Places to see

The falls, peaks and temples people come for. None of these are booked through us — they are here so you know where you are going.

Amruteshwara Temple, Amruthapura
Temple · Tarikere
A Hoysala temple of 1196, built by Amrutheshwara Dandanayaka, a commander under Veera Ballala II, in a quiet village north of Tarikere. Smaller than Belur or Halebidu and almost never crowded, which is the point: you can take your time over the 140 panels that run round the outer hall wall — the Ramayana on the south side, Krishna and the Mahabharata on the north — and the lathe-turned pillars inside. The Bhadra reservoir is ten minutes away for the sunset afterwards.
Free
Bhadra Reservoir, Lakkavalli
Lake · Tarikere
The dam across the Bhadra at Lakkavalli backs up a lake dotted with islands, and the islands are where the river terns nest. From about February to June more than a thousand of them wheel over the water, close enough to a boat that you need no binoculars. The rest of the year the backwaters are quiet, with elephant and gaur coming down to drink on the sanctuary shore at dusk. The dam garden is open to the public; the water is best seen from a Forest Department boat.
Free
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Sanctuarie · Tarikere
A Project Tiger reserve of about 492 sq km around the Bhadra reservoir. Tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, sloth bear and over 250 bird species. Jeep safaris run from the Muthodi range gate with Forest Department naturalists.
FreePermit needed
Hebbe Falls
Waterfall · Tarikere
A two-stage fall dropping roughly 168 m through dense coffee-estate forest below Kemmanagundi, inside the Bhadra reserve. Private cars stop at Kemmanagundi; the last stretch is a rough estate track that only the local 4x4 jeeps run, then a walk of a kilometre or so across the stream to the pool.
Free
waterfall
Kalhatti Falls
Waterfall · Tarikere
Also written Kallathigiri. The stream falls about 40 m directly behind the Veerabhadra temple, so the approach is through the temple courtyard. Easy access, no trek involved — a good stop for families and older travellers.
Free
Kemmanagundi
Viewpoint · Tarikere
A hill station developed as the summer retreat of the Mysore royal family, also called Sri Krishnarajendra Hill Station. Terraced rose garden, Z Point ridge walk and Shanti Falls are all within walking distance of the KSTDC guesthouse.
Free
Z Point
Viewpoint · Tarikere
A 45-minute walk from Kemmanagundi along a shola-edged path to a cliff nose looking out over the Bhadra valley. Named for the zig-zag approach.
Free