Belgaum is a heritage city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka located close to its borders with Goa and Maharashtra. Nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, Belgaum offers an interesting mix of history and natural beauty - many historical monuments, temples, mosques and churches dot the city and close by, are some major waterfalls. So travel to Belgaum and explore its beauty yourself.
How to Reach Belgaum?
By Air : Belgaum has an airport but with limited flights. The nearest large airport with national and international flights is Bangalore (502 km). From here, one can drive or avail of bus and taxi services to get to Belgaum.
By Rail : Belgaum is well connected by trains to Bangalore (via Londa), Mumbai (via Miraj) and Vasco da Gama. Trains take only 15½ hrs to Mumbai, going via Pune (10 ½ hrs), and 13¾ hrs to Bangalore. There is a daily express service (37 hrs) to Delhi.
By Road : Belgaum is well connected by road via the NH 4 to places in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu and with Goa by NH4A.
Best Time to Visit Belgaum
The best time to visit Belgaum is between the months of September and May when the weather is pleasant enough to explore the outdoors. Temperatures hover between 25 and 32ºC round the year.
The pristine Gokak Falls are at their best when visited post monsoon months and the popular Godachi fairs organised by the Yelamma Temple also begin just after monsoon has ended.
Belgaum is best avoided during the monsoon months from June to August as the place receives heavy rainfall and also the humidity can reach up to 80 percent during this period.
Things to do in Belgaum
Evidences of Belgaum’s rich historical past will spoil you for choices. The list of Belgaum’s things to do features a lot of sightseeing. Belgaum can also be termed as a temple town. Religious travellers and history buffs can visit the old stone fort in Belgaum that has beautiful shrines, Safa Masjid, Jain temple and an old settlement—Kamala Basti—within the fort. Check out the colonial architecture by visiting various churches in the Cantonment area or enjoy visiting well-maintained parks of the town. Shop for amazing handmade wooden toys, pottery or leather goods and try some authentic biryani and sweet Kunda dish in Belgaum.
Places Near Belgaum
Gokak Falls, Halashi, and Kittur are some of the interesting places near Belgaum that you can visit from here.
Gokak Falls (80km): These are impressive falls falling almost 170ft down on the Ghatprabha River into the Gokak valley.
Halashi (70km): A historical town, Halashi was the second capital of the Kadamba Dynasty and boasts of three large temples.
Kittur (70km): Go to Kittur to see the impressive Basava Temple which has inscriptions dating back to 12th century. In more recent times, this was the spot where Queen Chennamma of Kittur fought off the British in 1824.
Hotels in Belgaum – Choice is Yours
There are numerous hotels in Belgaum ranging from 3-star, 4-star and 5-star deluxe to budget hotels.