Gundlupet is a municipal town situated in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, India. It is also known as "The flower pot of India". Gundlupet is the last town in Karnataka on the National Highway 766 which goes through Mysore, Ooty, Wayanad, and Calicut. It is situated very close to the Tamil Nadu and Kerala state borders. Gundlupet was previously known as Vijayapura, named after the ancient Vijayanarayana Temple.
Gundlupet is known as the ‘Flower Pot’of Karnataka, this beautiful place is known for its vast sunflower and marigold crops. Here you can see a sea of yellow sunflowers on both sides of the road with the backdrop of beautiful green hills. Gundalupet flowers are used in oil production and paint manufacturing companies. Flowers are also brought to the state to be woven into flowerbeds creatively woven as part of the harvest festival during Onak (August-September) in Kerala, and flower growers earn a decent profit in three months.
A large number of farmers in and around Begur regularly cultivate sunflowers, and they adapt the crop to the climate. The flowers bloom in June-July and the fields turn bright yellow with gigantic flowers that become a sight to behold. The fields attract travelers like a magnet who don't want to miss the beautiful photographic and selfie moments under the flowers.
The National Highway sees daily tourists going to Tamil Nadu and Kerala on one side and Mysore on the other. Many people go to sunflower farms to click pictures. Also, many visitors to Bandipur Tiger Sanctuary stop at sunflower fields to click photos. There are sunflower fields at villages like Hangala, Putthanapura, Kalligowdanahalli and surrounding villages on the way to Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple, a famous tourist spot and a pilgrimage centre. A farmer can get about six quintals of sunflower in one acre of land. The sunflowers grown here are picked and transported to Mysore, where sunflower oil is extracted.
Marigolds are in high demand during the festive season in Karnataka and Kerala. SOM reader Vimala sent this photo clicked at Hunaganahalli between Manandavadi Road and Hullahalli on the way to Chikkadevammana Betta. A similar look at H.D. Kote with intensive marigold cultivation. While sunflowers are sent for oil extraction, marigolds are sent to temples and other religious purposes throughout South India.
Taking advantage of hundreds of people visiting the fields, some enterprising farmers raise Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 per photo op, lest they destroy the crop.