Karnataka in South India offers a buffet of experiences that can whet the appetites of all kinds of travellers.

History buffs, nature lovers, pilgrims, beach tourists  and urban travelers will enjoy sights and experiences for a fulfilling travel escapade in the 8th largest state of South India. Karnataka. located at the Deccan Plateau, provides the coastline to Arabian Sea. Its northern neigbors are Mahashastra, Andra Pradesh in the east and Tamil Nadu in the south. Its state capital, Bangeluru (formerly known as Bangalore) and the major city of Mysore, northern cities of Bijapur and Bidar, provide changing landscapes and varying cultures, marking a vibrant and robust tourism.

History of Karnataka

Earliest history records indicate that the plateau of Karnataka played witness to the events in the Epic Ramayana. There are religious legends linking it to the grandfathers of Bhagirath and the Lord Shiva. The Arabian Sea on its west exposed Karnataka to new cultures from the coast. Karnataka was ruled by several Hindu kingdoms including the Satavahanas and the Pallavas. The Chalukyas of Badami and later the Rashtrakutas among others. The Hindu power established itself in 1336 at Vijayanagar by Harihara (Hakka) and Bukka when it experienced its golden age under Vijayanagar period. In 1565, the famous battle of Talikota put end to the the empire of Vijayanagar, by the Sultans of the Deccan. It became a fragments of various principalities until in 1799 the British controlled Mysore, the hub of Karnataka. It remained a princely state up to 1947 and eventually the state of Karnataka earlier called as Mysore became a state of the Indian Union in 1973.

Tourism in Karnataka

The state capital of Karnataka is Bangalore, often called a garden city for the lakes and parks located  there. The lakes with crystal clear waters have boating facilities and serene picnic grounds. Despite its historical significance and religious tour sites, modern Bangalore is dubbed the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India for its reputation as the IT hub of the sub-continent has attracted many top IT companies to set up operations. The other major city in Karnataka is Mysore, famed for silk weaving and its silk sarees are worn by the rich and famous in every region of India.  Mysore is known for its grand and charming palaces, and heritage tour sites with rich history. A travel to Mysore should ideally include witnessing the celebration of woman power during the festival of Mysore Dasara. One can also expect fascinating tour experiences to St Philomena’s Church, Maharaja’s Palace, Mysore Zoo among others.

Nature Travel

There are numerous waterfalls in Karnataka to travel to. Jog Falls deserves special mention, being the tallest waterfall in Indian and also the highest untiered one which means the water falls directly below instead of streaming on to the rocks. Nature lovers will be awed by the surrounding dense evergreen forest and relish the misty spray from the waterfall to their skin. Besides trekking to waterfalls, there are many hills and forests all around Karnataka offering trails to all trek enthusiasts. These can be found in Coorg (Kodagu), Chikamagalur, Canara, Shimoga and Hassan. Trails leading to the mountain peaks at Kudremukh, Kumara, Kodachari are challenges welcomed by trekkers.

Botany lovers will enjoy tours to national park reserves and wildlife sanctuaries along Mudumalai, the Kaveri Basin and Bandipur. Some of them form part of the diverse Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, an appendage of India’s most extensive tracts of protected forests. Nature lovers will find their utopia in these rich foliage.  Another must see is the mesmerizing sunset at Aagumbe peak in the South Kanara.

There are many more historic and cultural sites in Karnataka such as the Royal Museums in Haipi, Southern Fort caves, the citadels and Muslim monuments in Bijapur, and the monolithic Gommatheswara statue in Sravanbelgola.