seven main holy rivers of India - Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri. The Bhagavad Gita temple itself is constructed in the form of a chariot, with Arjuna seated at the back, and Krishna, holding the reins of the horses, teaching him the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita. Inside this chariot is a meditation hall with a large statue of Vishwaroopa Narayana, with the encompassing the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. Opposite to this temple a 'Hanuman Mandir' is worth a visit, you will find a very tall statue of Lord Hanuman. The third temple we visit is the Shree Parshwa Labdhi Jain Tirth Dham. This is a Jain temple located near Nelamangala in the outskirts of Bangalore. Just like other Jain temples, it is a white marble structure with beautiful carvings.