Car hire from Bangalore to Belur / Halebid - how much?

We want to see Sravanabelagola / Belur / Halebid, but without too much time spent worrying about bus transfers and waits. We're starting in Bangalore (landing there next Saturday, actually!), and heading on for Mysore before crossing the Ghats into Kerala.

Does this make sense: arrange a car and driver in Bangalore, leave Bangalore in the morning, go to Sravanabelagola, go to Halebid, and then to Belur for the night? See the Belur temples in late evening / sunset and again for sunrise the next day. (The driver goes back to Bangalore while we stay in Belur; the next morning we take a bus on to Mysore.)

If we do this, how much should it cost? Does anyone have recommended agencies / drivers? I've never tried hiring a driver before--perhaps it'd make more sense to keep the driver for two days, and on the second day go to the different sights around Mysore. About how much would a car & driver for two days cost? (My own inclination is have a day without a car & driver in Mysore itself, then spend a day going around the near-Mysore destinations: Srirangapatnam, Somnathpur, that bird sanctuary, and so on.)

(Actually my main worry about this is how it'd spoil us... this will be the beginning of two weeks in Karanataka / Kerala, and getting on buses after spending the first couple days in cars could be really difficult! Already my wife has asked me, "Well, why don't we hire taxis every day?")

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

I just know that hiring a car for 8 hrs (max. 80 kms) can cost around 1000-1500Rs, depending on model, AC/non AC. If you're staying in a hotel in Bangalore, they can easily arrange it for you, don't worry about that, just ask for a call taxi.

Th deal I got in Jan 2007 for a Chevrolet 7 seater SUV a/c was Rs 2,000/day + Rs 150 per night for the driver witha 250km/day max. I think every extra km would have been Rs 6(or was it Rs8/km?)

BTW, prices are on the rise by 10-20% each year. So make sure you do not use old prices as a guide.

Last summer bangalore taxi deals were typically a) smallcar without aircon Rs5/km, b) with aircon Rs6/km, c) SUV without aircon Rs7/km, d) SUV with aircon Rs8/km.. Driver charge for day driving Rs150, if driving beyond 10pm, another Rs150. Minimum charge for leaving city limits would be a distance of 250km. I think a return trip covering Belur/halebedu/sravanabelegola cost me just above 2k in a small car.

And on routing, I would first for to Belure spend a few hours in the temple, then to Halebedu and towards evening to Sravalabelogola where I would spend the night.. Advantages
- Closer to Mysore
- Easier to climb the steps in morning/evening, rather than noon.
- Better night stay facilities
- As you have to pay return distance fare to driver, most bang for the buck as closer to Bangalore. If you leave him in halebedu, good chance of him siphoning off extra money misquouting the return distance.

Thanks for the pointers: Sudheer, I had the impression Belur would actually have nicer accommodation than Sravalabelogola, but you're definitely right about how that'd be a more efficient use of money. We'll think about that. Any recommended hotels in Sravalabelogola?

Does anyone know about ceremonies in either of the temples, or at the statue? One reason I hope to spend the night in Belur is to see the temples for sunset / sunrise photography, and to see a ceremony. (According to LP, they're at 9am, 3pm, and 7:30pm, but that kind of information is often unreliable.)

Sravanabelegola is probably the most sacred site for Jains and hence, the town is a bit more overnight stayer friendly as Jains all over the country come there across the year. Belur has never been a place where many people stay overnight as hassan is quite a commercial town nearby and hence a hotel industry never grew up in Belur.

There was a ceremony at halebedu around 5ish when they took the deity around the temple. I am not too sure about the timings anymore.

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...00/ppuser/2910

apologies for the delay. my message might not make sense now

but neverthless i presume the Karnataka State tousrism tour of belue,halebid and Sravanabegola should be really good.
it is a 1 day tour and starts from Bangalore.

has anyone travelled on this tour? please give your experiences.

it's very rushed to see them all in one day, you will likely take a full day seeing any two. Svbaela is s bit of a climb, and once there, it's a shame not to soak in the serenity. So save halebid for the next day.
also, leave early, as it gets hot up that hill!