VANAMCOVE
Hirebenakal

Hirebenakal

Half dayBest: Oct–MarHeritage#megaliths#ancient#offbeat
Half day Oct–Mar

4,000-year-old megalithic tombs

Why this weekend?

Stone tombsPre-historic siteBoulder field
Some links below are affiliate links — booking through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1Half day · The megaliths
  1. Morning arrival
  2. Dolmen walk
  3. Circle circuit
  4. Paintings stop
  5. Return

Geography & terrain

Hirebenakal lies in the Koppal district of Karnataka, 12 km from Gangavati and 90 km from Hospet — the megalithic necropolis of the ancient south, its stone circles and the dolmens set on the granite outcrops of the Tungabhadra country.

History & culture

The site dates to the Iron Age (about 1000 BCE) — one of India's largest megalithic cemeteries, with its hundreds of dolmens, the stone circles and the cairns of the ancient dead; the site's rock paintings and the chambered tombs, with its later discovery by the archaeologists, give Hirebenakal its deep ancient-history character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–3,500/night

Mid-range

₹3,500–7,000/night

Comfort

₹7,000+/night

Things to do

Ancient dolmens
🌟

Ancient dolmens

Stone circles
🌟

Stone circles

Rock paintings
🌟

Rock paintings

Granite country
🌟

Granite country

Silent plateau
🌟

Silent plateau

Eat & drink

  • Bisi bele bath
  • Ragi mudde
  • Mysore masala dosa
  • Coorg pandi curry
  • Mangalorean fish curry

Getting there

Fly
Bengaluru (BLR) / Mangaluru (IXE) / Hubballi (HBX)
Train
Bengaluru City / Mysuru / Mangaluru junctions
Road from Bengaluru
varies by district — 50–500 km
Getting around
Autos, metro in Bengaluru, KSRTC buses

Budget snapshot

Total
₹6,000–14,000 (2 days)
Per day · Stay
₹1,500–7,000/night
Per day · Food
₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport
₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities
₹1,000–1,400

Month by month

Jan—
Feb—
Mar—
Apr—
May—
Jun—
Jul—
Aug—
Sep—
Oct—
Nov—
Dec—

Practical info

  • Language: Kannada (English understood in tourist spots)
  • Best window: Oct–Mar
  • Connectivity: good 4G in towns
  • UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

  • The site's quiet asks the unhurried morning
  • Pairs with Hampi for the region's ancient day
  • The outcrops' walk asks the steady shoes

Frequently asked questions

The Iron Age megalithic necropolis of the Tungabhadra country.

Was this helpful?

The dolmens, the stone circles and the rock paintings.

Was this helpful?

A half day from Gangavati.

Was this helpful?

4,000-year-old megalithic tombs

Take the break. We'll take the planning.

Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Hirebenakal plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.

Free Planning 2 Free Iterations ~24hr Delivery
Get My Free Plan

Contents