Gopalaswamy Betta (hill) is a
lofty hill in picturesque surroundings, which is situated about 16 km
south-west of Gundlupet. It rises to a height of 4,770 feet above the sea
level. It has been also referred to as Dakshina
Govardhanagiri.
A car festival is held in March /
April on this particular day by the devotees and villagers.
The summit of the hill appears to
be enveloped by clouds and mist, and hence the name Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (Himavad
means covered in mist).
There is an old fort on the hill
said to have been constructed during the 13th century. Inside the fort is the
Gopalaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The gopuram of the temple is
single-tiered and rests on the compound wall of the enclosure. The parapet wall
of the facade of the mukha mantapa contains the sculpture of dashavatara (the avatars of the Lord
Vishnu). The garbhagriha contains an
idol of Lord Krishna playing the flute under a tree. The idol of Lord Krishna
is beautifully sculpted with the left toe resting on the right one.
Nature
Area around Venugopalaswamy temple
is a sight to behold. On most days white mist gives the impression of snow.
Hima in Kannada refers to snow.
Timing
Access to Himavad Gopalaswamy hill
is available from 8.30 AM till 4 PM
Nearby
Bandipur Tiger Reserve &
National Park (20 kms) and Nanjanagudu (55 kms) are some of the places to visit
along with Himavad Gopalaswamy betta.
How to reach
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta is 220
kms from Bengaluru and 80 kms from Mysuru. From the foot of the hill, visitors
need to take shuttle buses to reach Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta. Private vehicles
are not allowed on the hills.
Stay
Gundlupete town, 20 kms away, has basic hotels to stay. Jungle Lodges & Resorts operated Bandipur Safari Lodge is 16 kms from Himavad Gopalaswamy hills. Several homestays and resorts are available in the area. More stay options are available in Mysuru city.