Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 27 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples worth booking?
Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples is a 12-hour experience in Bangalore, India, from $14000 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 27 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 69 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (27)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $14000 per person
Most tours show you these temples. Ours lets you truly read them. Expert native guides bring alive the hidden stories, social commentary, and jaw-dropping details carved into 1000-year-old stone — the kind of insights n
What you get
- Traditional South Indian breakfast — idlis, dosas, and aromatic filter coffee to start the day right
- Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off from your Bangalore hotel
- All monument entry fees and admission tickets included — no surprises
- Expert native guide throughout the monuments — stories, insights, and details no guidebook contains
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle throughout — sit back and enjoy the countryside
- Traditional South Indian lunch — authentic, local, and deeply satisfying
About this experience
Most tours show you these temples. Ours lets you truly read them. Expert native guides bring alive the hidden stories, social commentary, and jaw-dropping details carved into 1000-year-old stone — the kind of insights no guidebook contains and no flag-following tour delivers. With no more than 8 travellers, the experience stays genuinely intimate. Your guide's attention is yours. The pace is set for your group. Nothing gets lost in a crowd. Every detail is taken care of — door-to-door pick-up, comfortable AC transport, and traditional breakfast and lunch included. You arrive present, not hassled. And the day itself is unmatched. Shravanabelagola, Halebidu, and Belur — three extraordinary sites, connected by a single sweeping story of faith, artistry, and human ambition across two thousand years. Karnataka's greatest day out, done the way it deserves.
What's included
Included
- Traditional South Indian breakfast — idlis, dosas, and aromatic filter coffee to start the day right
- Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off from your Bangalore hotel
- All monument entry fees and admission tickets included — no surprises
- Expert native guide throughout the monuments — stories, insights, and details no guidebook contains
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle throughout — sit back and enjoy the countryside
- Traditional South Indian lunch — authentic, local, and deeply satisfying
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Personal Shopping
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Kunigal
Your day begins before the monuments do. We pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and set off through the Karnataka countryside. As Bangalore's skyline fades behind you, the landscape opens up — rice fields, temple towns, and the quiet rhythm of rural Karnataka rolling past your window. First stop: a traditional South Indian breakfast. Freshly steamed idlis, crisp dosas, aromatic filter coffee. Not an afterthought — a warm welcome to the region you're about to explore.
180 minutes here
Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola — 2,300 Years of Living Faith Your expert guide meets you here, at the foot of 700 ancient steps and 2,300 years of living faith. Those steps are climbed barefoot, as Jain tradition demands. Well-worn and smooth, with handrails throughout — guests in their 60s and 70s reach the top comfortably. Your guide walks every step with you, sharing the story of Bahubali — the Jain prince who renounced his kingdom, stood motionless in meditation, and was immortalised in stone for eternity. And then — Gomateshwara. Fifty-seven feet of a single granite rock, carved over a thousand years ago. One of the most extraordinary things you will ever stand before.
240 minutes here
Hoysaleswara Temple
Halebidu — Where Every Inch Tells a Story The UNESCO World Heritage Hoysaleshwara Temple at Halebidu stretches over 200 metres of outer wall — every inch carved with gods, goddesses, elephants, celestial dancers, scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, floral scrolls, and mythical creatures. No two panels are the same. No detail is too small to astonish. Your guide doesn't just point — they decode. By the time you leave, the stone is no longer stone. It's a conversation. Lunch is served here — authentic, local, and deeply satisfying.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Belur — The Temple That Took 103 Years to Build Commissioned in 1116 AD by Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana, the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur took three generations and over a century to complete. It shows. The soapstone carvings — celestial dancers, divine beings, delicate floral motifs — were executed with a precision that defies belief. The jewellery on some dancer sculptures is carved so finely it can actually be moved. This is the finest temple architecture in India. With your guide, you'll experience it as it deserves — slowly, deeply, and with full understanding.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Bengaluru
The Journey Home The drive back to Bangalore is your time to exhale — to let the day settle. Your driver is there for any needs along the way, and you'll be back in the city by evening, carrying something most visitors to Bangalore never find. With no more than 8 travellers, every moment of this day is yours.
240 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
ONLY UNESCO BELUR + HALEBIDU
This is a bare-bones version. South Indian Vegetarian lunch included. Only Belur & Halebeedu Temples: This is a bare-bones version. South Indian Vegetarian lunch included. Pickup included
UNESCO SITES + SHRAVANBELAGOLA
Duration: 14 hours Authentic Breakfast: Authentic Breakfast Tour All Stops in Itinerary: Full-blown guided version: includes all the stops & meals mentioned in the itinerary/description Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hidden Gems Tours
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Suitable for most fitness levels — the 700-step climb at Shravanabelagola is walked barefoot, with handrails throughout and a relaxed pace
- Exclusively English-language — your guide's stories, context, and insights, delivered fluently
- Minimum age 4 years — adult pricing applies to all travellers
- Smart casual dress code — covered shoulders and knees required at all monument sites
- Maximum 8 travellers per group — intimate by design, never a crowd
- Subject to favourable weather conditions — if cancelled, an alternative date will be offered
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 4+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $14000 to $29968
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 9
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Hidden Gems Tours, who run 14 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 70.1 and 2 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Hidden Gems Tours runsWhy this scores 69
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Bangalore.
How much does Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples cost?
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Prices start at $14000 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Bangalore usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples take?
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Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Bangalore is not rushed.
Is Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 27 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Bangalore, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 4. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 12-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples?
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Around 9 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Bangalore can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Bangalore and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Bangalore Day Trip: Stone Giant & UNESCO Hoysala Temples start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Bangalore within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Bangalore?
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On Outty we rank every Bangalore experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Old to New Bangalore Day Tour: Lalbagh, Temple, Market & Palace, Bangalore city tour with English guide & multi language support, Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Bangalore?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Bangalore?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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