Belagavi, spelled Belgaum on older maps and still on railway tickets, sits at about 760 metres in the Sahyadri foothills, close to the borders with Maharashtra and Goa. That gives it a noticeably gentler climate than the rest of north Karnataka and a mixed character: Kannada, Marathi and Urdu are all spoken on the street, and Konkani is not far behind. The city was a Ratta capital in the early 13th century, and the old fort they began in 1204 is still the centre of its history.
The sights split neatly into three groups. In the city, the fort and its Kamal Basadi Jain temple can be seen in half a day, with the Kapileshwar Shiva temple and the modern Suvarna Vidhana Soudha as add-ons. Within an hour or two, Kittur Fort and its museum tell the story of Rani Chennamma's 1824 revolt, and the Gokak Falls on the Ghataprabha river drop 52 metres in a horseshoe curve. Further out, the forests of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ghataprabha reservoir sanctuary and the Yellamma hill temple at Saundatti suit travellers who are happy with long road days and thin facilities.
Belagavi works well for families and older travellers because the main city sights are level or have modest steps, hotels are plentiful and the weather is mild for most of the year. The fort area is an army zone, so carry photo ID, and treat the forest sanctuaries as places to arrange in advance through the forest department rather than turn up at unannounced. Finish a day with a box of Belagavi kunda, the milk sweet the city is known for.
Before you plan
Belagavi at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable. March to May is hot for the plateau, and June to September is heavily wet, which suits Gokak Falls but not walking.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days for the city and Kittur or Gokak2 days for the city and Kittur or Gokak; 3 days if you add Bhimgad, Saundatti or Ghataprabha
- Airport
- Belagavi AirportBelagavi Airport (IXG) at Sambra, about 10 km from the city on State Highway 20
- Railway station
- BelagaviBelagavi (BGM) on South Western Railway, with links towards Bengaluru, Miraj/Mumbai and Goa
- Getting around
- Autos and app cabs within the cityAutos and app cabs within the city; a hired car and driver is the practical way to reach Kittur, Gokak, Bhimgad and Saundatti
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person…Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person per day excluding hotel, mostly for a hired car, meals and entry fees; varies with how far you travel
- Senior comfort
- Good in the cityGood in the city, which is mild and mostly level; the forest sanctuaries and Saundatti hill involve long drives, rough tracks or steps
- Language
- Kannada is officialKannada is official; Marathi, Urdu and Hindi are widely spoken, and English works in hotels and at main sights
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Belagavi: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Belagavi itinerary
One good day
1 day in Belagavi
Start at Belagavi Fort in the morning, carrying photo ID for the army gate, and spend time at the Kamal Basadi with its 72-petal lotus ceiling and at Safa Masjid. After lunch, visit Kapileshwar Temple in the older part of the city, then drive past Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. End at one of the kunda sweet shops and buy a box to take home.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Belagavi
Do the fort and Kamal Basadi early, when it is cooler and quieter, then lunch and rest. In the afternoon, visit Kapileshwar Temple and see Suvarna Vidhana Soudha from the outside. Finish with kunda.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Belagavi
Belagavi Fort and Kamal Basadi in the morning, rest after lunch, then Kapileshwar Temple and an evening kunda stop.
Day-by-day plan →
