Special cover on 150 years of Ballari Railway Station
This is one of the oldest railway stations in India, and possibly the second in karnataka, built by the British Raj more than 150 years ago. The foundation stone for Ballari Junction was laid on 1869. Mahatma Gandhi visited Ballari and spent about eight hours at the railway station here on 1 October 1921.
Bellary (Ballari), a historic city, gets its name from ‘Balari’, which is a name for Goddess Durga. There is another legends and folklore that suggest that the name was derived from Indra when he slew a demon Balla.
Bellary also gets its mention during the rule of dynasties like Satavahanas, Kadambas, Kalachuryas and Hoysalas. The city with its headquarters is mainly spread around two granite hills. The hills are called Ballari Gudda or Fort Hill and Kumbara Gudda or Face Hill.
The former is the second largest monolithic hill in the world. Apart from a rich history, the place also has rich mineral resources that include both metallic and non-metallic.
How to reach Ballari
While the state has various links to reach Bellary, air routes are more convenient. One can reach either through a direct route or change routes more than once to reach the place from different parts of Karnataka.
By Air
The nearest airport to Bellary is Hubli, only 193 km away. The distance from Bellary to Bangalore by air is 251 km. There are direct flights. The aerial distance from Mysore is 319 km. Mangalore airport lies at a distance of 333 km from the city.
By Rail
Torangallu and Guntakal are two closest railway stations to Bellary. The former is located 30.2 km and the latter is 46.7 km away from Bellary. Major cities like Hubli is located 209 km from Bellary. Bangalore and Mysore (Mysuru) are located 313 km away and 440 km away respectively.
By Road
Bellary is well connected by road. Hubli is located at a distance of 212 km, while Bengaluru is 308 km away. Others, like Mangaluru is 433 km away. One can book cabs, or buses to reach Ballari.
