DAROJI BEAR SANCTUARY | DAROJI NEARBY TOP PLACES

The Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is the only place in India where these honey-loving native bears can be seen. The refuge is located in the Ballari District. During their visit to the Sanctuary’s mountainous terrain, tourists can view jackals, wild boards, mongoose, black-naped hares, leopards, and other animals.

The main attraction is the sloth bear, which can be found in large numbers in these scrub-covered terrains. The sanctuary is home to a huge number of sloth bears who hide in caves among the green-covered hillocks.

Just across from the Karadikallu Gudda, where these bears are commonly spotted, the sanctuary has a watchtower with a view over the woodland. From the top of the watch tower, which provides a fantastic view, binoculars can be used to take in the entire area.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see creatures in their natural habitat. On a visit to the Sanctuary, the gigantic black bears that emerge from the lush bushes and begin hunting on their own to satisfy their sugar cravings are a sight to behold.

In the Daroji Bear Sanctuary, sloth bears abound, taking refuge in the rock-strewn areas buried beneath the deep forest. Sugarcane, berries, Mahuva, and other crops are popular with bears, thus most of the area is planted with them. The sanctuary is within walking distance of the local population. Bears are also natural tree climbers. Normally, bears hunt late at night and then rest during the day.

The sloth bear is surrounded by a long, dark coat of hair. Their forelimbs are longer than the forelimbs of their hindlimbs. Because of their small ears and eyes, they have a poor sense of hearing and vision, but a good sense of smell.

Timings to visit the site- 06:00am to 06:00pm
Entry fees- INR50 per person ( For Indians), INR300 per person ( For Foreigners)
Parking- INR500 per car
Time required to visit the site- 2 to 3 hours

Top sights in Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Sree Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha temple (or Prasanna Virupaksha temple) is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra river in Hampi. Due to its excellent design and history, the temple was established in the 7th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple is home to Lord Virupaksha, one of Lord Shiva’s forms. It was once a small shrine in the heart of the old Vijayanagara empire, but it is currently located in Hampi. On the temple’s walls are beautiful stone inscriptions from the 7th century, demonstrating the temple’s lengthy history. The temple is a must-see for everyone interested in architecture and history in Hampi.

As is typical of temples built in the south Indian style, the temple has enormous towers or gopurams that serve as entryways to the interior sanctums. The gopurams lead to a plethora of interior hallways and rooms, each ornately carved with stonework. Many mythological Gods and Goddesses are represented in the statues. Lord Virupaksha is the temple’s main deity, but it also contains a few other Hindu gods. During festival seasons, such as the Car Festival, the temple gets a huge number of devotees, but it is typically very empty.

Timings to visit the site- 09:00am to 01:00pm, 05:00pm to 09:00 pm
Time required to visit the site- 1 to 2 hours
Entry fees- Absolutely free

Elephant Stables

Under the Vijayanagara Empire, the Elephant Stables served as a royal elephant enclosure, and they are one of Hampi’s last unruined structures following the Mughal assault. Here are eleven domed rooms, one of which is particularly magnificent and serves as a safe enclosure for the musicians during concerts. The entire structure was created in the 15th century to house the Vijayanagara Empire’s royal elephants.

Timings to visit the site- 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Time required to visit the site- 1 to 2 hours
Entry fees- INR10 for Indians
INR250 for foreigners

Lotus Mahal

One of Hampi’s most well-known landmarks is the Lotus Palace. The royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire were housed in this palace, which is located within the Zenana Enclosure and is named from the way the edifice resembles a lotus in bloom. The Lotus Mahal, which stands tall in its courtyard, is widely considered as one of Hampi’s rare structures to have withstood both Mughal attacks and the ravages of time.

Timings to visit the site- 08:00 am to 06:00 pm (On weekdays only)
Time required to visit the site- 1 to 2 hours
Entry fees- INR10 for Indians, INR250 for Foreigners

Pushkaranis (Stepped Tanks)

Pushkaranis are the sacred water tanks that are associated with the temples in Hampi. Near the bulk of Hampi’s prominent temples, a pushkarani is constructed. Pushkaranis were a significant element of the ruined town.

The sacred tanks were linked to a number of temple rites and practical aspects, as well as the people who lived in the vicinity of the temples. The villagers of Hampi used to regard the tanks to be spiritual sanctuaries. Tourists that come to Hampi to visit the relics of the Vijayanagara Empire are still drawn to the pushkaranis.

Timings to visit the site- From morning to evening through the week
Time required to visit the site- 20 to 30 minutes
Entry fees- Absolutely free

Achyutraya Temple

One of Hampi’s most important temples is the Achyuta Raya Temple, which was completed in 1534 AD. The Tiruvengalanatha Temple, named after the primary deity, a version of Lord Shiva, was one of the last temples built during the Vijayanagara Empire. As a result of Bahamani Kingdom invasions, the temple, which is situated between the Gandhamadana and Matanga hills, is now mostly in ruins.

Its architecture is more modern than that of the other Hampi temples. Legendary legends are depicted in many sculptures on pillars, walls, and monolith slabs.

Timings to visit the site- 5:30 am to 01:00 pm and 5:30 pm to 09:00 pm (Throughout the week)
Time required to visit the site- 1 to 2 hours
Entry fees- Absolutely free