A Weekend in Belgaum and Gokak

Belgaum is a district in Karnataka that is approximately 500 km from Bangalore. It is commonly referred to as ‘Kunda Nagari’ due to its traditional sweet dish Kunda. Because of the large sugar cane production, it is also known as Karnataka’s ‘Sugar Bowl. It is home to a number of ancient temples and forts. Gokak is a taluk in the Belgaum district known for the Gokak falls and the Kardant sweet dish.

Top 10 Places to Visit near Belgaum and Gokak in 2 days

Kittur

Kittur was the first location we chose to visit. It is a Taluk located approximately 40-50 km from Belgaum and Dharwad. This small town has historical significance as a tribute to well-known freedom fighters such as Kittur Rani Chennamma, India’s first female independence activist, and Sangolli Rayanna, the military chief at the time.

Kittur Fort

Rajahansagad fort

We took another KSRTC bus to Belgaum and then planned to visit Rajahansagad fort, also known as Yellur fort, which is about 22 km from Belgaum. Public transportation was available until Yellur, and one or two mini-buses will take us to the fort. We decided to drop that location due to uncertainty about bus availability, even after inquiring at the bus stop, and also lack of time. We learned from the locals that this is a beautiful place to enjoy nature’s beauty. In the early days, it served as a night-watch fort and there is no entrance fee to visit the place. If you want to visit this location, it is best to hire a private vehicle or drive it yourself.

Military Mahadev temple and park

The name insinuates to a lovely Shiva temple maintained by the Indian army. The area is surrounded by a flower garden and greenery and there are numerous benches to sit and relax. First, we went to the temple to pray. The priest was not present, and they had kept Theertha-Prasada outside for us to take. The intricate walls of the temple depict various avatars of Lord Shiva and their uniqueness. On the right side of the temple, there is a children’s park. Another attraction of this location is a mini zoo park and pond on the left side of the temple. It has deer, emus, tortoises, swans, and rabbits. Near the entrance, there is a small replica of Chatrapati Shivaji. Locals consider this location to be one of the best picnic spots. It is open daily from 6 am to 8 pm and there is no entrance fee.

Belgaum Fort

Following that, we went to the Belgaum Fort area. The inner fort area is 1000 yards long and 800 yards wide. The Ratta dynasty built this fort to repel invading enemies. Massive iron doors designed for defense cover the gateway. A wide red stone barrier surrounds the oval-shaped fort. There are Hindu, Muslim, and Jain temples and shrines in the fort.

Swami Vivekananda Ashrama

Swami Vivekananda Gallery

First, we went to Ashram. When we arrived around 3.30 pm, it was still closed, so we went for a stroll around the neighborhood. By the time we returned, the Ashram had reopened. As directed by the staff, we went to the gallery first. Swami Vivekananda stayed here for 21 days during his visit to Belgaum. Inside the gallery, there is a small meditation room with Vivekananda’s idol at the front. We meditated for a few minutes. Please maintain silence both inside the room and throughout the ashram. There is a veranda and another room inside the gallery that depicts the story of the important events that occurred during Vivekananda’s stay through paintings.

Ashrama Main Hall

At the front of the main temple, we can see idols of Sri Ramakrishna, Sharada Ji, and Vivekananda. This is a meditation hall, and as soon as we walk in, we feel a sense of calm. Inside the hall, Vedic chanting and Bhajan will be performed daily in the morning and evening. There is a bookstore outside the hall where you can buy books, and audio and video collections on meditation and other religious topics. They served Puliyogare (tamarind rice) prasadam to all visitors.

Premises

This is one of the most peaceful places we’ve visited, and it’s well-kept. There are many fruit-bearing trees and beautiful flowers in the area. It’s a nice place to spend some time with the family. It is open every day from 5.30 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm. There is no entrance fee, and there is also a parking lot and restrooms.

Kamal Basadi

We went to Kamal Basadi, which is a short walk from the Ashram. This Jain temple honors the Tirthankara Neminatha. The temple also represents idols of Rishabhanatha, Sumatinatha, Parshavanatha, and Navagraha. The name comes from the lotus carvings on the roof of the basadi’s Mukhamantapa. The lotus’ 72 petals represent the previous 24 Tirthankaras, but they can also represent the present and future Tirthankaras. Aside from the Kamal basadi, there is also the Chikka basadi, which is now in ruins. The temples are designed in the Chalukyan style. Lights will be turned on inside and outside the temple around 6 pm to make it appear more majestic. The Archaeological Department of India looks after this temple. It is also open every day from 5.30 am to 12 pm and 4-8 pm with no entry fee.

Durgadevi Temple

Belgaum Kotekere Lake

After that, we moved to Kote Kere, also known as Fort Lake. This is located directly in front of the fort. This lake serves as a mini-amusement park and picnic area for the locals. Adults and children can enjoy boating, train rides, and other attractions. Locals usually go for a walk in the area in the morning and evening. It is open from 6 am to 8 pm and admission is free; however, one must pay for the ride. Within the lake area, there will also be a few food stalls. There are no restrooms on the premises. The best time to go is in the evening.

Belgaum to Gokak

We decided to get up early the next day and take the bus to Gokak, which runs every 15-30 minutes and takes about 2 hours to arrive. Even though it is not a highway, the road from Belgaum to Gokak is quite good. The bus will travel through the village area, making numerous stops. We can see fields, crops, and channels along the way and take in the scenery. Around 9.30 am, we arrived in Gokak.

Gokak Falls

From the bus stop, we took mini-buses (meta-doors) to Gokak Falls. It will run every 15 minutes to Gokak Falls, Hidkal Dam, and Konnur village. There are a few government buses as well, but they are not as frequent as the private ones.

The Gokak falls, also known as the Niagara Falls of India, is located on the Ghataprabha river. It is a beautiful waterfall that cascades over a 52-meter-high sandstone cliff, resembling a miniature Niagara Falls. On both banks, there are temples dedicated to Ganesha, Mahalingeshwara, Maa Durga, and Shanmukha. It is also built in the Chalukyan architectural style. Another draw to this location is the hanging bridge, which is 200 m long and 14 m above the ground. From this bridge, we can see the top of the falls. It is best to visit the waterfall after the rainy season when the water is full. During that time, the falls can be seen from three different perspectives: the bottom, the top, and the viewpoint.

Hidkal Dam

Following that, we visited Hidkal Dam, also known as Raja Lakhamagouda Dam. This spans the Ghataprabha River and features ten crest gates. It will be amazing to visit during the monsoon season when all of the gates are open. Visitors are not permitted to enter the gate or the Hydel Power generation facility due to security concerns.

We caught a bus from Gokak Falls to Hidkal Dam. It was around 2.30 pm when we decided to go to the dam. We assumed we wouldn’t have much time to explore the area because we had to catch the train, so we almost decided to skip it. Our bus driver, on the other hand, informed us that it would only take 30 minutes to get there and that we could catch another bus every 30 minutes from there to get to the railway station on time. As a result, we decided to visit the dam, which is a pleasant site with lovely scenery. So, it is ideal for a family outing to enjoy the natural calmness and surrounding hills.

We rushed through it to make it back in time for the train. However, the train got delayed so we had to wait in the station for a while. While waiting, we passed the time by reminiscing about our trip. We had been waiting for nearly an hour, but it felt like only a few minutes because of the eye-pleasing allure of sugarcane fields beneath the clouds.

How To Reach Belgaum

Route (From Bangalore):

Belgaum is approximately 500 km from Bangalore.

By Road

Car/Bike:

• The shortest NH 48 route is Tumkur-Chitradurga-Davanagere-Hubli-Belgaum. It will take approximately 8 hours to reach Belgaum.
• You can also take a detour from Chitradurga and travel via Hospete-Gadag-Hubli. It will take approximately 9h 30m to arrive.

Bus: There are numerous buses available from Bangalore and it will take approximately 8 hours to get there.

By Rail

There are numerous trains from Bangalore to Belgaum. It will take approximately 8-10 hours to get there.

By Air

There are direct flights from Bangalore to the Belagavi airport. It is a domestic airport that serves the city of Belgaum. To get around, you can take a taxi or an auto.

Travel Tips

Belgaum

• Belgaum is well-known for its sweet Kunda. It is a milk-based sweet available at famous Purohit sweet stalls. You should not pass it up.
• To get around Belgaum, you can take public transportation, autos, or cabs.
• The best time to visit Belgaum is between October and March.

Vegetarian food options

• Belgaum has a wide variety of vegetarian hotels.
• We found hotel Pai right in front of the bus stop. We ended up eating there because it was a nearby hotel. The food can be considered adequate.

Gokak

• Gokak is well-known for its Kardant sweet, made with dry fruits primarily dates. It is available at well-known Sadanand sweet stalls.
• Ladagi Laddu, a type of laddu, is also a specialty in Gokak. It is made with Kolhapur jaggery. So, don’t forget to try some of the sweets.
• To get around Gokak, you can take an auto, a minibus, or a government bus. Public transportation is available to all locations.
• The months of July to October are ideal for visiting Gokak Falls.

Vegetarian food options

• On the way to the bus station from Belgaum, there are numerous Veg hotels.
• There aren’t many options close to the bus stop. We found a hotel near the bus stop, next to Sadanand’s sweet shop, and ate breakfast there. Despite the fact that the hotel was busy, the staff was courteous and provided excellent service. The food was delicious.
• Near Gokak Falls, there are only a few small hotels with limited food options.
• There are also a few hotels near the railway station with limited food options. The food was not particularly appetizing, but the staff was courteous.