Sakleshpur is a beautiful hill station located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, India. The town is surrounded by lush green hills, coffee and tea plantations, and scenic waterfalls. One of the most famous attractions in the town is the Bettada Byraveshwara Temple.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located on top of a hill surrounded by stunning natural beauty. It is believed to have been built in the 15th century during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. The temple has a unique architecture that is a blend of Hoysala and Vijayanagara styles. The main attraction of the temple is the 6-feet tall Shiva Linga, which is believed to be self-manifested.
History of Bettada Bhairaveshwara Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Betta Byraveshwara Temple is located atop Pandavar Gudda Hill and is considered approximately 600 years old.
According to the mythology, the Pandavas in Mahabharata stayed here for a short while during their exile. The Pandavas were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and built a temple here to worship Lord Shiva. This would be one among the numerous temples built by the Pandavas across India during their 13 year exile. It is built of black stones, in what is known as the Kadamba style of architecture.
Bettada Byreshwara temple view from Pandavara Gudda
An annual Abhisheka will be held once in a year in January month where all the people from surrounding places come here to take the blessings of Lord Bhairava.
There are also many popular hills of Sakleshpur which are located nearby and offer some amazing opportunities for trekking and sightseeing. Some of these hills which you can see here are Jenukallu Gudda and Deepadha Kallu Peak.
How to reach:
The temple can be reached by a 2.5 km trek to the top. Steps have been made to make the climb easy. There is also a slightly steep motorable road which goes almost up to the temple.
Best Time to visit:
October to March is considered to be the best time for visiting Betta Byraveshwaya Temple. Winters and monsoons are the best time to visit.
Timings:
The temple can be visited between 6:00 am to 5:00 pm every day.
Distance from Sakleshpur:
35 kilometres.
Pandavar Gudda trek photos
The name “Pandavar Gudda” literally translates to “the hill of the Pandavas” and is named after the legendary heroes of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. The hill is surrounded by lush green forests and offers breathtaking views of the Western Ghats. There are several trekking trails that lead to the summit of the hill, which takes around 30-45 minutes to climb.
Happy Traveling!
