Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India, is a veritable treasure trove of tourist delights. There is a dazzling array of ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, friendly people, scenic hill ranges, unexplored forests and endless beaches. Karnataka is a place that has all the ingredients for great holiday. Each spot has something special to offer. Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical regions. These are North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka

Karnataka is situated in the Deccan Plateau and is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the east and southeast, and Kerala to the southwest. It is situated at the angle where the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats of South India converge into the Nilgiri Hills.

Temples

The Empires and Kingdoms that came to rule from Karnataka were prolific builders. The Badami Chalukyas spawned the Vesara style of architecture and experimented with several myriad styles with frequent intermixing of Nagara and Dravida concepts. This period is the beginning of Hindu rock cut architecture, both in stand alone and cave temple idioms, numerous examples of which exist in Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami - (Badami Cave temple). Their successors, the Rashtrakuta created master piece temples further favouring Dravidian concepts. Most of their temples in Karnataka are scattered over northern Karnataka districts. The Ganga Dynasty of Talakad built many Jaina monuments including the monolithic statue of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola. The Kalyani Chalukyas used the In-between style, implying a bridge between Chalukya - Rashtrakuta and Hoysala styles, with the best temples of their style located in the central districts of Gadag district, Koppal district and Haveri district. It was during the reign of the Hoysalas that the temple architecture reached its epoch and gained recognition as an independent style called (Henry Ferguson, Percy Brown) owing to its many unique features. Later the Vijayanagar Empire would incorporate all these various styles and create a unique blend called Vijayanagar style, the best examples of which are in the vast open air theatre of monuments at Hampi.

Chamundeswari Temple at   Mysore
Mahabaleshwara Temple at Gokarna
Vitthala Temple at Hampi
Hazare Rama Temple at Hampi
Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu
Chennakeshava Temple at Belur
Jain monuments at Sravanabelagola
Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal
Bhuthanatha Temple at Badami
Badami Cave temple at Badami
Mahadeva Temple in Koppal district
Kasi Viveshwara Temple at Lakkundi
Kukke Subrahmanya Temple at Subramanya
Jain Temple at Pattadakal
Virupaksha Temple at Hampi
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Bangalore
Shree Vishnumurthy Temple at Kulai
Chennakesava Temple at Belur


Hill stations

The Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better know ones in South India. Kudremukh, Kemmangundi, Agumbe, Horanadu, Nandi Hills are some of the better known ones. Not much tourism in these areas has kept them free of commercialization. Apart from scenic trekks, bird watching, boating and picturesque waterfalls, these areas are also close to major coffee producing areas in the state, making a trip all the more interesting. Many resorts have sprung up to accommodate those who want to relax.

Coastal Karnataka

Coastal Karnataka is the stronghold of Hindu and Jain piligrimage spots with Udupi and its many temples being the centre of Dvaita philosophy, Gokarna is known for Vedic studies, Sringeri has the first of the Shankaracharya mathas and is important for its Advaita philosophy, Karkala and Mudabidri are well known places of Jain worship. Exquisite Vijayanagar temples built in Chalukya - Malabar region combinational style are seen in Bhatkal, Kumta, Shirali etc. The warm pristine beaches of Karnataka are mostly unspoiled and are only now drawing tourists away from formerly popular places like Goa.

Jamboti, 20 km south-west of Belgaum, is a tourist magnet with its evergreen hilltop forests.


Natural areas

Karnataka in all has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 National parks. Well known among them are Bandipur National Park in Mysore District, Bannerghatta National Park in Bangalore district, Nagarhole National Park in Mysore District and Kodagu district, Kudremukh National Park in Dakshina Kannada and Chickmagalur district, Dandeli & Anshi National Park in Uttara Kannada district, Gudavi and Mandegadde bird sanctuaries and Sharavati WLS in Shimoga District, Biligirirangan Hills WLS in Chamarajanagar district, Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary in Mandya district, Brahmagiri and Pushpagiri WL sanctuaries in Kodagu district. Interior dry areas have their own unique wildlife.

There are twenty one wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks in all.

The Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site. Two subclusters of natural areas occurring in the list are entirely in the Karnataka region covering several wildlife sanctuaries and some reserve forests. Fragile and exotic ecosystems like Kudremukh NP, Brahmagiri WLS, Pushpagiri WLS, Agumbe, Talakaveri WLS, Someshvara WLS figure in this list. As such, the Western Ghats that run south-north through the Karnataka is considered as one among the twenty five bio-diversity hotspots of the world.
The Niligiri Biosphere Reserve is located at the junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerela. Nagarahole National Park WLS and Bandipur National Park and Nugu WLS in Karnataka are included in this biosphere reserve.

The state is home to the largest concentration of Asian Elephants along Kabini River in Nagarahole and Bandipur parks. These two parks are also hold among the most viable population of the highly endangered Indian Tiger. Rannebennur Blackbuck sanctuary in Davangere district is home to one of the largest populations of blackbuck anywhere in India. The Doraji wildlife sanctuary and areas in Karnataka like Bellary district, Chitradurga are strongholds of the sloth bear.

Water Falls and Caves
Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls of Shimoga District is one of the highest waterfalls in Asia. Some well known waterfalls are Magod falls, Lalgulli falls, Sathodi falls, Unchalli falls, Lushington falls, Shivaganga falls, Ulavi falls, Iruppu falls, Shivanasamudra falls, Balmuri falls, Gokak falls, Abbe falls, Achakanya falls, Chunchanakatte Falls, Hebbe falls, Kallathigiri falls, Vajrapoha falls, Sogal falls, Godchinamalaki falls etc. In fact the waterfalls of Karnataka and Kudremukh National Park are listed as must see places and one among the 1001 natural wonders of the world.[19]

Some well known caves in Karnataka are Yana caves and Kavala caves and Syntheri rocks in Uttara Kannada district, Sugriva's cave in Hampi holds similarity to the descriptions of 'Kishkinda' in the epic Ramayana, hundreds of caves in Basava Kalyana in Bidar district.

Eco-Tourism

Karnataka boasts of the highest elephant and Gaur bison population (greater than 6000 & 8000 respectively) in India. Its forests hold some of the largest remaining populations of the endangered tiger and leopard. Eco-tourism is a very popular activity in the state. Karnataka leads other states in eco-tourism. Jungle Lodges & Resorts, a state run organization has camping and safari facilities in several wildlife sanctuaries. Private safari providers have sprung up in several places along the western ghats.


Youth Activities

Karnataka is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Ramnagara near Bangalore district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven. A climbing academy has been formed in Ramnagara called General Thimmaiah Rock Climbing Academy. The Nisarga Organisation for Wildlife and Adventure Academy is based in bangalore. It organizes eco-tourism, adventure activities and wildlife tours.
Sun and Sea

Karnataka is blessed with over 300 km of pristine coastal stretch. Netrani Island of Uttara Kannada is well known for coral reefs. St. Mary's Island, a few kilometers from Udupi is famous for its basalt rock formations. Sunny beaches at places like Malpe, Murdeshwara, Maravanthe,

Gokarna, Kumta are complimented by spectacular mountains slightly to the east. Agumbe, Kodachadri hills, Kemmangundi, are just a few of many hill stations that straddle the coast providing tourists the best of sun and greenery. Unlike many crowded hill stations in South India, the hill stations of Karnataka are still mostly undiscovered and pristine.

Palace to See

Bangalore

Bangalore, is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, a major industrial and commercial centre of the country.The city was founded by Kempe Gowda in the early 16th century. Two centuries later, it became an important fortress city under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The ruins of those periods can still be seen on the Bellary Road, at Lal Bagh, Ulsoor and Gavi Gangadhareswar Temple.

Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of the country, the nerve - centre of India's software industry. Its other major industries include aircraft, electronics and machine tools. Despite being one of Asia's fastest growing cities, Bangalore remains one of the most elegant metropolises in India

Mysore

770 m above sea level and 140 km from Bangalore, the city of Mysore was once the capital of the Wodeyars. It exudes a quaint old world charm, that leaves the visitor spell - bound. A city steeped in history, Mysore was once the stronghold of the Hoysalas, the Wodeyars and later on, of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Mysore is derived from Mahisasura, the demon king, who once lived here and was vanquished by Goddess Chamundi.

Badami

Badami is, rather picturesquely located at the mouth of a ravine, between two rocky hills. Badami is famous for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sandstone on the precipice of a hill. In its ancient temples and forts, Badami preserves an important chapter in the history of architecture, in Karnataka.

Aihole & Pattadakal

Famous as the 'Cradle of Indian Architecture', Aihole has over a hundred temples, scattered around the village.

The oldest temple here is, perhaps, the Lad Khan temple dating back to the 5th century. This temple was originally a royal assembly hall and marriage mandapa and was chosen as the abode of a Muslim prince, Lad Khan.

Belur

The quaint hamlet of Belur, 38 km from Hassan, is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. Once the capital of the Hoysala empire, it still draws hordes of visitors, who cannot get enough of its fascinating temples. In 1117, Vishnuvardhana built the Chennakeshava Temple. The main entrance to the shrine is guarded by twin statues of a youth slaying a tiger. What is remarkable about this shrine is its compact structure, and perfect proportions

Hampi

Hampi a world heritage centre - is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. The Tungabhadra river flows through Hampi, on the banks of which, it is said, the Goddess Hampi (Parvati) attained Lord Shiva. This city was praised by historians like, Nuniz and Paes, as being greater than Rome, its palaces plated with jewel-encrusted gold, simply the 'bets provided city in the world'.

Nagarhole

Nagarhole National Park lies to the north of the Kabini river (the Bandipur national park lies to the south of it), spreading over 643.39 sq. kms. A dam on the Kabini river and its scenic reservoir demarcate the two parks. At Nagarhole, too, there are fine facilities for some good wildlife-watching and sizeable groups of gaur, elephants, sambar, chital and even an occasional tiger or leopard can be spotted.