Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Most tours show you these temples. Ours lets you truly read them.
Expert native guides bring alive the hidden stories, social commentary, and jaw-dropping details carved into 1000-year-old stone — the kind of insights no guidebook contains and no flag-following tour delivers.
With no more than 8 travellers, the experience stays genuinely intimate. Your guide's attention is yours. The pace is set for your group. Nothing gets lost in a crowd.
Every detail is taken care of — door-to-door pick-up, comfortable AC transport, and traditional breakfast and lunch included. You arrive present, not hassled.
And the day itself is unmatched. Shravanabelagola, Halebidu, and Belur — three extraordinary sites, connected by a single sweeping story of faith, artistry, and human ambition across two thousand years.
Karnataka's greatest day out, done the way it deserves.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Suitable for most fitness levels — the 700-step climb at Shravanabelagola is walked barefoot, with handrails throughout and a relaxed pace
Exclusively English-language — your guide's stories, context, and insights, delivered fluently
Minimum age 4 years — adult pricing applies to all travellers
Smart casual dress code — covered shoulders and knees required at all monument sites
Maximum 8 travellers per group — intimate by design, never a crowd
Subject to favourable weather conditions — if cancelled, an alternative date will be offered
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kunigal
Your day begins before the monuments do. We pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and set off through the Karnataka countryside. As Bangalore's skyline fades behind you, the landscape opens up — rice fields, temple towns, and the quiet rhythm of rural Karnataka rolling past your window. First stop: a traditional South Indian breakfast. Freshly steamed idlis, crisp dosas, aromatic filter coffee. Not an afterthought — a warm welcome to the region you're about to explore.
Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola — 2,300 Years of Living Faith Your expert guide meets you here, at the foot of 700 ancient steps and 2,300 years of living faith. Those steps are climbed barefoot, as Jain tradition demands. Well-worn and smooth, with handrails throughout — guests in their 60s and 70s reach the top comfortably. Your guide walks every step with you, sharing the story of Bahubali — the Jain prince who renounced his kingdom, stood motionless in meditation, and was immortalised in stone for eternity. And then — Gomateshwara. Fifty-seven feet of a single granite rock, carved over a thousand years ago. One of the most extraordinary things you will ever stand before.
What‘s Included
Traditional South Indian breakfast — idlis, dosas, and aromatic filter coffee to start the day right
Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off from your Bangalore hotel
All monument entry fees and admission tickets included — no surprises
Expert native guide throughout the monuments — stories, insights, and details no guidebook contains
Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle throughout — sit back and enjoy the countryside
Traditional South Indian lunch — authentic, local, and deeply satisfying
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Personal Shopping
Entirely at your discretion, always appreciated
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
UNESCO SITES + SHRAVANBELAGOLA
Duration: 14 hours
Authentic Breakfast: Authentic Breakfast
Tour All Stops in Itinerary: Full-blown guided version: includes all the stops & meals mentioned in the itinerary/description
Pickup included
ONLY UNESCO BELUR + HALEBIDU
This is a bare-bones version. South Indian Vegetarian lunch included.
Only Belur & Halebeedu Temples: This is a bare-bones version. South Indian Vegetarian lunch included.
Pickup included
Reviews
27 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Thought provoking
dhruba m,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The best thing I learnt was the story of the brothers Bharat and Bahubali whose fight people gave up on and asked them to sort it out amongst themselves instead of resorting to bloodbaths. Still relevant…. Afsarji and Murali bhai were outstanding. Praveen is really onto something here. Wish all of them the very best. Dhruba
How long did it take to go up and down the stairs.
X7724ZQmaryf,Jan 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was concerned about the stairs because I am 68 and not athletic. I was pleased that I got to the top in about 20 minutes and down in half the time. The rock steps are well worn and I did it barefoot. The handrails helped alot.
Best Tour Company in India
Josie98765,Dec 15, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is my 4th solo trip to India and my 3rd tour with Hidden Gems Tours. Hidden Gems are the best - knowledgeable, accommodating, and they will NEVER take you to a tourist trap where someone will try hard sell you "stuff" at exorbitant prices. Praveen is super passionate about history of India and singularly focused on creating a positive customer experience which is reflected in every aspected of his company.
Go! You won't regret it
Katerina B,May 15, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Poetry in stone with Praveen and Hidden Gems was an experience out of the ordinary. An intense day, worth every step and second - whether a local wanting to learn more of your heritage or a tourist on a tight schedule wanting to get unforgettable images of India . You'll see sights that will leave you in awe, smells of insence and nature that leaves a print of India in your DNA, tastes of South Indian specialities that will have your taste buds jumping of joy, and a total feeling of fulfillment provided by Praveens philosophy to go the extra mile to make the tour extraordinary. Thank you.
An Incredible Experience
jenniferkS7000IO,Apr 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing experience!!! A wonderful day visiting incredible heritage sites and experiencing the beautiful South Indian countryside and hospitality. Each site is unique and extraordinary! Hidden Gens and Praveen were very knowledgeable and showed us things that only the locals know. I highly recommend this incredible tour!
A wonderful trip UNESCO sites in southern India
518ll,Apr 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have an amazing day of visiting historic sites, tasting local food and learning the history from Praveen. I was so happy I was able to book the tour with him and two other guests.
Nice one day tour from Bangalore to Belur
Oier A,Apr 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Nice visiting, Shravanabelagola is amazing, you cannot miss it, and Belur temples too. Nice food too. Recommended. Long trip.
The three sites that we...
Adriana S,Apr 13, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00The three sites that we visited were truly amazing. I loved the architecture, engineering and the stories behind this places. Praveen was an excellent guide that took care of us during all moments.
must see architecture gem
618nataliyad,Mar 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Praveen is a great guide. Fluent in English and very flexible. He is knowledge of history and legends and love for his country. The temples are spectacular and the craftsmanship if beyond belief. It is difficult to imagine that almost 1,000 years ago the buildings and statues of this quality we re made. More so that they are standing almost untouched. If you have a change you have to see these amazing temples and colossal statue. Thank God UNESCO finally accepted this as a heritage site. Long past due.
Fantastic tour guide and absolutely mesmerizing stone sculptures
arunkL7611TN,Jan 8, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I chose this one-day tour as it was a good fit for my tight schedule and it is reasonably priced. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and educational experiences I have ever had! My tour guide, Deenanath (Deena), was incredibly knowledgeable and very fun to chat with. I am a huge Indian history/culture/religions buff and as a South-Indian American myself, I know a fair bit about this region. But as we drove to the sites (and in between them), in our chats Deena shared about so many fascinating historical events, dynasties and wars, evolution of temple architecture styles, interesting agricultural practices, and social aspects of life in this part of Karnataka. He also shared many fun anecdotes about his decades-long experience guiding tourists of all sorts across South India. The driver was also timely and courteous. They picked good places for breakfast, lunch, and evening coffee. The sites themselves are simply spectacular! I have seen many major temples across both South India and North India. The Hoysala architectural style in these two temples is truly unique, with unparalleled sophistication and intricacy in the stone sculptures. I am surprised these have not been made a bigger part of Indian tourism's ad campaigns! The multiple levels of carvings overflow from top to bottom with so much imagination, creativity, and ingenuity of craft that one can spend even a whole day admiring them. The diversity of depictions is massive, ranging from numerous deities to episodes from the great epics to buxom dancing girls and musicians to semi-erotic scenes to activities of ordinary daily life back then. Deena narrated numerous interesting facts about the sculptures, including the hilarious social commentary present in some of them. It is funny how many things about humanity stay timeless! The hike up the hill in Shravanabelagola was also worth it for the impressive giant statue and sculptures up there, as well as for the beautiful vistas.
From ₹16,000.00
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