Dharmasthala, Need some information

fromusawithluv

Hi, I am planning on visiting Dharmasthala in mid-June from Bangalore to check out the nature cure center (naturopathy). I'm assuming that it'll take me a day or so to get acquainted with the area. Have you been to Dharmasthala, or neighboring areas? How is it during the month of July? Too rainy to do anything??

I heard Dharmasthala is about 300 Kms away from Bangalore, and is accessible only by road. What would you suggest the best way to get there? train from Bangalore to Mangalore, then take a taxi over to Dharmasthala? Taxi from Bangalore to Dharmasthala making frequent stops? Any reputable taxi group from Bangalore?

Also wanted to check out Udupi (Krishna temple) and other neighboring temples. Will I have time to see those places? I'm planning out (4) days for this trip: 1st day - travel, 2nd day - look around the facility, visit temples, 3rd day - floater, 4th day - return to Bangalore.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Your helpful suggestions and information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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aadil

I was there in last June and it was really beautiful on the hilly roads with all the lush greenery and beautiful climate at that time with the rains having just started around there. I went by car from Udupi so I am not sure about how to go there from Bangalore but I am sure there will be a train to get there (or nearby like Udupi from where you can take a car or bus). I don't know about the nature cure center because I went to see only the Bahubali statue and the wonderful antiques museum and vintage cars museum nearby in the town. Also worth seeing the raths from the temple which are taken out in processions with the temple idols as well as one old DC-3 (Dakota) airplane which I have worked on during my aircraft maintenance engineering apprenticeship which is donated by the Birlas group on display there. Not for too long there as we were on the road all the time moving from one temple town to another. No, not on a religious pilgrimage but on a architectural and touristy trip to see all the beautiful places in Karnataka and other states too. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

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aadil

I stayed at the Mavanthoor Residency (approved by KSTDC) in Belthangady, Ujire - 274240. Telephone Numbers: 236573 and 236378. This is a few minutes away from Dharmasthala and cost Rs350 for a double room. It also had a good enough restaurant. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

fromusawithluv

Thank you Aadil!!

Yes, definitely helpful. Do you mean Bahubali just like in Shravanabelagola?

I wonder if a trip to Mookambika Temple (in Kollor I think?) will be too much to capture within these travel days as well.
Have you been?

I'll check out the other places you suggested as well, Aadil.

Just noted down the Mavanthoor Residency number! cool!

Thanks again...

aadil

Hi there,

Well, I don't know about this temple you refer to but maybe on my next trip will take a look at it if possible. I also missed seeing the temple in Udupi as we left immediately by car after arrival from Madgaon from the train station itself. Reached the hotel at night and then started off in the morning with the Bahubali statue which is similar to Sravanabelagola but a little bit shorter than that. It is supposed to be the second tallest Bahubali statue in India. Then went to Dharmasthala museum and other sites nearby. Then started off towards Mysore followed by Srirangapattina, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Belur, Halebid, Shimoga, Gajanur, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakkal, Hampi before returning to Mumbai (home) for the second leg of the trip. Glad to be of any help to you in the planning of your trip here.

Cheers,
Aadil.

shyamm

A KSRTC luxury rajahamsa ticket from bangalore to dharmasthala costs about Rs.225.You would be reaching early morning maybe b/n 5-6am .I would recommend hotel Nethravathi.A good double room costs about Rs 250.Its about 5-10 min walk from the temple.You can have breakfast among the many restaurants around the temple area.For 2 people the costs come to about Rs.30 Carry a bag to keep your shirt/prasadam when visiting the temple.Like most temples on the west coast you have to remove your shirt.After darshan of lord manjunatha, you can hire a taxi to visit kukke subramanya.Most taxi guys charge about Rs 35 per head or you can book the full taxi at Rs.650 (one way)for the 1 hour journey on very bad terrible road especially during monsoons.Even the drivers scare you with their breakneck speed and rash driving .At kukke subramanya you can visit the temples, if you lucky you can also see the black colored snakes which protect the diety.This temple recently was in the news thanks to the visit of tendulkar and robin uthappa.At maybe around 12-30pm you can have the prasadam lunch in the temple complex.Remember to carry a bag to keep you shirt and other articles.Even having a few paper cups for drinking water,rasam or buttermilk is a good idea.The rasam from my leaf plate and the buttermilk from my neighbour's joined to form a sangam Apart from the temples in subramanya, there is nothing important here.You can take a taxi back to dharmasthala at the above mentioned rates.Maybe after a small nap in your hotel room, you hire a auto for rs.40 to visit bahubali statue and the nethravathi river bathing ghat.Ask the auto driver to drop you back at the Dharmastala car museum.Here there are about 40-50 vintage cars,bikes,trucks and palanquins.Photography is not allowed.But the small office cum ticket counter sells picture postcards of these cars for about Rs.5 each.After you have finished here you can visit the manjusha museum where there is a big collection of antique items like household goods, weapons,paintings,etccc...Well worth the visit.You can have your night dinner at the manjunatha temple.There are lot of night buses to bangalore and other places from the new busstand which is about Rs.10 auto ride from the temple.
This trip was covered in 1 day.Hope this info will be useful to you

fromusawithluv

Awesome Shyamm! Thanks a bunch! I was looking for some more prices. Really good details...

Being a female...shirt will not be an issue

Are the temples pretty strict about dress codes for females? When I was in Kerala, majority of the temples I went to required a sari. I'm thinking it's probably a safe bet to bring/wear one.

Have you been to Mookambika Temple in Kollur?

shyamm

oops. didn't know u were a female.There is no dress code for females in karnataka temples, but do not wear revealing clothes.A simple salwarkameez will do

aadil

Thanks Shyamm, for the Manjusha Museum name that I was looking for and hope they had some book about the artefacts in the museum or even some picture postcards like the vintage car museum (though they did not have them all for sale and most were only on display as they were the last copy!!!). I also loved the wooden temple raths that were placed outside the museum and the Birla DC-3 Dakota airplane that I worked on during my AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineering) diploma apprenticeship at Air Works India in Mumbai. Brings back fond memories of my trip there last year in June!!!

BTW, it's simple to tell if one is a male or a female just look for the small sign next to the name if it is disclosed by the member then it will appear as a pink or blue sign for M/F accordingly.

Cheers,
Aadil.

gayathreenarayan

Hi,
Can you please let me know your experience at the SDM Nature cure hopspital.
I have booked my stay there for 10days but have not been able to read any kind of reviews on how effective the treatments there are going to be.

Pls help!!

Cheers!