Unseen Gundlupet - Flower pot of Karnataka
Gundlupet is called flower pot of Karnataka, this small town which is nestled between Mysuru - Ooty Mysuru - Kozhikode Highway. It shares borders with Tamil Nadu and Kerala so through out the year this tiny town keeps busy with tourists.
Bandipur wild life safari and Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills are most famous tourist spots of Gundlupet. This small town is surrounded by agricultural land which shares it border with the wild life Sanctuaries of Karnataka and Kerala.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve Entrance
Inside the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Safari
Forest Petrol on Two Wheels😃
People are simple and hard worker they adopted agriculture as their profession, through out the year grows different crops and vegetables like Jowar, Raagi, Sugarcane, turmeric, onion, banana and vegetables. Mansoon period is July to October, during these days most of them are grows Sunflower and different colours of Marry golds turns up whole area into a flowerpot.
Waving Colourful Marry gold fields
Average rainfall in this area is only 600mm and it falls between July to October still they utilities the rain water in proper manner, almost all fields having their own tube well and large ponds to collect rain water and feeds to drip irrigation. Its main hub to supply vegetables and flowers to Kerala during the Onam season.
Sunflower Crop
Sunflower seeds ready to harvest
Sunflower field passage decorated with flowers😃
Bandipur Tirger Reserve
Bandipur Tiger Reserve Safari is just 14Km far from Gundlupet town, earlier the office located inside the forest now they shifted outside due to heavy rust of tourists, Karnataka State forest department arrange wild life safari on nominal price, mini buses and Jeeps are available on sharing basis. Both Morning and evening safaris are opted. The new office have built in large area with proper facilities.
Small shelter built on tree top to protect the crops from wild animals during night
Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple
Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy temple is famous temple in Gundlupet, its located at Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill which comes under Bandipur Tiger Reserve and its just 21Km from Gundlupet town. to reach there on has to travel on Gundlupet - Ooty road till a small village called Shri Hangala then take dievrsion towards right, a narrow tarmacked road nestled between village and fields takes us to parking area near the entrance of Betta.
Village View
Earlier all the tourist vehicles were permitted to climb the hill now a days Karnataka State Road Transport buses playing between hill base to top.
This Dravidian style temple built during AD1315 in Hoysala era later maintained by Wodeyars of Mysuru. The Garbhagraha contains an idol of Shri Krishna holding flute under a tree this beautifully carved idol is 6 feet tall. Devotees are only allowed to visit the temple during day time with time restrictions. It opens at 0830hrs to 1630hrs, private vehicles are not allowed and please remember that this is a Plastic free Zone. During the most of the time throughout the year this temple was covered with snow, that's why it's called Himavad (Covered with snow) Gopalaswamy temple.
Somewhere near around Gundlupet
Way to Shir Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill
Road to Himavad Swamy Hill
Entrance Gate Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Shri Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple
Accommodation and food
There are many lodges and resorts are available at Gundlupet, terrif starts from Rs.600 per day, so many veg and non veg restaurants was also served so no need to worry no previous reservations required. If you visit during the monsoon don't forget to travel the interior villages of Gundlupet it's an amazing experience, monsoon is a good time to explore this flowerpot surrounded by huge hills.
