Karnataka
- Area:38724 sq kms
- Capital:Bangalore
- Language:Kannada, Urdu, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Tulu, Hindi
Travel to Karnataka is a land of fragrance - fragrance of enchanting perfume of sandal and agarbathis, the aroma of fresh roasted coffee beans, the head fragrance of the Mysore Mallige and thousands of roses blossoming. The Kannada-speaking state of Karnataka formerly known as Mysore, has a finely balanced mix of natural attractions and superb historic architecture.
Situated in the southern part of India, the province of Karnataka spreads over the Deccan Plateau. At 300B.C., it had formed the southern tip of Mauryan empire. Its boundaries enlarged or receded swaying to the drum beats of history & today it accounts for a sixteenth area of India & has a population of about 45 million. Its language is Kannada & its people are known as kannadigas. The three distinct regions are a narrow coastal area along Arabian Sea; high hills, the Western Ghats; & sprawling plains towards the east.
Tour Karnataka in South India that offers you a lot in terms of tourist attractions such as landscaped gardens, the world famous Jog falls, the Mysore Palace, the stone temples located in Belur, the beaches in Malpe and Karwar and a lot more.
Travel to Karnataka known for its ancient and medieval heritage, which is still reflected in the South Indian temple architecture. The central and southern area of the state is known for its medieval architecture with liberal influences from Islamic architectural styles. Sravanabelgola is an important Jain pilgrimage center, visited by thousands of pilgrims every year.
Enjoy the fairs and festivals of Karnataka that celebrate life in all its infinite variety. Most of them are exclusive to the state and reverberate with colur and gaiety. Every hamlet and village, every town and city has its own calendar of events to be celebrated.
In order to make the travel tour to Karnataka even more joyful, choose just the right kind of accommodation ends in the various cities of Karnataka. You may take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Karnataka besides the star categorized accommodation hotels around the landmarks of Karnataka offer panoramic view of the landmarks through their suites.
Places of Interest
Bangalore
Bangalore is the principal administrative, cultural, commercial and industrial centre of the state of Karnataka. The city, which is spread over an area of 2190 sq km, enjoys a pleasant and equable climate throughout the year. It is now home to more than 250 high-tech companies. Including homegrown giants like Wipro and Infosys. The continuos technology boom has made Bangalore the Silicon Valley of India.
Also known as the Garden City of India, Bangalore is a beautiful city filled with the tranquillity of its greenery. The Lalbagh garden is particularly beauliful and well laid out. It has one of the largest collections of exotic Indian Tropical and Sub-tropical vegetation, Lakes and Lotus-filled pools. Cubbon park, Bull temple, Mysore arts & crafts centre are worth visiting.
How To Reach:
- By Air:Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Madras,Mumbai, Trivandrum.
- By Rail:Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Guwahati, Madras, Mysore, Delhi, Trivandrum.
- By Road:Bangalore is well connected to all the major cities of India by road.
Places to See:
Vidhana Soudha, Tipu’s Palace, Bangalore Palace, Lalbagh Gardens, Cubbon Park, Government Museum, Gavi Gangad Hareshwara Temple.
The capital of the Early Chalukyas, Badami, earlier known as Vatapi, is ideally located at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is famous for its rock cut cave temples as well as the Chalukyan style strucutal temples. Badami is famous for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the face of a hill. The largest and most ornate is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu. Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Also a must are the Bhutanath temples that lend their name to the lake beneath the cave temples.
Hampi, the outstanding land of breathtaking surprises was founded in the middle of 14th Century by two local princes, Hakka & Bukka. The city was sacked pillaged and burnt in 1565 AD, after the combined attack of armies of Muslim Sultanates of the Deccan defeated the Vijayanagar Military Commander and the King fled the Capital. Today, the terrain is dominated by rocky hills and the mighty Tungabhadra River, which flows through this rugged landscape.
Karnataka is justly called the cradle of stone architecture, as its peerless stone wonders are eloquent reminders of a fertile heritage. As one reaches Somnathpur, a small village on the banks of the Kaveri, 140 kms, south-west of Bangalore, one feels an eternal stillness and freshness in the air as if the place is if saying eternity grows here. Here, amidst the lasting rural serenity stands Kesava temple - one of the grandest of Hoysala monuments.
Located at about 140 kilometers from Bangalore and 15 kilometers from Mysore, Srirangapatnam is the biggest of the three islands in the river Kaveri. The island, five kilometers long and two kilometers wide, derives its name from the deity of the temple located on its western side.